Science & Technology

Dreadful zoonoses — animal diseases that now infect people  — have jumped species in distant parts of the world, such as Asia or Africa. But Missouri has its own zoonoses, as well: tick-borne diseases whose spread is encouraged by pest species such as white-tailed deer and invasive plants such as bush honeysuckle. In Missouri, as in Africa or Asia, the loss of a biodiversity takes a toll in human health.

The St. Louis section of the American Chemical Society (ACS) and Washington University will hold a symposium from 2-5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15, to celebrate William E. Buhro’s receipt of the St. Louis Award, which is presented to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the chemistry profession. Buhro, PhD, the George E. Pake Professor in Arts & Sciences, is chair of the Department of Chemistry and a Fellow of the American Chemical Society.

The WUSTL flag has been lowered as a mark of respect for the memory of Frank J. Stadermann, PhD, a senior research scientist in physics in Arts & Sciences and member of the Laboratory for Space Sciences, who died unexpectedly Oct. 4. 

A memorial service for Frank J. Stadermann, PhD, a senior research scientist in physics in Arts & Sciences and member of the Laboratory for Space Sciences, will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8, at the Ethical Society of St. Louis, 9001 Clayton Road, St. Louis.

Astronaut Walt Cunningham will share his experiences as Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 7, the first manned Apollo mission, during a 3 p.m. talk Thursday, Oct. 7, in Washington University’s Brookings Hall, Room 300. He also will present Washington University in St. Louis senior Kaitlin E. Burlingame with a $10,000 scholarship from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation during a public presentation and ceremony.

Stephen F. & Camilla T. Brauer Hall, the second building in a new engineering complex at Washington University in St. Louis, was dedicated in a ceremony held on Friday, Oct. 1. Brauer Hall includes state-of-the-art laboratories, a distance-learning classroom, instrumentation and imaging facilities, and electronically equipped collaboration points in the halls near the labs. The three-story building, which includes many other innovative features, has received LEED Gold certification.

Academic leaders from some of the world’s premier universities will gather at Washington University in St. Louis Oct. 1-5 to discuss the world’s energy future at the “McDonnell International Scholars Academy Symposium: Global Energy Future.”

A novel design for a catalytic converter disperses nanoparticles of the catalytic noble metal platinum on nanowires and then sheaths the wires is a layer of silica pierced with holes. The silica prevents the platinum catalyst from aggregating, while the pores allow gases to reach the platinum catalyst. The design might one day reduce the amount of platinum needed to  detoxify exhaust gases.

An investigation by an international consortium of scientists, including an anthropologist at Washington University in St. Louis, has discovered the origin of the world’s deadliest form of human malaria, Plasmodium falciparum.

Jose Mestre, PhD, a distinguished scholar of physics learning and a highly regarded researcher in physics education, will deliver a talk titled “Physics Learning and Classroom Practice: Clinical and Classroom-Based Studies of Physics Cognition” on Wednesday, Sept. 29, at Washington University in St. Louis. The talk will take place at 4 p.m. in Crow Hall, Room 201.