WashU Arts & Sciences

When Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte arrived on the #WashU campus as an undergraduate, he discovered a place where he could imagine new possibilities. He was attracted to WashU’s reputation as a research institution with distinguished faculty, as well as its smaller class sizes and the promise of a more personalized experience. He went on to double major in economics and American culture studies. Inspired by the John B. Ervin Scholars Program, which provides support and mentorship for Black students at WashU, Uriarte pushed for a similar program for Latino students. His efforts helped lead to the creation of the Annika Rodriguez Scholars Program in 1999. “I wanted to make sure Latino students at WashU were provided the same sense of community the Ervin Scholars offered. Through the Rodriguez Program, I could contribute not only in ways that I had benefited from when arriving at WashU but also in ways I wish had existed more when I arrived on campus.” ✍: Jenny Bird ➡️ Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/gVVqbEjj

ICYMI! 👀 Nearly four years after landing on Mars, NASA's Perseverance rover continues to collect and study rocks and rocky soils on the surface of the Red Planet. An international team of researchers led by Scott VanBommel, a senior research scientist in the WashU Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, combed through the rover's signals for signs of rare earth metals, including yttrium and cerium. “Under certain conditions, even tiny amounts of cerium can mimic the signal of organic compounds,” VanBommel said. “We were motivated to see just how much cerium is present in the samples.”  Study co-authors include John Christian, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, and Abigail Knight, a staff scientist in the department. ✍: Chris Woolston ➡️ Read more: https://lnkd.in/g6GJyBgd

ICYMI! 👀 Rafia Zafar, Arts & Sciences Professor Emerita of English and African & African American Studies, was recently featured in The Fulbright Program Alumni Spotlight. Professor Zafar was a Fulbright U.S. Scholar to the Netherlands and became the Walt Whitman Distinguished Fulbright Chair in American Studies at the University of Utrecht in the spring of 2007. ✈️ She says that her experience in the Netherlands “affirmed my advice to my students—go abroad, study abroad—while you’re still in college. You might never have the chance again, or not for a long time.” ➡️ Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eA4Fuhnq

🍂 As we reflect on a fall semester filled with milestones, including the groundbreaking of Riney Hall, we’re filled with gratitude for the Arts & Sciences community and excitement for what’s to come.

The Transdisciplinary Institute in Applied Data Sciences (TRIADS) has undergone a leadership transition this semester, bringing a new face to its team. Bo Li, the Stanley A. Sawyer Professor in Statistics and Data Science, has joined TRIADS as its co-director. Tammy English, previously associate director of TRIADS, now co-directs alongside Li. “I have always been passionate about transdisciplinary research, with my work spanning a range of fields including statistics, climatology, epidemiology, agriculture, ecology, and forestry,” Li said. “TRIADS' mission to foster innovative collaborations that address some of the world's most pressing social issues perfectly aligns with both my research interests and aspirations.”

👏 WashU Arts & Sciences senior Elijah Darden was recently named a Rhodes Scholars finalist, one of the world’s highest academic honors. Darden, 22, is majoring in psychological and brain sciences and minoring in music, both in Arts & Sciences. He is a member of the Rodriguez Scholars program and president of WashU’s Emergency Support Team (EST), the student-run emergency medicine organization. Darden aspires to be a physician and develop effective community education programs that reduce health disparities in various populations.

👏 WashU Arts & Sciences senior Isaac Seiler was recently named a Rhodes Scholars finalist, one of the world’s highest academic honors. Seiler, 22, is majoring in sociology and minoring in political science, both in Arts & Sciences, and won the Truman Scholarship earlier this year. Seiler hopes to one day run for public office and enact policies that protect and propagate local news outlets.

ICYMI! 👀 🌋 Paul K. Byrne, an associate professor of earth, environmental and planetary sciences in Arts & Sciences at WashU, was featured in “Volcano Worlds,” a PBS Nova documentary about the powerful volcanic eruptions that have shaped worlds across our solar system. As part of “Volcano Worlds,” Byrne offered his perspective on volcanoes in a number of different planetary contexts, including on Venus, a planet that is a primary focus of his research. When asked about images that reveal the prospect of recent volcanic activity on Venus, Byrne said: “I was so excited when we saw those images because what that tells us is that everything we’ve been thinking about Venus is right, that this world probably is volcanically active. And that just makes us hungry for more.” ✍: Talia Ogliore ➡️ Read more: https://lnkd.in/gNWxGtjj

🎉 Deanna Barch, the Gregory B. Couch Professor of Psychiatry and professor of psychological and brain sciences, recently won two honors from national organizations. The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) awarded her the 2024 Rhoda and Bernard Sarnat International Prize in Mental Health for her seminal contributions to advancing our understanding of developmental psychopathology and treatment of mental health disorders. The award was presented at the group’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 20. “Not only has Dr. Barch led important research that is central to understanding the etiology and developmental mechanisms of mental disorders across the life span, but she has been a tireless mentor to the next generation of clinician scholars,” NAM President Victor J. Dzau said in a statement. The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF) awarded Barch the Lieber Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Schizophrenia Research. The prize was presented at the International Awards Dinner in New York City on Oct. 25. She was selected by a committee of the foundation’s Scientific Council, a volunteer group of 195 mental health experts across disciplines in brain and behavior. “Dr. Barch is a remarkable schizophrenia researcher who has made continuous critical contributions over her career,” Dr. William Bunney, chair of the Lieber Prize committee, said in a statement. “She is a leader in the study of cognitive and affective neuroscience in schizophrenia.” Please join us in congratulating her! 👏

The polls are open! Today, St. Louis COUNTY Voters may cast their ballot from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Athletic Complex on Danforth Campus, and St. Louis CITY Voters may cast their ballot from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the McDonnell Medical Sciences Building at the School of Medicine. More details can be found at vote.washu.edu. If you're in line at 7 p.m., stay in line until you've cast your ballot - you have the right to vote! Try to budget extra time when voting in a presidential election. For shorter lines, we recommend avoiding peak times such as lunchtime or evening. Consider going earlier, and bring a friend for company. St. Louis City and County voters can view live wait times on Election Day on the Board of Elections' website (also accessible via our Linktree: https://buff.ly/486ZPuC).