Our favorite Pittwire stories of 2022

As 2022 comes to a close, the Pittwire team is looking back at some of our favorite pieces this year. They’re stories and photos about the people who make this place great: The faculty who bring their expertise to the classroom and beyond. The staffers who support our students and our research. The scholars whose ideas and energy bring us hope for the years to come.

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading them as much as we loved writing them.

If you want to pitch a story for us to tell in 2023, contact us at pittwire [at] pitt.edu.

How to build a quantum computer

Come to learn about the tedious fiddling it takes to build quantum computers, stay for descriptions of tech debris as “full carcasses” and an excellent layperson’s definition of qubits. This was an accessible, fun article about something as complex as quantum computers. — Nichole Faina

Ukrainian resilience and music

Looking back now, it seems obvious that a country’s music could speak volumes about its culture, but when Nichole pitched this story about Ukraine’s resilience through song, it seemed a little off beat. But she and Pitt expert Adriana Helbig pulled a fascinating list together — and outlets like NPR, Vogue and The Atlantic agreed. If nothing else, “Little Fish,” made its way onto my playlist. — Robyn K. Coggins

Meet Pitt’s first Black female assistant drum major 

This profile of De'Jovia Davis — Pitt’s first Black female assistant drum major — captured her passion for HBCU bands and their influence on Davis’ college trajectory. My favorite passage: “That vibe, the music, it hits your soul. With HBCU bands, it's not just a song or a rhythm; it's an electric feeling that goes through your entire body.” — Nichole Faina

[Here’s what was most popular on Pitt social media in 2022.]

Go behind the scenes at Pitt’s machine shops

I’ve been at Pitt as a student, faculty member or staffer since 2009, and I had no idea we had our very own machine shops building the intricate and custom-made parts that make University research happen. This is a great look behind the scenes. — Robyn K. Coggins

A day in the life with ROTC

One of the best parts of working at a place like Pitt is learning about an interesting pocket of campus culture you know nothing about. I ate up this story about the Three Rivers Battalion’s “star man,” which follows an ROTC student from his (upsettingly early) wake-up through a day of classes, workouts and downtime. It’s full of color and fun details, and you come away feeling like you really know the subject. — Patrick Monahan

Pitt’s the only U.S. university with this giant 3D printer

With a lede that mentions race car parts and "a sci-fi spaceship," how can anyone resist? Don’t miss this piece about and the photos of Pitt’s 3D printer for metal, which gives a holistic perspective of how science and tech can, and often does, have a broad impact beyond those working on a particular project or even the institution. — Kara Henderson

A poet laureate with a 30-year plan

This profile of Danielle Obesie-Orlu is such a good example of the exemplary students who come to Pitt each year. — Robyn K. Coggins

Speaking for the trees

This story on the trees of Pitt’s campus has it all: practical tips for identifying our arboreal neighbors, fascinating asides on the meaning behind tree names and beautiful photos. It’s all wrapped together with descriptions that would feel at home in a natural history guide. — Patrick Monahan

Cathy vs. Cathedral

What do you call the most iconic building on Pitt’s campus? Here’s which name won.