IDEA Labs bridges medical, engineering gap

School of Medicine faculty recently presented about 20 ideas to Washington University students during IDEA Labs’ inaugural ‘Problem Day’ in hopes that they might be able to devise solutions. IDEA Labs — which stands for Innovation, Design & Engineering in Action — is a bioengineering design incubator founded last year as a joint venture of the schools of Medicine and Engineering & Applied Science and the Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences.

After concussion, kids may need breaks in school

Athletes with concussions aren’t allowed to compete again right away, and a Washington University concussion expert advises that children with concussions also may not be able to go back to the classroom right away. Pictured is an image of the brain.

Access to Equal Justice Conference Nov. 1

Washington University School of Law will celebrate 40 years of clinical education and community collaborations at the 13th annual Access to Equal Justice Conference from noon-4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, in Anheuser-Busch Hall’s Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom. The conference is free and open to students, faculty, staff and the public.

Samurai sword protein makes strategic cuts in cell skeletons

Ram Dixit’s lab at Washington University in St. Louis has shown that a protein named after the katana, or samurai sword, plays a crucial role in patterning the “skeleton” inside plant cells. The work provides a clue to the long-standing mystery of how the cytoskeletons within both plant and animal cells become organized in function-specific patterns.

Strengthening global connections

Nirupama Rao, Indian ambassador to the United States, spoke about U.S. and India relations during a visit to Washington University in St. Louis Oct. 19. Rao’s lecture served as the capstone to the Washington University in St. Louis-Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) Corporate Conclave. Leadership from WUSTL, IITB and several major international corporations gathered in St. Louis for the conclave, aimed at strengthening the U.S.-India connection related to innovation and education, particularly in addressing pressing global issues.

Trick or Tweet, if you dare

Remember the thrill of trick-or-treating as a child? The excitement of going door-to-door on Oct. 31? Well, here’s your chance to relive that treasured childhood tradition — 2013 style! It’s called Trick or Tweet, and the treat at the end could be an iPad Mini for an Arts & Sciences undergrad.

Examining child welfare

National child welfare experts Jack Tweedie (left) and L. Carol Scott visited the Brown School Oct. 18 to headline a Policy Forum discussion on the legislative landscape at the state level regarding child well-being. The Policy Forum is the Brown School’s signature effort to actively explore issues in social and health policy, and this particular panel is part of an ongoing series throughout the year that will focus on children.