upon the angle between the pulsar’s spin axis and the earth. His research on pulsar geometry will allow scientists to better estimate the number of exploded stars in the galaxy.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
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rom understanding the effects of pollution to learning about efforts to preserve the Chesapeake Bay, girls from D.C. middle schools experienced a hands-on environmental education as part of SummerTrek, a service-learning program co-sponsored by Columbian College’s Department of Biological Sciences. Among the outdoor living-classroom activities, the girls accompanied student volunteers to the department’s new Wilbur V. Harlan Greenhouse where they tended plants that will eventually absorb groundwater runoff. A collaboration with ArtReach, SummerTrek promotes awareness of storm water management through cleanup projects, art workshops and environmental education.
CHALLENGING ORIGIN OF HUMAN GENUS
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efying the scientific theory that broadscale events like global climate change caused the origination of diverse new species, Assistant Professor of Anthropology Andrew Barr suggests that the rise of advanced animals 2.5 million years ago—including modern humans—could have
Andrew Barr occurred by chance. Using computer simulations to model what the period’s fossil record might look like over time in the absence of any climate change, Barr still found clusters of similar species originations. His findings mean scientists must rethink widely-accepted ideas about why humans became smarter and more technologically advanced than our ancestors.
Flag Day
MOST GRATEFUL YEAR YET
GW
celebrated its third annual Flag Day, a campus-wide event recognizing philanthropy’s impact on the community, with students writing more than 1,400 “thank you” cards to acknowledge the generosity of alumni who give back to the university. The event also recognized the nearly 1,500 students who made gifts in 2017, inspiring a $5,000 contribution from anonymous donors to the Ronald W. Howard Student Assistance Fund.
THOMPSON: NABJ EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
Cheryl W. Thompson
A D.C. schoolgirls at the new Harlan Greenhouse in Science and Engineering Hall
ssociate Professor of Media and Public Affairs Cheryl W. Thompson was honored as the 2017 Educator of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), the
largest organization of journalists of color. Thompson, who helped launch the GW chapter of NABJ, is a former prize-winning investigative journalist. In the classroom she stresses the need to be factual not first.”
CORCORAN WELCOMES DESIGNER KUNKEL
Joseph Kunkel
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he Corcoran School of the Arts and Design welcomed Joseph Kunkel, an architect and designer who is helping build housing capacity in Native American communities, as its 2017-2018 William Wilson Corcoran Visiting Professor of Community Engagement. A Northern Cheyenne tribal member, Kunkel draws from his own experiences as a designer and educator to help his class examine how art, design and design practices can impact communities and effect social change.
columbian college of arts and sciences IN BRIEF page 7