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The latest news and updates from Arts & Sciences

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Faculty, Social Sciences

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

The WashU alumnus shares his path back to campus and his big plans for helping enhance the Department of Statistics and Data Science.

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Humanities, Campus & Community

Art history students make Van Gogh’s paintings accessible to all

Through a partnership with the Saint Louis Art Museum and MindsEye Radio, seven students and their professor, Elizabeth Childs, spent a semester immersing themselves in the art of Vincent van Gogh and making the famous works accessible to those with visual impairments.

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Humanities, Research

ChatGPT struggles to imitate famous authors — unless it’s Mark Twain

Gabi Kirilloff and Claudia Carroll developed a model that’s 99% accurate at distinguishing authentic text by 10 famous authors from GPT-generated text in a similar style. The one mysterious exception? Mark Twain.

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Highlights, Campus & Community, Magazine

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.

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Faculty, Research, Magazine

Fire & Ice

From the icy ends of the Earth to the tropics, scientists across disciplines are using radar, big data, and other tools to help us better understand our changing planet.

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Arts & Sciences in the News:

McBride installed as the Gerald Early Distinguished Professor

Van Engen wins book award from Christianity Today

Are female politicians better advocates for their districts?

At the Creative Practice Workshop, four WashU scholars elevate each other's writing

Perseverance Rover hunts rare earth elements on Mars

Meet the 2025 Junior Jumpstart Student Ambassador

Stoica selected for Prototypes for Humanity exhibition

Yang installed as the Albert Gordon Hill Professor of Physics

Celebrating the John and Penelope Biggs Department of Classics

Making space in hallowed halls

Statisticians play an essential role in AI

A collector of knowledge, stories, and joy

Excavating ‘the Pompeii of the desert’

WashU wordplay

The main events: How scenes from life shape consciousness, build memories

WashU pitches in to reduce health disparities in St. Louis

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 EditionSee Magazine

news and events from Arts & Sciences / WashU

Nothin’ but pawpaws in the pawpaw patch

Pawpaw fruits — the largest native fruits in North America...

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Brain structure differences provide clues to substance use risks

When studying substance use disorders, scientists had...

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How to make resolutions that stick

The fresh slate of the new year offers an opportunity to re...

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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.

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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.

Read more

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.

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Makenna Fluegel pays it forward

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

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