Business & Entrepreneurship

Aristo, the Washington University robot, uses sensor networks to avoid simulated “fire” – red cups – while navigating near “safe” areas,which are blue cups.Agent 007 is a mighty versatile fellow, but he would have to take backseat to agents being trained at Washington University in St. Louis. Computer scientist engineers here are using wireless sensor networks that employ software agents that so far have been able to navigate a robot safely through a simulated fire and spot a simulated fire by seeking out heat. Once the agent locates the fire, it clones itself – try that, James Bond — creating a ring of software around the fire. A “fireman” can then communicate with this multifaceted agent through a personal digital assistant (PDA) and learn where the fire is and how intense it is. Should the fire expand, the agents clone again and maintain the ring – an entirely different “ring of fire.” More…

Expectant parents eagerly await the arrival of their bundle of joy, hoping that they will have the most beautiful and intelligent baby in the world. While parents might not have direct control over brains and looks, new research from a business professor at Washington University in St. Louis finds that parents can influence their firstborn’s creativity. More…

The Olin Cup Competition, the annual business formation contest at Washington University in St. Louis, is taking the contest to the people. On Thursday, Nov. 9 at 6 p.m., fourteen semi-finalists will present their business proposals in an “elevator pitch” first to a panelist of judges and then for an audience. Audience members will then vote on which pitch should win.

Vagelos will explore these examples in detail for his talk on “The Social Responsibility of Business” to be held at 4 p.m. Monday, November 13, in Graham Chapel. The program will also feature a panel discussion featuring Washington University-associated business experts. It is the final installment of the Danforth Lecture Series.

WHAT: The Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis is hosting the National Association of Women M.B.A.’s conference and job fair. More than 800 women from all over the country are expected to attend. WHEN: Nov. 3-5, 2006. Starting at 8 a.m. WHERE: The Knight Center and Simon Hall at Washington University, […]

The Financial Times has, for the first time, ranked the Executive M.B.A. program, a joint venture between the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis and Shanghai-based Fudan University’s School of Management.

The Law School’s Public Interest Law and Policy Speakers Series, in conjunction with the Federalist Society and the Assembly Series, will present Richard Epstein at 3 p.m. Tuesday, October 31, in the Anheuser Busch Moot Courtroom (Room 310). The lecture is free and open to the public. The well-known libertarian and influential legal scholar will discuss the question, “Has Modern Complex Litigation Outgrown the Federal Rules of Civil Procedures? The Case of Antitrust.”

Richard Epstein and bell hooks will speak Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, respectively.

Medical and law schools have seen the percentage of women enrolled grow steadily over the past 20 years, to the point that women frequently represent at least half of most classes. Business schools have yet to catch up with this trend but the Olin School of Business is pioneering the way for women to increase their numbers in MBA programs. More than 800 people are expected to attend the National Association of Women MBA’s annual conference and career fair in early November at WUSTL. This event comes after Olin’s admission to the Forte Foundation, a consortium dedicated to promoting women in business.

Aimed at executives, senior and mid-level managers and human-resource directors, the conference takes place Oct. 26.