Arboretum Seeks Fall 2013 Volunteers

This is an excerpt from a story in the Central Florida Future asking for summer volunteers, read entire piece here. Whether you’re interested in restoring nature trails or enhancing your gardening skills, the UCF Arboretum wants you to be its newest volunteer. Officials at the 82-acre on-campus nature preserve are searching for a team of […]

Dr. Hojun Song Awarded NSF Grant for Outstanding Research

While most children grow up wanting to be doctors, astronauts or firefighters, Dr. Hojun Song knew he wanted to study bugs.  Song is an assistant professor in the biology department and also the founder of the Song Laboratory of Insect Systematics and Evolution at UCF.  It was when he moved to the United States from […]

Disney Pays Kudos to UCF Biologist For Efforts to Save Local Lagoon

Disney’s Worldwide Conservation Fund has named UCF biologist Linda Walters and Winter Springs High School teacher Paul Sacks  among its conservation heroes for 2013. The Disney Conservation Hero Award recognizes “local citizens for their tireless efforts to save wildlife, protect habitats and educate communities.” Individuals were nominated by non-profit environmental organizations. Each winner and their […]

COS/UCF Mourns the Loss of Founding Biology Chairman Ellis

This story is reposted from UCFToday. Leslie Ellis Jr., the founding chairman of the University of Central Florida’s biology department, who served as acting university president after Charles Millican retired in 1978, died Tuesday.  he was 87. Dr. Ellis joined the university in 1968 after serving as chairman of the biology department at Mississippi State […]

Dr. Linda Walters Furthers Her Education

Dr. Linda Walters, Pegasus Professor of biology and director of the Center for Success of Women Faculty at UCF recently graduated from the HERS Bryn Mawr Summer Institute, held June 22 – July 6, 2013 at Bryn Mawr College. Since 1978, the HERS Institute for Women in Higher Education at Wellesley College has annually offered women […]

Dr. Reed Noss Has a Talk With Congress

Dr. Reed Noss, the Provost’s Distinguished Research Professor of Biology at UCF, recently had the opportunity to testify before Congress for the oversight hearing on “Defining Species Conservation Success: Tribal, State and Local Stewardship vs. Federal Courtroom Battles and Sue-and-Settle Practices.” The hearing was the first of a series in this Congress that are meant […]

National Science Foundation Taps UCF Biology Talent

This is a guest post from Zenaida Kotala, UCF Today. University of Central Florida biologist Betsy Von Holle is lending her talents to the National Science Foundation in Washington, D.C., serving a year as program director. Her leave of absence started this summer. The area she oversees includes studies and grants in the area of: […]

Eldora State House Shoreline Restoration Event

Dr. Linda Walters and her research lab, called the Coastal and Estuary Ecology Lab (CEELAB), will be hosting a community shoreline restoration event on June 15, 2013 in Canaveral National SeaShore to prevent further erosion and potential damage to the Eldora State House. The house was built in the late 1800s when most transport was […]

UCF Arboretum Summer Volunteer Schedule

Science Cafés featuring UCF scientists

As part of our celebrations for the UCF 50th Anniversary the College of Sciences will be hosting several Science Cafés to showcase our Pegasus Professors and discuss Science Beyond UCF with the Central Florida community. Admission is free, and you need no reservation—just come ready to listen and contribute. Each speaker will begin their presentation at […]

Where are all the scientists?

Scientist-turned-filmmaker Dr. Randy Olson, is a fan of Al Gore’s global warming movie, but asks, “Where are all the scientists?”  He sets out to make his own documentary about global warming featuring scientists, but the only backers he can find are a fabulously flaky couple who top their list of people they want him to interview with Tom Cruise (not […]

Service-Learning Helps Students Tackle World’s Tough Issues

This is a guest post from Biology Professor Linda Walters, which was featured on UCF Today and The Huffington Post.  The end of each spring semester brings out the best in academia. Not only is graduation soon to occur, but campuses everywhere celebrate excellence — of faculty, staff and students. I am always excited to attend […]

Biology Students are Best in Show

Last week, students competed in the campus wide UCF Service-Learning Showcase.  We had many COS students compete, but three biology students won best in show.  Madison Hall, Lauren Riegler, and Cherri Sookdeo are members of the Trash Talkers and winners of this outstanding award. “Our project dealt with marine debris, and we presented to 5th […]

UCF Celebrates Arbor Day

Graduate Research Forum Winners

Several College of Sciences students won awards this week at the Tenth Annual Graduate Research Forum.  The Pegasus Ballroom was packed with a record number of graduate students presenting posters. Part of UCF’s Student Research Week, the Research Forum showcases the latest research from students, including cutting-edge technology and discoveries in arts, education, health and science. Throughout […]

Not Your Typical Spring Break

When you hear the words spring break, you usually think of going to the beach or going on a cruise. Ryan Silverstein, a biology major graduating in May, had a different idea for her break this year. Silverstein went on an alternative spring break to the University of Miami Dunlap Conservation as a part of […]

Ocean Day went swimmingly at the UCF Creative School

“Science is cool. The ocean is cool. Take care of the ocean. Women can be scientists.” This is what Dr. Linda Walters, UCF biology professor, wanted to teach the students of the UCF Creative School at Ocean Day. Ocean Day consisted of 120 children, 12 volunteers, and five activity stations. Dr. Walters decided on the […]

Ant King Featured on National Video

Most people cringe when they hear “fire ant,” but University of Central Florida biologist Joshua King is likely to ask where – and head straight to them.  King, an entomologist or insect expert, studies the invasive ant species and has found some startling results. While Floridians may spend thousands of dollars trying to eradicate them, […]

UCF Hosts Southeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference

The Southeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference is being hosted by the Biology Department at the University of Central Florida from March 1st– 3rd.  Dr. Keith Hobson, a research scientist with the Canadian federal government and an adjunct professor at the University of Saskatchewan, will be the plenary speaker. SEEC is a conference run by students […]

UCF Team Tracks Endangered Sea Turtles

UCF Ph.D candidate, Simona Ceriani, and her team recently published a study on the strength of the double-barreled method of tracking female loggerhead sea turtles. The study followed 71 sea turtles along the east coast of Florida. The sea turtles population has been declining for decades and tracking their routes has been troublesome for researchers. […]

MRC Director Focuses on Lagoon

By Jim Waymer, Florida Today Leesa Souto’s doctoral research focused on how human behaviors — especially those involving fertilizer — harm nature and the best ways to prevent that. Now she’ll do the same for the Marine Resources Council, Brevard County’s second-largest environmental nonprofit group, behind the Brevard Zoo. On Jan. 1, Souto took over […]

Reuters: Science Cafes Offer Sip of Learning

By Barbara Liston, Reuters Americans may be turning away from the hard sciences at universities, but they are increasingly showing up at “science cafes” in local bars and restaurants to listen to scientific talks over a drink or a meal. Want a beer with that biology? Or perhaps a burger with the works to complement the theory […]

Graduate Research Forum abstracts due

The Tenth Annual Graduate Research Forum, a part of Student Research Week, is open for submissions! The College of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Student Association invite UCF graduate students to submit your proposals now. Scheduled for Tuesday, April 2, 2013 in the Student Union, the Graduate Research Forum is an excellent opportunity for you to […]

Arboretum seeks volunteers for spring projects

For students interested in giving back to the environment or learning more about the region’s natural ecosystems, the UCF Arboretum is offering several volunteer opportunities the semester. Established in 1983, the 72-acre Arboretum is home to a variety of plant and animal life. “Volunteers can meet new people, achieve their New Year’s resolution to be […]

Biology alumna making an impact around the world

UCF alumna Sarah Kureshi, ’01, can be described in many words. Doctor. Wife. Muslim. American. Runner. Professor. Activist. Woman. Boundary-breaker. But her favorite word is student. “I learned how to be a lifelong student at UCF,” Kureshi said. “When I came to UCF, I had such amazing professors, and within the honors college I took […]

Knights give back

See how UCF students, faculty, staff and friends give back to the Central Florida community.

Founders’ Day Honors Convocation 2013

The annual Founders’ Day Honors Convocation will be held beginning at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 3, 2013, in the Pegasus Ballroom at the Student Union. We will recognize faculty members who have demonstrated excellence in teaching, advising, research, professional service, and librarianship. We will also recognize those members of our faculty who have completed […]

Call for presentations at the Southeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference

SEEC is a conference run by students for students is being hosted at the University of Central Florida (UCF) on March 1st – 3rd of 2013.  SEEC offers a friendly atmosphere for undergraduate, graduate, and post doctoral students from around the  southeast to engage one another and solicit helpful critiques of their research. SEEC also […]

Pythons, lionfish and now willow invade Florida’s waterways

Foreign invaders such as pythons and lionfish are not the only threats to Florida’s natural habitat. The native Carolina Willow is also starting to strangle portions of the St. Johns River.  Biologists at the University of Central Florida recently completed a study that shows this slender tree once used by Native Americans for medicinal purposes, […]

BP’s Chief Scientist visits UCF

BP’s Chief Scientist, Ellen D. Williams, will be speaking to UCF students, staff, faculty and guests on January 18, 2013 as part of the Distinguished Speakers Series, which is hosted by the College of Sciences. The event will start at 11 a.m., is free and open to the public and is in the Pegasus Ballroom, which is […]