Friday, May 15, 2020

Top Stories

Honoring Commencement traditions during COVID-19

Washington University staff found new ways to celebrate students and honor the tradition of Commencement in the era of coronavirus. Today, graduates will view virtual recognition ceremonies that celebrate their accomplishments and contributions.

Faculty, staff congratulate Class of 2020

Washington University faculty and staff members recorded video messages of encouragement, support and advice for the Class of 2020 as the schools and groups hold virtual recognition ceremonies this week.

Thank you, #WashU20

In the final installment of Thank You, #WashU20, we spotlight graduating students Jameel Spann, of University College, Karen Villalba-Acosta, of Olin Business School, and Kow Essuman, of the School of Medicine. All worked to make a positive impact.

Flies sleep when need arises to adapt to new situations

School of Medicine researchers have found that flies that cannot fly respond by sleeping more. The findings suggest that sleep may help animals adapt to challenging new situations.

WashU in the News

Poll shows a partisan split over virus-era religious freedom

The Associated Press

Opinion: Trump is staking out his own universe of ‘alternative facts’

The New York Times

Sources: NFL, teams agree to raise debt limits $150M for each club

ESPN

Blues broadcaster donates blood to COVID-19 antibody research, plasma for patients

HEC-TV

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Campus Voices

Global airports and yellow fever

History PhD candidate Mark Beirn, a graduate student fellow in the Center for the Humanities in Arts & Sciences, is familiar with the challenge of keeping travelers safe during a global health crisis. He writes that policymakers dealing with COVID-19 could benefit from reviewing Nairobi, Kenya’s handling of its public infrastructure during the yellow fever scare after World War II.

Notables

Vetta Sanders Thompson, the E. Desmond Lee Professor of Racial and Ethnic Diversity at the Brown School, has been appointed to the St. Louis County Health and Hospital Advisory Board.

The Skandalaris Center announced that six interdisciplinary teams were selected for funding to prepare their projects for commercialization through the spring 2020 LEAP Gap Fund cycle.

Research Wire

Tablet-based ultrasound, a new technology, has been used to measure bone age in relation to stunted growth and nutrition in children in Ecuador. Researchers hope to use the information to better address global public health. Lora Iannotti, of the Brown School, is senior author of the research published in the journal Radiology.

The Record