Growing biopiracy concerns have fueled urgent calls for a new system of legal protection for traditional knowledge. Detractors of the current patent systems say that the traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples and local communities does not readily fit into the existing rules of the industrialized world and that these rules basically promote the interests of the industrialized world. However, Charles McManis, J.D., IP and technology law expert and the Thomas and Karole Green Professor of Law at Washington University in St. Louis, argues that “at least in the short run, existing intellectual property regimes offer the most realistic avenue for securing effective legal protection for traditional knowledge holders.”
mp3 fileIn this acuality, Sussman discusses the fact that a human ancestor species called Australopithecus afarensis that lived between 5 million and 2.5 million years ago was what’s called an “edge species”. That is, they could adapt both to living in trees and on the ground. Most primate edge species actually are prey rather than […]
A Missouri mathematician believes that the state’s moniker has great bearing on the status of modern mathematical proofs: Show Me. Steven Krantz, Ph.D., professor of mathematics in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, said that it is becoming more difficult to verify proofs today and that the concept of the proof has undergone serious change over the course of his 30-plus years career,
It is very common for cities to declare their intent to become the next telecommunications corridor, biotechnology hub, or some other kind of technological center. But what often goes unexamined is how the human resource development strategy aligns with the economic goals of the municipality. Building civic capacity to support the learning of science and mathematics is vitally important for St. Louis and other cities.
To this end, partnerships between schools and universities to advance human development are critical, says William Tate, Ph.D., Edward Mallinckrodt Distinguished University Professor in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis and Director of the St. Louis Center for Inquiry in Science Teaching and Learning.
“Improving Women’s Participation in Elected Office” will be the topic of discussion as women representing Missouri’s Republican and Democratic parties visit Washington University’s Hilltop Campus for a public forum at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27 in Room 201, Rebstock Hall.
Michael Douglas, Ph.D., associate vice chancellor for research, is leaving Washington University to focus greater energy on family owned businesses outside of St. Louis. Additionally, Douglas announced that he plans to remain a resident of St. Louis and work independently on technology development, intellectual property licensing, startup companies and venture capital investment to spur biotechnology advancement in the region.
Photo by Kevin LowderThe Hip Jazz Quartet performs as part of the Jazz at Holmes series; the group includes Peter Martin, who was in the recent film Good Night, and Good Luck.
Randy Korotev regularly receives samples from meteorite enthusiasts that are not the real thing; mistakenly identified meteorites are dubbed “meteorwrongs.”
The research associate and lecturer in the Department of Anthropology in Arts & Sciences edited The Rock-Art of Eastern North America: Capturing Images and Insight.
Courtesy PhotoPathfinder Program students use an emission spectrometer at the Rio Tinto site in southern Spain.The work conducted along the Rio Tinto in Spain was part of the program’s Capstone Experience, a research-intensive field study conducted during the senior year.