The annual Philadelphia Geek Awards have once again recognized the work of Drexel University’s faculty and students as some of the best examples of the city’s vibrant geek community over the past year.

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. As the population of adults with autism continues growing rapidly, the survey provides a first step toward identifying whether this population has unmet needs for educational supports to empower safe driving – a key element of independent functioning in many people’s lives.

Drexel University City Development, LLC, the joint venture between Drexel and Wexford Science & Technology, LLC, officially closed today on the purchase of a 14-acre site from the School District of Philadelphia that formerly housed the University City High School, the Charles Drew Elementary School and The Walnut Center.

Drexel University celebrated the grand opening of the Dana and David Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships on Thursday, June 12 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the dedication of the Lindy House and tours of the site for the community.

Drexel broke ground for a major expansion of its nurse-managed health center in North Philadelphia. Philadelphia City Council President Darrell L. Clarke was on hand for the ceremonial event with Drexel President John A. Fry, benefactors Stephen and Sandra Sheller, College of Nursing and Health Professions Dean Gloria Donnelly, PhD, 11th Street Director Patricia Gerrity, PhD, Drexel trustees, faculty and students, and staff, patients and community members at 11th Street.

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 Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies in a dose-dependent manner in the Drexel team’s study, published in PLOS ONE. The flies consumed erythritol when sugar was available and even seemed to prefer it. No other sweeteners tested had these toxic effects.

Preparing students to think like creative professionals is the goal of Drexel University Online’s master of science’s degree program in creativity and innovation, offered through the School of Education. While many colleges and universities are beginning to offer individual courses in creativity, Drexel’s master's degree program is one of only a few full creativity degree programs in the country. Drexel also offers graduate and undergraduate certificate programs in this subject.

Amtrak, Drexel University and Brandywine Realty Trust have selected Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM), in association with Parsons Brinckerhoff, OLIN, and HR&A Advisors to develop a comprehensive joint master plan for the area around Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station.

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 distinguished in their fields 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.

Currently accepted wisdom in the corporate world is that in order to motivate frontline employees who serve customers, corporations need to increase their salary, make them feel more positive about the company, or give them more explicit instructions on how to interact with customers. A new study led by Drexel University’s Daniel Korschun, PhD, an assistant professor at the LeBow College of Business, examines how frontline employees respond to corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities such as charitable giving, environmental programs and ethical practices.

Drexel University’s Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship has announced the launch of a bachelor's degree program in entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as three entrepreneurship minors, including social entrepreneurship, health innovations and energy innovation.The Close School is the first freestanding school of entrepreneurship in the nation outside of a business school to offer its own degrees.

Tummy snugging maternity wear could soon be giving expecting parents peace of mind in addition to stylishly securing waistlines. Researchers at Drexel University are combining fashion design with wireless technology to produce a belly band that will be able to monitor uterine contractions and fetal heart rate in real time.

Drawing on the depth of its performance as a team, Drexel Crew successfully defended its overall points title at the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta. The Dragons earned four medals and both the men’s and women’s teams placed third, but their combined point totals were enough to edge out Bucknell, Massachusetts and more than 100 other teams on the Schuylkill River in the largest collegiate regatta in the country.

Drexel scored three goals in a matter of 11 seconds just before halftime to seize momentum in a 16-11 NCAA Tournament win over University City rival Penn. The Dragons, winners of nine straight, led by as much as seven goals en route to a victory in their first appearance in the national tournament.

"Powerful images of conflict, hope and daily life” (Associated Press) are currently on display as part of an exhibition of nearly 150 prize-winning photos from the 57th Annual World Press Photo competition, the world’s largest and most prestigious annual international press photography contest, which made its United States debut at Drexel University.

Study Hotels, the unique lifestyle concept developed by Paul McGowan of Hospitality 3 to deliver high-quality, full-service lodging to university markets, is expanding to Philadelphia’s dynamic University City district.

Rookie Cole Shafer gave Drexel its first Colonial Athletic Association Men's Lacrosse Championship with a goal in the triple overtime against Hofstra in the title game. The win punches Drexel's ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

Trailing by three goals in the fourth quarter, Drexel Men’s Lacrosse rallied to a 11-10 victory in overtime against Towson in the semifinals of the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament. Junior Ryan Belka scored the game-winner a minute and 27 seconds into overtime. The Dragons will face Hofstra on Saturday, May 3 for the CAA title.

Mothers caring for young children on limited incomes, who are part of the groundbreaking “Witnesses to Hunger” program, will reunite for a photo exhibit and events at Boston’s City Hall this May. They will participate in vital discussions addressing the health impacts of poverty and on critical issues affecting mothers and children in commemoration of Mother’s Day.

Drexel’s Wei Sun, PhD, Albert Soffa chair professor in the College of Engineering, has devised a method for 3D printing tumors that could soon be taking cancer research out of the petri dish.

A recent study from researchers from the Drexel University School of Public Health in Philadelphia and Karolinska Institute in Sweden provides more insight into how the higher risk of having a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among older parents varies between mothers’ and fathers’ ages, and found that the risk of having a child with both ASD and intellectual disability is larger for older parents.