Penn Current | April 29, 2004

News to Use for Your Life at Penn • For Faculty and Staff

April 29, 2004

Star search turns up fewer new ones
Lights out in the universe? Not quite yet, says Raul Jimenez.

DeTurck surveys math reforms
A respected teacher explains that arguments over math instruction are nothing new.

McPherson on Americans' identities
A distinguished author discusses a constantly shifting topic.

Also In This Issue

Center explores ties that bind people, animals
Understanding how humans and animals interact can make life better for both.

Education gets the royal treatment
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand comes to town for an education summit.

Service for those who serve
The Penn Museum senior staff honor their volunteers by serving them lunch.

Ask Benny
A potpourri of Franklin Field facts

Out & About
Culture space bridges the gap

Southern man

As a college undergraduate, Steven Hahn began studying history out of frustration with his political science courses. That choice ultimately led to a Pulitzer Prize-winning book.

Steven Hahn did not set out to become a historian.

“I was always sort of interested in it, and was good at it, but I wasn’t a history buff at all,” said Penn’s Roy F. and Jeannette P. Nichols Professor of History. “When I went to college, initially I wanted to be an astronautical engineer. I found out before I even got to college that this was probably not the best choice for me.”

What’s On
Your guide to what's happening on campus

Features

Research: What’s goin’ on with Marvin Gaye?
Michael Eric Dyson's new book uses the R&B singer as a lens for seeing black America.

Student Spotlight: The twisty passages of interactive fiction
Computer science doctoral student Nick Montfort examines literature that readers help write.

Staff Q&A: Tom Waldman
The 28-year Penn veteran wears two hats—medieval scholar and fundraiser.

News briefs
Bookquick
Quoted recently
Awards & Honors
Appointments
At Work With...Ed Dixon
Campus Buzz

Professor of Mathematics Dennis DeTurck has won both of Penn’s highest teaching honors, the Ira Abrams Award and the Lindback Award, plus the Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Award for Distinguished Teaching from the Mathematical Association of America.

Editor's Pick: A show about nothing
"The Big Nothing" at the Institute of Contemporary Art fills a huge void with thought-provoking works.

Event listings

Conference Call

Child’s play

People's Choice: Hall of Famers

Winner of six CASE awards for publication excellence
Published by the Office of University Communications at the University of Pennsylvania