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Illustration for Columbia Magazine by Melinda Beck of a hand covered in pandemic-related words

Spring/Summer 2020

Spring/Summer 2020 cover of Columbia Magazine, "The Virus that Changed the World," with artwork by Melinda Beck
Download this issue

How to Stop the Next Pandemic Before It Starts

Top virus hunter W. Ian Lipkin develops a plan for a global disease-alert system.

Features

Staying Sane in a Pandemic-Stricken World
1.20_FEAT_COVID_Anxiety
Health & Medicine

Staying Sane in a Pandemic-Stricken World

A Columbia psychologist and anxiety expert explains the impulse to “panic buy,” and how to satisfy our need to feel in control

Why Our Planet is a Breeding Ground for Emerging Diseases
Columbia epidemiologist Simon Anthony inspects a vampire bat in the Brazilian rainforest
Health & Medicine

Why Our Planet is a Breeding Ground for Emerging Diseases

Experts say habitat destruction and climate change are factors

Zen and the Art of Honeybee Maintenance
Photo collage of Eli Lichter-Marck, bees, and beehives
Alumni

Zen and the Art of Honeybee Maintenance

Eli Lichter-Marck ’08CC, a California beekeeper, went searching for purpose and truth. He also found sweetness and light

Meet the Expert Who Has Studied Handwashing For More Than 40 Years
2020_03_handwash_LARSON
Health & Medicine

Meet the Expert Who Has Studied Handwashing For More Than 40 Years

Elaine Larson, a professor emerita of nursing research and epidemiology, breaks down a hygiene essential

Coming Out in New York
ANKUR_FEAT-web
Alumni

Coming Out in New York

Indian journalist Ankur Paliwal '15JRN reflects on how Columbia and New York City changed the course of his life

The Smart Person’s Guide to Aging
Illustrations by Kyle T. Webster of members of Columbia's EPIC program for retired academics
On Campus

The Smart Person’s Guide to Aging

How EPIC, an organization of retired professors and administrators, helps its members keep active and stay curious in their senior years

Raising Strong Sexual Citizens
Illustration for Columbia Magazine by Anna Parini of two young people talking to each other in bed
On Campus

Raising Strong Sexual Citizens

Two social scientists discuss their groundbreaking research on consent, power, and assault on Columbia's campus

Understanding the Three Types of Loneliness
1.20_FEAT_COVID_Aging
Health & Medicine

Understanding the Three Types of Loneliness

Gerontologist Linda P. Fried discusses the unique mental stress of social isolation on the elderly

Pandemic Highlights Urgent Need for Long-Term Vaccine Development
David D. Ho, center, with fellow ADARC scientists Yaoxing Huang and Sho Iketani (Samantha Casolari / Bloomberg Businessweek).
Health & Medicine

Pandemic Highlights Urgent Need for Long-Term Vaccine Development

Pioneering AIDS researcher David D. Ho joins fight against COVID-19

The Unique Challenges of Fighting COVID-19 in Africa
1.20_FEAT_COVID_Wafaa
Health & Medicine

The Unique Challenges of Fighting COVID-19 in Africa

A Columbia-based center deploys strategies learned from fighting HIV and Ebola

How COVID-19 Exposed the Ugliness of Health Injustice
A city bus driver in Detroit wearing a face mask
Health & Medicine

How COVID-19 Exposed the Ugliness of Health Injustice

The virus was said to be an indiscriminate killer. The numbers say otherwise

College Walk

Silence in the Quads
Columbia's Low Library during COVID-19 shutdown
On Campus

Silence in the Quads

The cancellation of classes — and commencement — has left the Columbia campus eerily empty

5 Online Offerings from Columbia and Beyond
Octavia Spencer as Madam CJ Walker in Netflix's "Self Made"
On Campus

5 Online Offerings from Columbia and Beyond

Stream, listen, and network from your home

Shakespeare With a Twist
Illustration of William Shakespeare in a Hawaiian shirt against a tropical backdrop
Arts & Humanities

Shakespeare With a Twist

Local students attend a Columbia School of the Arts performance of Twelfth Night

When Columbia’s President Ran for US President
Nicholas Murray Butler photographed at desk in 1916 (Library of Congress)
Books

When Columbia’s President Ran for US President

100 years ago, Nicholas Murray Butler wanted to go to Washington. It didn’t turn out well

Engineers ...and Librarians! to the Rescue
A man wearing a COVID-19 face shield produced by Columbia Engineering
Health & Medicine

Engineers ...and Librarians! to the Rescue

Columbia staff and students get creative in combating a shortage of face masks

Future Nurses on Call
A Columbia University nurse videoconferencing
Health & Medicine

Future Nurses on Call

Columbia nursing students and faculty nurse practitioners confront a new reality

Explorations

Can Progressives Claim Religious-Liberty Exemptions, Too?
Scott Warren before his trial in 2019
Arts & Humanities

Can Progressives Claim Religious-Liberty Exemptions, Too?

A new report details how liberals are stealing a page from Christian conservatives’ playbook

The Hidden Costs of Corporate Tax Breaks
People protesting Amazon's plan to open headquarters in NYC in 2018. Amazon logo is made into sad faces on shipping boxes.
Arts & Humanities

The Hidden Costs of Corporate Tax Breaks

They rarely deliver the broad economic benefits they promise, finds a new study

7 Discoveries from Columbia Scientists
A bearded dragon against a magenta background
Science & Technology

7 Discoveries from Columbia Scientists

Bearded dragons may shed light on sleep disorders, and other research news

Toxic Alzheimer’s Proteins Exposed in New Detail
An artist’s rendering of protein accumulations inside a brain cell
Health & Medicine

Toxic Alzheimer’s Proteins Exposed in New Detail

Findings from Columbia researchers may open the door for new preventive treatments

The Unexpected Payback of a 33-Year-Old Climate Treaty 
NASA photo of the Earth's atmosphere from outer space
Science & Technology

The Unexpected Payback of a 33-Year-Old Climate Treaty 

The Montreal Protocol saved the ozone. It’s also slowing global warming

Why Butterfly Wings are Even Cooler Than You Think!
Thermal images of butterflies created by Columbia physicist Nanfang Yu
Science & Technology

Why Butterfly Wings are Even Cooler Than You Think!

Science reveals how the insects' paper-thin wings withstand the heat of the sun

Network

Designing Your Home for Working From Home
Photo of a living room with an open garage door looking out to nature
Arts & Humanities

Designing Your Home for Working From Home

Architect Donald M. Rattner '79CC explains how to style your creative workspace

Using Data Science to Tailor the Perfect Fit
Models wearing Laws of Motion's Alpha dress
Alumni

Using Data Science to Tailor the Perfect Fit

Laws of Motion, founded by Carly Bigi '17BUS, creates clothes that look good on every body

4 Startups for 4-Legged Friends
Animation of a kitten and a Welsh Corgi in front of Columbia's Butler Library
Alumni

4 Startups for 4-Legged Friends

With offerings from health insurance to organic dog food, alumni entrepreneurs are taking on the pet industry

What You Should Know About Getting (and Removing) a Tattoo
1.20_TATTOO-DOC
Alumni

What You Should Know About Getting (and Removing) a Tattoo

Norman Goldstein ’55CC, a retired dermatologist and a body-art expert, weighs in

Houses Fit for Life on Mars
A rendering of MARSHA, a Mars habitat designed by AI SpaceFactory
Science & Technology

Houses Fit for Life on Mars

Architects Jeffrey Montes '15GSAPP and Christopher Botham '16GSAPP are designing your home — in outer space

Amanda Seales, Robert A. Katzmann, and Other Alumni in the News
amanda-seales-ep6087-750x460
Alumni

Amanda Seales, Robert A. Katzmann, and Other Alumni in the News

Columbians making headlines

Books

3 New Young-Adult Novels by Columbia Alumni
Covers of "Again Again," "The Mall," and "Loveboat, Taipei"
Books

3 New Young-Adult Novels by Columbia Alumni

These new books have everything that makes the YA genre great — escapism, fantasy, romance, and a hearty dose of nostalgia

How to Get That Dream Job
Illustration of Reynold Levy by Jonny Ruzzo, for Columbia Magazine
Books

How to Get That Dream Job

Reynold Levy ’73LAW gives advice on building a career that offers both professional and personal satisfaction

6 Great Books to Read This Summer
Covers of books by Columbia alumni authors, in Columbia Magazine
Books

6 Great Books to Read This Summer

New and noteworthy releases from Columbia alumni authors

Review: "Until the End of Time"
Cover of "Until the End of Time" by Brian Greene
Books

Review: "Until the End of Time"

By Brian Greene

Review: The Splendid and the Vile
Cover of "The Splendid and the Vile" by Erik Larson
Books

Review: The Splendid and the Vile

By Erik Larson ’78JRN 

Review: "Sharks in the Time of Saviors"
Cover of "Sharks in the Time of Saviors" by Kawai Strong Washburn
Books

Review: "Sharks in the Time of Saviors"

By Kawai Strong Washburn ’08SIPA

Bulletin

Scholarships Established for Displaced Students
Syrian refugee students get help with scholarship applications
On Campus

Scholarships Established for Displaced Students

Columbia Global Centers to provide financial assistance to students who have had their education interrupted

Columbia to Create Climate School
Overhead shot of Upper Manhattan and Central Park
On Campus

Columbia to Create Climate School

The new school will serve as the University's “central location for climate research and teaching"

Columbia's School of General Studies Launches Dual-Degree Program With Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University
On Campus

Columbia's School of General Studies Launches Dual-Degree Program With Tel Aviv University

Students in the program, which is focused in the humanities and social sciences, will receive a Bachelor's from each institution

Three New Members Appointed to Columbia's Board of Trustees
New Columbia trustees Dean Dakolias, Jonathan Rosand, and Fermi Wang
On Campus

Three New Members Appointed to Columbia's Board of Trustees

The Board welcomes Dean Dakolias ’89SEAS, Jonathan Rosand ’89CC, ’94PS, and Fermi Wang ’91SEAS

Columbia Offers New Dual Master’s in Islamic Studies
Carl Amrhein (left), Provost of Aga Khan University, shakes hands with Ira Katznelson, Columbia’s Interim Provost
On Campus

Columbia Offers New Dual Master’s in Islamic Studies

Students will begin their studies at Columbia, finish at Aga Khan University in London, and earn degrees from both institutions

Columbia Alumni Associations in Asia Offer Aid and Support
Jianfei Zhu, Yuan Wang, and Yimei Lu from the Columbia Alumni Association prepare a shipment of PPE in Shanghai to send to Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Health & Medicine

Columbia Alumni Associations in Asia Offer Aid and Support

Members of Columbia’s vast Chinese alumni network recently donated PPE and cash

Armed With Overdose Meds, Columbia Students Save Lives
Columbia Public Health student Sonalee Rau on the street in Manhattan
Health & Medicine

Armed With Overdose Meds, Columbia Students Save Lives

In the span of less than a year, five students have administered naloxone to overdose victims

The Nordic Path to Sustainability
Sanna Marin speaking at Columbia University in March 2020
On Campus

The Nordic Path to Sustainability

Finnish prime minster Sanna Marin visited Columbia earlier this year

Rare Finds

The First Pulitzer Prize
Joseph's Pulitzer's desk at Columbia Journalism School
On Campus

The First Pulitzer Prize

Joseph Pulitzer, the man behind the awards for journalism, literature, drama, and music, spared no expense when it came to his own writing desk

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