Remembering WWI one hundred years after the U.S. entry

Edition: US - Today's top story: Why women's peace activism in World War I matters now [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 3 April 2017 [[The Conversation]Academic rigor, journalistic flair]( Editor's note One hundred years ago this week, the U.S. formally entered World War I. To commemorate the “war to end all wars,” we launch today a series that recalls some lesser-known aspects of the war and describes their lasting impact. Anya Jabour from the University of Montana tells the [story of the Woman’s Peace Party](, which protested “the madness and the horror of war” and helped establish the engaged citizenship we see in contemporary American civic culture. Kyle Greenwalt from Michigan State brings the lessons of World War I to present day classrooms by asking whether a more nationalistic or global view of the war [should be taught to U.S. students](. When the U.S. finally did enter the war, its isolationism was a military liability, says David Longenbach from Penn State, who describes the armed forces’ [reliance on emerging technology](, such as tanks, chemical warfare and machine guns, from its allies. And Elizabeth J. West from Georgia State explains how the experience of black soldiers, who discovered a new freedom and mobility during the war, [paved the way for the Harlem Renaissance](. Martin LaMonica Deputy Editor, Environment & Energy Editor Top story Peace Delegates on the Noordam – Mrs. P. Lawrence, Jane Addams, Anna Molloy. Library of Congress [Why women's peace activism in World War I matters now]( Anya Jabour, The University of Montana A century ago, American women organized to protest World War I. The fact that their efforts failed isn't the most important point. Education - [How should World War I be taught in American schools?]( Kyle Greenwalt, Michigan State University High school students in America learn two very different perspectives on World War I in their U.S. and world history classes. But which of these competing viewpoints should take center stage? Arts + Culture - [How World War I sparked the artistic movement that transformed black America]( Elizabeth J. West, Georgia State University Many associate post-World War I culture with Hemingway and Fitzgerald's Lost Generation. But for black artists, writers and thinkers, the war changed the way they saw their past and their future. Science + Technology - [As the US entered World War I, American soldiers depended on foreign weapons technology]( David Longenbach, Pennsylvania State University America's longstanding tradition of isolationism meant that in 1917 U.S. forces needed a lot of support from overseas allies to fight effectively. - [Where's your county seat? A modern mathematical method for calculating centers of geography]( Peter Rogerson, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York Quirky tourists, heads up! The old way to calculate geographical centers of U.S. states is out of date. To set course for a state's true center, read up on the azimuthal equidistant projection. Health + Medicine - [Why men and women lie about sex, and how this complicates STD control]( Shervin Assari, University of Michigan Double standards about sexual activity not only make life difficult, but they also complicate STD research. As we observe STD Awareness Month, it's good to think about how to get to the truth. Ethics + Religion - [What history reveals about surges in anti-Semitism and anti-immigrant sentiments]( Ingrid Anderson, Boston University The U.S. saw an increase in anti-Semitic and anti-immigrant sentiments in the period between World War I and World War II. Here's why it matters to know that history today. From our International Editions - [Elon Musk wants to merge man and machine – here's what he'll need to work out]( Davide Valeriani, University of Essex It's a slow process, but billionaires like Musk push boundaries and help researchers set long-term goals for developing brain-computer interfaces. - [After 25 years of trying, why aren’t we environmentally sustainable yet?]( Michael Howes, Griffith University Why, after decades of international agreements, are we still damaging the environment? New research, looking at dozens of unsuccessful policies, has uncovered the basic elements of failure. - [Stakes for South Africa's democracy are high as Zuma plunges the knife]( Richard Calland, University of Cape Town The focus will now be on how the social democratic and left-leaning members of South Africa's cabinet -- the "constitutionalists" -- will respond to the reshuffle. [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. We’ll miss you. 625 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139 USA