After the Digital Divide March 30 to April 1

Olafur EliassonOlafur Eliasson’s *Weather Project*Olafur Eliasson, one of the most challenging and celebrated artists of his generation, will kick-off After the Digital Divide: German Aesthetic Theory in the Age of New Media, a three-day symposium on aesthetics and new media at Washington University March 30 to April 1. The symposium will feature more than 20 artists, art historians, museum professionals and new media experts from across the United States and Germany.

Washington University Opera to present Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah March 24 and 25

John LaRueSusannahThe Washington University Opera will present Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah, which updates the biblical story of Susannah and the Elders to 1940s Appalachia, March 24 and 25. The story centers on an attractive but innocent girl of 19 who is observed bathing by a group of male church elders. The men falsely accuse Susannah of sinfulness and “loose” behavior, ostracizing her from the life of the town.

Skinker-Parkway intersection to be closed 10 days

It’s challenging enough to pave a road and remove temporary bridges without worrying about cars, trucks and buses barreling through intersections. “So, from — 7 p.m. today to 5 a.m. March 20, the intersection of Skinker & Boulevard and Forest Park Parkway will ‘be closed’ to all vehicle traffic. As part of the MetroLink expansion […]

Evolution expert to give Assembly Series talk

Anthropologist Eugenie Scott has been involved with some of the high-profile legal trials about the teaching of evolution in the classroom. She is the executive director of the National Center for Science Education. She speaks on intelligent design at the Assembly Series on March 22.

Plant sterol pills significantly lower LDL cholesterol

A blood vessel that has become narrowed by build-up from cholesterol and other substancesA pill containing plant substances called sterols can help lower cholesterol, according to researchers at the School of Medicine. The researchers studied patients who already were eating a heart-healthy diet and taking statin drugs to control cholesterol. The addition of plant sterols helped further lower total cholesterol and contributed to a nearly 10 percent reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the so-called “bad” cholesterol.

Scientists use PET scans to monitor lung inflammation noninvasively

In this PET image, the arrow shows inflammation of the lungs.A noninvasive approach for assessing lung inflammation should accelerate efforts to develop drugs for inflammatory lung conditions like cystic fibrosis and pneumonia, scientists at the School of Medicine report. Researchers have used positron emission tomography (PET) scans to monitor artificially induced inflammation in the lungs of healthy volunteers. The new imaging process may help doctors monitor the conditions of patients with inflammatory lung diseases and should make it easier for investigators to test potential anti-inflammatory drugs.

Wall of tiles designed to help cancer patients heal

Tiles painted by cancer patients and their familiesPatients undergoing treatment at the Siteman Cancer Center have a new option to pass the time. They can get creative and paint ceramic tiles for a display in the treatment area. Arts as Healing, a program facilitated by the School of Medicine’s Medical Photography, Illustration and Computer Graphics (MedPIC) department, is currently working on “Your Square Matters,” which allows patients and their families to paint a 4-inch square ceramic tile.