Webcams, crowd-sourcing compelling tools in measuring effectiveness of bike lanes, other open spaces​

A new study out of Washington University in St. Louis is one of the first to use technology to effectively measure the use of built environments — parks, greenways, trails and other man-made public areas — as a means to improve public health. The study, “Emerging Technologies: Webcams and Crowd-Sourcing to Identify Active Transportation,” is being published this week in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Lead author is J. Aaron Hipp, PhD, assistant professor of public health at the Brown School.

Director of WUSTL’s Center for Violence and Injury Prevention comments on school tragedy in Connecticut​

Melissa Jonson-Reid, PhD, professor at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, is director of the Center for Violence and Injury Protection, which is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She is also a faculty scholar in WUSTL’s Institute for Public Health. She responds to the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.

India 2012: Building a network

The McDonnell Academy Global Energy and Environmental Partnership (MAGEEP) — a consortium of 28 international universities — met in Mumbai, India, last week. S. Parasuraman, director of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, was a symposium co-host.

India 2012: Strengthening connections

The second half of the trip to India brought together members of the university’s International Advisory Council for Asia (IACA) Dec. 12-15 in New Delhi. U.S. Embassy official Donald Lu addressed the IACA meeting.

Sadat appointed special adviser on crimes against humanity

Leila Nadya Sadat, JD, the Henry H. Oberschelp Professor of Law at Washington University in St. Louis, added another international honor to her resumé recently when she was appointed special adviser on Crimes Against Humanity by the prosecutor at the International Criminal Court.

Christmas culture wars are nothing new, experts say

Tis the season for perennial battles between true believers and atheists, between mass marketers and the devout souls who worry about blatant commercialization of “the holiday season.”  While it may seem like it’s getting worse then ever, learning more about the facts behind these arguments might help all of us understand one another a bit better, suggest legal and religious history experts at Washington University in St. Louis.

Tis the season for holiday news tips

WUSTL experts offers tips on understanding the perennial Christmas culture clashes, as well as a round-up of 13 New Year’s resolutions designed to help you become healthier, happier and wiser in 2013.

Happy Holidays from the Record staff

This is the last official Record of the calendar year. Publication resumes in January 2013. The Record staff wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

Toys, joys at Brown School holiday celebration

The Brown School celebrated the holidays Dec. 12 by doing what it does best: Giving back to the community. School officials helped present toys collected at the Brown School during its annual Toys for Tots campaign to local Marines. Students from the KIPP: Inspire Academy also stopped by to thank the Brown School community for its help throughout the year by performing a holiday song and dance.