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COS Student Among Finalists to Travel to Mars
If all goes according to plan, UCF graduate student George W. Hatcher will live……and die on Mars. Hatcher, pursuing his doctorate in planetary sciences, is one of two University of Central Florida doctoral students selected as finalists for a one-way mission to Mars. The other, a 29-year-old pursuing his doctorate in computer science, is Taranjeet Singh […]
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Professor Looks for Origin of Solar System
Several small-scale experiments aboard NASA’s vomit comet have led to a NASA grant to study early planet formation aboard a satellite in low-Earth orbit for a year or more. University of Central Florida physics professor Dr. Joshua Colwell this month landed a grant to place a thermos-sized experiment aboard a satellite as part of NASA’s […]
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Inaugural Outstanding AlumKnights Awards
On Feb. 5, the University of Central Florida College of Sciences and its alumni chapter hosted the inaugural Outstanding AlumKnights award reception at the Orlando Science Center. COS Dean, Dr. Michael Johnson welcomed the crowd, and faculty representatives from each of the college’s 10 departments and school presented the awards to their respective recipients. The […]
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Solving Static Electricity in Space
There are many dangers when launching a vehicle into space from liftoff to landing, but one University of Central Florida researcher just secured a grant to help NASA solve a problem that doesn’t often catch headlines – electrostatic charging on spacecraft surfaces. The problem can lead to anything from fried electrical circuits to an explosion. […]
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Bringing STEM to Young Future-Scientists
The concepts of gravity, electricity, and momentum, to name a few, were all demonstrated in a fun and entertaining way at the STEM outreach day on Thursday, Jan. 29. The UCF Physics Department and the College of Engineering and Computer Science hosted this day of learning. The Florida High Tech Corridor Council’s techPATH group co-sponsored the event, including a lunch […]
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Inaugural STEM Day Reached Thousands
Friday morning, January 30, thousands of K-12 students from the Central Florida area spilled on to UCF’s campus for the inaugural STEM day. STEM day is a bi-annual outreach event for K-12 students interested in learning more about the study of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Coordinated by the Center for Initiatives in STEM (iSTEM), […]
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Quantum Leap in Research
John Vastola, an undergraduate physics student, received an Outstanding Presentation award from the American Association of Physics Teachers. At the 2015 Winter Meeting in San Diego, CA, he presented “Using Integral Transforms to Evaluate Sums in Statistical and Quantum Mechanics.” The American Association of Physics Teachers hosted the conference, geared toward high school and college […]
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Distinguished Speaker Series Continues with Wonders in Two Dimensions
The College of Sciences’ Distinguished Speaker Series continued in January with an intriguing talk hosted by Dr. Tony Heinz. Dr. Heinz gave his exciting presentation entitled “Wonders in Two Dimensions: Looking at Graphene and Beyond” on Wednesday, January 11 at Cocina214. Approximately 40 guests attended and enjoyed food & drink while listening to Dr. Heinz’ […]
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Over $85,000 Available in College of Sciences Scholarships
Over $85,000 in scholarships are available to College of Sciences students! Don’t miss the opportunity to apply, as the deadline for application is fast approaching. Unless otherwise noted, students must apply for the scholarship by Feb. 1, 2015. Funds will be distributed during the 2015-2016 school year. If you are applying, you must be actively […]
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College of Sciences Celebrates 18 new PH.D.s
Thursday, Dec. 11, the College of Sciences celebrated 18 new Ph.Ds at a special graduation reception. The graduation celebration took place in the atrium of the Physical Sciences building. In attendance were family members of the graduates, faculty advisors and members of the Dean’s office staff. Dean Michael Johnson and Associate Dean Teresa Dorman, of the […]
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UCF’s NanoRocks Return Promising Data
The University of Central Florida’s experiment NanoRocks, currently on board the International Space Station, is producing promising results. The experiment studying solar system formation was taken to the space station through a NanoRacks partnership with Space Florida’s International Space Station Research Competition. NanoRocks is one of seven competition winners to be flown to low-earth orbit […]
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UCF Physicist Contributes to Recent Meteorite Research
It’s a big month for space exploration. Among the headlines: the successful landing of a spacecraft on a comet, the stunning findings unearthed in meteorites recovered from California, and the rollout of NASA’s next-generation Orion crew capsule expected to take its test flight in December. “It’s an exciting time to be involved in space exploration,” […]
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Fun Filled Day of Physics Exploration
On Saturday, the UCF department of physics hosted approximately 100 local high school students for the Physics Career Exploration Day. The day started with some light refreshments in the Physical Sciences Building that were followed by physicists speaking about great career opportunities within their fields. Students got to hear the personal stories of successful physicists […]
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Science Café Features Discovery
Science Café is designed to bring together UCF scientists with the community in a fun and casual environment. Held in the Physical Sciences Building, the series highlights the exciting research currently being conducted in the College of Sciences. Each month features a scientist from a different department in the college. On September 18, the first […]
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Space Launch Carries Experiments of UCF Professor, Graduate
Two payloads on last Saturday morning’s SpaceX-4 launch at Cape Kennedy had UCF ties. The launch will deliver cargo and crew supplies to the International Space Station. Several experiments on the flight will include: Physics professor Joshua Colwell’s research to explore low-energy collisions of dust particles to better understand the conditions that lead to the formation of […]
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International Observe the Moon Night at Knights Plaza
Planet hunters at the University of Central Florida invite children to join them for International Observe the Moon Night from 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6. Last year, UCF’s Planetary Sciences Group sponsored an event to coincide with the international observation, which drew more than 100 people. So this year the group decided to […]
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Distinguished Speaker Series Launches in a Spicy New Venue
On Sept. 9, Dr. James Alan Fox will be kicking off the Distinguished Speaker Series in Winter Park at Cocina 214. Fox will be speaking about “Mass Shootings in America: Myths and Realities.” Specifically, he will talk about how these events are more methodical than people imagine and that increasing our understanding of mass murders […]
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Distinguished Speaker Series With A Spicy New Venue
The College of Sciences at the University of Central Florida will be presenting the Distinguished Speaker Series at a brand new venue this year, Cocina214. This Mexican and Tex Mex kitchen is sure to bring some spice to this series starting in September. The series brings renowned speakers from across the country to enrich the […]
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Congratulations College of Sciences Summer Ph.D. Graduates
In a reception hosted by Dean Michael Johnson, the College of Sciences honored 11 Ph.D graduates on Friday, August 1, 2014. The Ph.D. graduates attended the reception in the Physical Sciences Building on the UCF campus with their families and faculty advisors. Associate Dean Teresa Dorman hosted a presentation that individually recognized each graduate with their faculty advisor […]
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Finalist for American Physical Society Award
Dr. Michael Chini, a recent graduate from UCF’s Department of Physics (PhD, 2012) and currentResearch Scientist in the Townes Laser Institute of UCF’s College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL), is a finalist for the American Physical Society‘s Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation in Laser Science Award for his dissertation, entitled “Characterization and Application of Isolated Attosecond Pulses”. […]
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Vomit Comet Equals Opportunity of a Lifetime
Beginning on Monday, July 21, UCF students boarded a specially equipped plane that NASA uses to train astronauts and run microgravity experiments. The plane is nicknamed the vomit comet because first-time flyers tend to vomit as the plane hits zero gravity. “My team and I have worked tirelessly for the past year to get our project up […]
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UCF Pushes Space Frontier, Selected to Fly on Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo
A UCF experiment and a 3-D printer for space developed by a UCF graduate will fly on the first NASA-funded commercial research flight on Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo. NASA and Virgin Galactic announced Tuesday that 12 university experiments, two industry-developed technologies and two NASA projects were selected for the mission. Dr. Joshua Colwell, a UCF physics […]
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Physics Class With No Tests, No Lectures
How would you do in a class that didn’t have any tests or lectures? Beginning in Fall 2014 at UCF, two physics classes will attempt to answer that question. Instead of listening to long lectures and taking multiple exams and quizzes, students will read the material at home and have their understanding improved via class […]
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Avoiding Deep Impact: UCF, NASA Study Spaceship Teamwork
Visiting Mars in 2030 is going to take some engineering ingenuity, but making sure astronauts make the long, cramped journey without driving each other crazy is going to be just as tricky. It’s estimated that a round trip to Mars will take at least two years. That’s why NASA is investing millions of dollars trying […]
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Science Olympiad Heads for the Black AND Gold
Saturday and Sunday, May 16 and 17, UCF will welcome over 10,000 middle and high school students, their families, coaches, and teachers from all over the United States and Japan for the 30th annual Science Olympiad. This is second time in three years that UCF has hosted the Science Olympiad, the largest STEM (science, technology, […]
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College of Sciences Graduation Reception Becomes College Tradition
The College of Sciences hosted over 1,000 people at its second graduation reception on Saturday, May 3 for graduating students to celebrate their accomplishment with classmates, family and faculty. Event attendance tripled in size in comparison to the fall 2013 reception with a line that wrapped around the Psychology building’s sidewalk and went out onto […]
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UCF Physicist Gets Three Big Journal Hits in One Year
University of Central Florida physicist Zenghu Chang has done it again. For a third time this year, his research group has published an article in a Nature journal. This time, Chang and his team have developed a new ultrafast light source for observing electron motion in molecules – made up of nuclei and electrons – […]
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Ph.D. Students Celebrate With Special Graduation Reception
May 2, 2014 the College of Sciences celebrated our new Ph.D’s at a special graduation reception. The event was held in the afternoon in the Physical Sciences building. Student’s family members and faculty advisers were in attendance. Associate Dean Teresa Dorman hosted a presentation that individually recognized each graduate with their faculty adviser and read a […]
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UCF Faculty Rise to New Heights: 2014 Promotion and Tenure
The College of Sciences is pleased to announce all faculty members who were promoted or earned tenure this year. Tenure and Promotion to Associate Professor Joanna Mishtal, Anthropology Dmitry Kolpashchikov, Chemistry William Kinnally, Communication Andrew Nevai, Mathematics Masahiro Ishigami, Physics Promotion to Associate Lecturer Christine Hanlon, Communication Archana Dubey, Physics Cyrus Azimi, Psychology Shannon Whitten, […]
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Incentive Awards in Teaching, Research & Scholarship Go To………….
The College of Sciences is elated to announce the 2013-2014 winners for the Teaching Incentive Program, Research Incentive Award, and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. As Dean Michael Johnson said, “this is a very accomplished group.” Each year, UCF’s Academic Affairs’ Office of Faculty Excellence gives incentive awards to outstanding faculty for their dedication to teaching, […]