Distance proved to be no detriment for Penn’s signature academic program, Engaging Minds, as more than 1,500 households of Penn supporters around the world came together online on December 12, 2020 for this popular annual event.
Penn President Amy Gutmann was on hand to introduce the program, traditionally held in New York City but presented virtually this year for the first time. “So much has changed since our last Engaging Minds, but one thing has not, and that’s the preeminence of our faculty,” she said. “You’ve logged in to engage in a master class delivered by three incredible Penn faculty, who pose very important and very timely questions.”
Those faculty shared insights from their research on some of today’s most pressing issues.
- Daniel Q. Gillion, the Julie Beren Platt and Marc E. Platt Presidential Professor of Political Science at Penn Arts & Sciences, spoke about his work investigating how political protest affects voter preferences and behaviors.
- Amy Castro Baker, Assistant Professor in the School of Social Policy and Practice, discussed her efforts measuring the effects of universal basic income at a time of widespread economic instability.
- Ezekiel Emanuel, Diane v.S. Levy and Robert M. Levy University Professor, Perelman School of Medicine and The Wharton School and Vice Provost for Global Initiatives, outlined the many challenges of distributing a COVID-19 vaccine throughout the country.
Each professor followed their talk with a Q&A led by Penn Provost Wendell Pritchett. If you were not able to tune into the program live, or if you’d like to watch it again, the full event video is below.
Read more about Engaging Minds in this story from Penn Today. To find out about more virtual events and resources for Penn alumni, parents, and friends, visit the Penn Alumni website.
