Poor colonoscopy prep hides pre-cancerous polyps

What happens on the day before a colonoscopy may be just as important as the colon-screening test itself. Gastroenterologists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that when patients don’t adequately prep for the test by cleansing their colons, doctors often can’t see potentially dangerous pre-cancerous lesions.

Navigating religion and politics

Barry Lynn (second from left), executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, talks with WUSTL students March 20 during an informal gathering in the Danforth University Center. Lynn was on campus to deliver an Assembly Series/John C. Danforth Center on Religion & Politics lecture that evening. The students enjoyed a lively discussion about how religion is influencing many current debates among political candidates.

Gephardt Institute’s Civic Engagement Fund seeking applicants

The Gephardt Institute for Public Service invites students, faculty and staff to apply for the Civic Engagement Fund (CEF), which awards grants to support service trips, civic initiatives or community service projects. CEF grants, available to individuals and groups, provide up to $500 for projects in the St. Louis area, across the country and around the world. Deadline for the upcoming funding rounds are April 13 and July 20.

Songs of love and marriage April 1

Written in 1956 as a gift for a friend’s wedding, Daniel Pinkham’s Wedding Cantata consists of four movements based on texts from The Song of Songs, the Biblical book most explicitly dedicated to the joys of earthly love. On April 1, the Washington University Concert Choir and the Washington University Chamber Choir will present the Wedding Cantata as the centerpiece of Many Waters, a free concert of songs about love and marriage.

Mr. Wash U to be crowned April 5

Mr. Wash U will be crowned Thursday, April 5, during the annual talent show in Edison Theatre. As part of the contest, undergraduates participate in the talent show and raise funds for City Faces, an after-school art and tutoring program for children in St. Louis’ Clinton-Peabody public housing projects. 

Washington University Libraries announce winners of 25th annual essay competition

Winner have been named for the 25th annual Neureuther Student Book Collection Essay Competition sponsored by Washington University Libraries. WUSTL undergrads and graduate students entered their essays into one of two categories, competing for prizes of $1,000 for first place and $500 for second place in each category.

Washington People: Leonard Bacharier

Balancing research, patient care, administration and mentoring could be overwhelming to some, but Leonard Bacharier, MD, says it’s all about remembering one’s priorities. The WUSTL alumnus is now one of the leading pediatric asthma and allergy specialists nationwide, helping kids feel and breathe better.

Herschbach to muse on ‘silly, serious science’ for Assembly Series

Nobel Laureate Dudley Herschbach thinks that science and humor have been a winning combination for many successful Americans, all the way back to Ben Franklin. At 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 4, he will explain his reasoning behind that concept for the annual Ferguson Science Lecture. His talk, “Silly Serious Science: Homage to IgNobel and Ben Franklin” will be held in Graham Chapel on the Washington University Danforth Campus. The program is free and open to the public.