Fanning the flames

Research from Rajan Chakrabarty and Rohan Mishra at the McKelvey School of Engineering reveals an unexpected impact of wildfires on climate change. The study is published in Nature Geoscience.

Gaier to lead new Center for Career Engagement

The Career Center has a new name and a new leader. Effective Sept. 20, Norma Guerra Gaier will lead the WashU Center for Career Engagement. Gaier has been executive director of Texas Career Engagement at the University of Texas at Austin.

Down syndrome-associated Alzheimer’s focus of grant

People with Down syndrome are at very high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. A project at the School of Medicine aims to develop tools to measure cognitive function in people with Down syndrome-associated Alzheimer’s disease.

Notables

The School of Medicine’s Alpha Omega Alpha chapter has chosen 24 faculty members, alumni and house officers-in-training to be new members of the medical honor society, which is dedicated to professionalism, scholarship, leadership and service.

Research Wire

Most bird families have adapted to changes in ambient temperature by changing both their bodies and their bills simultaneously, according to Justin Baldwin in Arts & Sciences, first author of a study in Nature Communications.

Research Wire

One of the planet’s greatest challenges is nourishing all of humanity while protecting the planet’s health. In a commentary in the journal One Earth, Lora Iannotti, at the Brown School, discusses how nutrition equity for vulnerable groups is vital in this effort.