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2014

  • November

  • October

    • Newt Eyes and Dragon Scales: A Halloween Q+A on the History of Witchcraft

      October 27, 2014

      With Halloween on the horizon, DrexelNow reached out to Jonathan Seitz, PhD, director of undergraduate studies and associate teaching professor of history in the College of Arts and Sciences, who will be teaching a new course on the history of witchcraft during the winter term. He also authored the book “Witchcraft and Inquisition in Early Modern Venice” (Cambridge University Press, 2011), and is currently conducting research exploring magic and witchcraft practices closer to home — in Pennsylvania around 1700 and in more recent times.

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    • Candy Chang Visits Drexel

      October 27, 2014

      Artist, designer and urban planner Candy Chang wants the University City community to think about life and death. She recently installed one of her popular "Before I Die" walls at the University City High School construction site as a precursor to her visit as a distinguished speaker in the spring.

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    • How to Write True Stories about Science and Society: The ‘Godfather of Creative Nonfiction’ Joins Drexel for Workshop

      October 23, 2014

      Lee Gutkind, “the ‘Godfather’ behind creative nonfiction” (Vanity Fair), will join Drexel University on Monday, Nov. 3 from 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. for a workshop and discussion to help faculty, students and other scholars, researchers and academics learn how to write about their research for a broad audience. The event aims to help those who have a passion to share their knowledge outside of the classroom, laboratory or institution to communicate their ideas to the public to advance knowledge and create new dialogue.

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    • National Constitution Center Founder Named Visiting Fellow at Drexel

      October 17, 2014

      Ambassador Joseph M. Torsella (Ret.) has been named Drexel University Distinguished Visiting Fellow in Public Policy for the duration of this academic year. He will contribute to the teaching and scholarship undertaken by Drexel’s Center for Public Policy, and in particular help advance the Center’s efforts to facilitate public policy discussion and debate in the region.

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  • September

  • August

    • Drexel Professor Creates Start Talking Science Event

      August 12, 2014

      Philadelphians will soon get their newest opportunity to meet local scientists and learn about exciting advances in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in the region, through an event created by a Drexel professor, called “Start Talking Science.”

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    • Roadside Research from the Pinelands and Coast to Coast

      August 12, 2014

      Three doctoral students from Drexel's Laboratory of Pinelands Research are presenting their work with northern pine snakes and the Pine Barrens gentian at the Ecological Society of America meeting, after doing some new roadside research during their cross-country drive to Sacramento.

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    • Dave Goldberg Sci-Fi Movie Rankings

      August 08, 2014

      What does Drexel physics professor Dave Goldberg, PhD, have in common with George R. R. Martin, Stephen King and Guillermo del Toro? They all recently helped rank ‘The 100 best sci-fi movies’ for Time Out magazine.

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  • July

    • How Is It Possible that Joblessness Could Kill You, But Recessions Could Be Good For Your Health?

      July 24, 2014

      While previous studies of individuals have shown that employees who lose their jobs have a higher mortality rate, more comprehensive studies have shown, unexpectedly, that population mortality actually declines as unemployment rates increase. Researchers from Drexel University and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor set out to better understand these seemingly contradictory findings.

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    • Philadelphia’s SugarHouse Casino Does Not Contribute to Neighborhood Crime, According to New Study

      July 16, 2014

      Philadelphia’s SugarHouse Casino opened its doors in September 2010 after years of protests from community members who feared that the casino would lead to an increase in neighborhood crime. But a new study by researchers at Drexel University and Temple University reveals that these concerns were unfounded.

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    • Faculty on Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researchers List

      July 07, 2014

      Three Drexel University faculty members earned the distinction of being ranked among the most cited researchers in their respective fields according to Thomson Reuters’ “Highly Cited Researchers 2014” list. Gordon Richards, PhD, a professor in theCollege of Arts and Sciences, Yury Gogotsi, PhD, Distinguished University and Trustee Chair professor in the College of Engineering, and Peter DeCarlo, PhD, an assistant professor in the College of Engineering and College of Arts and Sciences, were included on the list of 3,215 distinguished researchers compiled by the international media and information company.

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  • June

    • Autistic Adult Driving Experiences Study

      June 26, 2014

      In the first pilot study asking adults on the autism spectrum about their experiences with driving, researchers at Drexel University found significant differences in self-reported driving behaviors and perceptions of driving ability in comparison to non-autistic adults.

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    • Drexel Sociologist’s New Book Explores the Double-Edged Sword of “The Age of Aluminum”

      June 20, 2014

      From Coca-Cola cans to Apollo 11 to the Empire State Building, aluminum can be found almost anywhere you look. But are there unseen costs associated with this ubiquitous metal? In a new book, Drexel University’s Mimi Sheller, PhD, explores how aluminum enabled a high-speed, gravity-defying American modernity even as other parts of the world paid the price in environmental damage and political turmoil.

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    • Majority of Minors Engage in Sexting, Unaware of Harsh Legal Consequences

      June 18, 2014

      Sexting among youth is more prevalent than previously thought, according to a new study from Drexel University that was based on a survey of undergraduate students at a large northeastern university. More than 50 percent of those surveyed reported that they had exchanged sexually explicit text messages, with or without photographic images, as minors.

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    • Aluminum Dreams Q-and-A

      June 16, 2014

      Aluminum has helped change the world in ways previously unimaginable. But the quest for more aluminum has also had damaging ripple effects on the environment and indigenous populations around the world.

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    • Researchers Find Sweetener is Safe Insecticide

      June 04, 2014

      In a study that began as a sixth-grade science fair project, researchers at Drexel University have found that a popular non-nutritive sweetener, erythritol, may be an effective and human-safe insecticide. Erythritol, the main component of the sweetener Truvia®, was toxic to fruit flies in the Drexel team’s study.

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    • Full Professorships

      June 02, 2014

      Eight Drexel faculty members will be promoted to full professor effective Sept. 1. And with expertise ranging from architecture to photography, research covering everything from overeating to solar energy and international connections stretching to India, Japan, Ireland and beyond, they’re a diverse group.

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  • May

    • STEM Major Retention and Teaching Innovation

      May 29, 2014

      Drexel University has been awarded funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) of $1.2 million over five years to implement strategies intended to increase the retention of undergraduate students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) majors.

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    • Drexel Announces 2014 Honorary Degree Recipients

      May 22, 2014

      More than 5,000 students will graduate from Drexel University at its 127th Commencement on June 13 and 14 in five separate ceremonies. Drexel will award 20 honorary degrees to prominent individuals, including NBC News’ chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell, legendary architect Robert A.M. Stern and MIT professor Robert Langer — the most cited engineer in history.

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    • Modern-Day Slavery Expert and Author E. Benjamin Skinner to Speak at Drexel

      May 15, 2014

      There are more slaves in the world today than at any time in history, according to human trafficking expert and author E. Benjamin Skinner in his book "A Crime So Monstrous: Face-to-Face with Modern-Day Slavery." Skinner will join Drexel University on Wednesday, May 28, to speak about global slavery and his experiences reporting from dozens of countries in which slavery flourishes.

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    • Competence-Based Education Q-and-A

      May 14, 2014

      DrexelNow talked with Amy Slaton about "competency-based" programs, which The Atlantic called a "top trend" in education.

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    • A Tiny, Toothy Catfish with Bulldog Snout Defies Classification

      May 13, 2014

      Kryptoglanis shajii is a strange fish — and the closer scientists look, the stranger it gets. This small subterranean catfish sees the light of day and human observers only rarely, when it turns up in springs, wells and flooded rice paddies in the Western Ghats mountain region of Kerala, India. Scientists at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University have recently provided a detailed description of this fish's bizarre bone structures.

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    • Institute for Energy and the Environment Seed Grants

      May 08, 2014

      Reducing carbon emissions, improving efficiency of the power grid and using ultrasound to treat contaminated water are just a few of the research goals being pursued by the first round of projects funded by the A.J. Drexel Institute for Energy and the Environment. In all six projects received seed funding totaling $270,000 to investigate topics related to environmental protection and sustainability.

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    • Songwriting, Storytelling and Sex: “Week of Writing” Festival Explores Literary Issues at Drexel, May 12-16

      May 07, 2014

      The Week of Writing, hosted by the Department of English and Philosophy, kicks off on Monday, May 12. Highlights include student readings, workshops, story slams and panel discussions including “Writing Lyrics,” “Storytelling in Unexpected Places” and “Writing about Sex.” Presenters will include students, faculty, journalists, playwrights, publishers, editors, poets, authors, songwriters and other noted guests.

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  • April

    • Andre Carrington Q-and-A

      April 30, 2014

      Last week, the Supreme Court handed down its latest decision on the topic of affirmative action in college admissions, ruling 6-2 that voters can ban state colleges and universities from using race as a factor in admitting students. André Carrington was paying close attention.

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    • Drexel at Philadelphia Science Festival

      April 23, 2014

      The press of a button triggering a chain reaction of more than 300 energy transfers will serve as the elaborate opening to the 2014 Philadelphia Science Festival. The harbinger of this year’s week of science excitement is a Rube Goldberg machine –a complex device designed to perform a simple task- built by Drexel engineering students with the goal of setting a world record.

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    • DragonsTeach Kickoff

      April 22, 2014

      The United States needs more science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) teachers. And Drexel has a wealth of bright students studying in those same fields. Now, a new program will connect Drexel’s strength with the nation’s need.

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    • In Child Custody Disputes, LGBT Parents Face Bias in the Courts, New Drexel Review Finds

      April 14, 2014

      Court decisions that favor a heterosexual parent over a gay or lesbian parent in a custody dispute often do not consider important social science research on parenting by gay and lesbian individuals, according to a new review from Drexel University.

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  • March

  • February

    • Drexel Awarded $1.45 Million UTeach Grant to Recruit, Train New Teachers in STEM Disciplines

      February 17, 2014

      As part of the UTeach program, Drexel will step up to help address the nation's STEM education crisis.

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    • Valentine Q-and-A

      February 12, 2014

      America is in love with love, and there is no better example of this than Valentine’s Day. With stores filled with red and pink cards and candy, jewelry commercials dominating the airwaves and “Love Actually” on a loop, mainstream culture can certainly influence the way we view love.

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    • New Initiative at Drexel Provides Pro-Bono Editing Services to Local Nonprofits

      February 12, 2014

      Drexel Edits, a new initiative launched by Lawrence Souder, PhD, an associate teaching professor in the Department of Culture and Communication at Drexel University, provides pro-bono editing services to area nonprofit organizations who need help with communications efforts that are essential to achieving their mission. Supported by the College of Arts and Sciences, Drexel Edits recruits volunteer editors from Drexel students, graduates and associates who want to give back to the community.

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  • January

    • Drexel Professor Co-Writes Memoir of Grammy Award-Winning World Music Artist Angélique Kidjo

      January 28, 2014

      Hailed as “the undisputed queen of African music” (Daily Telegraph) and “Africa’s premier diva” (TIME), Angélique Kidjo is aGrammy Award-winning artist with a mission to unite different cultures through music, while raising global respect for her native continent. In her debut memoir, “SPIRIT RISING: My Life, My Music,” which was released by Harper Collins on Jan. 7, Kidjo shares the inspiring story of her journey from a little-known city in Benin, on the west coast of Africa, to international superstardom. The autobiography was co-written with Rachel Wenrick, an associate teaching professor of English in Drexel University’s College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Building Collapse Commission

      January 23, 2014

      Bob Brehm came to Drexel to get away from the news cameras, but he found himself in front of them after Philadelphia's deadly Market Street building collapse in June 2013. Now he and another Drexel professor, Scott Gabriel Knowles, are stepping up to help the city in the collapse's wake.

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    • Fish Hips Grew Strong Before Life Took Its First Steps

      January 13, 2014

      The discovery of new fossil materials from the ancient fish species Tiktaalik roseae has revealed a key link in the evolution of hind limbs. The newly described, well-preserved pelves and partial pelvic fin from this 375 million-year-old transitional species between fish and the first legged animals, reveals that the evolution of hind legs actually began as enhanced hind fins, contrary to the existing theory that large hind legs developed after vertebrates transitioned to land.

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    • Mapping Leatherback Turtle Hotspots

      January 08, 2014

      The leatherback turtle in the Pacific Ocean is one of the most endangered animals in the world. Its population has declined by more than 90 percent since 1980. One of the greatest sources of mortality is industrial longlines that set thousands of hooks in the ocean to catch fish, but sometimes catch sea turtles as well. Using modern GPS technology, researchers are now able to predict where fisheries and turtles will interact and to reduce the unwanted capture of turtles by fishermen.

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    • Paperwasps in Different Castes Develop Different-Sized Sensory Brain Structures

      January 06, 2014

      A queen in a paperwasp colony largely stays in the dark. The worker wasps, who fly outside to seek food and building materials, see much more of the world around them. A new study led by Drexel professor Sean O'Donnell, PhD, indicates that the brain regions involved in sensory perception also develop differently in these castes, according to the different behavioral reliance on the senses.

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