Clint Talbott

In the headlines, the words “humanities” and “crisis” are so commonly conjoined that you’d think that college courses on human thought, experience and creativity are collapsing like the Roman Empire. The story has more nuance than the headline, as the Classics Department illustrates.

Alla Balabanova describes her time at CU‐Boulder as “anything but easy,” adding that she faced obstacles “just about every step of the way,” starting with her
initial uncertainty about what to study. That might not sound like a ringing endorsement, but it is. Balabanova graduated summa cum laude in biochemistry and was the Fall 2015 outstanding graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences.

The Program in Nordic Studies has begun offering Finnish‐language courses at the University of Colorado Boulder. It’s noteworthy because it’s such a rare language, and the courses are offered for full credit, which means the courses can satisfy a foreign‐language requirement.

Francis Beckwith will serve as the Visiting Scholar in Conservative Thought and Policy for the 2016-17 academic year. He is the fourth person to hold the position.

Strong and light carbon-fiber composites can be easily and cost-effectively recycled into new material just as strong as the originals, a team of researchers led by CU-Boulder has found. The composites are popular because they are lighter than aluminum and stronger than steel. Unlike metal, however, carbon-fiber composite is generally not recyclable.

Pregnant and postpartum women at risk of depression are less likely to suffer depression when they meditate or get in a yoga pose than when they are treated with psychotherapy or antidepressants, a study led by CU-Boulder researchers has found.

For Svetlana Alexievich, this year's winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, the Soviet Union is a kind of ‘historical Chernobyl that still produces contamination and radiation—psychological, historical, political and cultural,’ CU-Boulder expert Mark Leiderman observes. He says now is a good time for students and the world to learn more about Russia, and the university has already moved to meet that need.

David Pyrooz, a University of Colorado Boulder sociologist who is advancing the study of terrorism by applying research on criminal gangs, has won an Early Career Award from the American Society of Criminology.

Sue Baer loves to write, loves children and wants to help others. So it’s no surprise that her newest children’s book tackles a grown-up issue: children with autism. It’s one of many ways she and her husband, Barry, use their time and resources in the service of others.

It was just one personal letter, but it reaffirmed, recognized and acclaimed the lifelong work of a professor. “No one outside of my immediate family positively influenced my life more than Professor Smith,” a former student wrote to the professor’s family. “He counseled me at critical times and even rescued me once when I had lost my life’s direction.”