A two-mile section of the Centennial Greenway, a planned 20-mile bicycling and pedestrian trail that crosses the Danforth Campus, is nearly complete. A dedication for the Melville/Delmar stretch of the greenway is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Friday, July 29, at the newly created pedestrian plaza on Delmar Boulevard.

From the land down under to the top of the world to the dusty streets of Soweto, the Edison Ovations Series presents groundbreaking performances by critically acclaimed artists from around the globe. Among other acts, the 2011-12 season will welcome back South Africa’s inspirational Soweto Gospel Choir (right).

Up to five PhD students from Taiwan per year will receive full-tuition and living stipend scholarships to attend WUSTL. Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton and Tony W.T. Lin, director general of Taiwan’s Bureau of International Cultural and Educational Relations, signed a memorandum of understanding during a ceremony June 24 in Taipei City.

Workers remove sections of roof on Umrath Hall July 7 and 8. Umrath Hall closed June 20 for a complete renovation of the interior of the building. Once the yearlong renovation is finished, the building, which will be ADA accessible, will feature a new roof and interior walls, floors and ceiling finishes, along with new HVAC, fire protection and electrical systems.

Hungarian installation artist Balázs Kicsiny is the 2011-12 Henry L. and Natalie E. Freund Visiting Artist in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts. Based in Budapest, Kicsiny is among Hungary’s most highly regarded contemporary artists, known for large-scale sculptural installations that draw on the languages of theater, philosophy and visual arts.

Community-engaged research will be the focus of a two-day conference at the School of Medicine Sept. 26 and 27. The theme of the event is “Community Engaged Research: Exploring the Unique Community-Academic Relationship.”

Sunday, July 24, 7:30 p.m.

Gateway Festival Orchestra, 2011 Summer Concert Series

The 48th season of free summer concerts in Brookings Quadrangle continues this Sunday with “Classical Collection” and concludes Sunday, July 31, with “West by Northwest.” Free and open to the public. Brookings Quadrangle. Danforth Campus. The public is encouraged to bring lawn seating. (314) 569-0371.

Stretch department funds: Hire a work-study student

Student Financial Services can help departments hire part-time student workers for the 2011-12 academic year. Work-study-eligible undergraduates worked in more than 170 university departments and offices during the 2010-11 academic year, and their work activities ranged from coordinating university-wide blood drives to serving as tutors.

Skandalaris workshop for women, minorities July 25

Becoming a successful entrepreneur can be a challenge. A daylong Skandalaris Center-sponsored workshop at the Knight Center begins at 7:30 a.m. Monday, July 25, and aims to provide specific resources for women and underrepresented groups. Registration required.

Robert E. Hegel, PhD

Hegel, Chinese literature professor in Arts & Sciences, is a storyteller, mentor and respected scholar. FULL STORY

Former Rams trainer joins athletic staff

Jim Anderson, who spent the past 26 years as the head athletic trainer for the NFL’s St. Louis Rams, will be joining the WUSTL athletic staff as an assistant trainer Aug. 1, announced Director of Athletics John Schael. Anderson will oversee coverage for men’s and women’s cross country and track and field, and assist with football, soccer and basketball.