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Virtual Arboretum Featured at Global Film, Data Visualization Conference
A virtual corner of UCF’s campus was demonstrated alongside some of the biggest names in the computer graphics industry at the ACM SIGGRAPH 2023 Electronic Theater Retrospective Celebration. The Virtual UCF Arboretum, an immersive digital twin of nature, was created by Associate Professor of Digital Media Maria Harrington, Ph.D., and was part of the featured […]
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Alumna Takes On Role as First Orlando Beekeeper
Orlando’s first official beekeeper is staying busy as a — well you know — applying the knowledge she acquired as a College of Sciences graduate. Tuesday Piper ’22 took the job as sustainability project coordinator for the City of Orlando in August, not long after leaving UCF in Spring 2022 with a BA in communication […]
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Controlled Arboretum Burns Lead to Discovery of new Grass Species
A new grass species was discovered in the UCF Arboretum thanks to regular controlled burns that mimic nature’s wildfire season. Sporobolus osceolensis is a type of dropseed grass sensitive to fire-stimulated flowering, according to Florida ecologists Edwin Bridges and Steve Orzell, who identified the blooming grass in 2018 on one of UCF’s prescribed burn sites. […]
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Graduating UCF Film Student Completes Environmental Documentary
Making people care through the power of filmmaking is Vince Marcucci’s mission. The day after he graduates from UCF with a bachelor’s in film, he’ll show his first documentary series — an 80-minute, four-part feature following a day in the life of four Florida naturalists — during a private showing to cast, crew and local […]
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Community Partnerships Amplify Arboretum Impact
The UCF Arboretum’s success as a natural refuge from the bustle of campus life happens largely because of committed staff and volunteers, but there’s another ingredient, too. Agency partners such as the Florida Forest Service, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, St. Johns Water Management District, neighboring county natural resource departments, and many other brought together […]
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Students Design New Arid Garden Landscape for Nursery Entrance
Since the launch of the Learning by LeadingTM (LxL) program at the UCF Arboretum in 2019, the Urban Horticulture team has been busy designing and installing new gardens in the Arboretum Park, which is the 7-acre site surrounding the Arboretum’s main office. The team’s first project, Whittier’s Walk, was a tribute to the Arboretum’s founder […]
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It’s Frickin’ Bats!
This spooky season at the Arboretum, we hosted two fun-filled nights of Halloween events full of carved pumpkin trails, a costume contest, terror trail, monster ball, and more! However, the star of our ghoulie season was our native bat colony, Myotis austroriparius, and they brought the spook! Students got to watch the bats emerge from […]
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Arboretum Student Spotlight – Meet Maximillion Meader
Hello, my name is Max! I am a 4th year Biology student with an Environmental Studies minor. I began at the Arboretum as a volunteer in 2019, and currently I am one of the Co-coordinators leading the team responsible for managing the greenhouse and developing the nursery. I love taking care of and working with […]
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Message From the Director – Fall 2021
We are excited to reconnect with our friends and supporters through this fall 2021 edition of the UCF Arboretum newsletter. We were disappointed that we were not able to put out a summer newsletter this year, mostly due to the increased demands of our burgeoning program, and our preparations for the first face-to-face semester since […]
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Maggy Tomova Joins the College of Sciences Today as Dean
Maggy Tomova, Ph.D., officially joins the University of Central Florida today as dean of the College of Sciences. Tomova, 44, brings deep research and leadership experience to the role, most recently as associate dean for the 18 departments that fall under the Natural, Mathematical, and Social Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences […]
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New Dean Named for UCF’s College of Sciences
Maggy Tomova will become the next dean of UCF’s College of Sciences on Oct. 18. She joins UCF from the University of Iowa, where she currently serves as the associate dean for the Natural, Mathematical, and Social Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Her appointment by Michael D. Johnson, interim provost and […]
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Summer 2021 Graduates Head Out With New College of Sciences Degrees
UCF’S newest College of Sciences graduates crossed the stage Saturday at Summer 2021 Commencement. Among them was Nahla Turner, a psychology graduate who not only battled pandemic challenges in 2020, but a cancer diagnosis. A clean bill of health in October 2020 brought her to Saturday’s academic finish line and a new starting line pursuing […]
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Congratulations to the Summer 2021 Doctoral Graduates
Biology Jordan Dowell, Ph.D., faculty advisor, Chase Mason, Ph.D. and Pedro Quintana-Ascencio, Ph.D. Dissertation: “Genetics and Evolution of Specialized Metabolism In Wild and Cultivated Helianthus.” Christopher Long, Ph.D., faculty advisor, Katherine Mansfield, Ph.D. Dissertation: “Long-Term Changes in Juvenile Green Turtle Abundance and Foraging Ecology in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida.” Chemistry Sajia Afrin, Ph.D., faculty […]
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Virtual UCF Arboretum Expands Offerings For Digital Game Designers
The Virtual UCF Arboretum continues to expand its reach and impact, with the recent launch of a new library of 70 photorealistic plants for use in augmented and virtual reality. The free-to-use content pack of 3D plants on the Epic Games Unreal Engine Marketplace follows last year’s $25,000 Epic Megagrant from the same game maker, […]
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2021 Founder’s Day Honorees
BY ALLISON HURTADO ’12 The Founders’ Day Awards celebrate the outstanding academic achievements of our faculty members and students. As we recognize these achievements, we remember the efforts of those women and men who made this university a reality, and we prepare for the accomplishments of the future. In an extraordinary time, our faculty and […]
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Preserving Our Wetlands From Plastic Pollution
If you have been to UCF’s Orlando campus, chances are you have walked along the boardwalk through the Student Union Cypress Dome. You have also probably witnessed the fallout of graduation photoshoot confetti, or noticed the litter left behind by students. We all know plastic pollution is a problem, but did you know that […]
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Growing with Enthusiasm!
The UCF Arboretum Greenhouse team has blossomed tremendously over the last couple years, and we aren’t slowing down anytime soon! Although this very active team engages in a variety of activities, two stand out as the defining current projects and plans; plant sales and nursery development. The plant sales have emerged as a major […]
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Arboretum Park Arbor Day Burke Grant Tree Planting
Spring is in the air! In only a few minutes at the Arboretum Park the sights and sounds of Spring surround you, invoking an overwhelming feeling of joy, and hope for the future. The birds are singing and feverishly building nests, the pollinators are fluttering about and the blue flag iris planted in Whittier’s […]
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Arboretum Student Spotlight- Meet Vincent
Favorite Plant: Frangipani Favorite Sound: River water Vincent Marcucci is a fourth-year undergraduate student studying filmmaking and environmental science. He began working at the UCF Arboretum as an office assistant in January 2019 and would later co-lead the creation of our Media & Marketing Co-Coordinator branch. Alongside his teammate Megan Cahill, he now oversees […]
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Message From the Director
At a time when many people have suffered great loss, and when everyone has had to adjust to pandemic living, it is inspiring to witness our students brimming with youthful enthusiasm. Like most other programs at UCF, the Arboretum has had to make significant changes in the way we run and operate our programs, […]
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Film Student Uses Art of Storytelling to Focus on Florida Conservationists
Tales of Sunshine is the title of UCF student Vincent Marcucci’s short film that gives viewers a firsthand look into the stories of Floridian conservationists who are tackling prominent environmental conflicts. Marcucci, who is majoring in film and environmental studies, began developing the idea for this series last summer and filmed his first episode last […]
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UCF Hosts Spring Graduation Celebration, April 30 to May 9
UCF is excited to offer spring graduates and their families the opportunity to choose one of two in-person options to celebrate their achievements. Recognitions of graduates will occur April 30 to May 9. Spring 2021 graduates will have the option of either participating in UCF’s Grad Walk or their college’s in-person commencement. Both recognitions will […]
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Farming with Traditional Companion Planting
Corn, beans, and squash—oh my! Our students grew these three staple native American crops, known as the Three Sisters in the Community Farm and Garden this fall using a traditional companion planting method. The Three Sisters Method is one of the oldest natural growing techniques developed by Native Americans. What makes the Three Sisters […]
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Arboretum Scrub Restoration
Fall is the most wonderful time of the year for Florida’s native wildflowers! Particularly during the month of October, the Arboretum natural lands are strikingly spattered with yellows and lavenders. Our campus prescribed burn program has had huge impacts on the reduction of dense saw palmetto and oaks, opening large spaces where native wildflower […]
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Coming Together for the Environment
One of the hallmarks of the UCF Arboretum has always been bringing people together. We strive to foster and develop a deep sense of community around education and the environment. What better way to embody that notion in 2020 than through a Fall pond planting project joining UCF students, faculty, and staff with local, […]
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Sharing a Restoration Success Story
Our Learning by Leading™ (LxL) Urban Horticulture team had a great experience this semester meeting onsite at the Arboretum with representatives from the City of Oviedo Recreation and Parks and Public Works Departments, and Dix.Hite + Partners landscape architects and designers. Several of the students on the horticulture team plan to pursue advanced degrees in […]
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Arboretum Student Spotlight- Meet Alicia
My name is Alicia Lowenstein, and I am one of the Co-coordinators for the Community Farm & Gardens Team. Starting as an intern, the Arb quickly became my home away from home, and my co-workers became my closest friends. My passions include permaculture, farm to table cooking, and learning about Florida’s ecology. From conducting prescribed […]
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November 2020 Message From the UCF Arboretum Director
As we enter the holiday season, people might be struggling to find things to be thankful for in a year that has proven difficult for so many. The corona virus pandemic has put a stress on everyone’s life, and has placed particular strain on those who have lost a loved one, lost their […]
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Student Horticulturists Have Bright Future With Help From Landscaping Company
There’s more to landscaping than pulling weeds and pushing a mower — much more. Experts in logistics, finance, small engine repair, soil chemistry and human resources are all in demand at Baker Commercial Landscaping, a 250-plus employee company that maintains the properties of homes and businesses across Tampa and Orlando, including UCF’s main campus and […]
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Recipe – Vegan Ratatouille & Rice
Vegan Ratatouille & Rice Prep Time 10 minutes Cook Time 30 minutes Total Time 40 minutes Total Yield 3 servings Calories Per Serving 363 kcal Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil 1 white or yellow onion diced 3 cloves garlic minced 1 medium zucchini diced 1 eggplant diced 1/8 tsp ground black pepper 1/2 tsp dried oregano 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes 1 red bell pepper diced 2 Roma tomatoes diced 1 cup white rice 1 and 1/2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth plus more as needed fresh basil for serving Instructions In a […]