Over the last two weeks, SICSS-Penn brought together graduate students, postdocs and faculty to explore computational social science through lectures, tutorials and collaborative research. Hosted by @csspen, a collaboration between Penn Engineering, @Wharton and @AnnenbergPenn, the program continues to foster interdisciplinary research. Thank you to everyone who made this year's SICSS-Penn a success.

As AI scales, so do its energy needs. Penn Engineering's @VanessaZChan joined leaders at @wef's Annual Meeting of the New Champions to discuss building the data centers and energy systems needed to power AI more sustainably. During the session, "No Power, No AI," Chan explained why the future of AI depends on designing power, energy storage and computing systems together from the start, while working across sectors to build the data centers and supporting infrastructure AI requires. bit.ly/43TWgXn

Penn Electric Racing (@Penn_racing) placed 15th out of 108 teams at the 2026 Formula SAE Electric competition and brought home: 🏆 1st Place, Business Presentation 🏆 1st Place, GM Technical Innovation 🏆 1st Place, Cummins Sustainable Power 🏆 Design Finalist (6th overall, best in the Ivy League) Congratulations, PER! #fsae #racing #upenn #penn #f1

Penn Engineering researchers are using lung-on-a-chip technology to better understand how asthma develops and progresses. Designed to mimic key features of the human lung, these microengineered devices allow scientists to study disease in ways that traditional laboratory models cannot. By combining bioengineering, microfluidics and human cells, the technology provides a powerful platform for investigating the biological mechanisms behind asthma and advancing the search for more effective treatments. Read more: bit.ly/4oNg48u #NAMs #NewApproachMethodologies | @pennbioeng

Eli Weisbord (C'26, GEng'26) spent last summer at Pickle, applying systems-level thinking to product development and marketing strategy. The experience reinforced his interest in entrepreneurship and reshaped how he approaches complex challenges. Looking ahead, he hopes to apply that same mindset to improving transparency and decision-making in health care. #TechEntrepreneurship bit.ly/3Sdrg21

Read more today: penntoday.upenn.edu/news/pen…

Penn Engineers traveled to Mendoza, Argentina, to explore the science behind winemaking. Through @cbe_penn's Biochemical Engineering of Wine course, students examined how engineering principles shape every stage of production, from grape cultivation to fermentation.

Kaikai Wang (ENG’11), a graduate of Penn Engineering’s Digital Media Design (DMD) program, reflects on how his time at Penn shaped his path in computer graphics and how it brought him and his wife together. "Penn is not only where I discovered my professional passion, but it's also where I met my wife, Jia (W’12). Our shared experience at the University created a special bond, and we often look back fondly on our time at Penn as the place where our lives intertwined." Now leading trusted computing efforts at Meta Ads, Wang’s career spans Microsoft, Google, and Meta, with work across privacy-preserving machine learning, VR, and live streaming.

As part of The Sugi and Millie Widjaja Entrepreneurship Fellows Program at Penn Engineering, Arianna Alonso Bizzi (GEng’26) is exploring how brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) can reconnect the brain with the outside world. Last summer, Alonso Bizzi interned at @BlackrockNeuro_, a Utah-based leader in brain–computer interface (BCI) technology that is already helping people living with paralysis restore movement and communication. There, she developed systems to analyze the electrodes used to record neural activity and improve how these components are tested at scale. "Thinking like an engineering entrepreneur means starting simple and then relentlessly improving,” she says. #TechEntrepreneurship #InnovationLeadership magazine.seas.upenn.edu/beyo…

As Philadelphia prepares to host six FIFA World Cup 26 matches, Paulo Arratia (@MEAM_Penn) breaks down the science of natural grass vs. synthetic turf. Natural grass absorbs energy and cushions impact, while turf is more rigid, affecting traction, ball movement and player biomechanics. “Beneath the cleats or tennis shoes, there’s a world of applied physics and mechanical processes at play,” says @ArratiaPaulo. Philadelphia's matches begin Sunday with Côte d'Ivoire vs. Ecuador. @FWC26Philly @FIFAcom | #WeAre26 #WeArePhilly #FIFAWorldCup26 bit.ly/4xmav4s

Read the full article today: scientificamerican.com/artic…

A new mathematical shape is challenging long-held assumptions about visual paradoxes. Penn Engineering's Robert Ghrist (@prof_g, @eseatpenn) coauthored a Scientific American article with Zoe Cooperband of @USNRL on the "impossible Klein ladder," the first known impossible object to exhibit a nonabelian property, which happens when the order of two loops changes the outcome. “The essence of a paradox is: you walk around a loop, and something has changed,” says Ghrist. “It’s a mismatch between where you are and where you thought you were.”

In EAS 5500: Applying Your Thesis to the Real World, Penn Engineering Ph.D. students explore how their research can create real-world impact. Taught by @VanessaZChan, the course explores the market, policy, manufacturing and adoption challenges that shape whether new technologies succeed beyond the lab. bit.ly/4oprgbe

"When the answer isn't obvious, when the incentives are loud and the timelines are tight, may our class have the integrity to pause. To think. To choose wisely." Watch remarks from Penn Engineering's 2026 Undergraduate Speaker, Julia Fremberg (ENG'26).

Read more: forbes.com/30-under-30/2026/…

Congratulations to Harrison Chong (MEAM’27, W’27) on being named to the @Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2026 list in the Social Impact category. Chong cofounded Jalan Journey, a social enterprise that creates online educational games designed to help students develop emotional skills and engage more deeply with social issues. Since its founding in 2022, the platform has reached more than 25,000 learners across Southeast Asia. “When I started Jalan Journey, I simply wanted to create learning experiences that helped young people feel, reflect, and care more deeply,” says Chong. “To have that work recognized by Forbes is surreal and deeply humbling. It reminds me how far I have come, but also how much more I have to do.” Congratulations, Harrison!

Listen to the full podcast today. youtu.be/XOijfgbLDS0

Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna joins Vijay Kumar in episode 12 of Penn Engineering’s Innovation & Impact podcast to discuss electric vehicles, innovation leadership and balancing new technologies with Ferrari’s legacy of performance and design.

Quantum science is becoming more hands-on at Penn Engineering thanks to ESE 3200: The Qubit Lab, where students work directly with optical and solid-state quantum experiments using research-grade equipment from @thorlabs. Led by Lee Bassett and Anthony Sigillito (@Penn_ESE), the course brings quantum concepts to life. Interested students can register for ESE 3200: The Qubit Lab in Fall 2026.

Read more: cifar.ca/cifar-global-schola…