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Comet in Deep Freeze Thaws as It Approaches Earth; Viewing Planned
What some people are calling the comet of the century will be paying a visit to our part of the solar system in November, but scientists, including UCF’s Yan Fernandez, are already hard at work preparing for its arrival. Comet ISON comes from the Oort Cloud, a refuge for icy debris jettisoned by Jupiter and […]
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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 […]
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COS Alumni Make the List
Orlando Magazine recently released the names of Orlando’s 50 most powerful people for 2013. The 10th annual list showcased a diverse mix of leaders in the Orlando community. As the magazine noted, these movers and shakers possess the power to move and inspire others. Among those listed include University of Central Florida President, John Hitt, […]
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Meet UCF Bioarchaeologist Who Looks Into Our Buried Past
Sandra Wheeler graduated with multiple degrees in anthropology from UCF and returned in 2010 as an instructor specializing in bioarchaeology. Her main area of research focuses on the bioarchaeological analysis of infants and children, which recently led her to uncovering the earliest recorded evidence of child abuse. Her findings were reported by national media. She […]
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NCFS: Pioneers in the Forensic Science Community
Few realize that UCF is home to one of the few Academic Forensic Science Centers in the United States. The National Center for Forensic Science (NCFS) produces future thought-leaders and practitioners in forensic science as well as first class research that has benefitted the forensic science community since 1997. Playing an essential role in the […]
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UCF Chemists Work on Cure for Cancer
Kevin Belfield and his team of chemists were featured on Fox 35 for their work on a new potential cure for cancer.This new therapy uses organic salt and light to kill cancer cells, potentially treating four types of cancer: melanoma, breast, colon, and prostate cancer. The technique is a simple way around a problem that […]
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The Lou Frey Institute: Past, Present and Future
The Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government at UCF has a goal to promote the development of enlightened, responsible and actively engaged citizens. Over the past ten years the Institute has been doing an outstanding job adhering to that mission statement through a variety of programs, research and advocacy. The Institute grew out of […]
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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 […]
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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: […]
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Computer Simulations Help Scientists Understand HIV-1 Infection
This story is reposted from UCF Today. Scientists have long been unable to fully explain how infections attack the body, but now a team of researchers, including one from the University of Central Florida, has taken a step closer to understanding how the process works in HIV-1. The results mean that one day that knowledge […]
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NASA Awards $1.8 Million to Psychology Professor
Pegasus Professor and Trustee Chair, Eduardo Salas, was selected for two of the 23 awards that NASA and the National Space Biomedical Research Institute announced for its crew health program. Proposals were openly solicited from academia, industry and government laboratories and were judged for scientific merit by non-NASA technical experts. The issue being addressed is astronaut health and performance risks for future […]
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Physicist’s Research Gains International Attention
Dr. Zenghu Chang, UCF Distinguished Professor of Physics & Optics, recorded the shortest pulse of light in his UCF lab. Physics World recently interviewed Chang for their publication, which you can view here. Physics World is the British equivalent of Physics Today, which is published in the US. “Dr. Chang’s success in making ever-shorter light pulses helps […]
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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 […]
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COS Students Win Big at Graduate Research Forum
The 2013 Graduate Research Forum was a huge success, especially for the college of sciences. COS students swept the mathematics, optics, and physical sciences section, as well as placing in other sections. 70 students from the college of sciences competed in the forum. Of those 70, eight placed in their respective groups. COS students placed […]
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Dr. Beidel Named 2013 Pegasus Professor
President Hitt presents Dr. Deborah Beidel the Pegasus Professor medallion at Founders Day. Dr. Beidel is a Professor of Psychology in the College of Sciences. She was recognized for her exceptional contributions to the treatment of anxiety in children and veterans. She has developed novel approaches for using virtual reality and distinct smells to help […]
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NSC Hosts Third Annual International Crisis and Risk Communication Conference
The Nicholson School of Communication (NSC) hosted the third annual International Crisis and Risk Communication (ICRC) Conference at the Student Union from March 4 to 6. The annual ICRC Conference brings together the leading experts in both academic and professional fields. The collaboration provides insights and understanding into what constitutes successful and at times unsuccessful crisis […]
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Students Launch Space Balloon, Watch on YouTube
More than a dozen University of Central Florida students played at being NASA engineers recently, launching a high-altitude balloon the size of a refrigerator into space. The students, studying a variety of fields from physics to accounting, designed the mission, made all necessary calculations and executed the launch from a public park in Safety Harbor. […]
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Killing Cancer Cells with Acid Reflux
A University of Central Florida chemist has come up with a unique way to kill certain cancer cells – give them acid reflux. Chemistry professor Kevin Belfield used a special salt to make cancer cells more acidic – similar to the way greasy foods cause acid reflux in some people. He used a light-activated, acid-generating […]
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When Parents Go to War
Psychology Professor Deborah C. Beidel and her graduate student Brian Bunnell were recently awarded a $2.7 million dollar research grant for a project entitled “When parents go to war,” which will be funded by the Department of Defense Broad Army Agency. This three year, multi-site investigation will examine the effects of deployment on children and stay-behind spouses, […]
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Video: Scientists Explain Impacts of Comets
The impact of comets on the surface of Jupiter are a fairly common experience. At the University of Central Florida, astronomers Joseph Harrington and Csaba Palotai are leading a project that studies precisely how these impacts happen, and also provides valuable information about what might happen if such a comet struck Earth. Watch the video […]
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Event: Brian Powell Speaks to UCF
Brian Powell will be speaking to UCF students, staff, faculty and guests on March 13 as part of the Distinguished Speakers Series, which is hosted by the College of Sciences and the UCF Sociology Department. Powell’s presentation, entitled “Evolution, Revolution: Americans’ Changing Views Regarding Same-Sex Marriage,” will begin at 7 p.m. in the Teaching Academy, Room 130. Professor Powell will discuss […]
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Closest-Ever Asteroid Flyby Thrills Large UCF Crowd
More than 800 people packed the Pegasus Ballroom at the University of Central Florida on Friday to watch a live video feed of an asteroid zip by Earth, coming within 17,500 miles from the planet. It was the closest flyby on record, with the half-city-block sized asteroid squeezing in between the Earth’s surface and orbiting […]
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Order of Pegasus Class of 2013
The UCF committee has announced the Order of Pegasus Class of 2013 and 19 students were inducted from 86 nominations. The students selected include nine LEAD Scholars, nine PLC members, seven Honors students, five SGA members and two student-athletes. College of Sciences students include Kaitlyn Chana (NSC), Raven Cokley (Psychology), Ashley Jaramillo (NSC) and Kayli […]
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Alumni, Faculty Celebrate UCF’s 50th Anniversary
About 125 UCF alumni, and faculty and staff from the Nicholson School of Communication gathered to celebrate UCF’s 50th anniversary Saturday at the UCF FAIRWINDS Alumni Center. The Nicholson School of Communication Alumni Chapter hosted the reunion, and the networking reception concluded the College of Sciences’ week-long celebration of UCF’s anniversary. “Our alumni were eager […]
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Students Win International Award
Students from UCF’s Department of Psychology recently were awarded the “Best in Show” Award for a game designed to help children with a social anxiety disorder. The award was given at the 3rd Annual Serious Games and Virtual Environments Showcase, part of the International Meeting for Simulation in Healthcare. Lift-Off! is a game designed to […]
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Asteroid Expert on ABC World News
By Ned Potter, ABC World News It begins to get on your nerves. Every now and then — a few times a year, depending on what you count — an asteroid goes whizzing past Earth at fairly close range, reminding us that sometimes outer space isn’t quite as, well, spacious as we may like to think. This […]
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Asteroid Encounter at UCF
An asteroid, the size of half a city block, will buzz Earth’s surface on Feb. 15, squeezing by communication satellites orbiting the planet. The University of Central Florida will host a free 1 p.m. viewing party for the public to watch this event via feeds from telescopes in Spain, where it will be nighttime. UCF’s Humberto […]
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NSC Alumni and Faculty Reunion
In celebration of the University of Central Florida’s 50th anniversary, The Nicholson School of Communication’s current and retired faculty and all of its alumni are invited to a networking reception on Saturday, Feb. 9 from 7:30-9 p.m. at the UCF FAIRWINDS Alumni Center. This is a great opportunity for alumni to reconnect with previous classmates […]
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COS alumnus named president of Walt Disney World Resort
George A. Kalogridis, ’76, a 41-year veteran of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, was named president of the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. this month. George will oversee a workforce of more than 66,000 Cast Members at the world’s premier vacation destination. His appointment will be effective Feb. 1, 2013. Since 2009, Kalogridis has […]
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Senator Graham visits UCF
Senator Bob Graham will be speaking to UCF students, staff, faculty and guests on February 14, 2013 as part of the Distinguished Speakers Series, which is hosted by the College of Sciences and the UCF Political Science Department. The event, “Citizenship and Global and National Security in the 21st Century”, will start at 3 p.m. and is free and open […]