On Feb. 6, Laura Svetkey, MD, professor of medicine at Duke University, will give the inaugural speech in the Women Leaders in Public Health Career Lecture Series at Washington University. The goal of the series, sponsored by the University’s Institute for Public Health, is to offer broad perspectives from female leaders about their careers in diverse fields related to public health.

Happy 10th anniversary Opportunity!

Ten years ago, on Jan. 24, 2004, the Opportunity rover landed on a flat plain in the southern highlands of the planet Mars and rolled into an impact crater scientists didn’t even know existed. In honor of the rover’s 10th anniversary, Ray Arvidson, PhD, deputy principal investigator of the rover mission, recently took an audience on a whirlwind tour of the rover’s decade-long adventures and discoveries.

University recognized for sustainability efforts

WUSTL recently won recognition for its “green” efforts. The university took part in the St. Louis Regional Chamber’s Green Business Challenge, and it won the Star Circle of Excellence Award, the highest designation. Here, Phil Valko (center), WUSTL’s director of sustainability, chats after accepting the award. The award recognizes efforts such as conserving energy and reducing water use.

NASA’s Opportunity at 10: new findings from old rover

In the Jan. 24 edition of the journal Science, Ray Arvidson, PhD, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis and deputy principal investigator of the MER mission to Mars, writes in detail about the discoveries made by the Opportunity rover and how these discoveries have shaped our knowledge of the planet.

‘Topping out’ ceremony held for The Lofts of Washington University​

A “topping out” ceremony was held Jan. 16 marking the final steel panel being raised and put into place on The Lofts of Washington University, WUSTL’s $80 million retail and student apartment complex under construction in the Delmar Loop. Construction of the first phase of the project is on target to be completed in July, with students and retailers moving in this August.

Dancer Elinor Harrison Jan. 28

Jane Comfort and Company has been described by The New York Times as “a postmodernist pioneer in the use of verbal material in dance.” From Jan. 26-30, company member — and WUSTL alumna — Elinor Harrison will return to campus as the 2014 Marcus Residency Dance Artist.

Nominate a student for Switzer award

The Women’s Society of Washington University seeks nominations for the Harriet K. Switzer Leadership Award. The award is given annually to one or more graduating seniors, recognizing young women who have made a significant contribution to WUSTL and have great potential to be leaders. The deadline is Feb. 7.