-
Doctoral Student Uses Applied Sociology to Create Change Locally and Globally
Through fellowships, fieldwork, and outreach, Lisa Rodriguez transforms sociological concepts into meaningful solutions for local and global communities. By: Emily Dougherty | June 20, 2025 Lisa Rodriguez, a fourth-year sociology doctoral student in the College of Sciences, is using her academic path and shared experiences to make an impact in communities through research, outreach, and […]
-
UCF Psychology Professor Leads Student Volunteers to Support Mental Health Initiative at Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games
The volunteer effort offered psychology and nursing students real-world mental health screening experience while providing vital mental health and wellness education to Special Olympics Florida athletes. By: Ana G. Hidalgo Dr. Megan Sherod, associate chair for academic programming and associate director of clinical training for the Clinical Psychology Master’s program in the UCF College of […]
-
High School Students Level Up Knowledge of Gaming Careers at UCF’s Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy
This past month, the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA) welcomed the KB Foundation and 28 young people in its Philadelphia-based mentorship programs for a tour of FIEA facilities, offering a glimpse into the degrees available and potential future careers in the gaming industry. Students also had an opportunity to visit UCF’s main campus, UCF Downtown, […]
-
Research in 60 Seconds: How Seagrass Helps Coastal Ecosystems Thrive
Whether it’s solving the world’s biggest problems or investigating the potential of novel discoveries, researchers at UCF are on the edge of scientific breakthroughs that aim to make an impact. Through the Research in 60 Seconds series, student and faculty researchers condense their complex studies into bite-sized summaries so you can know how and why Knights […]
-
UCF Dean and Vice Provost Maggy Tomova Takes New Role in Georgia
Maggy Tomova, UCF’s dean of the College of Sciences and vice provost for strategic initiatives, is joining Augusta University in Georgia as executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. Her last day at UCF is June 30. Tomova came to UCF in 2021 from the University of Iowa where she was an associate dean […]
-
Running to Success: College of Sciences Alumnus and Two-Time Paralympian Shares His Journey
Kyle Coon reflects on shaping his career since graduating from UCF. By: Emily Dougherty | June 4, 2025 Q: Can you please share more about yourself? A: I was diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer when I was 10 months old, called bilateral sporadic retinoblastoma. For the first six years of my life, […]
-
First Distinguished Lecture Hosted by The India Center at UCF
Vivek Lall, Chief Executive of General Atomics Global Corporation, Shares Insights on U.S.-India Technology Opportunities By Sultana Ali | May 29, 2025 This April, The India Center at UCF hosted its inaugural Distinguished Lecture, featuring Vivek Lall, Ph.D., Chief Executive of General Atomics Global Corporation. In a conversation with Professor Jayanta Kapat, Pegasus Professor in […]
-
UCF Student Selected for Prestigious Internship at The New York Times
This summer UCF student Kendal Asbury will embark on an exciting journey as one of four interns at The New York Times through the prestigious Dow Jones News Fund (DJNF) summer internship program. For more than 60 years, the Dow Jones News Fund has placed top journalism students in internships at media outlets across the […]
-
UCF Graduate Student Awarded Prestigious Marine Conservation Scholarship Named After Distinguished Marine Biologist Susan L. Williams
Biology student Carla Perscky will conduct first-time research, developing innovative technologies to help conserve tropical seagrass, a vital habitat for many marine species By: Ana G. Hidalgo | May 22, 2025 Carla Perscky, a master’s student in the UCF Department of Biology and Navy veteran, received the Women Divers Hall of Fame’s (WDHOF) Susan L. […]
-
UCF Hosts The Florida Consortium on the Neurobiology of Cognition for the First Time
The Psychology Department at the College of Sciences convenes researchers across the state to explore issues around cognition and aging. By: Sultana Ali and Jordan Sammarco | May 20, 2025 Researchers from across the Florida university system, as well as other organizations connected to cognition, gathered at the University of Central Florida May 8 and […]
-
Interdisciplinary Collaboration Unlocks New Insights Into Quantum Physics
Konstantin Vodopyanov, a professor at the College of Sciences and CREOL, the College of Optics and Photonics, recently co-authored a study published in the journal Optica. This research examines electro-optic sampling (EOS), a technique that advances fields such as quantum physics, molecular spectroscopy and biomedical sensing. As a professor at the two colleges, Vodopyanov shows […]
-
UCF RESTORES Unveils First-of-Its-Kind Resiliency Command Center to Support Florida’s First Responders
UCF RESTORES today unveiled its groundbreaking Resiliency Command Center — a first-of-its-kind mobile behavioral health facility designed to provide a safe environment for evidence-based behavioral health care to first responders at the scenes of crises, including natural disasters, mass casualty events and line-of-duty tragedies. Supported by the Florida Legislature, the Florida Division of State Fire […]
-
Critical Florida Sea Turtle Sanctuary Renamed in Honor of Late UCF Biology Professor “Doc” Ehrhart
In the heart of the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge (ACNWR), a 34-acre stretch of conservation land, known as the Barrier Island Sanctuary, was renamed on April 26 in honor of the late biology professor Llewellyn “Doc” Ehrhart (1942–2022). This newly named sanctuary recognizes his groundbreaking research on sea turtle ecology and coastal conservation. Hosted […]
-
Yvette Kanouff Awarded Honorary Doctorate Degree
The College of Sciences Spring 2025 commencement ceremony featured a special guest speaker, alumna Yvette Kanouff, who received one of the highest honors bestowed by UCF, an honorary doctoral degree. Kanouff earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics from UCF and has remained engaged with UCF in the subsequent years, currently serving on […]
-
UCF Awards Promotion and Tenure to 115 Faculty
UCF faculty members across the university marked a major achievement in earning promotions and tenure for the 2024-25 cycle. The 115 approved faculty — 76 for promotion and 39 for tenure — underwent a comprehensive performance evaluation by peers, college and university leaders that took nearly one academic year. The president and provost make final […]
-
UCF Research Team Discovers Breakthrough for 3D Carbon Printing
The research teams of Laurene Tetard, professor of physics at UCF, and Richard Blair, researcher professor at UCF’s Florida Space Institute, have discovered how to produce strong micro and nanofibers of carbon at room temperature, which can be implemented in a unique 3D printing process they have developed. The team’s research, published in Nature Communications, […]
-
UCF Hosts Conference on Kurdish Studies
Attendees from all over the world gather to share insights and collaborate on Kurdish studies. By: Emily Dougherty | April 29, 2025 The Kurdish Political Studies Program at the School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs held its conference on Kurdish studies entitled, “Kurds on the Global Stage: Clashing Identities, Interests, and Perspectives.” The two-day […]
-
UCF Professor Retires after 53 Years
Roger Handberg’s milestone marked with a celebratory last lecture. By: Emily Dougherty | April 24, 2025 Professor of Political Science, Roger Handberg, Ph.D., in The School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs (SPSIA) within the College of Sciences is retiring after over five decades of research, teaching, and administration at UCF. Before his journey as […]
-
Remembering Michael Reid
Students and faculty look back at the legacy Michael Reid left in the Department of Mathematics. By Emily Dougherty | April 21, 2025 The College of Sciences is mourning the loss of Associate Professor of Mathematics Michael Reid, who passed away earlier this semester. Known for his decades long dedication to teaching, he leaves behind […]
-
College of Sciences Doctoral Student Combines Archaeology, Geospatial Science, and Artificial Intelligence at Harvard University’s Spatial Data Lab
Bryce Peacher incorporates the use of AI into recreating history through fellowship. By Emily Dougherty | April 15, 2025 Bryce Peacher, second-year doctoral student studying Integrative Anthropological Sciences, is currently in a fellowship with Harvard University’s Spatial Data Lab. His unique research engages Geospatial Artificial Intelligence to look at ancient landscapes. Peacher’s advisor, Associate Professor […]
-
UCF Named as One of Four National Finalists in Competitive Coca-Cola Refreshing Films Program
For the first time, the UCF film students in the Nicholson School of Communication and Media in the College of Sciences have been selected as finalists in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program. Cinemark Fan Favorite voting launches today and the public can vote for their favorite of the four entries through April 30. (Note: Every […]
-
It Takes a Swarm: Help Rebuild a Bear-ravaged Beehive
Across the 800 or so acres of UCF’s natural lands, the bees are not only buzzing in the trees, but also in four official beehives and a half-hive “nucleus” managed by the UCF Arboretum and Sustainability Initiatives. There used to be more beehives on the east side of the arboretum’s natural lands. Those areas comprise […]
-
College of Sciences Hosts 2025 Distinguished AlumKnight Awards
Notable Alumni are honored for their outstanding career achievements. By Emily Dougherty | April 3, 2025 The evening of March 27th was filled with joy, laughter, and community at the annual College of Sciences Distinguished AlumKnight Awards, to recognize the College’s most outstanding alumni. Kelsey Larsen, Assistant Professor in the School of Politics, Security, and […]
-
Celebrating College of Sciences 2025 Founders’ Day Awardees
UCF’s annual event celebrates outstanding accomplishments and contributions of employees, faculty, and students By: Emily Dougherty | March 31, 2025 Student Awards Order of Pegasus UCF’s highest student honor, which recognizes new inductees into the Order of Pegasus. Additional awards include graduate honors for exceptional master’s theses and dissertations, undergraduate awards for outstanding honors theses, […]
-
Addition Financial Analytics Competition Winners Announced
A team of two Knights takes home the grand prize at the Big Data Analytics Symposium By: Emily Dougherty | March 28, 2025 The UCF Department of Statistics and Data Science collaborated with Pegasus Partner, Addition Financial, to host its annual analytics competition and named its winners at the Big Data Analytics Symposium, hosted at UCF this […]
-
Faculty Member Pays Gratitude Forward Through Endowed Scholarship
Michelle Dusseau shares what inspires her to give back, invites others to join her on Day of Giving 2025 to give a gift in support of UCF students By Sultana Ali | March 26, 2025 As we quickly approach the annual Day of Giving this April 10, the UCF community is buzzing with excitement about […]
-
Meet the College of Sciences 30 Under 30 Awardees
COS alumni “Reach for the Stars”, making lasting impacts through their careers and service to the community By Emily Dougherty | March 26, 2025 The College of Sciences is celebrating its eight alumni who were selected as 30 Under 30 awardees. These exceptional AlumKnights have gone above and beyond in their careers while making an […]
-
UCF Arboretum Hosts Community and Alumni at Special Event, Showcasing Innovative Work and Initiatives
Through immersive interactive stations and guided tours, UCF alumni, staff, and community partners explored and learned about the UCF Arboretum’s environmental initiatives and its impact on the community. By: Ana Hidalgo | March 24, 2025 The UCF Arboretum is host to a community garden, natural lands, student initiatives on Leading by Learning™ and on March […]
-
Astrophysics Observatory SPHEREx Launches on its Way to Study the Origins of the Universe
NASA’s newest astrophysics observatory, SPHEREx, recently launched on its way to study the origins of our universe, the history of galaxies and to search for evidence of life in our galaxy. The infrared space telescope will spend about two years orbiting Earth from 404 miles overhead, collecting data on more than 450 million galaxies. The […]
-
High-tech Talent: UCF’s Video Game Design Programs Rank Among World’s Best for 2025
When the makers of the world’s top video games look for talented students, they turn to UCF. UCF’s Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA), the university’s graduate video gaming program, has produced more than 200 graduates who worked on several of the most popular games sold in 2024 — including No. 1 seller Activision’s Call of […]