Penn’s Amy Gutmann and David L. Cohen Named to Commission Marking Nation’s 250th Anniversary
Amy Gutmann, president of the University of Pennsylvania, and David L. Cohen, chair of the University’s Board of Trustees and senior executive vice president of Comcast Corporation, are among 16 private citizens named to the United States Semiquincentennial Commission, which will plan for the 250th anniversary in 2026 of American independence.
“By law, the Commission will convene its meetings at Independence Hall in Philadelphia,” according to USA250, the Pennsylvania-based nonprofit planning for the United States Semiquincentennial. “Its recommendations will give special emphasis to locations of historical significance to the United States, to individuals who have made a significant impact on the nation’s development, and to the ideas that have advanced the ‘quest for freedom of all mankind.’”
Pennsylvania’s U.S. senators, Bob Casey and Pat Toomey, and Pennsylvania representatives Patrick Meehan, Robert Brady, Brendan Boyle and Ryan Costello were instrumental in establishing the Commission. Casey, Toomey, Brady and Meehan are also members of the Commission board.
On the move: Water quality and antimicrobial resistance testing goes mobile
Penn researchers have developed a mobile field laboratory allowing them to test water quality and track antimicrobial resistance in and around San Cristóbal in the Galápagos.
Penn researchers Vanessa and Alexis North are studying one of the largest collections of Egyptian blue objects ever found in the ancient Near East, shedding new light on how the world’s first synthetic pigment may have traveled far beyond Egypt.
A new role for dental providers? Rethinking where vaccines are given
Vaccinations have traditionally been administered in primary care settings or pharmacies. However, for about a decade, some states have authorized dentists to administer vaccines, and many others did so during the COVID-19 pandemic. The effectiveness of this approach has led some countries and states to expand or consider expanding the role of dental providers in delivering routine vaccines, including those against COVID-19 and the human papillomavirus (HPV), and in providing vaccine education.
Penn student develops a way for computer chips to run more efficiently
Fluid Silicon, a platform from President’s Sustainability Prize winner Nhlanhla Mavuso, allows computer chips to continuously monitor their health and self-tune as their characteristics change. The technology has the potential to reduce energy usage in data centers and improve reliability in mission-critical applications.
