Ira J. Hirsh, one of the founders of audiology, dies at 87

Ira J. Hirsh, Ph.D., who did pioneering research in human hearing, auditory perception, communication, speech, language and communication disorders, died Jan. 12, 2010, of cardiopulmonary failure at Hillcrest Convalescent Center in Durham, N.C. He was 87.

HIV infection prematurely ages the brain

HIV infection or the treatments used to control it are prematurely aging the brain, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the University of California-San Diego have found. Blood flow in the brains of HIV patients is reduced to levels normally seen in uninfected patients 15 to 20 years older.

Challenging economy focus of financial seminar at Brown School

In remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Society of Black Student Social Workers at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work will host the fourth annual “Financial Freedom Seminar: Tying Loose Ends—Becoming Financially Secure,” from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, in Brown Hall, Room 100.

Woman’s Club celebrates centennial

The Woman’s Club of Washington University marks its centennial in 2010, and the club will celebrate by offering special meals, lectures, exhibitions and gifts and creating a new endowed scholarship for undergraduate students. The centennial celebration kicks off Jan. 29 with “Honoring the Past,” a 1910-style luncheon featuring opera star Ann Hoyt, at 11:30 a.m. at the Saint Louis Woman’s Club.

Single-stream recycling debuts in time for RecycleMania 2010

Nearly all recyclable items can now be placed in one bin for recycling throughout the Danforth, West, North and South campuses. This change from the previous recycling system of separate bins began in January and comes in time for the 2010 RecycleMania competition. Those on most WUSTL campuses now will see only waste bins labeled “Recycling” or “Landfill.” Comingled recyclable items will be sorted off-campus by a vendor.

Eliot Trio in concert Jan. 31

Washington University’s Eliot Trio will perform music of Robert Schumann, Antonín Dvořák and Germaine Tailleferre at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31, in Holmes Lounge. The trio consists of Seth Carlin, professor of music and director of the piano program in the Department of Music in Arts & Sciences; violinist David Halen, concertmaster for the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra; and cellist Bjorn Ranheim, also with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra.

WUSTL offers new ‘Bearly Drivers’ carpool program

Full-time WUSTL employees can save money, get in-demand parking spots, and win prizes through the university’s new “Bearly Drivers” carpool program. Through the program, full-time employees of the Danforth, North and West campuses can work together to form a carpool by following a link on the Parking & Transportation Web site, parking.wustl.edu.

Diversity and inclusion grants awarded

Washington University’s Coordinating Council for Diversity Initiatives (CCDI) has awarded 13 diversity and inclusion grants to faculty and staff for initiatives that improve the campus environment for women and members of underrepresented minority groups who are on faculty or staff.

Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.

Members of the Visions Gospel Choir perform before a capacity crowd during the university’s 23rd annual celebration honoring Martin Luther King Jr. at 7 p.m. Jan. 18 in Graham Chapel on the Danforth Campus. The theme of this year’s event was “Living the Legacy: Forging Our Path Through Leadership and Service.”