Get Your Hands Dirty For Science

On Saturday, January 25th, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the UCF Biology Field Research Center in Orlando, Fla. will host Meandering: A Community Experience in Creating a River. Created by the Center For Earth Jurisprudence, this event  promises “working with clay, participants will learn the inherent ability of water to define and organize itself, […]

Over $22,000 Available in College of Sciences Scholarships

This year the College of Sciences has over $22,000 in scholarship money we’d love to give to students. Since the deadlines for scholarship applications are approaching fast, February 1st unless otherwise stated, we thought it would be a good idea to give a list of all current scholarships being offered. Browse by College of Sciences […]

College of Sciences Starts New Tradition for its Graduates

The College of Sciences has 10 departments and is the largest college on campus in terms of student enrollment. To celebrate its students’ accomplishments and promote a sense of camaraderie between the departments, the college hosted a Graduation Reception on Dec. 13, 2013 in the atrium of the psychology building after commencement. Previously, some of […]

Not all Species Age the Same

Adult humans get weaker as they age and then die, but that’s not the typical pattern across species. Some organisms don’t appear to show signs of aging at all. These are among the findings in a first-of-its-kind study published in the journal Nature this week. The study compares the aging patterns of humans and 45 […]

Endangered Green Sea Turtles Make a Comeback in Florida

MELBOURNE BEACH, Fla. — When Chris Long thinks back on a summer spent digging up holes in the beach, it’s a job he says he “wouldn’t trade … for anything.” The 26-year-old University of Central Florida Ph.D. candidate spent months looking for green turtle nests, studying the comeback of a species that — at one […]

UCF Professor Hosts Science Cafe

UCF Professor, Dr. Bohlen was the guest speaker at the Science Café on Wednesday, December 4th at Downtown Credo. Café Scientifique, or Science Café, is a monthly gathering of scientific experts and interested lay community in a pub or other nonacademic setting. They explore the latest ideas in science and technology, using plain language. Admission is free, […]

College of Sciences Fall 2013 Graduation Reception

All faculty, staff and graduating students are cordially invited to attend our inaugural UCF College of Sciences Graduation Reception on December 13th in the atrium of the Psychology Building, immediately following graduation commencement. Light refreshments will be provided. RSVP online at sciences.ucf.edu/reception The reception will be hosted by the Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Communication, Mathematics, Physics, Political […]

‘Lions and Dolphins and Mines, Oh My!

She was just 4 years old when she made one of the biggest decisions of her life. It was a fateful trip to SeaWorld San Antonio, where she touched a dolphin and saw all of the park’s aquatic shows that sealed the deal. “I’m going to work with those animals when I grow up!” she […]

UCF Professor is Swimming in Honors

 University of Central Florida professor emeritus Llewellyn Ehrhart was honored this week for work to help conserve Florida’s sea turtles. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service presented Ehrhart with a Regional Director’s Honor Award during a ceremony in Atlanta on Oct. 30. “Recognizing the excellence of partners, volunteers and employees is one way we can […]

UCF Counts Record Numbers As Sea Turtle Nesting Season Ends

Sea turtles are making a comeback along the Brevard County coastline. As the turtle-nesting season comes to a close today, researchers with UCF’s Marine Turtle Research Group are logging a record number of turtle nests. “It’s amazing. We can’t believe these numbers,” said Kendra Cope, a graduate student who has been working with the research […]

UCF Shares A Love of Bugs With Young Children

Hojun Song, an entomologist at the University of Central Florida, loves bugs and he wants others to learn to love them, too. Insects play a critical role in the food chain and in keeping our environment healthy, he said. For example, honeybees are needed to pollinate crops, which humans rely on for food. Certain insects are […]

UCF’s Newest Sea Turtle Expert Studies “The Lost Years”

October 2013; Katherine Mansfield, Kate to her friends, has been studying turtles for 20 years, working her way through the sea turtle life cycle and now trying to discover what these creatures do during their “lost years.” That’s the catchphrase marine biologists have given to the period between when sea turtles hatch on local beaches […]

Holding Hands to Save the Indian River Lagoon – One Person at a Time

Thousands of residents are expected to hold hands across seven coastal bridges throughout the region on Saturday, Sept. 28, in an effort to raise awareness about the serious threats to the health of the Indian River Lagoon. “The goal is to raise awareness and let people know how truly important the health of our waterways […]

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 […]