Sunday, April 22, marks the 48th celebration of Earth Day, and University of Rochester researchers and scientists from across schools and disciplines are working to learn and discover how to make our world ever better.

The UR Baja SAE team unveiled their Model ’18 baja vehicle on Friday in Rettner Hall. The team have christened the car “BONKO STRONG” for former Baja team member Kevin Bonko ’17, who was recently diagnosed with cancer.  The student-run organization  works throughout the school year to design, build, and test their car, and includes student majoring in biomedical engineering to business, optics to biology. Their racing season starts on April 19 in Maryland. (University of Rochester photo / Lori Packer)

Kevin Huang ’20 submitted this inventive shot of the iconic Rush Rhees Library to the University’s weekly “Photo Friday” homepage feature and received more Facebook and Instagram “likes” than any other photo in the 10-year history of these community-submitted photos. 

Maria Hinojosa, host of National Public Radio’s Latino USA and PBS’s America By The Numbers, meets with students at Douglass Leadership House before delivering the University’s 2018 Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Address. Hinojosa was the first Latina to deliver the address.
(University photo / J. Adam Fenster)

For decades, Edward Atwater ’50, a professor emeritus of medicine at the Medical Center, has collected medical history artifacts. In 2007, he began turning his collection of more than 8,000 AIDS education posters over to the University and it is now the world’s largest single collection of visual resources related to AIDS and HIV.

One of the newer Senior Week traditions is cap decorating in Hirst Lounge. Stickers, glue, glitter and other crafty supplies are provided by Wilson Commons Student Activities; students add creativity, sentimentality, and humor to taste.

Individuals with diabetes have a high incidence of heart problems. A Medical Center study will determine if implantable defibrillators increase survival in this growing group of patients.

Francis Collins met with graduate students and junior researchers to discuss the importance of communicating science to the public and policymakers, and increasing diversity in biomedical research.