Monday, Sept. 9, 2019

Top Stories

Zika diagnostic test granted market authorization by FDA

A test for signs of Zika infection has been granted market authorization by the Food and Drug Administration. The test is based in part on an antibody developed by researchers at the School of Medicine.

Environmental racism in St. Louis

Black St. Louisans are exposed to considerably greater environmental risks than white residents, contributing to stark racial disparities regarding health, economics and quality of life, finds a new report by the School of Law’s Interdisciplinary Environmental Clinic.

Arts & Sciences dean search committee appointed

Chancellor Andrew D. Martin and Interim Provost Marion Crain have appointed a 16-member committee to identify candidates for the position of dean of the faculty of Arts & Sciences. Aaron F. Bobick, dean of the McKelvey School of Engineering, will serve as chair.

Monitoring bridge safety with wireless sensors

Researchers from Washington University and Michigan State University are testing innovative sensors on Michigan’s Mackinac Bridge that are powered by traffic vibrations and could detect bridge failures before they happen.

E-scooters banned from campus pathways, sidewalks

In an effort to support the safety of the university community, electric scooters, motorized skateboards and hoverboards will no longer be permitted on Danforth Campus sidewalks and pathways.

Events

6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 9

Photojournalist on connecting women in the West Bank

4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10

‘Looking Back to the Movement’ presentation

9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11

University blood drive

View more events →

Campus Announcements

Emergency system to be tested Sept. 16

Washington University will test its emergency communication system at noon Monday, Sept. 16. These tests ensure the university can effectively communicate with the community in an emergency. The test will take place unless there is the potential for severe weather or another emergency is occurring at that time.

WashU in the News

Groupon for medical scans? Discounted care can have hidden costs

NPR

New vaccine shows promise against emerging, hypervirulent superbug

New Atlas

Ameren announces controversial plan to cover its coal ash ponds — and leave material in the ground

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

See more WashU in the News →

Campus Voices

One sweet dream: ‘Abbey Road’ at 50

Matthew Shipe, senior lecturer in English in Arts & Sciences, writes on the Center for the Humanities website about the 50th anniversary this month of the release of the Beatles album “Abbey Road,” which he argues may be the band’s most influential for future generations of musicians.

Notables

According to the latest from Research Papers in Economics, Mark Taylor, dean of Olin Business School, is the fifth-most influential researcher in international finance in the world. In addition, he ranks among the top 10 of international finance researchers globally in terms of research citations, according to Google Scholar.

Research Wire

Brendan Juba, a researcher at the McKelvey School of Engineering, is working to improve the way autonomous vehicles make decisions and the way they relay that information. The work is funded by a three-year, $419,877 National Science Foundation grant. Juba is collaborating with Roni Stern at Ben-Gurion University.

The Record