Page 2 – The Source | Washington University in St. Louis

DeFake tool protects voice recordings from cybercriminals

an ai generated image of rainbow colored audio waves

Ning Zhang, an assistant professor of computer science and engineering in the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University, one of three winners of the FTC’s Voice Cloning Challenge, talks about the technology he created.

Climate & Environment

Global study reveals health impacts of airborne trace elements

Researchers at Washington University , led by Randall Martin, investigated global particulate matter, revealing health risks from trace elements.

Anthropology & Archaeology

Lemur’s lament

What can be done when one threatened animal kills another? Researchers in Arts & Sciences confronted this difficult reality when they witnessed attacks on critically endangered lemurs by another vulnerable species, a carnivore called a fosa.

Advancement

Baruah named Hugo F. & Ina Champ Urbauer Professor

McKelvey Dean Aaron Bobick smiles next to Dr. Sanjoy Baruah.

Sanjoy Baruah, an expert in scheduling theory and safety-critical system design, has been named the Hugo F. & Ina Champ Urbauer Professor at the McKelvey School of Engineering.

Medicine

$6.2 million to help develop gene therapy for HIV

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have received a $6.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop a gene therapy that would modify the immune system’s B cells to spur them to produce broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV.

Awards & Notables

Nine WashU faculty elected to AAAS

Nine faculty members at Washington University in St. Louis are among the 502 new fellows selected by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, one of the most distinct honors in the scientific community.

Cultural Studies

Study highlights importance of caregiver well-being in Uganda

A group-based curriculum called Journey of Life — delivered over 12 sessions in the Kiryandongo refugee settlement in Uganda — led to improvements in mental health, social support, parental warmth and attitudes around violence against children, finds a new study from the Brown School.

St. Louis Region

Thurtene returns to campus — and its roots — April 19-21

Thurtene Carnival organizers are infusing new life into Washington University’s oldest tradition. This year’s fair, which takes place Friday through Sunday, April 19-21, near Francis Olympic Field, will feature a reimagined stage, new attractions and a fresh take on fair favorites. Highlights include custom-made funnel cakes with chocolate sauce, a thrift shop hosted by Strike Magazine and a medieval castle where campus bands and a cappella acts will perform.

Space

WashU to manage data for instrument on Artemis moon mission

Washington University in St. Louis will manage data processing and dissemination for the Lunar Environment Monitoring Station, one of the first three potential payloads selected for Artemis III, NASA’s mission which will return astronauts to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years.

Climate & Environment

Masteller wins NSF CAREER award

Geoscientist Claire Masteller in Arts & Sciences will look at the erosive power of ocean waves on rocky coastlines with a CAREER award from the National Science Foundation.