What is a ‘mass shooting’ and how do we talk about gun violence?

In a Q&A, Penn criminologist Richard Berk discusses why definitions matter, what needs to change, how the most recent tragedies reflect the current conversation about gun violence, and what role social media and mental illness play in this context.

• Criminology

The Impact of Social Media: Is it Irreplaceable?

In little more than a decade, the impact of social media has gone from a being an entertaining extra to a fully integrated part of nearly every aspect of daily life for many. Kevin Werbach spoke with Knowledge@Wharton about predicting which way social media will morph next.

• Legal Studies & Business Ethics

Is Huawei a national security threat?

Christopher Yoo, professor of law, communication, and computer and information science, describes why the Chinese technology company has become a hot topic of conversation in national security circles.

• Communication
• Computer and Information Science
• Law

Cross-cultural similarities and differences in emoji usage

In a recent study, Lyle Ungar and collaborators used machine learning to investigate similarities and differences in emoji usage in countries they defined as having either “Eastern” or “Western” cultures and what those differences might mean for how scientists view the relationship between online communication and health.

• Computer and Information Science

Innovative SP2 Faculty-Founded Speaker Series Awarded Additional Year of Grant Funding

The Control Societies Speaker Series, founded by Ezekiel Dixon-Román, brings cutting-edge scholars to Penn, exploring how philosophical foundations of algorithms & data intersect with governmentality, surveillance, social policy, & power relations.

• Social Policy

Wharton prof explains Facebook’s new currency

In a Q&A with Penn Today, Kevin Werbach explains Facebook’s latest venture: “Libra” cryptocurrency, whether it’s actually a cryptocurrency, Facebook’s interest in it, and looming regulatory challenges.

• Legal Studies & Business Ethics

Preventative Measures

As an international leader in the use of machine learning, Richard Berk uses very large datasets with hundreds of thousands of observations and many hundreds of variables to forecast crime. Read more about his research on mass violence.

• Criminology
• Statistics

What Does Risk-Based Regulation Mean?

"In a world where risks are omnipresent, complex, and potentially extremely costly, taking a risk-based approach to regulation is essential," writes Cary Coglianese. Read more in his recent Regulatory Review op-ed.

• Law
• Political Science

Founded on an ecosystem of innovation

See Warren Center affiliates Vijay Kumar and Konrad Kording featured in Penn's recent video on innovation at the University. “If it's new, if it's novel, then it holds promise to change the world. You'll find it at Penn,” says President Amy Gutmann.

Communication Neuroscience Scholar Emily Falk Promoted to Full Professor

Emily Falk, Professor of Communication, Psychology, and Marketing, recently received promotion to full professor. By looking at how people’s brains respond to, for example, news headlines or public health messaging, Falk’s work unlocks the unconscious and hidden dynamics in the brain that shapes our thinking.

• Communication
• Marketing
• Psychology