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People often feel draggy the day after they have to set their clocks forward in the spring but often shrug off that feeling as trivial. In fact, says Erik Herzog, PhD, a neuroscientist at Washington University in St. Louis, who studies biological clocks, jamming our biological clocks into reverse, as daylight savings time does, has serious consequences.

“If these two studies are really correct, what people in general are trying to do” to get and stay thin “might be completely wrong in terms of maintaining health and even longevity,” suggests WUSTL microbiologist Shin-ichiro Imai (pictured) in a Science magazine article on new dietary research. This story and more in today’s roundup.

Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton shares thoughts with the community about efforts to secure a strong future for WUSTL. Wrighton focuses on two important efforts: the ongoing Leading Together capital campaign and a new initiative to reduce costs and improve efficiency across the university.

Washington University will test its emergency siren systems at 11 a.m. Monday, March 3, and again at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 6. The tests will take place unless there is the potential for severe weather or some other emergency is occurring at those times.

As part of WUSTL’s ongoing commitment to providing a safe and secure environment for university employees, students and visitors, the university is offering additional workplace safety training sessions.

Freshman Annie Brinza works during a butter-sculpting contest in Lopata Hall, part of WUSTL’s annual En Week. Sponsored by the School of Engineering & Applied Science, the goal of En Week, held Feb. 16-21, is to increase the school’s visibility on campus, celebrate how engineers make a difference and increase public dialogue about the need for engineers.

Book lovers are invited to enter the Neureuther Student Book Collection Essay Competition. Sponsored by Washington University Libraries, the annual contest celebrates the joy of building a personal library. The deadline is Friday, Feb. 28.

A recent gift of $1,025,000 will establish the Suren G. Dutia and Jas K. Grewal Global Impact Award in the Skandalaris Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at Washington University. The endowed fund will receive $1 million, with the remaining $25,000 to support awards made during the current academic year. Applications are being accepted until March 24 for awards to support business ventures aimed at catalyzing social change.

The Mosaic Project announces a number of important updates as part of its efforts toward improving diversity and inclusion for students at WUSTL. Because of the hard work and leadership of a dedicated group of students, faculty and staff, the Bias Report and Support System is live and the Center for Diversity and Inclusion is under development to open in 2014. In addition, a campus climate survey will be sent to all Danforth campus students on Feb. 16 and a new stand-alone community values program for undergraduate student orientation will launch this fall.

Engineers Week 2014 begins Sunday, Feb. 16, and runs through Feb. 22. Events at WUSTL are centered around the Space Race, to bring engineering to life for students, educators and the campus community. There will also be contests in butter sculpting and paper airplane-making.