Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences

a woman and man at an anchor desk
Alumnus Kevin Smith brought his expertise back to Pitt after a 17-year Hollywood career writing movie and TV screenplays to instruct the innovative new course.
two hands holding a bar of soap over a sink
In less than five years, Samir Lakhani (A&S ’15) has kept hundreds of tons of soap out of landfills and created jobs for disadvantaged women, all while saving lives. Now, this young social entrepreneur wants to do even more: Help 2.5 million people by the end of 2020.
woman holding a bottle of essential oils near her nose
In a study that expands on previous work, a team led by psychology’s Michael Sayette found reduced urges to smoke in response to pleasant smells, as well as a connection to memory.
a black and white image of a house
In a recent study, led by chair of psychology Julie Fiez, researchers taught adults “HouseFont” — a hieroglyphic-like language based on photos of homes — then scanned the language-learning areas of participants’ brains. What they found adds to a growing body of knowledge on how adults process written languages.
latex zombie head
Props, screenplays, script notes and more — Pitt now has more than 50 years’ worth of items from George A. Romero, the filmmaker who revolutionized the horror genre, beginning with “Night of the Living Dead.” The new collection marks a growth in horror studies resources available to scholars and the public.