UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA Tuesday October 6, 2009 Volume 56 Number 6 www.upenn.edu/almanac Sarah Tishkoff: 2009 National Institutes of Health Pioneer Award Peter Conn: Vartan Gregorian University of Gutmann said. “Her remarkable discoveries that Professor of English Pennsylvania genet- combine insights of genetics, biology, sociol- Peter Conn has icist Sarah A. Tish- ogy and anthropology demonstrate how much been appointed the koff is among 18 re- universities can deepen our understanding of Vartan Gregorian cipients of the 2009 the human condition by integrating knowledge Professor of Eng- National Institutes across disciplines. The entire Penn family joins lish. A specialist of Health’s Pio- me in congratulating her on this significant hon- in American liter- neer Award. She and or, as well as the extraordinary example she sets ature, his publica- her fellow honor- as an educator.” tions include The ees were honored at Dr. Tishkoff works primarily in Africa, where Divided Mind: Ide- NIH headquarters in she has compiled the world’s most extensive ology and Imagi- Bethesda, MD late DNA database, representing more than 7,000 nation in America, last month. Africans from more than 100 ethnic groups. 898-97, Liter- Dr. Tishkoff, the Her research examines how genetic variations ature in America, David and Lyn Sil- and genetic diversity can affect a wide range of and Pearl S. Buck: Sarah Tishkoff fen University Asso- practical issues, including, for example, differ- A Cultural Biog- ciate Professor and a ences in human susceptibility to disease, metab- Peter Conn raphy. His latest Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor, is a lead- olism of drugs and evolutionary adaptation. book, The Amer- ing global expert in human genetics with joint Dr. Tishkoff’s most recent work involved a ican 930s: A Literary History, was recently appointments in the department of genetics in 10-year collaboration with African, American published by Cambridge University Press. the School of Medicine and the department of and European researchers working on the larg- A Guggenheim Foundation Fellow, Dr. biology in the School of Arts and Sciences. est-ever study of African genetic data—more Conn has directed National Endowment for The Pioneer Award provides $500,000 in than 4 million genotypes—to provide a library the Humanities (NEH) seminars for teachers funding each year for five years, totaling $2.5 of new information on the continent which is and was the recipient of an NEH Humanities million in support of a small number of inves- thought to be the source of the oldest settlements Focus Grant. He has also served as a literary tigators of exceptional creativity who propose of modern humans. The study demonstrated consultant on numerous television projects, in- bold and highly innovative new research ap- startling diversity and shared ancestry among cluding the Emmy-winning series “The Ameri- proaches that have the potential to produce a geographically diverse groups, and it traced the can Short Story” and adaptations of novels by major impact on broad, important problems in origins of Africans and African-Americans. Re- James Baldwin and Saul Bellow. biomedical and behavioral research. The pro- searchers studied 121 African populations, four Dr. Conn received his doctorate from Yale gram emphasizes the potential to make seminal African-American populations and 60 non-Afri- University. A member of the Penn faculty since contributions toward solving important biomed- can populations for patterns of variation at 1327 1967, he has served as dean of the College of ical or behavioral research problems, the inno- DNA markers, finding more genetic diversity in Arts and Sciences, chair of the graduate groups vativeness of the projects, the significance of the Africa than anywhere else on earth. in American Civilization and English, and dep- problems and the likelihood that, if successful, A slide show of the team’s fieldwork, with uty and interim provost. A recipient of both the the projects will have a significant impact. audio, is available at www.sas.upenn.edu/home/ Lindback Award and the Ira Abrams Award for “Sarah Tishkoff’s groundbreaking research SASFrontiers/tishkoff.html. Distinguished Teaching, he currently holds a in human genetics results from her boundless Dr. Tishkoff plans to use funding from the Pio- secondary appointment in the Graduate School creativity coupled with the kind of interdisci- neer Award to characterize genetic and phenotypic of Education and is a member of both the His- plinary thinking needed to unlock the myster- tory of Art and American Civilization graduate ies of human existence,” Penn President Amy (continued on page 2) groups. Dr. Conn is also as an affiliated mem- ber of the Center for East Asian Studies and has served as a visiting professor at the University Penn Green Fund: Seeking Grant Applications of Nanjing since 1993. from Students, Faculty and Staff for The Vartan Gregorian Professorship in Eng- lish was established by Saul P. Steinberg, W’59, Innovative Sustainability Projects: October 31 in honor of Dr. Vartan Gregorian, the first dean of SAS who later served as Penn’s provost, and The University of Pennsylvania announced today the formation of a Green Fund, an in- as Brown University’s president, and is now ternal grant-making entity to seed new project ideas from faculty, students and staff that sup- president of the Carnegie Corporation. Mr. port the goals and objectives of Penn’s Climate Action Plan. The Climate Action Plan is a Steinberg is an emeritus member of the Univer- long-range strategy to reduce the University’s carbon footprint and enhance its overall sus- sity’s Board of Trustees and former chairman of tainability. the Board of Overseers of the Wharton School. The new Green Fund will award one-time grants of up to $50,000 on a competitive basis to applicants whose ideas are designed to improve Penn’s environmental performance and IN THIS ISSUE 2 Council: Coverage; Hewlett Award for Innovation in reduce carbon emissions. International Offerings; Death of student “The Green Fund is designed to engage and inspire the whole Penn community in gener- 3 Center for Neuroscience & Society: Panel of ating ideas,” said Anne Papageorge, vice president of the Division of Facilities and Real Es- Advisors and Public Lecture; CNDR 9th Annual tate Services, which along with the Office of the Provost, oversees the fund. “We are eager to Research Retreat; DERC Funding; 4 Honors & Other Things; Students Perform Leading sponsor intelligent and creative initiatives that support reducing our carbon footprint.” Medical Research A selection committee of faculty, students and staff will determine the awardees, with the 5 Online-Only Directory; Online Debate Among Legal primary criteria that projects show demonstrable return on investment. Scholars; Futurity Website of Research News The deadline for all applications for Green Fund grants is October 3 with awards be- 6 HR; Community Involvement Awards; Employee Resource Fair Deadline Extended; One Step ing announced in December. More information and application forms are available at www. Ahead: Security & Privacy Tip; Classified upenn.edu/sustainability/greenfund.html. 7 Museum’s Warden Entrance; Update; CrimeStats 8 Penn’s Way Campaign: Stronger Together ALMANAC October 6, 2009 www.upenn.edu/almanac University Council September Meeting Coverage At the September 30 University Council Dr. Evelyn Weiner, director of Student ed vaccines for their health care workers so that meeting, President Amy Gutmann announced Health, along with Dr. Patrick J. Brennan, chief there wouldn’t be a shortage of providers to care the appointment of Dr. Reed Pyeritz, professor of medical officer and senior vice president, UPHS, for those who may need medical care. medicine and genetics, as Council’s new moder- and professor of infectious diseases, gave a pre- Dr. Weiner added, “Wash your hands, it is ator. Dr. Gutmann also announced the reappoint- sentation and answered questions. low cost, low tech, almost free!” She said that ment of Mark Frazier Lloyd, director of the Uni- Dr. Weiner noted that communicable diseases they are working on a project writing a manual versity Archives and Records Center, as the par- include SARS, meningitis, measles, tuberculosis, for university communities on how to manage liamentarian for the 19th consecutive year. MRSA, as well as the pandemic flu. She said that infectious diseases. Dr. Gutmann urged everyone to either use Penn is involved in ongoing planning and pre- The University has registered with the City hand sanitizers, which were provided to all paredness efforts and surveillance for disease out- to be a site for mass immunizations for faculty, Council members, or wash their hands often to breaks. Student Health oversees the response to staff and students, following the CDC priority avoid spreading germs, especially since there is occurrences and implements control measures. groups. The health system will also be getting concern about the spread of the H1N1 flu. Dr. Brennan explained that a pandemic occurs greater doses of vaccines this year for the great- Because Dr. Harvey Rubin, professor of in- when a new strain of microbe arrives in a com- er community. fectious diseases and chair of the Council Steer- munity with little or no immunity to it, as was ing was unable to attend the meeting, Dr. Sher- the case years ago with HIV. Since other strains 2009 NIH Pioneer Award ri Adams, Steering’s past chair, itemized the six of H1N1 previously existed, older people are not (continued from page ) focus issues that had been selected last semes- as susceptible as younger people are to this new ter and mentioned the Council committee charg- strain. He said that in 1918, there were some 20 variation in ethnically and geographically diverse es which were approved last month by the Tri- million deaths worldwide from the flu. This year, Africans living in distinct environments and to ex- chairs, the president and provost.