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The Conversation

Highlighting emerging research and expert analysis on issues important to Philly, Delaware and Southern New Jersey.

Part of a pilot project funded by the Knight Foundation.

Latest news

Woman holds up large Puerto Rico flag with crowd behind her

Latino voters are a growing force in Pennsylvania’s old industrial towns − and they could provide Harris or Trump with their margin of victory

A. K. Sandoval-Strausz, Penn State

Philly block parties can lead to small boosts in voter turnout, new research suggests

Tanika Raychaudhuri, Rice University

Magician with rabbit speaks to young girl while crowd watches
Afrofuturism thrives in Philly − 5 artists you should know

Aaron X. Smith, Temple University

Colorful mixed-media painting with traditional figures and abstract designs
Eviction filings can destabilize tenants’ lives – even when they win their case

Alexa Eisenberg, University of Michigan and Kate Brantley, University of Michigan

Illustration of row of grey houses with storm clouds and lightning over the one in center
Gun violence in Philadelphia plummeted in 2024 − researchers aren’t sure why, but here are 3 factors at play

Carla Lewandowski, Rowan University and John A. Shjarback, Rowan University

Aerial view of large city with skyscrapers and residential housing

Hello Readers! Our local team wants to hear your feedback and story ideas. Send an email to Emily Costello, Director of Local News + Collaborations, and Philadelphia Editor Kate Kilpatrick at philadelphia@theconversation.com

PA politics

Pennsylvania’s mail-in ballot system has a problem − but it’s not what Trump is making unfounded claims about

Daniel J. Mallinson, Penn State

Demonstrators wear USPS mailbox costumes while people in background hold signs that read 'The battle isn't over'
Why Pennsylvania is the key to a Harris or Trump Electoral College victory

Alauna Safarpour, Gettysburg College

Two men standing in front of a huge painted sign that says 'Johnstown.'
Gov. Josh Shapiro has a reputation for getting things done in Pennsylvania – but not necessarily things all Democrats like

Daniel J. Mallinson, Penn State

Man wearing suit jacket, dress shirt and glasses speaks at lectern while supporters behind him hold 'Harris for President' signs
Pennsylvania continues tradition as ‘keystone state’ in presidential elections

Robert Speel, Penn State

A woman stands in front of a crowd.

Neighborhoods

Person swings from a rope over a creek in a lush forest

4 ways Wissahickon Valley Park makes Philly more resilient against climate change

Hilton Oyamaguchi, Chestnut Hill College and David Contosta, Chestnut Hill College

W.E.B. Du Bois’ study ‘The Philadelphia Negro’ at 125 still explains roots of the urban Black experience – sociologist Elijah Anderson tells why it should be on more reading lists

Elijah Anderson, Yale University

Mural depicting W.E.B. Du Bois located in Philadelphia's Seventh Ward
I analyzed 3,356 signs to see how language use is changing in three Latino neighborhoods in Philly

Daniel Guarin, Temple University

A collage of public signs written in Spanish, English and other languages
More vulnerable people live in Philadelphia neighborhoods that are less green and get hotter

Farzad Hashemi, The University of Texas at San Antonio; Guangqing Chi, Penn State; Lisa D. Iulo, Penn State, and Ute Poerschke, Penn State

An aerial grid of housing with some green patches, playing field and parks mixed in.
What Philadelphians need to know about the city’s 7,000-camera surveillance system

Albert Fox Cahn, New York University

Close-up of video camera lens lit in red and blue

Are you an academic who studies Philadelphia or Pennsylvania?

Pitch us

Public safety and health

Nurse wearing surgical gloves bandages upper arm of shirtless man

Xylazine wounds are a growing crisis among drug users in Philly − a nurse explains potential causes and proper treatment

Rachel McFadden, University of Pennsylvania

Philly residents with opioid addiction get medication from the ‘bupe bus’ − creating a path for treatment

Margaret Lowenstein, University of Pennsylvania

A large white van is parked on Philadelphia street and has signs that read 'Naloxone saves lives'
Immigrant moms feel unsafe and unheard when seeking pregnancy care – here’s how they’d improve Philly’s health care system

Diana Montoya-Williams, University of Pennsylvania

Mother smiles at and caresses infant lying on bed
New research suggests estrogen and progesterone could play role in opioid addiction and relapse

Jessica Loweth, Rowan University and Daniel Manvich, Rowan University

Woman wraps arms around self and looks depressed
Philly has highest STI rates in the country – improving sex ed in schools and access to at-home testing could lower rates

Carlos Mahaffey, Purdue University

Chalkboard with colorful sketches of hearts, rainbow flag and sperm, and "sex education" written in center

Philly media! Reach out to learn more about how to republish our content, request stories, data visualizations or expert sources to enrich your reporting -- or share your out-of-the-box idea for teaming up. You can reach our local team at philadelphia@theconversation.com. We have photos to share, too!

Meet our Philly team

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Kate Kilpatrick, Philadelphia Editor

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Emily Costello, Director of Collaborations + Local News

Some recent media pickups

Penn State’s Dan Mallinson in the New Pittsburgh Courier
Headline in the New Pittsburgh Courier reads: "Pennsylvania’s mail-in ballot system has a problem − but it’s not what Trump is making unfounded claims about"
University of Pennsylvania’s Rachel McFadden in The Philadelphia Inquirer
Headline in The Philadelphia Inquirer reads: "Xylazine wounds are a growing crisis among drug users in Philly | Expert Opinion"
University of Pennsylvania’s Kalen Flynn in the Philly Voice
Headline in the Philly Voice reads "Young people in Philly's toughest neighborhoods explain how violence disrupts their physical and mental health"
Drexel’s Michael O'Bryan and Alicia Atkinson in Penn Live
Penn Live home page with headline: "Philadelphia’s minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 an hour since 2009 – here’s why efforts to raise it have failed | The Conversation"

Schools and teens

Police tape blocks a street where a person was shot in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia

‘It’s a deep emotional ride’ – 12 young people in Philly’s toughest neighborhoods explain how violence disrupts their physical and mental health

Kalen Flynn, University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia undercounts students who are homeless – here’s what parents need to know to advocate for their child

Stacey Havlik, Villanova University

Woman and girl wearing backpacks walk down city street
Most Philly public school students have college ambitions − but their level of preparation depends on which high school they attend

Joseph Sageman, Princeton University

Five high school age students sit in a classroom listening
Philadelphia reduces school-based arrests by 91% since 2013 – researchers explain the effects of keeping kids out of the legal system

Amanda NeMoyer, Drexel University and Naomi Goldstein, Drexel University

A close shot of a Philadelphia yellow school bus, with several students seen inside
Philly parents worry about kids’ digital media use but see some benefits, too

Denise E. Agosto, Drexel University

Father and daughter sit together looking at a tablet

Pay and equity

Why courts aren’t the fastest or clearest ways to solve election disputes – a former federal judge explains

John E. Jones III, Dickinson College

A person wearing glasses holds a printed piece of paper up for a closer look.
Philadelphia’s minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 an hour since 2009 – here’s why efforts to raise it have failed

Michael O'Bryan, Drexel University and Alicia Atkinson, Drexel University

View of skyline of Philadelphia with Two Liberty Place skyscraper in foreground
Students lose out as cities like Philadelphia give billions in property tax breaks to businesses

Christine Wen, Texas A&M University; Danielle McLean, The Conversation; Kevin Welner, University of Colorado Boulder, and Nathan Jensen, The University of Texas at Austin

On the left, refinery with smokestacks and steam, on the right, brick school building
Philadelphia’s 200-year-old disability records show welfare reform movement’s early shift toward rationing care and punishing poor people

Nicole Lee Schroeder, Kean University

Black and white ink drawing of men seated on benches and chairs and making shoes

Culture

Performer in large black sunglasses, big gold hoop earrings and a metallic green jumpsuit holds a microphone on stage

Missy Elliott tours as a headliner − and it’s about time

Elliott H. Powell, University of Minnesota

Brain scans of Philly jazz musicians reveal secrets to reaching creative flow

John Kounios, Drexel University and Yvette Kounios, Widener University

Colorful brain waves on black background
4 books by Black Philadelphia women that depict struggle and joy in the City of Sisterly Love

Louis Parascandola, Long Island University, Brooklyn

Black woman show from shoulders up with big smile
How Jason Kelce built his personal brand and became a Philly legend

Amy Lavin, Temple University and Sheri Lambert, Temple University

Former NFL player Jason Kelce reacts following a match during Night One of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia
On its 125th anniversary, W.E.B. Du Bois’ ‘The Philadelphia Negro’ offers lasting lessons on gentrification in Philly’s historically Black neighborhoods

Zawadi Rucks-Ahidiana, University at Albany, State University of New York and Freeden Blume Oeur, Tufts University

A mix of new and old construction on a corner in West Philadelphia

Thank you to our local university partners