Arts & Sciences

The Great Artists Series at Washington University in St. Louis presents affordably priced concerts by some of today’s finest classical musicians. The 2024 series will feature celebrated pianist Jeremy Denk, world music supergroup The Doos Trio, the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, pianist Joyce Yang and celebrated soprano Christine Goerke.

Katie Westby, a vector and disease ecologist at Tyson Research Center, applies a strong DEET repellant and wears treated clothing when she’s headed deep into the woods, but uses a lighter touch at home. She warns that pet dogs and cats can also be affected by mosquito bites.

Biologists including Michael Landis in Arts & Sciences worked with researchers from dozens of countries to reconstruct the origin and global spread of butterflies. The resulting butterfly tree of life reveals that they got their start in North America.

Undergraduate student speaker Samm Kaiser, who earned a degree in computer science and math from the McKelvey School of Engineering and in environmental analysis from Arts & Sciences, explained why life’s contraindications are both necessary and enlightening.

Nicholas Armstrong and Samm Kaiser will speak at the university’s 162nd Commencement Ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday, May 15.

The Women’s Society of Washington University presented the Harriet K. Switzer Leadership Award and the Elizabeth Gray Danforth Scholarship to three exceptional students at its annual membership meeting April 12 in Knight Hall’s Emerson Auditorium.

Jessie Sun, an assistant professor of psychological and brain sciences in Arts & Sciences, examines what drives good deeds.

George Pepe, who taught in the Department of Classics in Arts & Sciences for more than 50 years, died May 2 while in hospice near his home in San Diego. He was 83.

New research from Arts & Sciences is among the first to provide concrete evidence that paternity leave policies can lead to more gender-equal attitudes — especially among those directly impacted by the policy.

Six exceptional undergraduates were recognized with Department of Biology awards, including a new prize named in honor of Garland Allen, who advocated for racial and gender equality in the biological sciences.