Arts & Sciences

Heralded on the cover of Time magazine in 2000 as a genetically modified (GMO) crop with the potential to save millions of lives in the Third World, Golden Rice is still years away from field introduction and even then, may fall short of lofty health benefits still cited regularly by GMO advocates, suggests a new study from Washington University in St. Louis.

Seven Washington University in St. Louis students successfully completed the Certificate in Renewable Energy and the Environment this year, the largest group to date.

Maggie Ryan, 22, died in a car accident Sunday, May 22, 2016, in Wayne County, Ind., on her way home to Boston, just two days after earning degrees in anthropology and in women, gender and sexuality studies from Washington University in St. Louis. Ryan was deeply committed to helping the Washington University community, serving as a leader of both Dance Marathon and Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity.

Michael Wysession, professor of earth and planetary sciences in Arts & Sciences, has been recognized for his exceptional leadership in geosciences education by the Seismological Society of America with the 2016 Frank Press Public Service Award.

Jack Terschluse, who just earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in Arts & Sciences, received the university’s Grossman-Alexander Prize. The competitive award is presented each year to an outstanding graduating senior with an emphasis on American politics.

Mike and Tana Powell, who have been actively engaged at Washington University in St. Louis since their daughter Landis enrolled in the Arts & Sciences Class of 2016, have committed $8 million to match gifts for endowed professorships in the Department of Chemistry and other critical disciplines.

A new era of scientific discovery is being launched at Washington University in St. Louis that will transform teaching, research, faculty and facilities in Arts & Sciences. Driving Discovery is an ambitious multiphase project in Arts & Sciences that will create new research and teaching facilities for the sciences.

The text of the Commencement speech by graduate student Ashley Macrander, who earned a doctorate in education. 2016 marked the first time a graduate student gave a speech at the universitywide Commencement.

Robert E. Morrell, a professor emeritus who taught Japanese literature and Buddhism at Washington University in St. Louis for 34 years, died May 11, 2016, in St. Louis after a brief illness. He was 86.

Deanna Barch, a leading researcher on the role of cognition, emotion and brain function in illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression; Irving Boime, a developmental biologist; and Timothy Ley, MD, an expert in cancer genomics and leukemia, will be honored by Washington University in St. Louis, Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton has announced.