‘Commerce of the Old and New’

Standing beneath a portrait of Washington University co-founder William Greenleaf Eliot, Sir Nigel Sheinwald, British ambassador to the United States, delivers the annual T.S. Eliot Lecture March 4 in Holmes Lounge, Ridgley Hall. The lecture is named in honor of the famed poet and author who was the grandson of William Greenleaf Eliot. Sheinwald titled his address “Britain and America: An Easy Commerce of the Old and New,” taking a line from T.S. Eliot’s Little Gidding, the final poem of his Four Quartet.

Walking for a cure

James E. McLeod (right), vice chancellor for students, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and a cancer survivor, walks the lead lap with other cancer survivors in the annual Relay for Life March 5-6 at Francis Field. Nearly $260,000 was raised for the American Cancer Society during the 12-hour event that began at 6 p.m. March 5 and ended at 6 a.m. March 6.

News highlights for March 9, 2011

Zee News (India) Starvation keeps brain sharp New research from Washington University in St. Louis suggests that, in fruit flies, being hungry may provide a way to stay awake without feeling groggy or mentally challenged. This happens because of a protein that helps the fruit fly brain manage its storage and use of lipids. “If […]

Engineers receive annual alumni awards

The School of Engineering & Applied Science’s Alumni Achievement Awards dinner was held Feb. 23. A reception for the five recipients was held in Brauer Hall, followed by dinner in Whitaker Hall. Three alumni received Alumni Achievement Awards, one was given the Young Alumni Award and one was honored with the Dean’s Award.

Taking the temperature of ancient earth

A team of researchers, including earth and planetary scientists from Washington University in St. Louis, for the first time has been able to reconstruct both ocean temperature and general ice thickness of massive glaciers during one of the biggest mass extinctions in history hundreds of millions of years ago. The extinction, which occurred between 445 and 443 million years ago in the Late Ordovician Period, is one of the five biggest mass extinctions in Earth history, wiping out an estimated 75 percent of simple marine species.

Brain inspector

Simeon Schlaggar, son of Bradley Schlaggar, MD, PhD, examines a brain at NeuroDay at the Saint Louis Science Center. The event was jointly sponsored by Washington University and the Saint Louis Science Center and was staffed in part by Washington University graduate students.

Study abroad program bridges St. Louis and Shanghai

Bridging St. Louis and Shanghai and expanding the scope of WUSTL’s academic programs far beyond the Danforth Campus, a new study abroad program is being launched at Fudan University. Aimed at examining Chinese language, culture and society, and the role of China in global and historical contexts, the comprehensive educational program is scheduled to begin in fall 2011.