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The outbreak history forgot
A lab tech with a pipette and petri dish during the Legionnaires disease outbreak of 1976.

A laboratory technician performs an unidentified test during an investigation of Legionnaires’ disease, which is caused by the Gram-negative bacterium, Legionella pneumophila.

(Image: CDC/Martin D. Hicklin, MD)

The outbreak history forgot

It’s been 50 years since Legionnaires’ disease was discovered in Philadelphia. David Barnes, associate professor of history and sociology of science, says people can learn a lot from that moment.

From Omnia

2 min. read

Multilingual, multicultural community-based learning

Multilingual, multicultural community-based learning

Students in Penn GSE’s Language, Globalization, and Intercultural Studies master’s program are spending the summer working with organizations that support immigrant, refugee, and multilingual communities throughout Philadelphia.

From Penn GSE

2 min. read

The Class of 2030 comes to life
Penn’s class of 2030 in the Palestra with streamers in the air.

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The Class of 2030 comes to life

As part of the New Student Orientation welcome experience, new students kicked off their inaugural campus weekend with movie nights, College House meetings, campus tours and an open-mic, culminating in a night at the National Constitution Center and an afterparty at Houston Hall.

Penn Today Staff

2 min. read

Former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter launches Penn initiative connecting past mayors with future leaders
former mayors with director of public service initiative

Michael A. Nutter (center), former Mayor of Philadelphia and managing director of the Public Service and Policy Initiative, with inaugural Impact Scholars Kasim Reed (left), former Mayor of Atlanta, and GT Bynum (right), former Mayor of Tulsa.

(Image: Kait Privitera)

Former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter launches Penn initiative connecting past mayors with future leaders

The first-of-its-kind Public Service and Policy Initiative brings accomplished local governing executives to Penn to translate experience into research, talent development, and policy innovation.

Michael Grant

5 min. read

Conservation of Covenant: Maintaining a campus landmark
A side view of Covenant, newly restored with its bright red sheen on a sunny, clear day surrounded by trees.

Covenant restored to the vibrant red hue it had upon installment on campus in 1975.

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Conservation of Covenant: Maintaining a campus landmark

This summer, Penn’s largest piece of public art, Covenant, has undergone the final stretch of a two-part maintenance project that involved restoring its bright red surface.

2 min. read

Move-In primer 2026
Students walking on campus with luggage during Penn’s Move-In

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Move-In primer 2026

Penn Today offers a practical guide to undergraduates moving into College Houses between Aug. 17 and 23 and participating in New Student Orientation between Aug. 19 and 24.

3 min. read

Partnering with local digital leaders to promote violence prevention
(from left to right): Social media creators Manny 215 [Manny Clark], Prince Dre, Fis Banga, and Ant Brown on stage with facilitator Tamara Russell at the Creators for Community Safety Summit. Brown is speaking and holding a microphone. The slideshow in the background reads: "Panel: Violence Prevention and Conflict Resolution"

(From left) Social media creators Manny 215 [Manny Clark], Prince Dre, Fis Banga, and Ant Brown on stage with facilitator Tamara Russell at the Creators for Community Safety Summit. Brown leads the content creator team that is developing the CUREiculum campaign set to pilot at select Philadelphia public schools this fall.

(Image: Courtesy of the School of Social Policy & Practice and the Annenberg School for Communication)

Partnering with local digital leaders to promote violence prevention

A team of Philadelphia-based content creators is collaborating with Penn public health experts to develop a comprehensive anti-violence campaign tailored for youth across the City, with youth-focused workshops and educational materials to be piloted in select Philadelphia public schools this fall.

5 min. read

Lessons from the Schuylkill River on community-engaged research
People kayak on the Schuylkill River.

Image: Bethany Wiggin

Lessons from the Schuylkill River on community-engaged research

A historian working on both sides of the Atlantic, Bethany Wiggin, a professor of German in the School of Arts & Sciences, is interested in how historic legacies—including pollution—shape modern landscapes and how changed landscapes impact human populations.

3 min. read