Columbia University researchers, particularly those at the Zuckerman Institute, have made a groundbreaking discovery regarding the memory capabilities of black-capped chickadees. These small birds have been revealed to possess an extraordinary memory system that allows them to recall the locations of thousands of food caches, crucial for their survival during the winter months.Lead researcher Dmitriy Aronov, PhD, described chickadees as "memory geniuses" and highlighted the significance of their ability to remember specific moments such as hiding food. Through their...

Virginia Apgar, known for developing the APGAR Score, was honored with a commemorative stamp issued on October 24, 1994. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second woman to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court, had a stamp issued in her name on October 2, 2023. Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, was commemorated with a stamp on January 31, 2014. Anna Julia Cooper, an advocate for education and civil rights, had a stamp issued in her honor on June 11, 2009. Amelia Earhart, the iconic female aviator, was remembered with a stamp on July 24, 1963. Margaret Mead, a...

Columbia Nursing recently hosted an event titled “Art in the Time of Crisis: Still Rising,” where members of the community came together to explore the role of art in times of distress. The event was part of the Values in Action initiative launched by President Minouche Shafik and Interim Provost Dennis Mitchell, DDS, to reinforce the university's core values and mission.The original initiative, "Art in the Time of Crisis," was started by Janine Inez, DNP ’22, and Alden Bush, DNP ’22, to provide a platform for students and faculty to express their emotions and experiences...

Psychology PhD student Courtney Jimenez and her colleagues conducted a study to explore how the brain processes social information when at rest. The researchers used the documentary film Samsara to investigate how study subjects' brains reacted to scenes featuring people and how they remembered the film after watching it.In an interview with Columbia News, Jimenez explained the goals of the study, stating, "What we’re interested in is whether there are brain mechanisms that specifically prioritize our ability to learn social information when we are resting and the default...

On an overcast Friday afternoon, 140 medical students at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons celebrated Match Day, discovering where they will begin their residency training this summer. The event at VP&S featured remarks from various faculty members, including Katrina Armstrong, MD, dean of VP&S.Addressing the unique challenges faced by the class of 2024, Jean-Marie Alves-Bradford, MD, associate dean for student affairs, support, and services, acknowledged their resilience, stating, “Regardless of what the envelopes say—you have made it,...

The A'Lelia Bundles Community Scholars program at Columbia University has announced a new partnership with Incite Institute to offer enhanced funding, mentorship, skill-building, and networking opportunities for program participants. This collaboration aims to provide additional resources for scholars to make meaningful contributions to their communities and beyond.Interim Provost Dennis Mitchell expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating, "The new partnership with Incite will allow the program to grow and reflects the university’s commitment to bringing...

Kailani Acosta, a PhD student in Earth and Environmental Sciences at Columbia University, has traveled the world to study nutrient cycles in the ocean. Her research explores the interconnectivity of geology, race, agriculture, and marine biology. Acosta's work will be showcased in an exhibition she curated, which will open for one night only at Persona Studio in Brooklyn.Acosta's journey in research began after graduating from Brown University, where she worked in environmental consulting in New York City. She discovered her passion for conducting research, being out in...

A Paris opera house, a quaint forest town in Czechia, a Dublin beach that seemed to never end — these are some of the scenes that took first place in the Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement’s 2023 photo contest. The annual contest asks students to share images from their study abroad experiences in a range of categories. We recently caught up with some of the CC winners to get the story behind their images.One of the winners, Linnea Hopkins-Ekdahl CC’24, captured a stunning photo in Karlštejn, Czechia, on her Nikon 35mm film camera. She described the town as...

Columbia Community Service (CCS) recently concluded its 25th Annual Toy Drive and Winter Coat Drive, and the results are impressive. The community came together during the busy holiday season to support these beloved traditions, and the generosity shown was overwhelming.A total of 988 toys were donated to CCS grantees organizing toy distribution. This represents a significant increase of 112% compared to the previous year. The toys will be distributed to organizations such as Advancing the Community of Tomorrow, Association to Benefit the Children, Cathedral Community...

Halil Beqaj, a medical student at Columbia’s Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, is set to graduate this spring with both a medical degree and a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences. Beqaj's journey at Columbia has been marked by his passion for science and his desire to make a difference in the field of medicine.From a young age, Beqaj was inspired by his father, a pathologist, who introduced him to the world of science. "My father helped me discover my passion for science at the earliest birthday I can remember," Beqaj recalls. "He got me a microscope for my...