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The latest news and updates from Arts & Sciences

Arts & Sciences in the News:

Featured Podcast:

Paul Laurence Dunbar, "We Wear The Mask"

Rafia Zafar joins the Poetry for All podcast to discuss "We Wear the Mask" by the great poet and writer Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906). Zafar leads us in a discussion of Dunbar's fame and influence while opening up broader themes of African American history and literature

Influencing democracy

The fifth episode of the American Democracy Lab podcast features author, lecturer, and journalist Anne Nelson discussing the eroding trust in our democracy.

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The Ampersand Magazine

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Spring 2026 issue

Ampersand magazine shares stories of incredible people, research, and ideas in Arts & Sciences. 

Our latest issue features stories on how faculty are rethinking teaching in the age of artificial intelligence, how researchers are tackling Alzheimer’s disease from multiple angles, how Ampersand Programs are shaping the first-year experience, physics pioneer Walter Massey’s lasting legacy, and more.

news and events from Arts & Sciences / WashU

River flowing over rocks and Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park

A river runs through it

Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis are using state-of-the-art geospatial technologies to study bedrock river erosion at Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park, located about two hours southwest of the Danforth Campus.

Aerial shot of Tyson Research Center in the fall

Our world by degrees: In search of refuge

Researchers look at whether Ozark oases at Tyson Research Center — climate change refugia — could help species persist in spite of rising temperatures.

A physics pioneer: Walter Massey’s lasting legacy

Walter Massey, MA ’66, PhD ’66, has transformed science, led academic institutions, and opened doors for generations of students.

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A one-of-a-kind first year: Inside WashU’s Ampersand Programs

Ampersand Programs immediately immerse first-year students in the very best of WashU, blending classroom study with experiential learning while fostering tight-knit cohorts and close connections with faculty.

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Meet the WashU alumna exploring the science of attention

Merve Ileri-Tayar turned her curiosity about the human mind into a rewarding graduate research experience.

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How chemical “sponges” could change the world: A conversation with Zach Zheng

Zach Zheng uses AI to create metallic-organic compounds with potential applications far beyond the lab.

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