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How to Turn Your Lawn Into a Wildflower Garden
Whether you’re searching for an educational activity to do with your children or spending time landscaping while social distancing, UCF’s new Lawn to Wildflowers program out of the College of Sciences can offer a bit of inspiration. The project, spearheaded by UCF associate professor of biology Barbara Sharanowski and postdoctoral fellow Nash Turley, offers a […]
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Fulbright Fellowship Sends Grad Student to France for Space Research
Department of Physics graduate student Joshua Forer is headed to Bordeaux, France, to conduct research, courtesy of the prestigious Fulbright Fellowship. The fellowship will span ten months and allow Forer to work with research scientists at the University of Bordeaux. Forer’s research focuses on carbon-hydrogen molecules and their role in planetary atmospheres and interstellar mediums. […]
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Lou Frey Institute Launches Series Addressing Government Actions During Pandemic
The Lou Frey Institute is adding to the national conversation on pandemic liberties through a series of one-page conversation starters for K-12 teachers. Called “Civics in Real Life”, the series provides a historical and civics-based lens on current events, including the distinction between the power of states and federal government; the Defense Production Act; […]
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UCF 1st in Florida, 3rd Nationally for Coveted National Science Foundation CAREER Grants
UCF leads the state and ranks third in the nation for the number of National Science Foundation CAREER Award recipients this year. Nine UCF has 11 confirmed awards as of June 3, and NSF has recommended two more for funding. In Florida, a total of 21 awards have been given so far, including four to […]
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Grant Opens Opportunity for K-12 Teachers To Learn Utility of Drones
Timothy Hawthorne, Ph.D, and his team at Citizen Science GIS in the Department of Sociology have received a $36,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support the inclusion of two K-12 teachers into their U.S. Pacific Coast eelgrass drone work. This will supplement the $1.3 million collaborative grant awarded to the UCF team […]
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UCF Study Finds Microplastics in Florida’s Birds of Prey for 1st Time
A new study from the University of Central Florida has confirmed and quantified, for the first time, the presence of microplastics in terrestrial and aquatic birds of prey in Florida, including hawks, ospreys and owls. Microplastics are small plastic pieces – less than the size of a pencil tip – that come from larger pieces […]
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Immigration Officer Points To Political Science Classes For Career Inspiration
Political Science graduate Ross Cotton, ’11, Ph.D, recalls the natural curiosity that led him to pursue an academic career in political science and, ultimately, landing him a career as an asylum officer for U.S. Citzenship and Immigration Services. Born in Australia, Cotton arrived in America at the age of six and found that the older […]
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Passion For Teaching, Political Science, Leads Grad to Principal Role
Jordan Filderman, ’09, M.A.’11, always knew his purpose was to make a positive difference in the lives of others. As the principal of Hebbville Elementary, Filderman uses education as his vehicle to serve underrepresented and underprivileged students in the city of Baltimore, Maryland. “My personal philosophy is that every child deserves an equal and quality […]
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Sea Turtle Nesting Season in Full Swing, UCF Researchers Keep Working Despite COVID-19
While uncertainty reigns for Floridians due to COVID-19, there’s one thing they can count on: sea turtles are nesting on our local beaches as nesting season heads into its fourth month this June. More than 2,750 sea turtle nests have already been discovered along the 29 miles of Brevard County beaches surveyed by UCF, and […]
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UCF Grad Earns Pulitzer Prize
International reporting by Michael Schwirtz ’03 recently earned him one of journalism’s top awards, and his journey to this moment started, in part, with a desire to stay close to home. The DeLand native and political science graduate started globe-trotting when he was still in high school, including summers abroad in London and Europe. When […]
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UCF Library Resources Help Biology Faculty Find $177K in Savings
The collective efforts of three biology faculty members to find digital textbooks for their lower-level classes recently resulted in savings of $177,006 for 1,207 students. The savings were created in Biology I Honors and Biology II after their instructors moved the bulk of the class to online coursework and streamlined the curriculum. The only changes […]
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Weekly Astronomy Web Series Launched by Ph.D. Students
If you’ve ever been curious about the planetary sciences, the UCF-AVS Student Chapter is here to help. Beginning on Thursday May 14, a webinar series that spans until the end of June will bring the expertise of astronomers and astrochemical scientists to student’s computer screens. The series, spearheaded by doctoral students Brian Ferrari and Katie […]
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Longtime UCF Ally Headed to Florida Inventor Hall of Fame
A longtime affiliate of UCF and skilled materials engineer and scientist, Les Kramer, Ph.D, will be inducted into the 2020 class of the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame for his lifetime of patents and creations. Since his move to Orlando in 1983, Kramer has been in partnership with UCF. He sits on the UCF advisory […]
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Physics Faculty and Staff Find Freedom in Running During Quarantine
By NIKITTA CAMPBELL A group of runners from the Department of Physics are using exercise for a temporary escape during quarantine. The runners represent the scope of the department — from faculty to accounting — but they all agree exercise does wonders for both their physical and mental health. “Running has been my escape from […]
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Pandemic Exposes, Amplifies Weaknesses In Water Infrastructure, Researchers Argue
Three researchers are exploring the connections between access to clean water and the spread of the global coronavirus pandemic. In a recent blog post stemming from a scholarly paper exploring the effects of rights constitutionalization and democratic governance on water access, the authors argue that recognition of the human right to water is central to […]
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Research Team Launches Website To Aid Hospitality Industry
A new clearinghouse of information for hospitality workers affected by COVID-19 has been compiled by researchers from UCF’s Targeted Research Training Program (TRT). These resources cover a variety of topics including: lay-offs and furloughs; opportunities to make money during the crisis; protecting personal finances; improving mental health; skill development; industry relevant information; and links […]
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Epic Games, Maker of Fortnite, Awards UCF Professor Grant to Enhance AR and VR Technology
The company responsible for the online video game hit Fortnite has awarded a UCF assistant professor a grant to develop an immersive technology to take virtual experiences to new levels of reality. Epic Games provided UCF information scientist and artist Maria Harrington a $25,000 grant to expand her cutting-edge augmented and virtual reality work, which […]
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UCF Grad and Chef Bakes up Initiative to Support Medical Workers
Sprinkling joy is what chef Tracy Wilk ’10 does best. In light of the world’s COVID-19 pandemic, Wilk has turned the kitchen of her small studio apartment in New York City into a full-blown bake shop. Her inspiration: The brave first responders passionately dedicated to the safety of civilians. The treat: A variety of gooey, […]
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UCF Explores New Way to Mine on the Moon
UCF is taking inspiration from well-established mining techniques on Earth to tackle mining on the moon and asteroids. University of Central Florida planetary scientist Philip Metzger and his team at the Florida Space Institute have received a $125,000 NASA grant to develop a cost-effective and logistically feasible way to mine minerals on the moon. Metzger […]
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Biology Grad’s Research Paper Lands Award for Excellence
UCF College of Sciences graduate, Katherine Harris ’18, has recently been awarded the UCF Library Annual Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research for her published research paper on infaunal organisms (i.e. aquatic, sediment-dwelling organisms like worms or clams) on restored oyster reefs. The announcement of the award took Harris by pleasant surprise when she was […]
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Puerto Rico Research Hub Joins Global Network of Pandemic Social Research
What’s driving violent anti-Chinese discrimination in Nairobi, Kenya, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and what can be done to quell it? How are part-time theme park workers in central Florida handling massive furloughs, and what could their employers be doing better? What unique challenges did people with disabilities face in Wuhan, China, during the lockdown? These […]
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151 UCF Faculty Promoted Across All Disciplines
A great university is built by great faculty, and this year’s group of promoted and tenured faculty are the reason behind UCF’s academic excellence. Thirty-three were granted the title professor, a marker of an exceptional career in academia. A university’s excellence hinges on the strength of its faculty as scholars and as teachers. “This class […]
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15 UCF Students Named National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellows
Angelina Leary, a student in UCF’s Clinical Psychology doctoral program, is one of 15 students at the university named a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. The NSF program recognizes outstanding students who have demonstrated significant achievements in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The students are either in their senior year of college and plan […]
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SPSIA Recognizes Two Graduate Students for Outstanding Work
The School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs recently recognized two graduate students for outstanding work in the terms of Summer and Fall 2019 and Spring 2020. Gunes Tezcur, Ph.D., chaired the committee that selected Kathleen Sullivan and Sandor Fabian to receive the Outstanding MA Thesis and Pollock-Ellsworth Award for Best Research Methods, respectively. “One […]
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Graduating Senior Wins National Wrestling Championship
One UCF graduate is getting more than a degree as he wraps up his career as a Knight. Clay Perry, a member of the UCF Wrestling Club, had the opportunity to do what many collegiate athletes only dream of doing: becoming a national champion. The senior from St. Cloud, Florida, claimed the gold medal in […]
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UCF to Lead Study Exploring Social Media’s Impact on Consumer Behavior when Red Tide Strikes
The University of Central Florida is one of two universities selected to study the social and economic impacts of Florida’s red tide events during 2017-19 that killed fish, stunk up the coastlines and sent tourists packing. Notwithstanding today’s global pandemic, a large chunk of Florida’s economy depends on its beaches and waterways. The red tide […]
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National Guard Captain Keeps Ph.D. Studies Going While Activated
By TAD SCHNAUFER Typically, the end of the semester finds doctorate students hunkered down in a library or local café wrapping up final papers. Things are different this year for Security Studies Ph.D. student Tad Schnaufer. Schnaufer serves as a captain in the Florida Army National Guard and has been activated for the response to […]
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Distinguished Math Alum Turns to Art in Retirement
There’s more art in science than one might think. Just ask Don Marks ’73, a mathematics instructor turned master wood turner. “I never would have expected myself to become an artist,” chuckled Marks. Prior to enrolling at UCF in 1969, at what was then known as Florida Technical University, Marks stumbled upon his first love […]
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Spirit of Gratitude Spurs New Award Program in Department of Chemistry
Professional recognition looks great on a resume, and reflects well on a department. It takes time, though, to put in an application, and that’s something in short supply for everyone — especially if you’re nominating someone other than yourself. Karin Chumbimuni-Torres, Ph.D., considered all these factors when she pitched her incentive plan to UCF Faculty […]
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Lifelong Friendship With Arboretum Founder Inspires Donation
A passion for plants is at the root of a recent donation made by Biology faculty member Rani Vajravelu, Ph.D. The donation is made out to the UCF Arboretum in aim of supporting students that are passionate about outdoor plant studies. “I would love the money to help alleviate financial stress on students looking to […]