the ampersand

The latest news and updates from Arts & Sciences

Psychological & Brain Sciences named top 10 graduate program by U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report has named WashU’s Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences one of the top 10 psychology graduate programs in the nation — a significant milestone for the department and Arts & Sciences.

4.8.25 | Read the Story

Social Sciences, Research

Mood scrolling: Can social media be good for mental health?

WashU researchers find an upside to staying social online.

4.3.25 | Read the Story

Faculty, Natural Sciences & Math, Research

How to (theoretically) spot an alien

A WashU physicist proposes an outside-the-box idea for detecting alien biology.

4.3.25 | Read the Story

Faculty, Humanities, Research

The power of motivated mistranslation

Did Indigenous translators intentionally mistranslate to disrupt colonization? Two WashU scholars explore this question and the crucial role of language in history.

4.1.25 | Read the Story

Faculty, Giving, Natural Sciences & Math, Campus & Community

World-renowned experts in tropical plant biodiversity join WashU, Missouri Botanical Garden

Hiring of Lúcia Lohmann, Toby Pennington to bolster long-standing ties between university, garden.

3.28.25 | Read the Story

Social Sciences, Profiles

Setting his sights high

Isaac Seiler has navigated a mid-college transfer, Capitol Hill, prestigious scholarships — and his aspirations are far from over.

3.27.25 | Read the Story

Humanities, Social Sciences, Awards & Notables

New cohort of Living History Scholars to examine historical events through fresh lenses

The scholars will present their projects at a Department of History gala in April.

3.25.25 | Read the Story

Faculty, Natural Sciences & Math, Research

Could convection in the crust explain Venus’s many volcanoes?

New calculations by Arts & Sciences researchers suggest surprising geology beneath Venus’s surface.

3.25.25 | Read the Story

Arts & Sciences in the News:

Underwater caves in Sicily show signs of early humans from 17,000 years ago

Ilaria Patania | Discover Magazine

Lost Silk Road cities were just discovered with groundbreaking tech

Michael Frachetti | National Geographic

Church in Egyptian desert reveals early Christian burial practices

Nicola Aravecchia | The New York Times

4.10.25

Erin McGlothlin installed as the Gloria M. Goldstein Professor of Holocaust Studies

4.1.25

Honoring distinguished alumni

3.17.25

Decades-long quest leads to new antibiotic compounds

3.13.25

Student Spotlight: Victoria Wright

3.12.25

Crystallizing time

3.10.25

How does sleep affect our anxiety?

3.6.25

Zacks installed as the Edgar James Swift Professor

2.7.25

Elijah Darden named a Gates Cambridge Scholar

1.31.25

TRIADS announces new round of seed grants

1.29.25

Positive psychology: Grad student Payton Rule advocates for people with disabilities through research

1.22.25

Jhan Carlos Salazar explores the peaks and valleys of evolution

1.22.25

Isaacowitz wins mid-career award from the Society for Affective Science

1.6.25

Returning to his roots: Joe Guinness, AB ’07, helps grow a new department

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more stories:

Featured Podcast:

The PAD Podcast Episode 4: Tijuana Ricks⁠

On this episode of the ⁠PAD podcast⁠, Rob chats with actor/director/writer/producer ⁠Tijuana Ricks⁠ about her fantastic and varied career post-graduation.

Robert Mark Morgan · 04: Tijuana Ricks

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

Fall 2024 issue

Ampersand magazine shares stories of incredible people, research, and ideas in Arts & Sciences. Our latest issue features stories on the real-world power of a PhD, untangling the roots of disease, research on our changing planet, and more.

Subscribe to Print Edition See Magazine

news and events from Arts & Sciences / WashU

The drive

The Pittsburgh Steelers were down by six to the Washington...

Crystal clear

In the fall of 2023, Jen Padgett, MA ’12, PhD ’18, was...

Writing without fear

Lydia Paar has spent the better part of four decades in the...

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.

The many dimensions of G’Ra Asim

Go backstage at one of his concerts and there’s a good chance you’ll find G’Ra Asim grading a stack of papers before he takes the stage. The assistant professor of English discusses writing, performing, and teaching.

One degree. Many destinations.

Graduate school is often viewed as a stepping stone on a path to the ivory tower. But in Arts & Sciences, graduate education transcends these traditional boundaries, opening doors to new possibilities and diverse career paths.

Untangling the roots of disease

Gary Patti takes a leading role in a $50 million project to study environmental chemicals and other threats to human health.

Makenna Fluegel pays it forward

The first-generation college student from rural Missouri plans to use her science skills to heal her community.

the ampersand

Psychological & Brain Sciences named top 10 graduate program by U.S. News & World Report

Mood scrolling: Can social media be good for mental health?

How to (theoretically) spot an alien

The power of motivated mistranslation

World-renowned experts in tropical plant biodiversity join WashU, Missouri Botanical Garden

Setting his sights high

New cohort of Living History Scholars to examine historical events through fresh lenses

Could convection in the crust explain Venus’s many volcanoes?

Arts & Sciences in the News:

Underwater caves in Sicily show signs of early humans from 17,000 years ago

Lost Silk Road cities were just discovered with groundbreaking tech

Church in Egyptian desert reveals early Christian burial practices

Missouri Botanical Garden's new leader offers a virtual tour of the Amazon

WashU welcomes 33rd cohort of Mellon Mays fellows

Eight brain science breakthroughs powered by WashU graduate students

Erin McGlothlin installed as the Gloria M. Goldstein Professor of Holocaust Studies

Honoring distinguished alumni

Decades-long quest leads to new antibiotic compounds

Student Spotlight: Victoria Wright

Crystallizing time

How does sleep affect our anxiety?

Zacks installed as the Edgar James Swift Professor

Elijah Darden named a Gates Cambridge Scholar

TRIADS announces new round of seed grants

Positive psychology: Grad student Payton Rule advocates for people with disabilities through research

Jhan Carlos Salazar explores the peaks and valleys of evolution

Isaacowitz wins mid-career award from the Society for Affective Science

Returning to his roots: Joe Guinness, AB ’07, helps grow a new department

The PAD Podcast Episode 4: Tijuana Ricks⁠

Paul Laurence Dunbar, "We Wear The Mask"

Influencing democracy

Fall 2024 issue

news and events from Arts & Sciences / WashU

The drive

Crystal clear

Writing without fear

A river runs through it

Our world by degrees: In search of refuge

Keep up with the Ampersand

The many dimensions of G’Ra Asim

One degree. Many destinations.

Untangling the roots of disease

Makenna Fluegel pays it forward