-
NSCM Journalists Earn Statewide Recognition at Florida News Awards
Students, faculty, and alumni earned top recognition at the Florida News Awards, showcasing impactful journalism. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: May 22, 2026 From statewide investigations to deeply personal human-interest stories, students and alumni from the Nicholson School of Communication and Media (NSCM) are proving that meaningful journalism begins with curiosity, persistence and a passion for […]
-
New Study Explores How Governance Has Evolved Across History
A newly published study in Science Advances is taking a broader look at how societies have organized power across history, combining archaeological and historical evidence to better understand governance over time. Coauthor Sarah “Stacy” Barber, professor and associate chair for UCF’s Department of Anthropology, says the project was driven in part by the growing availability of archaeological data […]
-
UCF Grad’s Mission to Build Pipeline of Young Innovators
Some of the nation’s most promising scientists can be found in Will Furiosi ’13 ’14MAT’s Oviedo High School classroom. Spend five minutes talking to Ankan Das, Angela Calvo-Chumbimuni and Moitri Santra about their research innovations in robotics, mental health and agriculture, and one truth becomes quite clear: These teens are the real deal. Backed by […]
-
Natural Chemical Factories: UCF Study Reveals How Bacteria Build Explosive-Like Molecules
Scientists at UCF have discovered how certain bacteria can produce molecules chemically similar to those used in explosives, revealing a previously unknown pathway for building complex, nitrogen-rich compounds. The study, led by UCF associate professor of chemistry Jonathan Caranto, identifies hydrazinoacetic acid as a key building block in the production of N-nitroglycine, a rare compound […]
-
Tentacles in Solution: UCF Research Speeds Up DNA Biosensing
Detecting disease in a blood sample. Monitoring contaminants in drinking water. Identifying biological threats before they can spread. DNA biosensors play a critical role in each of these, but many rely on a slow process that can miss fleeting signals or delay results. At UCF, researchers are developing a new approach inspired by squids, octopuses […]
-
Cinematography Master Class Pushes UCF Film Students to Embrace Collaboration and Creative Limits
The head of the cinematography department at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Studies shares with students how filmmaking grows through limitation, teamwork and experience. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: April 27, 2026 Students in the Nicholson School of Communication and Media (NSCM) film program gained an inside look at the realities of filmmaking with Tatjana Krstevski, head of the Department of Cinematography at New York University’s (NYU) Tisch School […]
-
UCF Researcher Contributes to Antscan, a Global 3D Ant Biodiversity Database
Since the rise of genome sequencing, the field of biology has gained an exponential amount of data and understanding of the building blocks of living organisms. However, documenting phenotypic, or observable, characteristics of organisms has lagged behind due to challenges with technology. To advance knowledge in this area, UCF Assistant Professor of Biology Jeffrey Sosa-Calvo, […]
-
College of Sciences Honors Alumni Driving Impact Across Industries at the Distinguished Alumni Awards
The 2026 Distinguished AlumKnight Awards celebrate graduates whose careers are advancing research, strengthening communities and shaping the future. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published April 22, 2026 At the 2026 Distinguished AlumKnight Awards, the College of Sciences (COS) celebrated alumni whose careers demonstrate how knowledge, leadership and service can create lasting change and impact in the Central Florida Community and beyond. The event honored graduates who are not only leaders […]
-
Inaugural Gilson Lecture Series Features Oxford Professor on How the Senses Shape Perception
The UCF Department of Psychology hosted its first Richard Gilson distinguished lecture series, featuring University of Oxford professor Charles Spence, who explored how the human brain integrates sensory information and how those connections are shaping research, design and real-world experience. Written by: Ana Hidalgo and Shaloni Prine | April 21, 2026 On April 3, 2026, the UCF Human Factors and Cognitive […]
-
UCF Study Suggests Some Alzheimer’s Symptoms May Begin Outside the Brain
UCF researchers have uncovered evidence that some movement-related symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease may originate outside the brain, which could change how the disease is diagnosed and treated in the future. The study was sponsored by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging and was led by UCF Nanoscience Technology Center Professor James Hickman and Research Professor Xiufang “Nadine” Guo. In collaboration with researchers at healthcare tech company Hesperos, the team used lab-grown, human-cell systems designed to […]
-
UCF Big Data Analytics Symposium Connects Students to Real-World Impact
Industry leaders, researchers and students gathered for a day of panels, keynotes and networking exploring how data is shaping decisions across transportation, aviation, and workforce sectors. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: April 13, 2026 The 2026 Big Data Analytics Symposium, hosted by the College of Sciences’ School of Data, Mathematical, and Statistical Sciences (SDMSS), brought together students, faculty, alumni, community members and industry professionals for a […]
-
UCF Research to Help Inform Statewide Efforts to Stop Domestic Violence and Improve Care for Survivors
Florida is turning to UCF experts to find better ways to prevent domestic violence and give survivors a stronger voice in the services they need. Through a $257,384 two-year grant from the Florida Partnership to End Domestic Violence, faculty from UCF’s Violence Against Women research cluster are conducting a statewide domestic violence needs assessment. Their findings will help policymakers and local agencies develop better strategies to fund and support domestic […]
-
Vatican Astronomer Visits America’s Space University
Brother Guy J. Consolmango, S.J., astronomer and president of the Vatican Observatory Foundation, shared insight on astronomy, exploration and scientific discovery during his recent visit to UCF. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published March 31, 2026 Whether on the campus of America’s Space University or at one of the oldest active astronomical observatories in the world, scientific discovery is shaped both by new ideas and the people who pursue them. UCF students, faculty and researchers […]
-
Bold, Relentless, Rising: Meet UCF’s 2026 Reach for the Stars Honorees
Big ideas don’t wait — and neither do the researchers behind them. The 2026 Reach for the Stars honorees — six UCF assistant professors — are already making a substantial impact on their respective fields through meaningful research and creative work that extends far beyond campus, with national and international influence. Across disciplines, their work […]
-
Joshua Colwell Leads UCF’s College of Sciences as Dean
The search for a new dean for the UCF College of Sciences has concluded with the appointment of Joshua Colwell, a Pegasus Professor of physics who has been at UCF for 20 years. Following a competitive national search and rigorous interview process, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs John Buckwalter selected Colwell on […]
-
UCF’s Video Game Design Programs Rank Among World’s Best for 2026
Tomorrow’s leading video game developers are being built today at UCF. The university’s graduate video gaming program, Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA), and games and interactive media (GaIM) undergraduate program continue to develop a pipeline of talent to fuel Florida’s economy at a standard of excellence few can match, affirmed by The Princeton Review and PC Gamer’s Top […]
-
UCF Chemistry Instructor’s Creative Approach Earns Excellence in Online Teaching Award
Nicole Lapeyrouse ’16MS ’18PhD never knows when and where she might be recognized. Students and their significant others who have never met her in person will come up to her in stores and along sidewalks to say, “Excuse me, but aren’t you …?” Yes, it’s her. The chemistry and geology instructor recently walked into a […]
-
The India Center Hosts Second Distinguished Lecture on Space Collaboration and Research
Project Scientist Paul Rosen shared how the NISAR satellite mission is transforming Earth science while demonstrating the impact of international collaboration in space research. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: March 24, 2026 The India Center welcomed students, faculty and community members for its second annual Distinguished Lecture, an event highlighting global collaboration, scientific discovery and the growing partnership between the United States and India. […]
-
UCF Aiding Healthy Ecosystems Through Bat Conservation Advancements
A UCF Department of Biology doctoral student has helped position UCF as a contributor to the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat), a coordinated effort to track bat populations across North America using standardized acoustic methods. Research Path Rooted in Responsibility Ifer White, who serves as a graduate teaching associate while pursuing a Ph.D. in integrative and conservation biology, describes herself […]
-
UCF Grad Turns Love for Orlando Into Career
With its numerous industries to sustain a career and vibrant culture to build a life, Orlando isn’t a hard sell. Still, when it comes to promoting all this city has to offer, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who loves it more than Andrea (Rodrigues) Sage ’12. The advertising-public relations grad spent the last […]
-
Orlando Family Stage Sets the Mark with UCF Collaboration
Not long ago, Ben Lowe ’22 was working as a lighting designer for Universal Creative, helping craft what would become the next big thing for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: the Ministry of Magic at Universal Epic Universe. The realization hit him one day on the job. This project’s legacy and impact were going […]
-
College of Sciences Inspires Curiosity at Spark STEM Fest
Through hands-on activities and demos, the College of Sciences connected its research with the Central Florida Community. Written by: Ryan Fox | Published: February 27, 2026 Innovation met curiosity as the College of Sciences (COS) engaged future scientists, alumni, and the Central Florida community at Spark STEM Fest. Presented by the UCF Office of Research, Spark STEM Fest is an annual celebration of technology and […]
-
College of Sciences Hosts Interdisciplinary Seminar on Avatars, AI and the Future of Human Performance
Interdisciplinary seminar highlights how UCF faculty are leveraging AI technologies and immersive systems to transform communication, teaching and embodied experiences. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: February 27, 2026 As artificial intelligence and immersive technologies continue to evolve, researchers across the College of Sciences (COS) are investigating how digital agents influence the way people communicate, learn and even experience their own physical abilities. To advance […]
-
Finding Focus Through Vision: A Knight’s Journey To Becoming Dean
How a major change shaped a College of Sciences alumna’s future into a career of academic leadership and patient care. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: February 24, 2026 When Dr. Stephanie Schmiedecke Barbieri first arrived at the University of Central Florida, her future seemed mapped out. Encouraged by her father, an engineer for Procter and Gamble, she planned […]
-
The India Center Marks Republic Day with Celebration of Community, Scholarship and Global Partnership
The India Center highlights student experiences and achievements, new awards and deepening ties between UCF, India and Central Florida. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: February 20, 2026 The University of Central Florida’s India Center brought students, staff, faculty, community leaders and international partners together to celebrate India’s Republic Day — an occasion defined by democratic ideals, cultural pride and […]
-
UCF Researcher Co-Authors Studies Reshaping Understanding of Human Origins
For over a century, scientists have searched fossil records for clues to how early human ancestors evolved, migrated and separated across Africa and beyond. Today, researchers such as Sarah Freidline, an assistant professor in the UCF Department of Anthropology, are revisiting those clues with new insights and advanced imaging techniques. In two recent studies, Freidline […]
-
UCF Alum’s Influence on Rise of Florida’s Space Coast
As the executive director at the Space Coast Office of Tourism, Peter Cranis ’84 ’88MA wants visitors and residents to experience the sense of wonder he feels every day at his job. From the rush of a rocket launch to the thrill of catching a wave to the joy of exploring natural and wild spaces […]
-
UCF Researchers Travel to South Pacific for Diving Research Expedition
Led by a UCF faculty member, a global team of researchers is using innovative genetic analysis to uncover how countless drifting fish larvae connect distant reefs. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: February 6, 2025 Countless larvae move through the ocean currents every day, and UCF researchers are taking a closer look at how these larvae travel and keep distant reefs connected. Led by […]
-
How UCF Research Is Changing the Way Scientists Track Animals
An assistant professor in the Department of Biology is reshaping how scientists understand animal movement, habitat use, and conservation needs through mathematically rigorous models. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: February 2, 2026 Wildlife researchers today collect unprecedented amounts of animal movement data. From passerine birds outfitted with lightweight GPS backpacks to elephants collared with GPS devices as heavy as car batteries, location data have become central to conservation […]
-
Math Launch Program Accelerates Student Success at UCF
UCF is breaking down barriers to STEM success with Math Launch, an accelerated program designed to prepare incoming students for Calculus I —the critical starting point for engineering, computer science and other science majors. By strengthening skills in algebra, trigonometry and pre-calculus, Math Launch enables students to become calculus-ready in just one semester through a […]
