60-Second Lectures | Spring 2023 Roundup (Video)

For two decades, since 2003, Penn Arts & Sciences faculty have taken a minute—give or take—to share their expertise, as part of the 60-Second Lecture series that happens each spring and fall on College Green. This most recent four took place in April.

Department of Sociology Associate Professor Wendy Roth spoke about genetic ancestry testing and race, and her colleague, Courtney Boen, an assistant professor in the department, talked about state eviction bans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Beth Wenger, Moritz and Josephine Berg Professor for the Teaching of Religious Thought and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, spoke about antisemitism, and Greg Ridgeway, professor and chair of the Department of Criminology and co-director of Penn’s Data Driven Discovery Initiative, covered big data and policing.

Check out the quartet of lectures below, plus watch the 60-Second Slam, which took place during this year’s Alumni Weekend. Two faculty, two alums, and five students competed, with one winner and one audience choice earning top honors.

Wendy Roth, Associate Professor and Graduate Chair of Sociology

“Genetic Ancestry Testing and Race”