UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
Tuesday October 20, 2009 Volume 56 Number 8 www.upenn.edu/almanac
Penn: Tied for ‘Best Neighbor’ University in Nation National Recognition for Penn’s The University of Pennsylvania has earned tional level. These ef- Sustainability Initiatives for top honors as a “Best Neighbor” university in forts, combined with Second Consecutive Year the national Saviors of Our Cities: Survey of an exemplary service The grades are in: The University of Penn- Best College and University Civic Partnerships. learning curriculum sylvania ranks among the top United States and Penn and the University of Southern California, and a historic, exten- Canadian colleges and universities for its sus- Los Angeles, tied for the No. 1 spot. sive and neighbor- tainability initiatives, according to the 2010 The list’s 25 academic institutions were se- hood friendly campus College Sustainability Report Card. lected because of their positive impact on their expansion program Of the 332 schools evaluated, only 26, in- urban communities, including both commercial places Penn at the top cluding Penn, were recognized as Overall Col- and residential activities such as revitalization, of this list.” lege Sustainability Leaders, the report’s highest cultural renewal, economics, and community “I could not be level of recognition; a distinction given to those service and development. more pleased with institutions that achieve an average grade of “A-” Penn’s recognition stemmed largely from the this extraordinary rec- or better across all categories. work in the West Philadelphia community of the ognition of Penn and Ira Harkavy Penn’s campus operations and endowment University’s Barbara and Edward Netter Center our community part- practices merited an overall grade of A- in nine for Community Partnerships. ners,” Netter Center categories. The specific grades: Dr. Evan Dobelle, president of Westfield Director Ira Harkavy said. “This honor is testi- B in Administration, State College in Massachusetts and author of mony to the deep, sustained and mutually ben- A in Climate Change and Energy, the research, announced the results at the 15th eficial relationship we have developed and ad- A in Food and Recycling, annual conference of the Coalition of Urban and vanced together.” B in Green Building, Metropolitan Universities which met in Phila- Dr. Dobelle called Dr. Harkavy “the nation’s A in Student Involvement, delphia last week. Dr. Dobelle published his foremost expert in higher education community A in Transportation, first Saviors of Our Cities Survey in 2006. engagement.” C in Endowment Transparency, The Netter Center, Dr. Dobelle said, “con- Additional information about the “Best A in Investment Priorities ducts a project through which its university-as- Neighbor” list is available at www.wsc.ma.edu/ A in Shareholder Engagement. sisted school model has been replicated on a na- Announcements/Top_25_Saviors.html. “Penn is committed to becoming America’s greenest university campus,” Penn President Amy Gutmann said. “We’re delighted to again be recognized as a College Sustainability Leader and intend to continue setting the standard for high- er-education institutions regarding energy conser- vation, waste reduction, emissions control, green design and sustainability education. What we do now through teaching, research and outreach will help determine the future well-being of the planet as well as that of generations to come.” The Report Card is designed to identify col- leges and universities that are leading by exam- ple on sustainability and is funded by the Sus- tainable Endowments Institute, a special project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. Now in its fourth year, the College Sustain- ability Report Card covers the colleges and uni- versities with the 300 largest endowments in the United States and Canada, as well as 32 addi- tional schools that applied for inclusion. The profiled schools have combined holdings repre- senting more than $325 billion in endowment The Return of the Phantom: Reviving a Penn Halloween Tradition assets, or more than 95 percent of all university Celebrate the return of a classic Penn Halloween tradition! Experience The Phantom of the Op- endowments. era, the 1925 silent film starring Lon Chaney, with live accompaniment by Peter Edwin Krasinski More information on the College Sustain- on the 12,000 pipe legendary Curtis Organ. Irvine’s balcony houses the eleventh-largest pipe organ ability Report Card is available at www.green- in the world, the Curtis Organ, which was built for the Sesquicentennial Exhibition in 1926, and do- reportcard.org. nated to the University of Pennsylvania in 1928. IN THIS ISSUE Mr. Krasinski—a conductor, organist and musical educator—is known as “an exciting, accom- 2 ScholarlyCommons; Weigle Commons; ITMAT; plished and elegant accompanist of silent film” who has previously accompanied three consecutive PHF Faculty Mellon Research Fellowships; performances of Phantom in one evening to standing room only crowds at a convention of the In- Women’s Studies’ 35th Anniversary Conference ternational Organ Builders Society. 3 Deaths 4 Research Roundup For the first time since 1996, this fright-film screening will once again take place at Irvine Audi- 5 University Research Foundation Awards; torium. On Friday, October 30 there will be two shows, at noon and 7:30 p.m. This calorie-free treat National Work & Family Month; 5K Walk is free and open to the public; seating is limited. The event is sponsored by Perelman Quadrangle. 6 HR: Upcoming Programs; One Step Ahead: For 25 years, the Phantom haunted Irvine, until the building’s renovations in 1997. During those Security & Privacy Tip 7 Penn’s Way Prizes and Winners; Update; years, the proceeds went to the Organ Restoration Fund. Then, in 1998, the Phantom was found in CrimeStats; Classifieds a new venue—the Penn Museum, while Irvine’s renovations were underway. 8 Talk About Teaching and Learning
ALMANAC October 20, 2009 www.upenn.edu/almanac Women’s Studies’ 35th Anniversary Conference The Women’s Studies Program and the Alice Paul Center are holding their 35th Anniversary Conference on Friday, October 30, from 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. in Houston Hall. There will be a day of panels with Penn faculty on: Gender, Work, and Health Gender and Literature Gender and Education Gender and Violence Gender and Sexuality Sexuality, Film, and the Media Feminist Historiographies Gendered Bodies The Penn community is invited to all or part of the conference; no registration required. 9:30–11 a.m. Panel 1: Gender, Work, and Health Julie Fairman, “Nursing Activism and Wom- Penn Libraries’ New Website to Help Share Scholarship Online en’s Health” The Penn Libraries ScholarlyCommons website has a new look and an expanded mission to help Ruth Cowan, “Feminism, Bioethics, and Ge- faculty promote their scholarship online. The site is being launched in conjunction with Open Ac- netic Screening” cess Week, www.openaccessweek.org, a nationwide effort to recognize and celebrate free, online Bobbie Iversen, “Gender, Depression, and access to scholarly research. Penn has been a leader in this area with its ScholarlyCommons: Re- Economic Crisis” pository, which was launched in 2003 and currently includes over 12,000 articles, lectures, disser- Panel 2: Feminist Historiographies tations, and other academic works that receive hundreds of thousands of downloads each year. The Melissa Sanchez, “Desiring the Past” redesigned website focuses on current issues in scholarly publishing, copyright, and open access; it Karen Detlefsen, “Women, Philosophy, and also provides tools for Penn faculty and researchers who would like help in understanding the op- History” tions available to them for distributing their scholarship. Look for more on this topic in the forth- Phyllis Rackin, “The Present Tense of Femi- coming issue of the Penn Libraries Ivy Leaves or visit: ScholarlyCommons at www.library.upenn. nist Shakespeare Criticisms” 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. edu/scholcomm. For further information, contact Shawn Martin, Scholarly Communication Librar- Panel 3: Gendered Subjects in Literature ian at [email protected]. Catriona MacLeod, “Paper Cut-Outs: Gender and the Aesthetics of Fragility” Singing the Praises of Weigle Commons Heather Love, “Sarah Orne Jewett’s Spinster A music video created by Penn students con- Aesthetics” veys the many resources available at the Weigle Liliane Weissberg, “Simple Pleasures: The Ad- Information Commons at Van Pelt-Dietrich Li- ventures of the ‘Lonely Doll’” brary. Ryan Leonard directed the video in 2007 Panel 4: Gender and Sexuality in Asia after winning the WIC’s first annual video Mash- Si-Yen Fei, “Chastity Sagas in Late Imperi- up contest. Since then, the video and song, based al China” on Petula Clark’s “Downtown” has had thousands Linda Chance, “The Tale of Genji in 2008: On of YouTube hits and has been viewed by people Gender, Commodification, and the Canon” all over the world. Mr. Leonard, president of the David Eng, “Reparations and the Human” Chinese a cappella group, PennYo, is currently Lunch 12:30–2 p.m. working on a video about hand washing for HUP. Remarks on 35 Years of Women’s Studies at Members of the Penn community can learn to Penn; Dean Rebecca Bushnell From left to right, Will Xhong, SAS ’10, Andrew Plenary: Gender, Inequality, and Education make their own songs and videos with free work- Peter Kuriloff, “Educating for Hegemony: shops at WIC. To see the video and a list of work- Abranovic, SEAS ’10, and Ryan Leonard, SAS ’10. Peer Policing and Teacher Collusion” shops, visit http://wic.library.upenn.edu/ Jerry Jacobs, “Women as Students, Women as Faculty” PHF—Virtuality: Faculty Mellon ITMAT: Proposals on Translational Toni Bowers, “Gender, Class, and Inequali- Space: December 15 ty at Penn” Research Fellowships: January 29 The Institute for Translational Medicine and Applications are solicited from stand- 2–3:30 p.m. Therapeutics (ITMAT) invites proposals from Panel 5: Violence, Discrimination, and Policy ing faculty in the humanities and allied ITMAT Members and ITMAT Associate Mem- Ann Mayer, “Saudi Arabia and Women’s Inter- departments for the Penn Humanities Fo- bers in the Research Associate or Instructor A national Human Rights” rum’s 2010–2011 Mellon Faculty Re- category. It is not too late to become a Member Susan Sorenson, “Violence against Women: A search Fellowships. or an Associate Member if you would like to ap- 35-Year Retrospective” Available are junior faculty awards of ply for the grant and meet membership criterion. Marie Gottschalk, “On Gender and Penal Pol- $5,000 disbursed as salary, as well as se- If you are interested, please visit the member- icy” nior faculty awards of $10,000 paid di- ship section of our website (www.itmat.upenn. Panel 6: Sexuality, Film, and Media rectly to departments to offset the cost of edu/membership.shtml) for details. Regina Austin, “What Does Choice Look one course release. Like?: On Julie Gustafson’s documentary, Desire” The proposals must center on the transla- Simon Richter, “Lola Doesn’t: Cinema and the Fellows must be engaged in research tional space—from proof of concept in cells or directly related to Virtuality, the Forum’s Pleasure of Impunity” model systems through to completion of dose Katherine Sender, “Makeover Television and topic for 2010–2011. Fellows are also selection in Phase II in humans. Programs that expected to participate in the Forum’s its Audiences” plan to progress within that space and which de- Salamisha Tillet, “Black Feminism in the Age weekly Mellon Research Seminar held ploy technologies and approaches convention- on Tuesdays, noon–2 p.m. during the ac- of Michelle Obama” ally segregated from each other within the tra- 3:30–5 p.m. ademic year, presenting a paper during ditional boundaries of academic medicine will the course of the year. Plenary Histories of the Body: A Panel Discussion be especially favored. Proposals that focus on 5–6:30 p.m. For full details on the fellowship ap- translational therapeutics or the pediatric to the Reception and Light Dinner plication process and the Forum’s topic, adult divide will receive priority scoring. The Remarks on 35 Years of Women’s Studies at Virtuality, please see http://humanities. December 15, 2009 Penn sas.upenn.edu/faculty_cfa.shtml. proposals are due by for a proposal start date of February 1, 2010. Visit the Conference’s website for complete Application deadline: January 29, www.itmat.upenn. details: www.sas.upenn.edu/wstudies/events/ 2010. Please visit our website at edu/funding.shtml for detailed instructions. 35anniversaryconference.html —Garret A. FitzGerald, Director, ITMAT www.upenn.edu/almanac ALMANAC October 20, 2009 Deaths
Dr. Cohn, Biochemistry and es-Primakoff, Dylan Myles-Primakoff, Mira Mr. Stefaniuk, Penn Museum Biophysics Kahn, and Gabriella Kahn (C’13); and her great- Jason “Jay” Stefa- Dr. Mildred Cohn, grandchildren, Olivia Johnson, Andrew John- niuk, the web develop- the Benjamin Rush son, Vince Williams, and Carmela Williams. A er (programmer/ana- Professor Emerita of private family memorial service will be held. lyst) for the University Physiological Chem- Donations may be directed to the American of Pennsylvania Muse- istry, passed away Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Sci- um of Archaeology and October 12 of respi- ence, 633 Third Avenue, New York, NY, 10017; Anthropology, died sud- ratory failure at the (212) 895-7900, where the Mildred Cohn Me- denly in a car accident Penn Presbyterian morial Fund has been established. on October 4. He was Medical Center. She 33 years old. was 96 years old. Dr. Iqbal, Dental Medicine Mr. Stefaniuk was Dr. Cohn earned Dr. Mian Iqbal, as- a 1994 graduate of her BA in chemistry sistant professor of end- Fels Business Acade- from Hunter College odontics-clinician edu- my and later attended Jason Stefaniuk in 1931 and her PhD cator with Penn Dental Penn State-Abington. He spent four years in China teaching English in physical chemistry Mildred Cohn Medicine, died tragical- from Columbia Uni- ly September 10 in an prior to working at the Penn Museum, where he versity in 1938. After receiving her PhD, she held auto accident in Paki- recently completed and launched the Museum’s a postdoctoral fellowship at George Washington stan. His wife, Maliha new website (www.penn.museum). He began University in Washington DC, and a research as- Iqbal, was also killed in working here earlier this year and was the per- sociate position at Cornell Medical College. the accident. They were sonality behind the Museum’s Flickr, YouTube, In 1946, when Dr. Cohn’s husband, the late in Pakistan to attend the and Facebook pages and was working on numer- physicist Dr. Henry Primakoff (Almanac Sep- funeral of his mother. ous other projects to improve the online and in- He was 55 years old. museum experience for visitors. Fluent in sign tember 6, 1983), received a faculty appointment Mian Iqbal at Washington University in St. Louis, Dr. Cohn Dr. Iqbal had been language, he was a dedicated contributor to the was offered a research position in the biochem- with the department of endodontics since 2000, deaf community in Philadelphia. The Museum istry laboratory of the Nobel Prize-winning hus- overseeing the postdoctoral residency program as will soon launch tours for the deaf and hearing- band and wife team of Gerty and Carl Cori. Dr. the director of Postgraduate Endodontics. Since impaired to honor Mr. Stefaniuk’s memory. Cohn joined the faculty as an associate professor 2007, he also held the position of director of the Mr. Stefaniuk is survived by his parents, of biochemistry in 1958 and remained at Wash- Division of Advanced Dental Education, which Michael and Rosanne; a sister, Amanda Joy; a ington University until 1960, when she and her encompasses the School’s nine postdoctoral pro- brother, Jesse and his wife Dana; and their chil- husband came to the University of Pennsylvania. grams. “We called him a gentle giant. He was a dren, Caitlyn and Jacob. Dr. Cohn joined the University’s School of dedicated teacher, loyal colleague, and a warm Donations may be made in his memory to Medicine faculty in 1960 as an associate profes- and kind human being,” said Dr. Syngcuk Kim, the Juvenile Diabetes Association, 225 City Av- sor of biophysics and physical biochemistry and chair of the department of endodontics. enue Suite 104, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004. became a full professor the following year. In Prior to joining Penn Dental Medicine, he 1982 Dr. Cohn was named the Benjamin Rush served as assistant professor at the College of To Report A Death Professor of Physiological Chemistry at Penn. Dentistry at King Saud University in Riyadh, Almanac appreciates being informed From l982 to l985, Dr. Cohn was a senior sci- Saudi Arabia (1987–99); assistant professor of the deaths of current and former facul- entist at the Fox Chase Cancer Center. After of- of endodontics in Meharry Dental College in ty and staff members, students, and oth- ficially retiring in l985, Dr. Cohn remained in- Nashville, Tennessee (1984–86); and instruc- er members of the University community. volved in the world of science and in the life of tor in dentistry at Khyber Dental College at the Call (215) 898-5274 or e-mail almanac@ the University of Pennsylvania. University of Peshawar in Pakistan (1979–82). upenn.edu. Dr. Cohn overcame both gender and reli- Dr. Iqbal held a BDS from the University of Pe- However, notices of alumni deaths gious discrimination to have a profound impact shawar (1977), an MS from the University of should be directed to the Alumni Records on biochemistry and biophysics. She published Minnesota (1984), and a DMD from Penn Den- Office at Room 545, Franklin Building, over 160 articles, authoring numerous seminal tal Medicine (2003). (215) 898-8136 or e-mail record@ben. papers in her field. Dr. Cohn was the first wom- A researcher and lecturer, Dr. Iqbal was the dev.upenn.edu. an to be appointed to the board of the Journal of vice chair of the Evidence-Based Committee of Biological Chemistry, where she served as edi- the American Association of Endodontists and Almanac On-the-Go: RSS Feeds tor for ten years, as well as the first woman to be served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Almanac provides links to select stories elected president of the American Society of Bi- Endodontics, the Journal of Oral Rehabilita- each week there is an issue. Visit Almanac’s ological Chemistry in 1978. tion, the Journal of Implant and Advanced Clin- website, www.upenn.edu/almanac Among her many honors, Dr. Cohn was elect- ical Dentistry, the Indian Journal of Medical for instructions on how to subscribe ed to the National Academy of Sciences, the and Dental Sciences, and the US Civilian Re- to the Almanac RSS Feed. American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the search and Developmental Foundation. American Philosophical Society, as well as being “He was one of the rising stars in the national the recipient of the National Medal of Science in and international endodontic arena,” said Mor- Subscribe to Express Almanac 1982. The citation for her work as the recipient of ton Amsterdam Dean Denis Kinane. “We have Sign up to receive the National Medal of Science was “For pioneer- lost a valuable and highly respected member of e-mail notification ing the use of stable isotopic tracers and nucle- our community; he will be greatly missed.” when we post break- ar magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the study Dr. and Mrs. Iqbal are survived by their son, ing news between issues. Send an e-mail to of mechanisms of enzymatic catalysis.” Dr. Cohn Taimur Iqbal. [email protected] with “subscribe was granted honorary doctorates from nine uni- The School of Dental Medicine’s depart- e-almanac
Gun Possession of Questionable Value in an Assault Americans Reject Tailored Advertising In a first-of its-kind study, epidemiologists at the University of Penn- Contrary to what many marketers claim, most Americans do not want sylvania School of Medicine found that, on average, guns did not protect online advertisements tailored by marketers to their specific interests, ac- those who possessed them from being shot in an assault. The study esti- cording to a consumer privacy study by the Berkeley Center for Law & mated that people with a gun were 4.5 times more likely to be shot in an Technology at UC Berkeley School of Law (Berkeley Law), and the Annen- assault than those not possessing a gun. The study was released online in berg School for Communication at Penn. In Americans Reject Tailored Ad- September in the American Journal of Public Health, in advance of print vertising and Three Activities that Enable It, 66% of adult Americans reject publication in November 2009. tailored ads. Not only that, when informed of three common ways that mar- “This study helps resolve the long-standing debate about whether guns keters collect information to target the ads, even higher percentages—be- are protective or perilous,” notes study author Dr. Charles C. Branas, as- tween 73% and 86%—say they don’t want tailored advertising. sociate professor of epidemiology. “Will possessing a firearm always The study is the first nationally representative telephone (wireline and safeguard against harm or will it promote a false sense of security?” wireless, n=1000) survey that explores Americans’ opinions about behav- Penn researchers found that almost five Philadelphians were shot ev- ioral targeting, a controversial issue now under scrutiny by the Federal ery day over the course of the study and about one of these five people Trade Commission and other government policymakers. Behavioral target- died. The research team concluded that, although successful defensive ing ads are produced by following users’ actions over time and then creating gun uses are possible and do occur each year, the chances of success are sales pitches based on those actions. The report also presents Americans’ low. People should rethink their possession of guns or, at least, under- understanding of and attitudes toward privacy laws. stand that regular possession necessitates careful safety countermeasures, Dr. Joseph Turow, lead author and the Robert Lewis Shayon Professor the study concluded. Suggestions to the contrary, especially for urban res- of Communication of the Annenberg School, noted that even a majority of idents who may see gun possession as a defense against a dangerous envi- young adults do not want tailored advertising. “More than half of 18-24 year ronment should be discussed and thoughtfully reconsidered. olds reject it. Contrary to consistent assertions by marketers, young adults A 2005 National Academy of Science report concluded that little is have as strong an aversion to being followed online as do older adults.” known about the impact of gun possession on homicide or the utility of The Berkeley-Annenberg team found that 92% of those polled agree there guns for self-defense. Past studies explored the relationship between ho- should be a law that requires “websites and advertising companies to delete all micides and having a gun in the home, purchasing a gun or owning a gun. stored information about an individual, if requested to do so.” Sixty-three per- These studies, unlike the Penn study, did not address the risk or protection cent believe advertisers should be legally required to delete information about that having a gun might create for a person at the time of a shooting. their internet activity immediately, whether requested or not. Penn researchers investigated the link between being shot in an assault Co-authors of the report are Jennifer King, a former research fellow and a person’s possession of a gun at the time of the shooting. As identi- with Berkeley Law and Chris Hoofnagle, a lecturer and research fellow fied by police and medical examiners, they randomly selected 677 cases of at Berkeley Law. Philadelphia residents who were shot in an assault from 2003 to 2006. Six The full report is available at www.asc.upenn.edu/news/2009/ percent of these cases were in possession of a gun when they were shot. TAILORED%20ADVERTISING.pdf Dr. Therese S. Richmond, School of Nursing; Dr. Dennis P. Culhane, School of Social Policy & Practice; Dr. Thomas R. Ten Have, and Dr. Visual Learners Convert Words to Pictures and Vice Versa Douglas J. Wiebe, both from the School of Medicine, are co-authors. A Penn psychology study, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technology to scan the brain, reveals that people who consider them- Miscalculations of Weight and Caloric Intake selves visual learners, as opposed to verbal learners, have a tendency to con- Penn psychologists have identified a cognitive shortcut, or heuristic, vert linguistically presented information into a visual mental representation. they call “Unit Bias,” which causes people to ignore vital, obvious infor- The more strongly an individual identified with the visual cognitive style, the mation in their decision-making process, that points to a fundamental flaw more that individual activated the visual cortex when reading words. in the modern, evolved mind and may also play a role in the American The opposite also appears to be true from the study’s results. Those population’s 30 years of weight gain. participants who considered themselves verbal learners were found under Researchers who focus on the cognitive aspects that contribute to obe- fMRI to have brain activity in a region associated with phonological cogni- sity conducted several studies with college-age participants in which the tion when faced with a picture, suggesting they have a tendency to convert subjects were asked to estimate the weight of adult women from either pictorial information into linguistic representations. photographs or a live presentation by models. Other student participants It has long been thought that propensities for visual or verbal learn- were asked to estimate the calories in one of two actual meals. Both meals ing styles influence how children acquire knowledge successfully and how contained the same foods, but one had larger portion sizes than the other. adults reason in every-day life; however, there was no empirical link to this The results demonstrated that when estimating the body weight of hypothesis from cognitive neuroscience. women, participants apparently disregard or ignore the provided height “Often, job applicants are required to offer opinion on whether they con- information and focus solely on the width of the model. When estimating sider themselves visual or verbal learners,” Dr. Sharon Thompson-Schill, calories, study participants assumed portion sizes were culturally typical professor in the department of psychology and a member of Penn’s Center and guessed no caloric differences between small and large portions. for Cognitive Neuroscience, said. “Some school districts even require stu- The study suggests that there are situations where critical dimensions dents to wear buttons identifying themselves as visual or verbal learners. to understanding are devalued or ignored. In these studies specifical- Until this study, however, there was no direct evidence linking these cogni- ly, participants estimated body weight based on the model’s shape even tive styles to specific neural systems in the brain.” though height information was provided in the photographs or directly In the study, visual and verbal cognitive styles were measured in 18 sub- available with live models. Meanwhile, participants devalued or com- jects by a self-report exam called the Verbalizer–Visualizer Questionnaire pletely ignored other parameters critical to an accurate judgment. (VVQ). A standard intelligence test was used to grade visual against verbal The researchers believe that the negative artifacts of the evolved mind learning styles, then measured cognitive abilities. Participants subsequently may be directly connected with America’s obesity epidemic. “It used to participated in a functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment. be that food was scarce, and you ate what was available because you During the fMRI session, participants performed a more sophisticated ver- didn’t know where your next meal would come from,” said Dr. Andrew sion of the childhood board game Memory, involving both words and pictures. Geier, lead author from the department of psychology in Penn’s School of Results of the study demonstrated a pattern of activity in modality-spe- Arts and Sciences. “That is not the case anymore. Although we have yet cific areas of the brain that distinguished visual from verbal cognitive styles. to prove this, we believe that the ecology of eating in the current food en- The areas did correspond with prior knowledge of brain utilization. Dur- vironment has become an example of the atypical situations demonstrat- ing word-based tasks, activity in a functionally defined brain region that ed in this new article, which may be an explanation for why almost 70% responded to viewing pictorial stimuli, the fusiform gyrus, correlated with of American adults are either overweight or obese. This represents a cog- self-reported visualizer ratings on the VVQ test. nitive explanation for why America is gaining so much weight. The eat- In contrast, activity in a phonologically related brain region, the supra- ing environment has morphed into an atypical scenario where our usually marginal gyrus, correlated with the verbalizer dimension of the VVQ during helpful mental mechanisms betray us.” the picture-based condition. These findings suggest that modality-specific The study, published in the June issue of the Journal of Experimental cortical activity underlies processing in visual and verbal cognitive styles. Psychology: Applied, was written by Dr. Geier and Dr. Paul Rozin of the The study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, was conducted by department of psychology. Dr. Thompson-Schill and was led by post-doctoral fellow Dr. David Krae- mer and co-authored by alumna, Lauren Rosenberg. www.upenn.edu/almanac ALMANAC October 20, 2009 University Research Foundation: November 20 Benefits to Support You and The University Research Foundation (URF) is now accepting applications for the November Your Family 20, 2009 deadline. The URF is an intramural funding program that provides up to $50,000 support This is the third in a series of articles this October for faculty research projects and up to $3,000 for conference support. that honors National Work and Family Month— As part of the University’s commitment to providing research opportunities to scholars across a campaign to raise awareness of the importance our campus community, URF applicants are encouraged to include undergraduate student partici- of worklife benefits. Raising a family can be a rewarding experience, pants within the framework of their proposals. URF Review Panels will take undergraduate partici- but it can also present many challenges. From man- pation under strong consideration when evaluating and scoring proposals. Should applicants require aging your finances to balancing your time between assistance in identifying interested and qualified undergraduates, the Center for Undergraduate Re- work and home, we understand that life can some- search and Fellowships (CURF) will be glad to provide support: [email protected]. times be stressful; that’s why we provide faculty The objectives of the URF research program are to: (1) Help junior faculty undertake pilot proj- and staff with a wide variety of resources to support ects that will enable them to successfully apply for extramural sources of funding and aid in estab- you and your family. lishing their careers as independent investigators; (2) Help established faculty perform novel, pio- Because the expense of raising a family can be neering research to determine project feasibility and develop preliminary data to support extramural daunting, Penn offers several benefits to help ease grant applications; (3) Provide support in disciplines where extramural support is difficult to obtain the financial impact. If you’re adopting a child, you and where significant research can be facilitated with internal funding; and (4) Provide limited in- can be reimbursed for up to $5,000 in eligible ex- stitutional matching funds that are required as part of a successful external peer-reviewed applica- penses through the University’s adoption assistance tion. URF Review Panels comprise established Penn faculty members and are charged with giving benefit. Penn’s comprehensive health benefit plans preference to projects that meet one of the aforementioned criteria. can help protect you and your family from the high Faculty members are invited to submit their research applications to one of four disciplinary cost of health care. You may also want to consider areas: Biomedical Sciences, Humanities, Natural Sciences and Engineering, and Social Science enrolling in the Health Care and/or Dependent Care and Management. In addition, URF offers a Conference Support program to provide funding for Pre-Tax Expense Accounts in order to save tax dol- meetings designed to enhance existing research and scholarly programs, particularly in disciplines lars on some of your family’s health and dependent care expenses. where external funding is difficult to obtain. Conferences that promote interdisciplinary and multi- Being a caregiver takes a tremendous amount school participation are given priority. of time and effort, so we provide many resources Complete details about the URF and links to the forms can be found on the Office of the Vice to help you meet the needs of your family in addi- Provost for Research website at: www.upenn.edu/research/FoundationGuidelines.htm. tion to the demands of your job. You’re entitled to time off for maternity and paternity leave as well as adoption and foster care. You have access to a In the most recent cycle, Spring 2009, of Penn’s internally-funded number of child care programs and resources, from University Research Foundation, and URF Conference Support (noted with *), summer programs for kids to the Penn Children’s the Office of the Vice Provost for Research has announced awards to the Center to snow day child care. following members of the faculty for the projects listed below. Every family is different and has its own unique set of needs. To that end, Penn offers a broad array of resources to help meet the diverse needs of your University Research Foundation Awards and household. Our Worklife Resources service can sup- Conference Support Awards port you in many facets of your everyday life, from parenting concerns and child care arrangements to Spring 2009 education support to caregiver challenges. Ted Abel, School of Arts and Sciences, Bi- *Annette Lareau, School of Arts and Scienc- For information on all of these resources and ology; Novel pharacogenetic and optogenetic es, Sociology; Thinking about the Family in Un- more, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/Quality/Worklife/ tools for neurobiology. equal Society. Default.aspx or contact the Division of Human Re- James Aguirre, School of Arts and Scienc- Vickas Patel, School of Medicine, Medicine; sources at (215) 573-2471 or [email protected]. es, Physics; A Cryogenic Testbed for Advanced Mechanisms of Arrhythmogenesis in Naxos Dis- Get Fit This Fall with a 5K Walk Millimeter-Wave Astronomical Detectors. ease. Take charge of your health (and work off that *Robert Aronowitz, School of Arts and Scienc- Jesse Pines, School of Medicine, Emergency; Halloween candy) by participating in a 5K (3.1 es, History; Social Health in the New Millennium. The effect of insurance coverage on the transfer mile) walk. Cynthia Connolly, School of Nursing, Nurs- of patients out of US emergency departments af- Join us on Friday, November 6 in front of the Ben ing; A Prescription for a Healthy Childhood: ter a medical screening examination. Franklin statue on College Green at noon. All facul- A History of Children Pharmaceuticals in the Joshua Plotkin, School of Arts and Scienc- ty and staff are welcome to participate. If you’re a United States, 1750-2008. es, Biology; The Population Dynamics of Lan- member of the Penn Walking Program, you’re en- Fevzi Daldal, School of Arts and Sciences, guage Evolution: A Pilot Study. couraged to wear your “I’m a Penn Walker” t-shirt Biology; Biogenesis of Bacterial Cytochrome c *Anne Reed, School of Arts and Sciences, and bring your pedometer. We’ll also have sign-up Oxidase. Religious Studies; History and Material Culture information, t-shirts, welcome packets, pedometers, Guy David, Wharton, Health Care Manage- in Asian Religions. and clip-on strobe lights for new members. If you’re ment; The Determinants and Consequences of C. Brian Rose, School of Arts and Scienc- interested in joining the Penn Walking Program, plan on arriving between 11:30 a.m. and noon to al- Emergency Medical Services Privatization. es, Classical Studies; Digital Gordion (Turkey) low time for sign-ups and packet distribution. Rabindranath De La Fuente, School Mapping Project. The course will run from Locust Walk to 40th of Veterinary Medicine, Clinical Stud- Alla Safanova, School of Engineering and Street, through the paths of Woodlands Cemetery, ies; Role of epigenetic gene silencing on ge- Applied Science, Computing and Information and back to the starting point. Suzanne Smith, health nome stability in mammalian germ cells. Science; Cyber-enabled Analysis and Control of promotion specialist in Penn’s Division of Human Eduardo Fernandez-Duque, School of Arts Crowds Under Emergency Conditions. Resources, will lead the group walk at a moderate and Sciences, Anthropology; Fatherhood and *Frank Trommler, School of Arts and Sci- pace (about 45 minutes). Walkers of all levels are paternal care in socially monogamous owl mon- ences, Germanic Languages and Litera- encouraged to participate. Volunteer walkers will keys (Aotus Azarai) of the Argentinean Chaco. tures; The Decline of the West? The Fate of be placed throughout the group to ensure no one Michael Granato, School of Medicine, Cell the Atlantic Community after the Cold War. is left behind. and Developmental Biology; The regulation of P. Jeremy Wang, School of Veterinary Med- For more information or to register, visit the nuclear envelope formation in mitosis. icine, Animal Biology; Functional character- Human Resources online course catalog at www. Mary Harris, School of Medicine, Pediatrics; ization of a novel Sertoli cell-specific gene in hr.upenn.edu/coursecatalog (select “Health Promo- The Impact of Bacterial PCR and Cerebrospinal mice. tions” from the “Browse By Category” menu) or Fluid Cytokine Levels on the Diagnosis of Bac- Anna Weesner, School of Arts and Scienc- contact Human Resources at (215) 898-5116 or su- terial Meningitis in Infants. es, Music; Early, After, Ever, Now: a recording [email protected]. Norman Hecht, School of Medicine, project of original compositions for voice and —Division of Human Resources. CRRWH; Identification of novel non-coding chamber ensemble. RNAs of germ cells: MIWI independent piRNAs. *John Wolfe, School of Veterinary Medicine, Almanac On-the-Go: RSS Feeds Almanac provides links to select stories Amy Hillier, School of Design, City & Re- Pathobiology; Animal Disease in Translational each week there is an issue. Visit Almanac’s gional Planning; Food and Exercise Diaries for Research: The School of Veterinary Medicine’s website, www.upenn.edu/almanac for instruc- Urban Places (FED-UP). 125th Anniversary Research Symposium. tions on how to subscribe to the Almanac RSS Feed. ALMANAC October 20, 2009 www.upenn.edu/almanac Human Resources: Upcoming Programs Professional and Personal Development Your Body: From Head to Toe—Part 2 more information or to register, visit the Human Re- Improve your skills and get ahead in your career Taking care of your health means being well in- sources online course catalog or contact Human Re- by taking advantage of the development opportunities formed, well prepared, and capable of making good sources at (215) 573-2471 or [email protected]. provided by Human Resources! You can pre-register choices when it comes to your body. This series of Managing Up; November 11; 11:30 a.m.–1 for programs by visiting the online course catalog or by workshops, led by physicians and health experts p.m.; free. Having a positive and productive work contacting Learning and Education at (215) 898-3400. from the University of Pennsylvania and the Health relationship with your supervisor is vital. This sem- Mentors@Penn Information Session; Novem- System, will address various health issues from head inar will teach you how to manage yourself in such ber 4; noon–1 p.m.; free. Mentoring provides many to toe and steps you can take to maintain a healthier a way that promotes camaraderie between you and benefits and opportunities, whether you’re a men- lifestyle. Pre-registration is required for these work- your supervisor. You’ll learn how to be assertive tor or mentee. Through a mentoring relationship, shops, which are sponsored by Human Resources. and how to communicate with your supervisor so you can learn and grow, increase your own job sat- You are welcome to bring a brown bag lunch to the he or she understands your work style and how to isfaction, and focus on your professional and career sessions. For more information and to register, vis- maximize your productivity. goals. Learn more about the Mentors@Penn pro- it the online course catalog or contact Human Re- Professional Assertiveness; November 19; gram and how to apply. sources at (215) 898-5116 or [email protected]. 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.; free. This seminar will teach Diversity Brown Bag—Americans with Disabil- Keeping Your Stomach Happy: The Facts about you about methodologies of professional commu- ities Act (ADA); November 18; noon–1 p.m.; free. Common GI Disorders; November 4; noon–1 p.m.; nication and how to use assertiveness to enhance The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) free. A lot of us are familiar with the lingering dis- your professional growth. Participants will learn provides protection from discrimination for individ- comforts associated with indigestion, heartburn, about the characteristics of assertive behavior, re- uals on the basis of disability. This program will ex- acid reflux, and other gastrointestinal issues. The sponses to situations, choosing your battles, obsta- plain the ADA as it pertains to the workplace includ- good news is that you can take steps to prevent the cles to being assertive, and the relationship between ing relevant Penn policies and procedures, the best side effects brought on by certain behaviors and dis- assertiveness, self-confidence and professionalism. ways to identify reasonable accommodations, how orders. It’s all about keeping your stomach happy, —Division of Human Resources. to incorporate people with disabilities into the work- and this workshop will teach you how. The program place, and the various campus offices that can pro- will be led by Faten Aberra, assistant professor of vide valuable resources for individuals with disabili- medicine, gastroenterology, School of Medicine. ties and for those who wish to support them. Peripheral Nerve Disorders and Neuropathy: Brown Bag Matinee—Four Weeks in May; No- What You Need to Know; November 5; noon–1 vember 19; noon–1 p.m.; free. The Indianapolis 500 p.m.; free. Peripheral nerves, the nerves found out- is one of the toughest competitions in the world. side the brain and spinal cord, are a collection of Four Weeks in May profiles the Rahal/Letterman motor and sensory fibers that originate from many Another tip in a series provided by the Offices Team in their attempt to win this race. Their efforts different kinds of neurons. Neuropathy is damage of Information Systems & Computing and demonstrate that in order to succeed, you need to to the sensory and motor fibers found in peripheral Audit, Compliance & Privacy. have skilled drivers, excellent equipment, a highly- nerves and is one of the most common neurologic coordinated team and strong leadership. This model disorders. This workshop will teach you about the Password Cracking: The Pot of for success can be adapted for your work environ- symptoms, causes, and treatment for disorders of Gold at the End of the Rainbow ment as well. Watch this video to learn their tech- peripheral nerves. It will be led by Toby Ferguson, One of the “holy grails” coveted by hack- niques for building an award-winning team and neuromuscular division, School of Medicine. ers when they compromise a system is the file discuss ways to adopt new practices with your col- What Keeps You Up At Night?: The Basics on which contains the passwords for all the users leagues in the workplace. Common Sleep Disorders; November 17; noon–1 on that system. The passwords are stored in Unlocking the Secrets of the Penn Library; No- p.m.; free. Do you ever have difficulty falling and/or encrypted form, of course, but if a hacker can vember 19; noon–1:30 p.m.; free. Discover the staying asleep? Sleep disorders are common issues decode or “crack” the encryption the reward ways the library can work for you. Learn how to that affect millions of people every year. This work- is a valuable set of user credentials, especial- access over 10,000 electronic journals and refer- shop will teach you about sleep disorders such as ly if the system in question is a large, heavi- ence sources, get personalized research assistance, insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, and restless leg ly used server. “Cracker’s Dictionaries” have or simply take out the latest New York Times best- syndrome. You’ll also learn about sleep hygiene, al- been used for this purpose for several years, seller. This session includes a 30-minute walking ternatives to sleep disorder medications, and some and these typically are pre-compiled lists of tour of Van Pelt-Dietrich Library. Participants are simple steps you can take to promote better sleep. more than one million potential passwords welcome to attend just the informational session. This workshop will be led by Norma Cuellar, assis- comprising not only all known English words Introduction to Myers-Briggs Type Indicator; tant professor, School of Nursing. (including proper nouns), but also variations November 20; 9 a.m.–noon; $75. Taking the My- used on them, e.g. “crooked” and “cr00k3d”. Nutrition Workshops In recent years, however, hackers have ers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) inventory and re- If you’re like most people, you have plenty of ceiving feedback will help you identify your unique also made extensive use of “rainbow tables,” questions about nutrition: What should I eat before a sort of “reverse dictionary” which contains gifts. The information enhances understanding of and after a workout? How can I choose smarter, yourself, your motivations, your natural strengths, the encrypted values for all possible pass- healthier foods at the grocery store or in a restau- words of a given length, indexed to their as- and your potential areas for growth. It will also help rant? Which vitamins should I be taking, if any? Get you appreciate people who differ from you. Under- sociated passwords. It sounds unbeatable, answers to these questions and more when you join but there *are* limitations. Rather than mere standing your MBTI type is self-affirming and en- Human Resources for an ongoing series of nutrition courages cooperation with others. hundreds of thousands of entries, “rainbow workshops. For more information about the work- tables” will sometimes contain entries num- A Series for Young Professionals shops and to register, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/qual- bering into 25 digits or more (septillions), and Young professionals face a unique set of chal- ity/wellness/workshops.aspx or contact Human Re- this requires enormous amounts of memory lenges in the workplace—and also have the oppor- sources at (215) 898-5116 or [email protected]. and disk space to make use of. Also, many tunity to make tremendous strides. This fall, Hu- Q&A with a Nutrition Expert; November 18; computer systems “salt” their password files man Resources is offering a new session in its on- noon–1 p.m.; free. It’s no surprise that nutrition and with special added data that diminish the ef- going program Getting Ahead: A Series for Young exercise are vital to a healthy lifestyle. In this dy- fectiveness of these attacks, though some Professionals. To register, visit the online course namic workshop, you’ll learn how nutrition and ex- systems (especially older Windows systems) catalog at www.hr.upenn.edu/coursecatalog or con- ercise promote healthful aging, fitness, performance, have been shown to be vulnerable. One re- tact Learning and Education at (215) 898-3400. and weight management. The Q&A will emphasize searcher, using a widely available “rainbow” Discovering Your Strengths; November 5; the benefits of healthy eating, healthful thinking, and tool, reported cracking a Windows password noon–1:30 p.m.; free. While many of us are aware how to stay fit. Learn what a nutritious diet entails “Fgpyyih804423” in less than three minutes! of our individual strengths, some of us have learned and how to recognize and change poor eating habits. Most cracking dictionaries and rainbow to focus more on our weaknesses instead. Marcus You’ll also receive great recommendations for how tables tend to discount or overlook the use of Buckingham—a well-known author whose work to maintain a happy, healthy lifestyle. “special characters” in passwords (those pro- helps people identify their strengths—suggests that Quality of Worklife Workshops duced using the ‘Shift’ key and the top row of you can be more effective, successful, and fulfilled Dealing with the demands of work and your per- the keyboard - !, @, #, $, etc.), so using one at work when you play to your strengths rather than sonal life can be challenging. These free workshops, or more of these when selecting a password is your weaknesses. This program is based on Buck- sponsored by Human Resources and led by experts good protection against its being “cracked”. ingham’s theories and includes interactive exercis- from Penn’s Employee Assistance Program and es to help you learn how to identify your strengths Quality of Worklife Department, offer information and use them more productively at work. You’ll and support for your personal and professional life For additional tips, see the One Step Ahead also learn how to overcome obstacles that can pre- challenges. Pre-registration is required. You are wel- link on the Information Security website: vent you from focusing on your strengths. come to bring a brown bag lunch to the sessions. For www.upenn.edu/computing/security/.
www.upenn.edu/almanac ALMANAC October 20, 2009 The Penn’s Way campaign runs now through Update November 20. See the Penn’s Way website at October AT PENN www.upenn.edu/pennsway to participate and en- ter the weekly drawings. For other Penn’s Way campaign questions or concerns please contact: Children’s Activity (215) 746-4483 or [email protected]. Penn’s Way Raffle Prizes 23 Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie; 6 p.m.; Harold Prince Theatre, Annenberg Center; $7/adults, $4/ Week Three October 19-23, children. Also October 24, 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. (Stim- Drawing October 26 Week One Winners ulus Children’s Theatre Company). Penn Athletics: Two Tickets to Penn Bas- Penn’s Way Raffle Prizes ketball Game (October 5-9, Drawing October 12): Conference Business Services/Hilton Inn at Penn: $75 Darlene Hunter, Pennsylvania Hospital— Gift Certificate for Penne Penn Athletics: Two Tickets to 10/24 Penn- 30 Women’s Studies Program and Alice Paul Business Services/Penn Publication Services: Yale Football Game Center’s 35th Anniversary Conference; 9:30 a.m.- Penn Photography Book Cheryl Mooney, HUP—Siemens Building 6:30 p.m.; Houston Hall (Women’s Studies; Alice Business Services/Penn Ice Rink: Technologies, Inc.: Two Tickets to Flyers vs. Paul Center). See: www.sas.upenn.edu/wstudies/ 10 Admission Coupon Booklet Pittsburgh Penguins January 24, 2010 events/ Crêperie Beau Monde: $40 Gift Certificate Nancy Thompson, Penn Medicine—Restau- Philadelphia Flyers: Signed photo of rant School at Walnut Hill College: Dinner for Film Danny Briere Two 30 The Phantom of the Opera; 1925 silent film Future Fitness: One Free Month Patricia Fink, HUP—The Sporting Club at accompanied by organist Peter Krasinski; noon Office Depot: $25 Gift Card the Bellevue: Two Month Fitness Membership and 7:30 p.m.; Irvine Auditorium (Perelman Quad- Modern Eye: $75 Gift Certificate Carmen Moncrief, UPHS Clinical Care— rangle). Douglas Cosmetics: Free Facial Coupon Annenberg Center for Performing Arts: Gift Douglas Cosmetics: Free Make-Over Coupon Certificate for Two Tickets Talk National Constitution Center: Four Passes Eric Swanson, FRES—Eastern State Peni- tentiary Historic Site: Six passes for daytime 29 Developing and Redeveloping Public Hous- Victor Jordan, HUP—Picnic: $30 Gift Cer- ing: The Design Politics of Twice-Cleared Com- CLASSIFIED—UNIVERSITY munities; Lawrence Vale, MIT; 4:30 p.m.; rm. 200, RESEARCH tificate College Hall (Urban Studies). Interested in losing weight? A research study Anthony Pagano, FRES—Business Servic- at the Penn Sleep Center aims to understand es/Penn Ice Rink: Free Skating Lessons how the size of airway structures affects your Brad Moritz, HUP—Business Services/ chance of having sleep apnea, a breathing dis- order. Participants attend a 24-week weight Penn Ice Rink: 10 Admission Coupon Booklet AT PENN Deadlines: The deadline for the loss program, and undergo several non-inva- Theresa Borrelli, Corporate HUP—Busi- December AT PENN calendar, is Tuesday, Novem- sive tests before and after the program. For each ness Services/Penn Publication Services: Penn ber 10. For more information see www.upenn.edu/ test, you will receive $100. The weight loss treat- Photography Book almanac/calendar/caldead-real.html. ment is free of charge. For more information, please call (215) 662-3189. Jane Horwitz, SAS—Douglas Cosmetics: Events are subject to change. Information can Free Facial Coupon be found on the sponsoring department’s website. • Teresa Kelly, Vet School—Douglas Cosmet- Sponsors are listed in parentheses. For locations, call For information call (215) 898-5274 or visit ics: Free Make-Over Coupon (215) 898-5000 or see www.facilities.upenn.edu. www.upenn.edu/almanac/faqs.html#ad. Additional events are available in the October Deborah Jenkins, Pennsylvania Hospital— Almanac is not responsible for contents UPHS: Umbrella AT PENN calendar on Almanac’s website at www. of classified ad material. upenn.edu/almanac.
The University of Pennsylvania Police Department Community Crime Report About the Crime Report: Below are all Crimes Against Persons and Crimes Against Society from the Suite 211 Sansom Place East 3600 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6106 campus report for October 5-11, 2009. Also reported were 25 crimes against property (including 21 thefts, Phone: (215) 898-5274 or 5275 FAX: (215) 898-9137 2 cases of fraud and 2 burglaries). Full reports are available at: www.upenn.edu/almanac/volumes/v56/n08/ E-Mail: [email protected] creport.html. Prior weeks’ reports are also online. —Ed. URL: www.upenn.edu/almanac This summary is prepared by the Division of Public Safety and includes all criminal incidents reported and made known to the University Police Department between the dates of October 5-11, 2009. The University Police actively patrol from Market Street to Baltimore Avenue and from the Schuylkill River to 43rd Street in The University of Pennsylvania’s journal of record, opinion and conjunction with the Philadelphia Police. In this effort to provide you with a thorough and accurate report on news is published Tuesdays during the academic year, and as public safety concerns, we hope that your increased awareness will lessen the opportunity for crime. For any needed during summer and holiday breaks. Its electronic editions on the Internet (accessible through the PennWeb) include HTML concerns or suggestions regarding this report, please call the Division of Public Safety at (215) 898-4482. and Acrobat versions of the print edition, and interim information may be posted in electronic-only form. Guidelines for readers and 10/05/09 11:37 AM Univ. & Civic Center Blvd Driver wanted on scofflaw/Arrest contributors are available on request and online. 10/05/09 5:13 PM 3800 Ludlow St Complainant robbed by unknown male 10/06/09 11:21 AM 4000 Market St Operator wanted on scofflaw/Arrest EDITOR Marguerite F. Miller 10/06/09 5:31 PM 233 S 33rd St Male in area without authorization/Arrest ASSOCIATE EDITOR Natalie S. Woulard 10/06/09 6:12 PM Convention and South Sts Officer assaulted/Arrest ASSISTANT EDITOR Andrea Tursi 10/06/09 9:43 PM 4600 Walnut St Persons in possession of narcotics/2 Arrests STUDENT ASSISTANTS Shane Goldberg, Sonie Guseh, 10/07/09 3:28 AM 403 41st St Complainant robbed by unknown male Amy Li, Agatha Taveras, Janday Wilson 10/08/09 1:15 AM 106 S 38th St Male assaulted female ALMANAC ADVISORY BOARD: For the Faculty Senate, Mar- 10/08/09 4:39 AM 106 S 38th St Male assaulted police/Arrest tin Pring (chair), Sunday Akintoye, Helen Davies, Heather Love, 10/10/09 4:01 PM 3809 Locust Walk Items removed by unknown person Carey Mazer, Robert Hornik, Harvey Rubin, Katherine Sender. For the Administration, Lori N. Doyle. For the Staff Assemblies, Nancy McCue, PPSA; Michelle Wells Lockett, WPSA; Jon Shaw, Librar- 18th District Report ians Assembly. The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and seeks tal- 10 incidents with 2 arrests (including 7 robberies and 3 aggravated assaults) were reported between Oc- ented students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds. The tober 5-11, 2009 by the 18th District covering the Schuylkill River to 49th Street & Market Street to Wood- University of Pennsylvania does not discriminate on the basis land Avenue. of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disabili- 10/05/09 12:15 AM 4200 Chester Ave Robbery ty, veteran status or any other legally protected class status in the 10/06/09 4:45 PM 5000 Walnut St Aggravated Assault administration of its admissions, financial aid, educational or ath- 10/06/09 6:30 PM 3000 Walnut St Robbery letic programs, or other University-administered programs or in 10/06/09 8:52 PM 4714 Walnut St Aggravated Assault/Arrest its employment practices. Questions or complaints regarding this policy should be directed to the Executive Director of the Office 10/06/09 9:40 PM 1100 S 46th St Robbery/Arrest of Affirmative Action and 10/07/09 3:00 AM 403 S 41st St Robbery Equal Opportunity Pro- 10/07/09 9:37 PM 4619 Osage Ave Robbery grams, Sansom Place 10/07/09 11:30 PM 3000 Market St Robbery East, 3600 Chestnut 10/09/09 2:00 PM 4400 Walnut St Aggravated Assault Street, Suite 228, Phil- 10/09/09 8:23 PM 4400 Pine St Robbery adelphia, PA 19104- 6106; or (215) 898-6993 ALMANAC October 20, 2009 www.upenn.edu/almanac TALK ABOUT TEACHING AND LEARNING
Education for Generation Y Mark Yim
As technology evolves, the curricula of many fields need to change to Toward the end of junior year, the students are given projects as prob- stay up-to-date. In my field of Mechanical Engineering, and I suspect oth- lems with no background theory. They are not even told where to find in- ers, the pace of this change is increasing. Fisch et al. state that the top 10 formation. They are open to any source for help for solutions, textbooks, in-demand jobs in 2010 did not exist in 2004, “We are currently prepar- professors, the internet, or friends. We try to break the students from think- ing students for jobs that don’t yet exist using technologies that haven’t ing that asking for help or giving help to a classmate is cheating. The proj- been invented... in order to solve problems we don’t even know are prob- ects are structured in such a way that there is no single right answer, and lems yet.”1 It is easy to think that more needs to be taught to students. In students can teach each other as they go. fact, we may need to do the opposite. In an extensive study of undergrad- The trick is often finding a topic for the project which is difficult uate engineering education, Sheppard concluded that “the heavy empha- enough that all students can be deeply engaged, but not in a way in which sis on stuffing students with technical knowledge is, in a sense, outdated. makes it frustrating, and all the while remaining pedagogically effective Of course, engineers should gain technical depth, but not to the extent that and relevant. Often the teaching staff doesn’t know the optimal answer; it crowds out the opportunity to learn engineering in the real—and really we all learn empirically as we go. Many of the projects change each year complex—world.” 2 to ensure relevancy, so this exploration continues. For teachers outside of engineering as well as inside, it is evident that For example, in one open-ended project, (there are typically five per technology changes culture, and thus impacts the effectiveness of commu- semester), the students were asked to design a vibration absorber in the nication. Today‚ students (even outside of engineering) are raised on dif- context of a camera to be mounted on a known vibrating source. As part ferent technology than the people who teach them. Brown and Hagel de- of the process the students were to propose a design before building any- scribe this effect as “push vs. pull” in the information age.3 While most thing. I was surprised to see that most had come up with ideas that would professors grew up watching TV (where information was “pushed” to never work. Believing that students learn more from failure than success, them), today undergraduates are accustomed to interactive games and the I instructed the students that they had to implement their proposed designs Internet, “pulling” whatever content they desire. Education set in this pull and then report on them (successes and failures) to the rest of the class. model can be more engaging for a broader set of students as more will This was my mistake; the students quickly learned (from each other) that find it familiar. many of the approaches were completely off base, and then felt that im- To address this issue in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechan- plementing the bad design was a waste of time, which it was. Just as the ics (MEAM) we have started to use more design and hands-on activities students learned from their mistakes, I was learning from mine. throughout a student’s undergraduate career. These are projects that chal- In a more recent version, the students built a wind belt. This was lenge students to take initiative and seek out and apply information in or- an energy-harvesting device that utilized the aerodynamic flutter that der to address specific problems. We call this the Practice Integrated Cur- occurs when wind blows over a belt, a phenomenon made famous by riculum (PIC). Many of the MEAM faculty and I have written a paper the Tacoma Narrows bridge failure. This project combined aspects of about this curriculum for the American Society of Engineering Education, MEAM321 Vibrations and MEAM302 Fluid Dynamics, which are tak- some of which is echoed here. 4 en concurrently, joined into a topic many of our students are passionate A key aspect of PIC is that during a semester, a lab course runs paral- about: sustainable energy. lel to “theory” courses. These lab courses integrate concepts from sever- Students are often more engaged if they see the relevance of theory to al courses with practical projects. These project-based courses coordinate current events. But beyond this relevance, we need to tie theory to prac- both across semesters and even across years. There is a yearly progres- tice. For example, we want students to know which will keep your hands sion where tools (such as software analysis and data acquisition) and skills warmer, gloves or mittens and why, not just how to plug in numbers for (such as fabrication techniques and writing) build upon each other. the differential equation for heat balance. Sheppard mentions about her This progression is modeled after raising children where the ultimate study, “Research shows that a typical student is more successful in retain- goal is to have independent adults functioning in society. The project- ing the theory that he expects to apply or has applied.” based courses start with young toddler-like learning, following simple in- One problem with this project approach has been the time consumed in structions, and exploring the world. Freshman activities emphasize the the lab. Typically students receive two or three week projects, with open- testing of established principles in mechanics and introduce connections ended lab time, and spend the last one or two days working all night on to current engineering phenomena. For sophomores, learning is character- the lab to the exclusion of all else. We like to think that extra time spent ized by increasing freedom in exploration, and projects begin to introduce is an indication of engagement. However, when we asked students to es- design in constrained spaces using pattern synthesis. In junior year the timate time for individual components in all of their classes, it turned out projects become open ended; design challenges and experimental projects that they spent less time on labs than on classes which had only home- have less instruction and more problem context, leaving the solution space works and tests. It is my conjecture that the large amount of time spent at open for students to explore and solve. the last minute is constrained time, making them miss other things, which in effect makes it appear much more time consuming. Better project plan- 1 Fisch, K., McLeod, S., and Brenman, J. “Did you know” video Sony ning should help in this and is one goal for junior year in preparation for BMG‚ Annual Global Management Meeting, May 4, 2008. Also on YouTube. senior design. 2 Sheppard, S.D., et al. Educating Engineers: Designing for the Future of Today’s students are different than their counterparts 20 years ago, and the Field, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2008. we can teach them more effectively if we adapt to their style of interac- 3 Brown, J. and Hagel, J. “From Push to Pull: The Next Frontier of Innova- tion. Projects that integrate theory and practice seem to do this well. When tion,” The McKinsey Quarterly, vol. 3, pp. 82-91, 2005. one junior project-based class was polled with the question “True or False: 4 Yim, M., Kuchenbecker, K., Bassani, J., Arratia, P, Kumar, V., Fiene, J. I have learned more from this class than any other class at Penn,” the ma- and Lukes, J. “Practice-integrated Undergraduate Curriculum in Mechanical jority said true. While the implication of this is debatable, it may be that Engineering,” Proc. of American Society for Engineering Education Confer- the students find the concepts they’ve learned in theory classes become in- ence and Exposition, 2008, Pittsburgh PA, June 23, 2008. grained in the project-based class.
Mark Yim is associate professor of mechanical engineering and applied mechanics in SEAS, and a recipient of the 2009 Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching.
This essay continues the series that began in the fall of 1994 as the joint creation of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Lindback Society for Distinguished Teaching. See www.upenn.edu/almanac/teach/teachall.html for the previous essays. www.upenn.edu/almanac ALMANAC October 20, 2009