Many websites and magazine articles offer ideas about how to lose weight over the holidays, but Connie Diekman, WUSTL’s director of university nutrition, says that people need to realize that weight loss during this time isn’t realistic. But a little advance planning can help ensure weight is kept in check.

Medical students gave Distinguished Service Teaching Awards to more than 40 faculty and 10 resident physicians Dec. 2 in appreciation of exemplary service in medical student education. The awards are initiated by students and implemented with support from the Office of Medical Student Education.

The annual Neureuther contest sponsored by Washington University Libraries offers cash prizes to students who submit short essays about their personal book collections. Any full-time WUSTL student can compete in the Neureuther Student Book Collection Essay Competition, which offers four cash prizes — including first- and second-place prizes of $1,000 and $500.

Leila Nadya Sadat, JD, the Henry H. Oberschelp Professor of Law at WUSTL, recently received the 2011 Book of the Year Award from the American National Section of L’Association Internationale de Droit Pénal for Forging a Convention for Crimes Against Humanity.

5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13

Biophysical Evenings Seminar Series

“Is Nanomedicine Really Coming to a Clinic Near You?” Sam Wickline, prof. of medicine, cardiovascular division. Sponsored by Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics. Free and open to the public. Farrell Learning and Teaching Center, Holden Aud. (314) 362-4152.

Bear Necessities sale today and tomorrow

Bear Necessities will hold its annual holiday sale today and tomorrow. The store, located in Umrath House on the South 40, will offer 15 percent off its entire stock of regular-priced WUSTL logo items. The sale will be held from 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m. today and from 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. tomorrow.

James W. Fleshman Jr., MD

A pioneer in laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer. FULL STORY

Men’s basketball on a roll

Senior Dylan Richter scored 25 points as the men’s basketball team posted a 77-68 victory — its fourth straight — over No. 17 Wheaton College Dec. 10. The team plays its final game of the semester at Illinois Wesleyan University Dec. 17.