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First-gen college student prepares for grad school future focused on evolutionary biology research

Feb. 16, 2024—Credit: Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation/Kaerie Ray College of Arts and Science senior Sarah Hourihan is eagerly awaiting journal publication of a first-author manuscript featuring results of research on the dark-eyed junco songbird completed as a Beckman Foundation Scholar. The paper, available as a pre-print on bioRxiv, signals the end of work on one research...

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New center launches, leading the conversation on the American presidency

Feb. 7, 2024—The Carolyn T. and Robert M. Rogers Center for the American Presidency has launched, with the goal of exploring the presidency through an innovative, comprehensive lens. Housed within the College of Arts and Science, the center will serve as a nationally recognized hub for innovative scholarship about the workings of the presidency. On February 6,...

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Weiler, emeritus professor of physics and astronomy, has died

Jan. 26, 2024—Thomas Weiler, professor of physics and astronomy, emeritus, died December 17, 2023, after enduring a progressive neurodegenerative variant of Parkinson’s disease. He was 74. Weiler was an international leader in the use of neutrinos to elucidate new particle physics and astrophysics. He received a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University in 1971 and a Ph.D. in...

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Hercules, Centennial Professor of Chemistry, emeritus, has died

Jan. 25, 2024—David Hercules, Centennial Professor of Chemistry, emeritus, who served as the chair of the Department of Chemistry for eight years, died January 20, 2024, after a battle with cancer. He was 91. Born in Somerset, Pennsylvania on August 10, 1932, Hercules developed an interest in science at an early age, spurred by the gift of...

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The big picture: Archaeology of the Andes revealed on a scale not previously seen

Jan. 19, 2024—Steven Wernke, associate professor and chair of anthropology, has developed GeoPACHA (Geospatial Platform for Andean Culture, History and Archaeology), a web application that allows researchers to map archaeological sites in the Andes at a greater scale than ever before. GeoPACHA has enabled new discoveries about past human occupation in the region. These findings will be...

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Study reveals a universal pattern of brain wave frequencies

Jan. 18, 2024—Adapted from article written by Anne Trafton, MIT News Office Throughout the brain’s cortex, neurons are arranged in six distinctive layers, which can be readily seen with a microscope. André Bastos, assistant professor of psychology, is senior author on a study published in Nature Neuroscience detailing that these layers also show distinct patterns of electrical...

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Berg family gift to establish global artist-in-residence program and Dean’s Faculty Fellowships in the arts

Dec. 14, 2023—New opportunities to work with groundbreaking artists and gain exposure to global perspectives will soon be available to students and faculty, thanks to a generous gift from current Vanderbilt parents Allison and Larry Berg.

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Nine faculty receive awards for outstanding efforts in teaching and advising

Dec. 6, 2023—On December 5, the College of Arts and Science recognized nine faculty members for outstanding teaching and advising. These annual awards acknowledge faculty who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication and commitment to their students, and the nominations come directly from the students. The college is pleased to announce the following fall 2023 award winners: Advising Award...

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Lachs, Centennial Professor Emeritus and beloved instructor for a half-century, has died

Nov. 29, 2023—John Lachs, professor emeritus of philosophy and Centennial Professor Emeritus, died November 14 in Nashville. He was 89. Lachs was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1934, and emigrated to Canada as a child. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1956 and a master’s degree in 1957 from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. He graduated from Yale...

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In my words: I was selected to discuss climate change at the White House (Gaby Beck ‘26)

Nov. 17, 2023—Gabrielle Beck Neuroscience and English, ‘26 Hear from sophomore Gabrielle Beck, who attended the National Climate Assessment report release at the White House, about her interest in climate change and public health disparities and her plans for the future. My passion is in understanding and addressing the intersection of climate change and public health disparities....

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