The Fels Institute of Government has new faculty leaders, but many traditions are staying put, including the institute’s signature Public Policy in Practice workshops. That’s because the series fits neatly in place with the 82-year-old institute’s focus on providing students with an analytical, personal, and practical program in public administration, says John Lapinski, who co-directs Fels with Matthew Levendusky.

Students in Penn’s Master of Behavioral and Decision Sciences (MBDS) program won first place at Rare’s Behavioral Design Challenge at Dickinson College.

The challenge gave MBDS students an opportunity to apply their classroom learning to solve a real-world problem—namely, encouraging college students to eat more plant-based foods.

The Water Center at Penn awarded research grants during fall 2019 to five Master of Environmental Studies (MES) and Master of Science in Applied Geosciences (MSAG) students under the Student Support Program Award. The students will use the grant money for research in water science, policy, and sustainability. The grant aims to recognize academic excellence and prepare students for leadership roles by encouraging applied research and community engagement. 

Throughout history, some of the world’s most precious cultural artifacts and sites have been destroyed during times of war. Recent newspaper headlines show that the phenomenon continues today, with the 2001 demolition of the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan, the 2012 destruction of Sufi shrines in Timbuktu, Mali, and the recent obliteration of historic sites across Syria and Iraq.

“The municipality of Toms River, New Jersey has received more federal flood insurance claims paid dollars than 38 entire states, including California,” shares John Miller, a Master of Environmental Studies (MES ’17—expected) student and current fellow in New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez’s Office. “When Hurricane Sandy came along, it dramatically changed my career as an engineer.

Pivoting to online classes to keep students safe during the COVID-19 pandemic introduced challenges—but also opportunities. Our innovative LPS community discovered new ways to stay connected.

MaiAda Carpano always loved coding but it never crossed her mind to pursue a career in it—she thought you had to excel at math and science to break into the field. She taught for history for six years but didn’t see the professional growth potential she was looking for. Not wanting to “feel stuck,” MaiAda approached a friend in the tech industry, who recommended the Penn LPS Coding Boot Camp—he had recently completed the program and felt enthusiastic about the support he received from his instructors and teaching assistants.