Domestic Policy Programs:
The Franklin Initiative
Program Overview
Leading Penn Washington’s domestic engagement, the Franklin Initiative brings the university’s research and scholarship to policymakers and community leaders, promoting dialogue and sustainable, equitable solutions.
Our work advances Penn’s commitment to understanding and addressing the great challenges facing the U.S. today: climate change; health care affordability and accessibility; responsible AI development and deployment; and promoting democracy, trust, and truth.
Explore Our Principal Programs
Penn Washington AI
Advance Penn’s pioneering work in developing and deploying data technologies beneficially and justly, across the defense, law, economics, medicine, nursing, engineering, design, energy, communications, and education sectors.
Fueling Climate Change Solutions
Accelerate ambitious yet achievable climate solutions by highlighting research that advances clean energy technologies, supports carbon-neutral goals, and improves long-term environmental wellbeing.
Fixing Congress
Address extreme political polarization by fostering bipartisan cooperation and implementing reforms to restore effective governance and public trust.
Penn Washington Health
Amplify Penn’s leadership in evidence-based care by bringing together experts to examine and collaborate on policy solutions supporting affordable, healthy, and positive aging.
Rebuilding Government-Higher Education Relations
Affirm and strengthen the relationship between government and educational institutions by examining historical contexts and deciding strategies for future enhancement and potential reforms.
Domestic Policy Programs
News & Insights
Read the latests from Penn Washington staff and University experts tackling critical challenges facing the nation.
Finding Rare Agreement on Fixing the Health Care Affordability Crisis
By Hoag Lavins | Penn LDI
Blog: Making AI Work for the People: Penn Washington Staff Reflection from Georgetown’s Tech & Society Week
By Sasha Nicholas | Penn Washington
Blog: Making Bipartisanship an Option Again
By Luka Jacobi-Krohn | Penn Washington
AI and the Future of Workforce, Energy, and National Competitiveness: Penn Washington Staff Reflect on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Technology Summit
By Nikki Hinshaw & Sasha Nicholas | Penn Washington
How AI-powered ‘smart homes’ could transform care for people with dementia.
By Meghan McDonough, Jeffery Delviscio, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura & Kendra Pierre-Louis | Scientific American
Penn Washington Joins Ground Shift as Inaugural University Partner
By Penn Washington
Roll Call Opinion: Why a deal isn’t coming together on health care
By Steven Pearlstein | Roll Call
Blog: U.S. Needs Stronger Regulatory Oversight of Deep-Sea Mining
By Elizabeth Klein | Kleinman Center for Energy Policy
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