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Science & Technology

Europa, here we come

Scientists have been itching to go to Europa for a long time because this moon is thought to have a global ocean beneath an outer shell of ice — an ocean that may be hospitable to life. In May, NASA took the first step, selecting nine instruments to fly on a mission to Europa. Washington University’s William McKinnon, on the science team for two of the instruments, talks about the mission.
Business & Entrepreneurship

WashU Expert: Syrian civil war should be referred to International Criminal Court

The Syrian civil war began in 2011. Its spread since that time has caused refugees to spill across its borders and created a fertile environment for the rise of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). How can the international community get a handle on a conflict that already has claimed some 220,000 lives? One possible solution is to refer the Syrian situation to the International Criminal Court, says Leila Sadat, PhD, an expert in international criminal law at Washington University in St. Louis.

Traffic delays expected on eastbound Forest Park Avenue

Contractors are to begin pouring concrete June 11 on the metal decking of the new Barnes-Jewish Hospital tower. The work may lead to some intermittent delays for the next several months on eastbound Forest Park Avenue east of Kingshighway Boulevard.
Psychology

Pre-lecture diagrams help students take better notes, learn more

Lecture-based learning can be challenging for students who have difficulties building mental models for the organization of new information, but providing them with diagrams and other supporting material in advance of the lecture can help them overcome these hurdles, suggests new research from Washington University in St. Louis.

Music professor, student featured in festivals this summer

The Department of Music in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis has some news to trumpet. Christopher Stark, assistant professor of music and composer of contemporary classical music, has two notable performances coming up this summer, and student Kelly Stathis was accepted into the Atlantic Music Festival Composition Program.