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Mathematicians to gather for MAA event

Mathematicians to gather for MAA event

Mathematicians from throughout the region will gather April 12-14 at the University of Missouri–St. Louis for a pair of major math events. The Deparment of Mathematics and Computer Science at UMSL will host the spring meeting of the Missouri Section of the Mathematical Association of America on April 13 and 14. MAA Vice President Francis Su and David Wright, chairman of the Department of Mathematics at Washington University in St. Louis, will be the keynote speakers at the meeting.

High school students excel in science at UMSL

High school students excel in science at UMSL

Researchers, science teachers and future leaders in science and industry recently convened at the University of Missouri–St. Louis to consider problems and interrelationships of science and society.

Panel to focus on youth, summer programs

Panel to focus on youth, summer programs

Todd Swanstrom knows the value of communities working together. He is, after all, the E. Desmond Lee Endowed Professor of Community Collaboration and Public Policy Administration at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. Swanstrom put that title to work recently when he met with leaders at more than 30 St. Louis Community Development Corporations to help facilitate collaboration.

Center to kick off National Poetry Month

Center to kick off National Poetry Month

The Center for the Humanities at the University of Missouri–St. Louis will kick off National Poetry Month in April with a pair of Monday Noon Series events. Jeff Friedman, who has been called “the funniest poet in PoBiz” will give a reading April 2 at UMSL. He will explore poems from his most recent collection, “Working in Flour,” and selections from his new manuscript of parables, fables, tales and comic sketches.

Forum to focus on reproductive rights as national debate heats up

Forum to focus on reproductive rights as national debate heats up

Reproductive rights have been a recent hot-button political issue. As the national debate heats up, a forum on reproductive rights at the University of Missouri–St. Louis will explore the issue, why the rights are important and why these issues are in the news now.

Nobel laureate to discuss science education reform

Nobel laureate to discuss science education reform

Reforming science education is a topic on the minds of many educators these days. And several scholars are making things happen. Dudley Herschbach, the Baird Professor of Science and professor of chemistry and biological chemistry at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., and Nobel Prize winner, will discuss “Science Education Reform” at 4:30 p.m. April 3 in Century Room B at the Millennium Student Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

New environmentalism topic of Jane and Whitney Harris Lecture

New environmentalism topic of Jane and Whitney Harris Lecture

A scientist who extols the controversial concept of collaboration with big corporations and agribusiness to promote environmental sustainability and habitat restoration will be the speaker at this year’s Jane and Whitney Harris Lecture. The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. on April 3 in the Ridgeway Center’s Schoenberg Auditorium at the Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis. The lecture is free and open to the public.

UMSL signs new agreement with Mineral Area College

UMSL signs new agreement with Mineral Area College

Residents in southeast Missouri don’t have to leave their zip code to receive a serious education at a serious value. The University of Missouri–St. Louis and Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Mo., signed a new partnership agreement March 19 offering UMSL courses to those enrolled at MAC. Students can choose from the UMSL degree programs offered, including a bachelor’s degrees in liberal studies, bachelor’s or a master’s degree in social work and master’s degree in nursing.

UMSL takes research, technology transfer, economic development seriously

UMSL takes research, technology transfer, economic development seriously

The University of Missouri–St. Louis takes its research, technology transfer and economic development mission seriously. That’s the message Nassar Arshadi, vice provost for research at UMSL, conveyed at a recent meeting of the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association’s Energy and Environment Council.

NSF awards student grant for plant research

NSF awards student grant for plant research

Research taking place at the University of Missouri–St. Louis could render valuable insight into how biodiversity can affect natural ecosystems. Diego Salazar, a PhD candidate in biology at UMSL, has been awarded a $15,000 dissertation improvement grant from the National Science Foundation for his doctoral dissertation which is titled “The effect of plant phylogenetic and chemical diversity on herbivore community structure and plant host herbivore damage.”

Eye on UMSL: Olympic interview

Eye on UMSL: Olympic interview

Richard Wright, Curators’ Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at UMSL, interviews Susan Brownell, professor...

From start to finish: Creative writing students produce Natural Bridge

From start to finish: Creative writing students produce Natural Bridge

About half a year separate new editions of Natural Bridge, the contemporary literature journal published by the University of Missouri–St. Louis. And it takes every bit of that time for a staff primarily composed of students in the MFA in Creative Writing program to produce the issue in print and – for the first time ever – digital formats.

Researchers discuss new ‘old’

Researchers discuss new ‘old’

The adage “You’re only as old as you feel” rings true today more than ever. Whether the reason is better health options, working later in life due to economical challenges or just the need to stay active, older adults are not created equal.

Political scientists weigh in on GOP presidential race as Missouri caucuses near

Political scientists weigh in on GOP presidential race as Missouri caucuses near

The focus of the 2012 race to select a Republican presidential nominee will soon shift to Missouri – again. The state held a nonbinding primary last month. The symbolic vote awarded no delegates, but the forthcoming caucuses will yield 52 delegates. The voter turnout, however, might be slim, according to David Robertson, Curators’ Teaching Professor of Political Science at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. Most of the Missouri caucuses will be held this Saturday, St. Patrick’s Day.

Criminology, nursing graduate programs retain top ranking

Criminology, nursing graduate programs retain top ranking

U.S. News & World Report’s latest publication on graduates schools continues to rank the University of Missouri–St. Louis’ criminology and nursing programs among the best. The ranking appears in the magazine’s 2013 edition, “America’s Best Graduate Schools,” available this week. Criminology retains its 2009 ranking and nursing maintains its 2011 ranking.

Biologist to explore shifting paradigms in women, science

Biologist to explore shifting paradigms in women, science

At one time, most practitioners of animal behavior in the U.S. were men, and existing paradigms reflected primarily a male perspective. That changed in the 1970s. The numbers and prominence of women studying animal behavior significantly increased, which led to a re-evaluation of existing assumptions and a reinterpretation of behavior from a more female-centered perspective.

Trailblazers honored for contributions to women

Trailblazers honored for contributions to women

The five women honored at this year’s Trailblazers Award ceremony March 7 fulfilled the requirement: Women whose extraordinary lives have contributed to the advancement of women. The annual event at the University of Missouri–St. Louis is one of the highlights of Women’s History Month.

Food for thought

Food for thought

For Patrilie Hernandez, a senior at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, food is both a profession and a passion. With an educational background in the culinary arts and hospitality management, Hernandez has spent several years working in kitchens. Throughout her life, feeding others has been a point of pride and something she took great pleasure from.

Eye on UMSL: Meet ‘n’ greet

Eye on UMSL: Meet ‘n’ greet

Xavier Robinson, a senior majoring in biology at UMSL, meets with Deborah Horsfall Morley of the Wyman Center, a St. Louis-based nonprofit organization that is nationally recognized as an expert in developing teens. They sponsored a booth at the “Spring Internship & Job Fair 2012” held at the Mark Twain Athletic & Fitness Center. The picture, taken by campus photographer August Jennewein, is the latest to be featured at Eye on UMSL.

Seminar to showcase PPRC director’s research

Seminar to showcase PPRC director’s research

The University of Missouri–St. Louis is a public metropolitan research university. And the university’s Public Policy Research Center will continue to showcase that with the third presentation in its “2012 Spring Applied Research Seminar Series: Applied Research Across the Disciplines.”

Lisa Ling highlights Women’s History Month

Lisa Ling highlights Women’s History Month

Noted journalist and TV host Lisa Ling has traveled the world for the last decade reporting on violence in all its forms and the devastating effects it has on humanity. She often focuses on women and children – bride burning in India, gang rape in the Congo, child trafficking in Ghana. She is also well known for her role from 1999 to 2002 as co-host of the daytime television talk show “The View.”

Biologist elected to Galapagos Islands protection foundation

Biologist elected to Galapagos Islands protection foundation

For nearly 15 years, biologist Patricia Parker has traveled to the Galapagos Islands to conduct research on birds, specifically examining the disease of the birds of the islands. Recently, she was elected a governing member of the Charles Darwin Foundation, whose mission is to conserve the environment and biodiversity in the Galapagos.

Arkansas group helps shatter UMSL Day record

Arkansas group helps shatter UMSL Day record

When the buses arrived Saturday with nearly 100 high school students in them, Alan Byrd broke out in a smile. Byrd, dean of enrollment management at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, had been working with the group’s organizers to attend UMSL Day, the university’s information session for prospective students and their parents.

Economist guests on ‘The Pulse of St. Louis’

Economist guests on ‘The Pulse of St. Louis’

As the region welcomes Joe Reagan, the new president and chief executive officer of the Regional Chamber and Growth Association, a University of Missouri–St. Louis economist had the opportunity to participate in a discussion with Reagan about the region, growth and upcoming developments.

Panel to focus on youth, summer programs

Panel to focus on art as revitalization tool

Todd Swanstrom knows the value of communities working together. He is, after all, the E. Desmond Lee Endowed Professor of Community Collaboration and Public Policy Administration at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. Swanstrom put that title to work recently when he met with leaders at more than 30 St. Louis Community Development Corporations to help facilitate collaboration.

French for breakfast, Greek for lunch

French for breakfast, Greek for lunch

Have an international experience without leaving the University of Missouri–St. Louis. UMSL will celebrate National Foreign Language Week March 5-11 by holding an array of events.

Student is standout volunteer

Student is standout volunteer

Learning to speak a second language is no easy task, and learning medical jargon in a foreign language takes the difficultly level up a notch.

Students to share research with legislators

Students to share research with legislators

If indeed you are what you eat, are you healthier for eating food bought at Whole Foods Market? University of Missouri–St. Louis anthropology graduate Katherine Ross wrote her senior thesis on the anthropological implications on St. Louisans’ Whole Foods shopping experiences. Her project is called “The Allure of Healthy Living: Customer Motivations for Shopping at Whole Foods Market.”

UMSL offers free viewing of moon, stars, galaxies

UMSL offers free viewing of moon, stars, galaxies

Go star-gazing at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. The Department of Physics and Astronomy will hold a public viewing of Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Orion Nebula and Pleiades at the Richard D. Schwartz Observatory on March 3 at 7 p.m. The viewing is free and open to the public. An expert will be on hand to answer all of your questions Bring the whole family!

New website seeks to serve as campus marketplace

New website seeks to serve as campus marketplace

Need a slightly used futon? A pair of new bar stools? How about a pre-owned microwave oven?

If you need any of these items or have some things of your own that you would like to sell or trade, Scott Morrissey has a possible solution. It’s called Symblia.com.

Biologist called ‘Darwin’s heir’ to give conference keynote speech

Biologist called ‘Darwin’s heir’ to give conference keynote speech

Famed evolutionary biologist Edward O. Wilson has been called “Darwin’s natural heir,” and he’s widely considered the father of the modern environmental movement. His work has garnered him two Pulitzer Prizes and inclusion on Time magazine’s list of “America’s 25 most influential people.”

Programmers, designers gather at 2012 Global Game Jam

Programmers, designers gather at 2012 Global Game Jam

It wasn’t just any weekend. It was two days to create the ultimate video game. More than 100 programmers, artists and designers descended upon the University of Missouri–St. Louis on Jan. 27 for the 2012 Global Game Jam.

Gang activity goes viral

Gang activity goes viral

What was once accomplished through graffiti on the side of buildings or property damage in a rival neighborhood is now happening in the cyber world. Gang activity – locally and around the United States – is now going “new school,” according to University of Missouri–St. Louis criminologist Beth Huebner.

Seminar to showcase social work scholar’s research

Seminar to showcase social work scholar’s research

The University of Missouri–St. Louis is a public metropolitan research university. And the university’s Public Policy Research Center will continue to showcase that with the second presentation in its “2012 Spring Applied Research Seminar Series: Applied Research Across the Disciplines.”

Research puts ‘nail in the coffin’ of popular neutral theory in ecology

Research puts ‘nail in the coffin’ of popular neutral theory in ecology

Up until Jan. 27, ecologists were still arguing about the factors that determine the makeup of the earth’s forests. And then an article in the prestigious journal Science discussed findings that put “a nail in the coffin” of the increasingly popular so-called neutral theory in ecology, according to the article’s authors.

Evolution exploration to bring together researchers in biology, human sciences, humanities

Evolution exploration to bring together researchers in biology, human sciences, humanities

Top researchers will come together this spring to explore evolution in biology, the human sciences and the humanities. And they will do so at the University of Missouri–St. Louis as part of the Consilience Conference hosted by the College of Arts and Sciences. It will take place April 26-28 at the J.C. Penney Building/Conference Center on UMSL’s North Campus.

Historian to revisit African American social reform

Historian to revisit African American social reform

A push for African American social welfare reform began in St. Louis long before the start of the civil rights movement in the late 1950s, according to Priscilla Dowden-White, associate professor of history at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.