at penn Calendar September 2026
Print Calendar At Penn Deadlines Download prior month's PDF7 Labor Day (no classes).
8 Course Selection Period ends.
Morris Arboretum & Gardens
In-person events at Morris Arboretum & Gardens. Info and to register: https://www.morrisarboretum.org/see-do/events-calendar.
4 SENSE-sational Friday: Sensory Celebration; celebrate sight, smell, and touch with bright colors, great fragrances, and interesting textures; enjoy a sensory celebration dance party and take away crafts you can enjoy at home; 11 a.m.
5 Magic Railway Weekend; Thomas the Tank Engine can always be found chugging along in his own section of the Garden Railway, but this weekend, he and his friends run free on all the tracks; all day. Also September 6.
16 September Storytime; reading of We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger, which follows three friends as they travel through the forest, collecting leaves of all different shapes, sizes, and colors; 10:30 a.m.
9 Ethical Reentry: Simulation & Policy Catalyst; experience and learn about reentry from jail and what it takes for returning citizens to rebuild their lives; 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; 3440 Market Street; register: htthttps://tinyurl.com/mehp-conf-sept-9 (Medical Ethics & Health Policy).
Philadelphia Drug Discovery Forum; will connect scientists from academia, biopharma, and government to advance drug discovery, from target identification to clinical candidates, helping to foster collaborations and regional partnerships that accelerate breakthroughs for patients and the global community; 4-6 p.m.; Caplan Auditorium, Wistar Institute; register: https://www.wistar.org/events/philadelphia-drug-discovery-forum/ (Wistar Institute).
14 2026 Catalyst Innovation Summit & Milken–Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition Finals; an immersive experience designed for education innovators to connect, collaborate, and move ideas into action; 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Annenberg Center; register: https://tinyurl.com/catalyst-summit-2026 (Catalyst @ Penn GSE).
18 America250: Understanding the First Amendment, Media, Civic Literacy and Engagement as Building Blocks of a More Perfect Union; will feature insights from media, academic and civic leaders in the Philadelphia area, highlighting the work that we can do to help our communities be better informed of their constitutional rights and more easily able to participate in our civic and democratic processes; 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; room 109, Annenberg School; register: https://tinyurl.com/annenberg-conf-sept-18 (Annenberg School, Paideia Program).
23 Cores Day 2026; will showcase the many biomedical research resources and services available at Penn; students, faculty, and staff will have opportunities to interface with a multitude of research core facilities via informational tables staffed by core facility personnel; 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; lobby, Smilow Center; info: https://www.cceb.med.upenn.edu/events/cores-day-2026 (Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics).
24 The Foucault Century; Michel Foucault’s influence on contemporary thought is unmatched by any other twentieth-century intellectual; this conferences considers the manifold implications of this expanding corpus and posits that the Foucault we already know—or think we know—may need to be reconsidered; 2:30-9 p.m.; Class of 1978 Orrery Pavilion, Van Pelt Library; register: https://www.library.upenn.edu/events/foucault-century (Penn Libraries). Also September 25, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
28 C4R26: A Conference on Scientific Rigor; attend free workshops that will help you build practical research skills, join talks and debates with rigor experts and practitioners, and collaborate with a global community of people invested in improving the way research is designed, taught, and shared; 4 p.m.; Annenberg Center; register: https://www.c4r.io/conference (Penn Engineering). Through September 30.
Upcoming
3 Typography of Independence; Common Press has spent 2026 exploring the materiality of the Declaration of Independence and the craft and material practices that created this founding document in 1776: how ink was made, what it was like to work in candlelight, and who performed the labor? Brodsky Gallery, Kelly Writers House. Opening reception: September 3, 5:50-7:30 p.m.; register: https://tinyurl.com/brodsky-exhibit-sept-4.
Opening Celebration: To Secure These Rights: 150 Years of Women at Penn; 5:30-7:30 p.m.; 1st floor, Van Pelt Library. See “Now” section for more details about the exhibit.
9 Opening Celebration: At Liberty: Life in the City of Brotherly Love During the Early Republic; 5-7 p.m.; Arthur Ross Gallery, Fisher Fine Arts Library. See “Now” section for more details about the exhibit.
17 Witty and Gritty: Editorial Art of The Philadelphia Inquirer; featuring more than 150 original cartoons and artworks by Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonists Tony Auth and Signe Wilkinson, this exhibition explores decades of American life through the themes of politics, media, social issues, and Philadelphia culture; room 109, Annenberg School. Through May 2027. Opening reception: September 17, 5-7:30 p.m.
19 Guided Tour: Sacred Objects: Religion and Ritual; an expert guide will offer insights into the religious traditions, beliefs, and everyday practices of cultures around the world; participants can explore the many ways people have expressed faith, spirituality, and devotion through their material culture; 1 p.m.; Penn Museum; tickets: $30/general, $26/members; register: https://tinyurl.com/museum-tour-sept-19 (Penn Museum). Also September 20.
26 The Condition of Being Near; a group-exhibition project developed by curators Zairong Xiang (Duke Kunshan University, Shanghai) and Denise Ryner (ICA University of Pennsylvania) that focuses on historical and social circumstances of solidarity as a process through artistic investigations of primarily Black, African and Chinese diasporic and economic networks; Institute of Contemporary Art. Through February 21, 2027.
Entryways: Saif Azzuz; part of ICA’s Entryways series, wherein artists are invited to design window graphics that welcome visitors; Saif Azzuz’s work is often inspired by his background as a member of the Yurok Tribe, whose ancestral lands are located in present-day northern California, including colorful, abstract paintings and installations based on native plants and Indigenous land management techniques; Institute of Contemporary Art. Through September 21, 2027.
Waste Scenes: Maia Chao and Fred Schmidt-Arenales; a two-channel video created during the artists’ residency at RAIR (Recycled Artist in Residency) in Philadelphia; working inside an active recycling center, the artists built short, performative vignettes choreographed using materials like discarded books and old tapes they found on-site; Institute of Contemporary Art. Through February 21, 2027.
Wilmer Wilson IV: SKIRL!; as the inaugural participant in the ICA’s new research residency program (R+D), interdisciplinary artist Wilmer Wilson IV investigates the eastern gray squirrel—first introduced into Philadelphia's public parks in the mid-nineteenth century—as a central figure in American ecologies, histories, and cultural identities; Institute of Contemporary Art. Through February 21, 2027.
Now
The Time to Right all Wrongs: France, Haiti, and Philadelphia in a Revolutionary Age; surveys the revolutions that shook the Atlantic world in the 1790s, and the profound changes that resulted, from France to Haiti to Philadelphia; Goldstein Family Gallery, Van Pelt Library. Through September 4.
Nursing the Revolution; challenges the widespread belief that nursing began in the 19th century with Florence Nightingale by displaying rare evidence of a world of nursing and caretaking that thrived before, during, and after the American Revolution; floor 2U, Claire Fagin Hall. Through November 20.
To Secure These Rights: 150 Years of Women at Penn; while women have been associated with the University of Pennsylvania from its beginnings, only in the last 150 years have they been students in the classroom working towards degrees, which were first awarded to women in the 1880s; this exhibition explores what was at times a fraught relationship between women students and scholars and the faculty and administration; 1st floor, Van Pelt Library. Through December 11.
At Liberty: Life in the City of Brotherly Love During the Early Republic; will feature paintings, sculptures, and watercolor drawings of notable figures like Benjamin Franklin alongside depictions of daily life in Philadelphia by Gilbert Stuart, John Lewis Krimmel, members of the Peale family, and other artists active during the American Revolution; Arthur Ross Gallery, Fisher Fine Arts Library. Through December 13. Penn student tours: Saturdays and Sundays, noon-3 p.m.; Wednesdays, 4-6 p.m.
Allison Zuckerman: Remixed and Reclaimed; a selection of recent paintings by Allison Zuckerman, C’12, that exemplify her exuberant, layered approach to image-making; using paint and collage; grand lobby, Annenberg Center. Through March 28, 2027.
9 60-Second Lectures; bite-sized presentations by Penn faculty members; noon; Benjamin Franklin statue in front of College Hall; full lineup of speakers and topics: https://www.sas.upenn.edu/60-second (School of Arts & Sciences). Also September 16, 23, 30.
14 Fall Research Expo; an exciting celebration of undergraduate research; view poster presentations from over 350 undergraduate students; 5-7 p.m.; Houston Hall (Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships).
17 Leonard A. Lauder Community Care NP Program Info Session; learn more about a program dedicated to the education of nurse practitioners who will be leading forces in the advancement of clinical care in underserviced communities; 6:30 p.m.; online webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/lauder-info-sept-17 (Penn Nursing).
22 Working Dog Center Tour; see firsthand what it takes to train leading detection dogs; watch as the Working Dog Center staff explain the step-by-step process to preparing a dog to serve in explosive detection, search & rescue, cancer detection, and more; 10 a.m.; Penn Vet Working Dog Center; RSVP: pvwdcoutreach@vet.upenn.edu (Penn Vet).
Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies/Center for Research in Feminist, Queer, and Transgender Studies Open House; meet and learn more about GSWS/FQT faculty, staff, visiting scholars, post docs, and current students; snacks and refreshments provided; 4-5:30 p.m.; Alice Paul Center (GSWS, FQT).
29 PearX Office Hours + Info Session; open to Penn faculty, postdocs, PhD and graduate students and student founders; 6 p.m.; register: https://tinyurl.com/pearx-sept-29; office hours, noon-5 p.m., register: https://tinyurl.com/pearx-office-hours (SAS).
African American Resource Center
Locations TBA. Info: https://aarc.upenn.edu/events.
16 Women of Color at Penn Lunch Series; noon.
17 Men of Color Monthly Huddle Meeting; 1 p.m.
College of Liberal & Professional Studies
Online events. Info and to register: www.upenn.edu/lps-events.
1 Master of Environmental Studies Virtual Drop-in Hour; noon.
2 Pre-Health Post-Baccalaureate Programs Virtual Information Session; noon.
3 Organizational Dynamics Programs Virtual Information Session; noon.
Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences Virtual Application Completion Session; 12:30 p.m. Also September 17.
8 Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences Virtual Information Session; 6 p.m. Also September 22, noon.
9 Master of Liberal Arts Virtual Information Session; noon.
15 Master of Behavioral and Decision Sciences Virtual Info Session; 8 a.m.
Fels Institute of Government Virtual Information Session; noon.
Pre-Health Programs Virtual Application Completion Session; 12:30 p.m.
16 Master of Environmental Studies Virtual Information Session; 10 a.m.
23 Penn Employee Virtual Information Session; 12:30 p.m.
Graduate School of Education
Except as noted, online events. Info: https://www.gse.upenn.edu/news-and-events/events-calendar.
9 Statistics, Measurement, Assessment, and Research Technology, MSEd Virtual Information Session; 8 p.m.
14 Penn GSE Tour; 11 a.m.; 3700 Walnut Street. Also September 16, 18, 23, 25, 28, 30.
Professional Counseling, MPhilEd Virtual Information Session; 8 p.m.
15 Executive Doctorate in Higher Education Management, EdD Virtual Information Session; noon. Also September 28, 3 p.m.
Higher Education, MSEd Virtual Information Session; 4 p.m.
Interdisciplinary Studies in Human Development, MSEd Virtual Information Session; 8 p.m.
16 Teaching, Learning, and Leadership, MSEd Virtual Information Session; 7:30 p.m.
17 Penn Chief Learning Officer Virtual Information Session; noon.
23 Educational Linguistics Virtual Information Session; 9 a.m.
Education Policy, MSEd Virtual Information Session; 7 p.m.
30 Learning Sciences and Technologies, MSEd Virtual Information Session; 1 p.m.
Human Resources
Except as noted, all online events. Info and to register: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/.
3 Fundamentals of Strategic Planning; 12:30 p.m.
8 MetLife: Money Matters—Moving Forward in a Changing World; noon.
9 TIAA Webinar: How Can I Afford College for My Kids and Grandkids? 11 a.m.
Penn Hiring Manager Training; 12:30 p.m.
10 Navigating the Empty Nest Transition; noon.
Wellness Walk with Penn Libraries; noon; meet at the Button.
11 Meditation and Breathwork for Focus and Energy; noon.
14 30-Minute Chair Yoga Plus Core; noon. Also September 21, 28.
15 Group Fitness: Express Yoga; noon; studio 414, Pottruck Health & Fitness Center.
Introducing Savi to Help Navigate Student Loan Repayment and Forgiveness; noon.
Parenting Session: Three Essential Skills Your Student Needs for the School Year; 3 p.m.
16 STEP UP Introduction First Steps to Excellence; 9 a.m.-noon.
22 Lunchtime Chair Yoga; noon.
23 Well-Being Pop-Up: Resilience and Optimism; 10 a.m.
WebMD Webinar: Behavior Change; noon.
Maintaining Your Cognitive Fitness; 12:30 p.m.
24 Penn: Mission and Connections for Staff; 9 a.m.-noon; suite 1AS, 3440 Market Street.
TIAA Webinar: Understanding Health Savings Accounts (HSAs): Smart Saving for Healthcare Expenses Today and Tomorrow; noon.
29 Ramp Health Cooking Demo: Family Fun in the Kitchen; noon.
30 Group Fitness: Beginner Strength; noon; studio 409, Pottruck Health & Fitness Center.
Well-Being Pop-Up: Avoiding Thinking Traps; 10 a.m.
Morris Arboretum & Gardens
In-person events at Morris Arboretum & Gardens. Info and to register: https://www.morrisarboretum.org/see-do/events-calendar.
Garden Highlights Tour; knowledgeable guides will design a tour around the interests of the attendees; every tour is different, so come back as many times as you’d like. Weekdays: 10:30 a.m.; weekends: 1 p.m.
12 Small Trees for Small(er) Spaces; investigate smaller specimen trees that make a big impact, ranging in height from 15 to 30 feet; trees featured on the tour have many special features, such as spectacular bark, interesting forms, and great flower and leaf color; 11 a.m.
26 Hidden Gems Tour; tour in which knowledgeable guides will highlight garden features that are off the beaten path or hidden in plain view, including structures, sculptures, walkways, trees, and vistas; 11 a.m.
Penn Libraries
Various locations. Info and to register: https://www.library.upenn.edu/events.
Print the Declaration of Independence; visit Common Press to print your very own copy of the Declaration of Independence; Common Press, Fisher Fine Arts Library. Through December 18.
1 Excel Basics: Get Started with Tables; an orientation to Excel and using table-formatted data to perform data analysis; noon; room 244, Van Pelt Library, and online webinar.
Orientation to the Penn Museum Library; an introduction to a library that will offer a variety of comfortable study space and that houses interesting collections related to anthropology and archaeology; 1:30 p.m.; level 1, Museum Library, Penn Museum.
PitchBook 101; learn how to use a leading platform for researching private and public companies, from competitors and cap tables to financials and financing history; 3:30 p.m.; room 244, Van Pelt Library.
2 R Basics: Get Started in RStudio; an orientation to R and RStudio, including R code and data analysis functionality; noon; room 244, Van Pelt Library, and online webinar.
Bloomberg 101; a hands-on introduction to Bloomberg’s database structure and essential commands, including practical, real-world examples; 3:30 p.m.; room 244, Van Pelt Library.
8 Excel Basics: Summarize Data; workshop that will provide techniques for grouping by labels and summarizing numeric or countable content in Excel so that learners can develop reports or begin data analysis; noon; room 244, Van Pelt Library.
Updates on the NIH Data Management & Sharing Policy; workshop for Penn researchers that will provide policy explanations, guidance, resources, and recent updates for NIH’s Data Management & Sharing Policy (DMSP); noon; online webinar. Also September 11.
9 Meet the Curators; hear from four Penn Libraries curatorial staff about the collections they oversee; noon; Class of 1978 Orrery Pavilion, Van Pelt Library.
R Basics: Prepare Data for Modeling and Analysis; will provide techniques for organizing both numeric and character content in R so that learners can generate outcomes from standard statistical or machine learning models; noon; room 244, Van Pelt Library, and online webinar.
Business Research Strategies; an overview of essential business resources and self-help tools from Lippincott Library that support your academic, career and entrepreneurial goals, from accessing key publications to researching industries and finding financial data; noon; room 247, Van Pelt Library.
15 Excel Basics: Visualize Data; will provide techniques for choosing and generating Excel charts so that learners can express data-based insights effectively; noon; room 244, Van Pelt Library, and online webinar.
16 Quarto with R: Code and Author in the Same File; will offer techniques for formatting text, citations, code, and figures in Quarto and R Markdown so learners can produce submission-ready academic papers, slide presentations, websites, and more; noon; room 244, Van Pelt Library, and online webinar.
17 Sewing Machine 101; a beginner-friendly, hands-on sewing workshop where students will learn essential machine operation, fabric selection, pattern reading, and troubleshooting while completing their own sewing project; 2-4 p.m.; Education Commons Makerspace.
21 Intro to Metals and Jewelry: Trays; a beginner-friendly, hands-on metals and jewelry workshop where students learn essential metalworking safety and techniques using a hydraulic press, rotary tool, and specialty dies to create a custom embossed metal tray; 2-4 p.m.; Education Commons Makerspace.
22 S&P Capital IQ Pro 101; get acquainted with S&P Capital IQ Pro, a key platform for company, market and financial intelligence; 3:30 p.m.; room 244, Van Pelt Library, and online webinar.
29 Open Study & Office Hours: How to Get Organized; drop-in hours for students who need a little help getting organized this semester; 3-5 p.m.; Weigle Information Commons, 1st floor, Van Pelt Library.
3 First Thursday Community Meeting; Glenn Bryan, assistant vice president of community relations, will lead a monthly meeting that touches on university-wide concerns and features a discussion on arts and culture at Penn; 10 a.m.; location TBA: RSVP: jordaneg@upenn.edu (Office of Government and Community Affairs).
14 School of Arts & Sciences Community Forum; monthly meeting that will bring SAS’s scholarly expertise to bear on current issues, offering perspective, analytical rigor, and ethical insight; noon; room 250, PCPSE; info: https://www.sas.upenn.edu/events/sas-community-forum (School of Arts & Sciences).
11 Music in the Pavilion: Duo Sapientia; in this eclectic program, Duo Sapientia (violinists Dongmyung Ahn and Mandy Wolman) seek to explore the resonances that emerge from duo violin music from two periods; 6:15 p.m.; Class of 1978 Orrery Pavilion, Van Pelt Library; register: https://libcal.library.upenn.edu/event/17306877 (Penn Libraries).
25 Alonzo King LINES Ballet; company led by a visionary choreographer performs a program that includes Ode to Alice Coltrane, a radiant tribute to a jazz icon, and LEGACY, a meditation on lineage and memory set to an original score by Grammy Award-winning bassist Esperanza Spalding; 7:30 p.m.; Zellerbach Theater, Annenberg Center; tickets: $35-$83; register: https://pennlivearts.org/event/LINESBallet (Penn Live Arts). Also September 26, 2 and 7:30 p.m.
27 An Evening with John Cameron Mitchell; debut Philadelphia performance of the Tony Award-winning star of stage and screen who created the cult classic Hedwig and the Angry Inch; 7 p.m.; Zellerbach Theater, Annenberg Center; tickets: $76-$106; register: https://pennlivearts.org/event/JohnCameronMitchell (Penn Live Arts).
10 “Penn’s Sylvania” Book Launch; Fritz Steiner and Ignacio Bunster-Ossa, Weitzman School of Design; 6:30 p.m.; Kleinman Energy Forum, Fisher Fine Arts Library; register: https://tinyurl.com/steiner-book-launch-sept-10 (McHarg Center).
17 Raps of Resistance: How Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole Reignited a Hip-Hop Tradition; Jeremy McCool, West Chester University; Earl Hopkins, Philadelphia Inquirer; 5:30 p.m.; 2nd floor conference room, Penn Bookstore (Penn Bookstore).
18 Agrarian Questions: The Latin American Novel on the Road to Capitalism; Ericka Beckman, Spanish and Portuguese; noon; room 473, McNeil Building (Center for Latin American & Latinx Studies).
23 Bêtes Noires: Sorcery as History in the Haitian Domnican Borderlands; Lauren Derby, University of California Los Angeles; 1:45 p.m.; room 209, College Hall; register: https://tinyurl.com/derby-reading-sept-23 (Center for Latin American & Latinx Studies).
24 Salt Sisters; Lindsey Palmer, Brainpop; 5:30 p.m.; 2nd floor conference room, Penn Bookstore (Penn Bookstore).
30 Reflections of a Microvascular Plastic Surgeon: Reconstructing Shattered Lives; Frederic Deleyiannis, University of Colorado Health; 6 p.m., Holman Reading Room, Holman Biotech Commons; register: https://www.library.upenn.edu/events/reflections-microvascular (Penn Libraries).
Kelly Writers House
In-person events at Kelly Writers House. Info and to register: https://writing.upenn.edu/wh/calendar/0926.php.
1 A Celebration of Jamie Albrecht’s What Have You; 6 p.m.
2 ModPo Webcast; noon; livestreamed on YouTube. Also September 9, 16, 23, 30.
Speakeasy Open Mic Night; 7 p.m.
8 Rewatching the Films of the 1950s and 1960s in the 2020s; Al Filreis, Jo Park, and William Sturkey, English; 6 p.m.
9 Predicting the Future: Real and Imagined Technologies; Isabel Kim, novelist; Amanda Silberling, TechCrunch; 6 p.m.
10 First Light; Caconrad, poet; 6 p.m.
16 Ortiz’s War: The Allies’ Secret Weapon Against the Nazis in France; Katie Sanders, journalist; noon.
Bananagrams Tournament; 6 p.m.
22 Live at the Writers House; 6:30 p.m.; live broadcast on WXPN.
23 Ron Sillman: A Poetry Reading In Honor of His 80th Birthday; Ron Sillman, poet; 6 p.m.
24 Careers in Journalism Panel; panel of Penn alumni journalists; 5:30 p.m.
28 Song and Grito: Poets Laureate Singing Through Grief; ire’ne lara silva and Raina J. León, poets, 6 p.m.
30 Povich Journalism Program: A Conversation; Ashley Parker, The Atlantic; noon.
A Reading by the Members of the Penn and Pencil Club; 6 p.m.
15 National Voter Registration Day; a nonpartisan civic holiday dedicated to encouraging participation in our democracy; to learn more, visit www.nationalvoterregistrationday.org and https://ogca.upenn.edu/.
17 Constitution Day; a program of events on Penn’s campus in celebration of the day in 1787 when the 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution; more info: https://ogca.upenn.edu/ (Office of Government and Community Affairs).
Home games only. Info, venues, and tickets: https://pennathletics.com/.
1 Men’s Soccer vs. Monmouth; 7 p.m.
5 Sprint Football vs. Penn Alumni; time TBA.
10 Women’s Soccer vs. Saint Joseph’s; 6 p.m.
11 Field Hockey vs. La Salle; 3 p.m.
12 Men’s Soccer vs. Seton Hall; 7 p.m.
15 Men’s Soccer vs. Delaware; 7 p.m.
16 Women’s Soccer vs. Jefferson; 6 p.m.
Volleyball vs. Rider; 7 p.m.
18 Field Hockey vs. Princeton; 3 p.m.
26 Football vs. Lehigh; 1 p.m.
3 Working Safely in the Lab: Navigating Common Laboratory Hazards in MSE Research; panel of speakers; 10:30 a.m.; Wu & Chen Auditorium, Levine Hall (Materials Science & Engineering).
Desire and Time; Or, the Italian Renaissance in South Korea; David Young Kim, history of art; noon; suite 310, 3600 Market Street (Korean Studies).
Systematics and the Foundation of Biodiversity Knowledge: A Tale of Collections and Crisis Intervention; Morgan Gostel, Morris Arboretum & Gardens; noon; room 109, Leidy Laboratory, and Zoom webinar; join: https://tinyurl.com/biology-seminars-fall-2026 (Biology).
8 Additive Manufacturing of Electronic Skins and Musculofascial Multifunctional Structures; J. William Boley, Boston University; 10:15 a.m.; Wu & Chen Auditorium, Levine Hall (Mechanical Engineering & Applied Mechanics).
Asian American Across the Disciplines; Samip Mallick, South Asian American Digital Archive; noon; Zoom webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/mallick-talk-sept-8 (Asian American Studies).
2026-2027 Keith L. and Katherine S. Sachs Visiting Professor Lecture; Zoe Leonard, artist; 6 p.m.; Institute of Contemporary Art and Zoom webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/leonard-talk-sept-8 (Institute of Contemporary Art).
9 Cinema Before the World: The Global Routes of the Lumière Brothers; Michael Allan, University of Oregon; noon; room 330, Fisher-Bennett Hall (Cinema & Media Studies).
Sinking Islands, Rising Stakes: Climate, Taiwan, and China’s Courtship of the World’s Smallest States; Scott Moore, Penn Global China Program; 12:15 p.m.; room 418, PCPSE (Center for the Study of Contemporary China).
Political Empathy and Religious Pluralism; Lia C. Howard, Penn Political Empathy Lab; 5:30 p.m.; Gloria Dei Old Swedes Episcopal Church, 916 S. Swanson Street; register: https://www.interfaithphiladelphia.org/phila250_gloriadei/ (Paideia Program).
10 Care Labor, Caste, and Race in Colonial India; Satya Shikha Chakraborty, College of New Jersey; noon; room 230, PCPSE (Center for the Advanced Study of India).
11 Consumer-Directed Health Care: Promise or Pitfall; Sherry Glied, New York University; Stephen T. Parente, University of Minnesota; noon; online webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/glied-parente-sept-11 (Leonard Davis Institute).
12 Studying & Publishing Theban Tomb 7: (A) Tomb of the Scribe Ramose at Deir el-Medina; Marie-Lys Arnette, Johns Hopkins University; 3:30 p.m.; Widener Lecture Hall, Penn Museum; tickets: free-$10; info: https://penn.museum/calendar/1705/arce-pa-lecture (Penn Museum, American Research Center in Egypt, Pennsylvania Chapter).
14 Lost in Translation: Language Segregation in the United States; Juan Pedroza, University of California Santa Cruz; noon; room 403, McNeil Building (Population Studies Center).
Southern Jews and the U.S. Civil War; Shari Rabin, Oberlin College; noon; Zoom webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/katz-civil-war-fall-2026 (Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies).
The Current Truth About Customized Bracket Technology, Pros and Cons; Todd Welsh, Bucks County Orthodontics; 6:30 p.m.; online webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/welsh-talk-sept-14 (Penn Dental Medicine).
16 German Business in Greater Philadelphia; Susanne Johnson, Philadelphia German American Chamber of Commerce; 5:15 p.m.; room 543, Williams Hall (Francophone, Italian & Germanic Studies).
17 Revolution by Stealth: How Women’s Groups Catalyzed a Cultural Transformation in Bihar; Vijayendra (Biju) Rao, National Law School of India University; noon; room 230, PCPSE (Center for the Advanced Study of India).
Democracy and Knowledge: A Conversation; Mark Trodden, dean of SAS; Sophia Rosenfeld, history; 4 p.m.; Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall (School of Arts & Sciences).
The Trouble with Buddhist Gifts: The Ethics of Ritual Care in Contemporary Japan; Paulina Kolata, Harvard University; 5:15 p.m.; location TBA (Religious Studies, Center for East Asian Studies).
18 150 Years of Women at Penn; Lynne Farrington and Alicia Meyer, Kislak Center; noon; online webinar; register: https://libcal.library.upenn.edu/event/16751743 (Penn Libraries).
21 The Impact of Increasing Community Nonlabor Income on Fertility; Molly A. Martin, Pennsylvania State University; noon; room 403, McNeil Building (Population Studies Center).
Keep it Together! How Toxoplasma Builds a Mitoribosome From >50 rRNAs; Lilach Sheiner, University of Glasgow, Scotland; noon; room 132, Hill Pavilion, and Zoom webinar; register: https://upenn.zoom.us/j/91485597704 (Penn Vet).
22 Lagrangian Stretching: A New Lens on Complex Fluid Flows; Arezoo M. Ardekani, Purdue University; 10:15 a.m.; Wu & Chen Auditorium, Levine Hall (Mechanical Engineering & Applied Mechanics).
Deglobalization and the Work of Radu Jude; Meta Mazaj, cinema & media studies; 3:30 p.m.; room 623, Williams Hall (Russian & East European Studies, Wolf Humanities Center).
EEOC v. University of Pennsylvania: Unsettled Questions About Religious Protections, Privacy, and American Democracy Today; Randi Weingarten, American Federation of Teachers; Amanda Shanor, Wharton School; Britt P. Tevis, Syracuse University; Olivia Haynie, sociology; 5:15 p.m.; room 250, PCPSE, and Zoom webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/katz-talk-sept-22 (Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies).
23 Everything Is a Scam; Lana Swartz, University of Virginia; noon; room 330, Fisher-Bennett Hall (Cinema & Media Studies).
Economics and the Future of Heritage; Peter Gould, Penn Museum; 6 p.m.; Widener Lecture Hall, Penn Museum; register: https://penn.museum/calendar/1699/penn-cultural-heritage-center-lecture (Penn Museum, Penn Cultural Heritage Center).
24 Repurposing Nature’s Molecular Machines as Precision Tools for Plant Genome Engineering; Gözde Demirer, California Institute of Technology; noon; room 109, Leidy Laboratory, and Zoom webinar; join: https://tinyurl.com/biology-seminars-fall-2026 (Biology).
Translation as a Pedagogical Bridge in Korean Studies: Integrating Language and Content; Young-mee Yu Cho, Rutgers University New Brunswick; noon; suite 310, 3600 Market Street (Korean Studies).
Penn-CHOP LBI Seminar Series (Title TBA); Maria Basil, medicine; 4 p.m.; room 11-146, Smilow Center (Penn-CHOP Lung Biology Institute).
Practicing Attention—But Why? Jenny Odell, author; 5:30 p.m.; Widener Lecture Hall, Penn Museum; register: https://tinyurl.com/odell-talk-sept-24 (Wolf Humanities Center).
25 Closing the Institutional Gap: How Foreign Investors Shape Domestic Institutions in Emerging Markets; Siyao Li, University of Pittsburgh; 12:15 p.m.; room 418, PCPSE (Center for the Study of Contemporary China).
29 Asian American Across the Disciplines; Ali Zaker and Najneen Kabita, Moder Patshala; noon; Zoom webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/kabita-zaker-sept-29 (Asian American Studies).
Teaching Students with Varying Experiences and Educations; Evan C Thompson Chair Lecture on Excellence in Teaching; Jie Deng, Nursing; 4 p.m.; Class of 1978 Orrery Pavilion, Van Pelt Library; register: https://tinyurl.com/deng-cetli-talk-sept-29 (Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning & Innovation).
Chemistry
In-person events at Carolyn Hoff Lynch Lecture Hall, 1973 Chemistry Building. Info: https://www.chem.upenn.edu/events.
1 Monoterpene Indole Alkaloids: A Case Study in How Plants Create Chemical Diversity; Sarah E. O’Connor, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology; 4 p.m.
2 How Location, Transport and Protein Interactions All Impact Plant Natural Product Biosynthesis; Sarah E. O’Connor, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology; noon.
3 Natural Product Biosynthesis Across the Kingdoms of Life: Insect Natural Products; Sarah E. O’Connor, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology; noon.
10 Carbenes and Even More Electron-Deficient Carbon Species; Guy Bertrand, University of California, San Diego; 4 p.m.
29 Development of Spectroscopic Maps for Terminal Alkyne Containing Molecules to Explain Raman Spectra; Clyde Daly, Haverford College; noon.
30 Activity-Based Sensing: Using Chemical Reactivity to Decode Single-Atom Chemical Biology; Chris Chang, Princeton University; noon.
Classical Studies
Except as noted, in-person events at McNeil Center for Early American Studies. Info: https://www.classics.upenn.edu/events.
10 Model Republic: Why the American Founders Loved Ancient Carthage; Caroline Winterer, Stanford University; 5:30 p.m.; National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street.
15 Colonies Without Empire: The Archaic Greek Colonies in the American Revolution; Caroline Winterer, Stanford University; 5 p.m.
17 The First Empire: The Appeal of Ancient Persia in Revolutionary America; Caroline Winterer, Stanford University; 5 p.m.
Earth & Environmental Science
Except as noted, in-person events in room 358, Hayden Hall. Info: https://earth.sas.upenn.edu/events.
1 Wildfires to Floods: Health Effects of Extreme Weather; Marilyn Howarth, systems pharmacology & translational therapeutics; noon; Class of 1978 Orrery Pavilion, Van Pelt Library.
11 Common Era Sea-Level Change Along the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Coast; Jennifer Walker, Rowan University; 3 p.m.
18 Multifunctional Solar Landscapes Deliver Agricultural, Ecological and Socio-Economic Co-Benefits; Sujith Ravi, Temple University; 3 p.m.
Economics
In-person events. Info: https://economics.sas.upenn.edu/events.
2 Welfare Consequences of Doubts About CEX Consumption Dynamics; Thomas Sargent, Wharton School; 4 p.m.; room 200, PCPSE.
3 Measuring Judicial Biases with Artificial Intelligence: Evidence from Chinese IP Litigations; Hanming Fang, economics; 3:30 p.m.; room 101, PCPSE.
9 Promoting Competition Through Auctions: Evidence from Chile’s Pension Fund Market; Keunsang Song, economics; 3:30 p.m.; room 100, PCPSE.
What Can Measured Beliefs Tell Us About Monetary Non-Neutrality? Hassan Afrouzi, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis; 4 p.m.; room 200, PCPSE.
14 Model Restrictiveness in Functional, Structural and Black-Box Settings; Zhiheng You, economics; noon; room 203, PCPSE.
16 The Environmental Costs and Consumer Benefits of Competitive Smog Check Markets; Peter Lugthart, Wharton School; 3:30 p.m.; room 100, PCPSE.
17 Job Amenity Bundles, Sorting, and Monopsony; Naoki Aizawa, University of Wisconsin, Madison; 3:30 p.m.; room 101, PCPSE.
21 Generative Learning of Partially Identified Treatment Effects; Xiaoxia Shi, Johns Hopkins University; 4:30 p.m.; room 200, PCPSE.
22 Market Order Mechanisms; Songzi Du, University of California, San Diego; 4 p.m.; room 203, PCPSE.
History of Art
Except as noted, in-person events in room 113, Jaffe Building. Info: https://arth.sas.upenn.edu/calendar/month/2026-09.
9 The Currency of Shame; Shira Brisman, history of art; 3:30 p.m.
16 “Shredding”: A Lineage of Purple; Nick Herman, history of art; 3:30 p.m.
23 In the Shadow of Empire: Art in Occupied Japan; Alicia Volk, University of Maryland; 4:30 p.m.; Arthur Ross Gallery, Fisher Fine Arts Library.
Medical Ethics & Health Policy
Various locations. Info: https://medicalethicshealthpolicy.med.upenn.edu/events.
1 Listening From the Inside: Partnering With Incarcerated Men to Navigate Health and Dignity; Rose Onyeali, geriatrics; noon; room 05-031, 3600 Civic Center Blvd.
8 Intentionally Infecting Humans: Is it Ethical? Seema Shah, Northwestern University; noon; room 11-102AB, 3600 Civic Center Blvd, and online webinar.
10 Antidepressant Treatment in Childhood; Sonia Bhalotra, University of Warwick; noon; room 05-031, 3600 Civic Center Blvd, and online webinar.
15 The Promises and Perils of Palliative Psychiatry: Implications for Psychiatric Ethics; Daniel Buchman, University of Toronto; noon; online webinar.
29 Medicine Under East German Dictatorship, 1949-1990; Ulf Schmidt, University of Hamburg; noon; room 08-031, 3600 Civic Center Blvd, and online webinar.