Perspectives

Swanne Gordon, of Arts & Sciences, is a Canadian evolutionary biologist and behavioral ecologist. In the biology newsletter BIOrhythms, she speaks about her background, career challenges and passionate belief in embracing diversity and broadening horizons.

Henry S. Webber, the university’s executive vice chancellor and chief administrative officer, writes a column in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about the future of St. Louis city and the need to invest in redeveloping north St. Louis. “St. Louis can’t be economically successful without building on our strengths and challenging the status quo,” he said.

If we work together for growth and equity, St. Louis can become one city of opportunity and inclusion where all of our children have hope for the future and live without fear, writes Henry S. Webber.

Laura Jean Bierut, the Alumni Endowed Professor of Psychiatry at the School of Medicine, writes in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about efforts to fight opioid addiction, the “medication first” approach and the need for sound data to inform future treatment.

Phillip Maciak, lecturer in Arts & Sciences, writes an article published in The Week about online cultural criticism and how quickly it has changed — for the worse.

As the world marks the 30th anniversary this weekend of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Anika Walke, associate professor of history in Arts & Sciences, writes that it wasn’t inevitable, explaining East German demonstrators’ forgotten visions for the future of the German Democratic Republic.

We can only know our interventions are working, or not working, through evaluation of data properly generated by the different agencies involved. The data must be shared with evidence-minded professionals intent on saving lives and stemming this heartbreaking public health crisis, writes Laura Jean Bierut.

The internet, notoriously, is the mechanism by which all our most embarrassing and evil deeds live on forever, but it’s also a fragile, immaterial place, writes Phillip Maciak.

Chancellor Andrew D. Martin reflects on his inauguration in a blog post, sharing highlights and expressing gratitude. “It’s all of you who made the day truly special and all of you who continue to make Washington University a place of distinction through your work, support, leadership and service,” he wrote.

Looking ahead to the Nov. 7-8 conference “What is the Word”: Celebrating Samuel Beckett,” one of the organizers, English and drama scholar Julia Walker, in Arts & Sciences, writes about Beckett’s minimalism and the challenges and opportunities that arise when translating his works.