News
The Times UK Names Dietrich School Professor's Book One of 2022’s Best
“The No Club: Putting a Stop to Women’s Dead-End Work,” the latest book by Dietrich School Mellon Professor of Economics Lise Vesterlund, was listed by The Times as a top 12 business book for 2022.
Science Revealed Presents "Reaping What We Spill, Leak and Spew," February 6
In "Reaping What We Spill, Leak and Spew"--part of the Dietrich School's Science Revealed series--expert panelists from schools across the University will discuss how researchers can measure levels of contaminants in the environment, how they can determine the health effects that result, and how these factors are or can be affected by policy and regulations. RSVP by February 3
Nominations Open for Partnerships of Distinction Award
Once again, Pitt’s Award for Partnerships of Distinction is open for nominations. The award, now in its 5th year, recognizes outstanding partnerships that are exemplars of community engagement, demonstrating significant community and institutional impact. Up to three awardees may be chosen annually. Each award consists of a $2,000 operating grant to support partnership activities. All awardees are honored publicly. In 2023, the award will be conferred during the University’s annual Community Engaged Scholarship Forum on March 7, 2023.
Honorees Announced for Provost's Award for Diversity in the Curriculum
Olga Klimova, Teaching Assistant Professor and Director of the Russian Program in the Dietrich School's Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, is among the recipients of the 2022 Provost's Award for Diversity in the Curriculum. This award is sponsored by the Office of the Provost and the University Center for Teaching and Learning to showcase excellence in creating a learning environment for our students that recognizes diversity and is inclusive of all.
Dietrich School Faculty Member Receives $500,000 Grant
Haitao Liu, a professor in the Dietrich School's Department of Chemistry, is the recipient of a $500,00 grant to explore using DNA to create computer memory.
Dietrich School Alumnus Named 2023 PA Teacher of the Year
Dietrich School alumnus Ryan Hardesty, who received a BA in Political Science and History in 2008, has been named Pennsylvania's 2023 Teacher of the Year. Hardesty teaches world history and U.S. history at Highland Middle School in the Blackhawk School District. Hardesty is seen in the accompanying photo, in the right of the frame, receiving his award from Acting Secretary of Education, Eric Hagarty.
Dietrich School Faculty Member Receives Grant to Digitize Silent-Movie Music Collection
The Mirskey Collection Digitization Project, led by Dietrich School Department of Music Professor James Cassaro, aims to process and digitize aging sheet music for silent — technically “mute” — film accompaniment held in Pitt’s University Library System’s Theodore M. Finney Music Library.
Dietrich School Chemistry Alumna Officiating at World Cup
Dietrich School alumna Katy Nesbitt was following an ascendant career path as a chemist. While she was following the bouncing ball, her life sprinted off in a unique, award-winning direction.
Dietrich School Student, Alumna Recognized for Political Engagement
Yasmeen Gauri, a gender activist and Dietrich School undergraduate pursuing majors in psychology and religious studies and minors in chemistry and studio arts, and Courtney Colligan, a recent doctoral graduate from the Department of Theatre Arts and recipient of a doctoral certificate in Gender Studies and Women’s Studies, are recipients of Iris Marion Young Awards for Political Engagement, which honor those who work to promote justice in the University, at the local or national level, or across the globe.
Dietrich School Recognizes Graduate Mentors
Six current and former Dietrich School faculty members were recently recognized for excellence in graduate mentoring at a celebration hosted by Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, Jon Woon.
Dietrich School Historian Goes Behind the Ballot with New Video Series
With the midterm elections just one week away, Dietrich School historian Lara Putnam of Pitt’s Disinformation Lab explains mail-in voting, disinformation on social media and how to spot credible election information in a new video series.
Dietrich School Mathematicians Explain How Some Fireflies Flash in Sync
Stake out in Pennsylvania’s Cook State Forest at the right time of year and you can see one of nature’s great light shows: swarms of fireflies that synchronize their flashes like strings of Christmas lights in the dark. A new study by Dietrich School mathematicians shows that math borrowed from neuroscience can describe how swarms of these unique insects coordinate their light show, capturing key details about how they behave in the wild.
Dietrich School Physicists Break Down How Cells Communicate
“Cells need to work together to perform complex tasks — that can include synchronizing together, performing a function all at once,” said Ryan Lefebre, co-lead author of the paper and a physics PhD student in the Dietrich School. “You would think that the better they can communicate with each other, the more they’d become more synchronized. But that’s not quite true.”
Dietrich School, Humanities Engage Alumna Uses Performance and Writing to Help People in Prison Overcome Trauma
“The vision for the Unit Literacy Group is more than just continuing education,” said Courtney Colligan (A&S '22G). “The ULG grounds itself in recovery by rectifying literacy gaps, building self-esteem and self-worth and fighting against the carceral state — and, within that state, the disillusionment of the detained.”
Dietrich School Faculty Member Recognized for Creative Chemistry
Peter Wipf, a distinguished professor in the Dietrich School's Department of Chemistry, has received the 2023 Award for Creative Work in Synthetic Organic Chemistry from the American Chemical Society.