Arts & Sciences

Greece is experiencing a financial and social crisis of epic proportions. The newest Nobel laureate in economics and a colleague at Washington University in St. Louis co-founded a blog to share ideas to rescue Greece’s economy. They’ve published a plan to overhaul Greek government and society. Will these economists become modern day Greek heros and save the country where Aristotle first pondered economics?

David Fike, PhD, assistant professor of isotope biogeochemistry in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences in Arts & Sciences, was named a Packard Fellow Oct. 15, a prestigious distinction awarded to only 17 top young researchers nationwide this year.

Tiffany Stern, PhD, professor of English at Oxford University, is the visiting Hurst Professor in the Department of English in Arts & Sciences the week of Oct. 18. Stern, whose expertise is in Early Modern theatrical practice, will give three presentations in Hurst Lounge, Duncker Hall, Oct. 19, 21 and 22.

Frank J. Stadermann, PhD, senior research scientist in physics, member of the Laboratory for Space Sciences and director of the NanoSIMS and Auger laboratories at Washington University in St. Louis, died of a cerebral hemorrhage Oct. 4, 2010. He was 48. “He never uttered an angry word in all his years at the university,” said a friend, “always seeking to use patience, humor and reason to undermine conflict and promote harmony. He was a true friend and beloved colleague.”

Oh the shark has pretty teeth dear/And he shows them pearly white … So is introduced Macheath, the dapper bandit and notorious womanizer more infamously known as “Mack the Knife.” And thus begins The Threepenny Opera, a merciless send-up of operatic conventions, which will be presented by the Performing Arts Department Oct. 22 through 31. 

The world has been captivated by the amazing rescue of 33 miners trapped underground for 69 days in Chile. The miners’ survival and rescue were made possible by collaboration, says R. Keith Sawyer, PhD, associate professor of education and of psychology in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. Sawyer is an expert on the science of creativity and collaboration.

Sociologist William Julius Wilson, PhD, the Lewis P. and Linda L. Geyser University Professor at Harvard University and a leading authority on race and poverty in the United States, will deliver the biennial lecture for Washington University’s Center on Urban Research and Public Policy at 1:10 p.m. Oct. 19 in the Danforth University Center, Room 276.

Tyson Research Center’s Living Learning Center has achieved full certification under the Living Building Challenge run by the International Living Building Institute. The challenge, launched in November 2006, is widely recognized as the world’s most rigorous green building performance standard.

Salvatore Scibona, whose debut novel The End was a finalist for the 2008 National Book Award, will read from his work at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, for Washington University’s Writing Program in Arts & Sciences.  

WUSTL alumnus Adam Ross returns to campus on Oct 19. at 7 p.m. to read and discuss his new novel, Mr. Peanut, a dark look at the complexities of marriage.