Arts & Sciences

In a new book, “Voicing Politics,” Arts & Sciences’ Margit Tavits uncovers the many ways in which linguistic peculiarities of different languages can have meaningful consequences for political attitudes and beliefs around the world.

Using advanced geochemical analyses, a team of scientists, including Michael Frachetti, professor of archaeology in Arts & Sciences, have uncovered new answers to decades-old questions about trade of tin throughout Eurasia during the Late Bronze Age.

Elinor Harrison, a postdoctoral fellow in physical therapy and in dance, will present a new duet choreographed for twin dance majors Ali and Juli Yaniz as part of “This is Temporary,” the 2022 WashU Dance Theatre concert.

Xiang Tang, a professor of mathematics and statistics in Arts & Sciences, was elected to the 2023 class of fellows of the American Mathematical Society. He is a leading expert in noncommutative geometry, index theory and Poisson geometry.

Vladimir Birman, an associate professor of chemistry in Arts & Sciences, won a $110,000 award from the American Chemical Society’s Petroleum Research Fund.

Alex Chen, Saori Pastore, Maria Piarulli and Yajie Yuan, all in Arts & Sciences, will pursue transformational advances in their fields using the Department of Energy’s leadership-class supercomputers.

Arthur Holly Compton, WashU’s ninth chancellor, conducted X-ray scattering experiments in 1922 that demonstrated the particle nature of electromagnetic radiation. At the time, the idea that light had both wave and particle properties was not easily accepted. His discovery stimulated the development of quantum mechanics and was recognized with the Nobel Prize in 1927.

After two years of pivot and patience, three reunion classes — the Classes of ’70, ’71 and ’72 — got together to celebrate 50th reunions at this year’s Commencement.

Andia Augustin-Billy, MA ’09, PhD ’15, was the first Black faculty member to receive tenure in the 196-year history of Centenary College. Now, she strives to be a mentor to younger faculty like she was mentored while she was at WashU.

As founder and CEO of City Winery, a national chain of music venues that offers wine and fine dining, Michael Dorf, AB ’84, BSBA ’84, has made it his mission to provide an experience that will “indulge the senses.”