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COS Celebrates its New Alumni
The UCF College of Sciences continued the tradition of honoring its graduates with a post-ceremony reception jointly hosted by the college and its academic departments. The reception was held in the UCF Psychology building immediately following the college’s spring commencement ceremony on Friday, May 6, 2016. More than 1,200 College of Sciences’ graduates walked at […]
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UCF Biology Professor Explores Mysteries of Insect Life
By Jonathan Gabriel Monday, May 9, 2016 The first time biology associate professor Barb Sharanowski, Ph.D., encountered insects, they terrified her. “When I was a kid in Ontario, Canada, my older brother used to throw them at me – gosh, it was just basically torture,” she said. “But as I grew older I overcame that […]
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Math Professor Wins World Renowned Prize
UCF professor of mathematics, Alexander Katsevich, Ph.D., recently won the highest prize in the world for the forestry industry, the 2016 Marcus Wallenberg Prize. This prize recognizes, encourages and stimulates path breaking scientific achievements that contribute to broadening knowledge and technical development within the fields of forestry and forest industries. Dr. Alexander Katsevich, who also […]
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Elephants and Bees
UCF Biology student Matthew Rudolph, 31, always knew he wanted a career that involved animals, but he never envisioned using tiny honeybees to help save the world’s largest land mammal. Still, that’s exactly what Rudolph has been doing for the past six months, working alongside a team of international researchers in Kenya to build fences […]
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Art and Science Merge to Promote Sustainability
The divergent – yet intertwined – worlds of science and art merged together at UCF in a live evening concert and morning workshops to create public synergism around the challenges of our future, specifically global sustainability and climate change. By merging intellect with emotion, the “Crossroads Project: Rising Tide,” held in February, inspired others to […]
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How ‘Captain America: Civil War’ Reflects America’s Soul
It’s almost impossible to avoid all the hype about the upcoming Marvel Comics-inspired film – Captain America: Civil War. Hollywood is banking on the legions of loyal – some might say crazy – fans who dress up as their favorite character, attend conventions, flock to YouTube with speculation about comic-inspired movie storylines and buy lots […]
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UCF Math Alumna Named TV Pioneer
UCF Mathematics alumna, Yvette Kanouff, is among 14 named to the 50th anniversary class of Cable TV Pioneers. She will be inducted into the 2016 class of Cable TV Pioneers at a banquet kicking off the Internet and Television Expo on May 15 in Boston. This event celebrates TV pioneers who represent the industry’s top multiple system operators, independent […]
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From News to Healthcare, UCF Alumna Shines
From her broadcasting to public relations career, Jennifer McVan, ’99, believes UCF and the Nicholson School of Communication have played a huge role in her success. McVan graduated with her bachelor’s degree in radio-television from UCF and today is the Director of Media Relations for Florida Hospital West Florida Region. McVan manages the day to […]
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COS Faculty Receive Incentive Awards
The College of Sciences is proud to announce the 2015-2016 winners for the Teaching Incentive Program and Research Incentive Award. Each year, UCF’s Academic Affairs’ Office of Faculty Excellence gives incentive awards to outstanding faculty for their dedication to teaching, research and scholarship. Every award winner, whether holding a nine or 12 month contract, is given […]
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Fall 2016 IC CAE Study Abroad Scholarship
The Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence (IC CAE) is offering a study abroad scholarship for Fall 2016. The IC CAE is a grant-funded program, housed in the Political Science Department. Its main goal is to prepare students, by enhancing critical skills and knowledge deemed essential by the intelligence community, for careers in intelligence and national […]
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UCF Anthropology Takes Over Annual Conference
In April, the Society for American Archaeology (SAA) held its 81st annual conference in Orlando and the UCF Anthropology Department had the opportunity to be involved. Many UCF Anthropology faculty, students and alumni attended, volunteered and participated in the conference. The annual conference provides a forum for dissemination of knowledge and discussion to which the UCF Anthropology […]
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Statistics Professor Celebrates Retirement
After more than 30 years of service to the UCF community, Associate Instructor of Statistics, Susan Schott, is retiring. Susan has been an instructor in the Department of Statistics since 1982. During her 34 years of service, she has received 3 Teaching Incentive Program (TIP) awards and has touched the lives of hundreds of statistics students through her influential teaching and mentorship. […]
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Biology Success in Mexico City
Three UCF biology students, Hollis Dahn, Alejandra Osorio, and Jason Stickland, participated at the annual Southwestern Association of Naturalists (SWAN) meeting in Mexico City from April 14-17. Hollis, Alejandra, and Jason all work in Biology Professor Chris Parkinson’s, Ph.D., laboratory. The Parkinson Lab focuses on evolution, systematics, and conservation of reptiles. Graduating senior Hollis Dahn, was […]
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Rocket Scientist and Outstanding AlumKnight
UCF Chemistry alumnus, Robert DeVor, Ph.D., ’03, ’05, was honored as a 2016 College of Sciences Outstanding AlumKnight Award recipient in March at the College of Sciences Outstanding AlumKnights awards reception. Dr. DeVor was nominated for this award based on his outstanding career accomplishments and his enduring partnership with the UCF Chemistry Department. Dr. DeVor […]
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UCF Alumnus Encourages Higher Ed
Mark Perez, ’04, ’07, says his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science from UCF have been essential to his career. From its influential faculty to its countless opportunities, UCF has played a major role in his professional development. Perez learned the significance of higher education while at UCF and carried that lesson to his […]
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Biology Students Ready for Research
The UCF Biology Department is proud to have multiple students participating in competitive research experiences this summer across the nation. These Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) support active research participation of students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. Michelle Gaynor – Junior, Biology Michelle was awarded one […]
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COS Celebrates Faculty Promotions
Promotion is a mark of accomplishment and a gratifying recognition from one’s peers. Because of their hard work and dedication, the following College of Sciences faculty and staff members have been promoted or have earned tenure this year. Promotion to Professor Emeritus/Emerita Ida Cook, Ph.D. – Sociology Robert Dipboye, Ph.D. – Psychology Promotion […]
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Exposing the Reality of Forensic Science
“CSI” and its television spin-off shows make forensic science seem like an exact study that will deliver a sure conviction or exoneration in court. In real life, there’s a lot of confusion about forensic evidence, and other than DNA it is rarely introduced into the courtroom. University of Central Florida forensic scientist Candice Bridge, Ph.D., […]
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Anthropology Student Studies Homelessness
Anthropology graduate student, Rebecca Young, ’14, currently has an article under review in the peer reviewed journal, Human Organization, about homelessness in Orlando and Oviedo. Rebecca has done research on this topic for four years and has presented her work widely at the largest conferences in the U.S. Rebecca started attending UCF in fall 2010 and […]
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The Power of Studying Abroad
Political Science undergraduate student Nicholas Maier spent the winter semester studying at Leuphana University in Lüneburg, Germany. Nick participated in the UCF Study Abroad program, a two-student exchange through the UCF Political Science Department which allowed him to spend September through the end of February in Germany. At UCF, he has worked on several projects in […]
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Nicholson Alumnae Mean Business
Eight UCF alumnae are among the Central Florida honorees of Orlando Business Journal’s (OBJ) 2016 list of Women Who Mean Business. Four out of those eight alumnae are Nicholson School of Communication (NSC) graduates. The 26 honorees listed on the 18th annual OBJ Women Who Mean Business list will be recognized on Friday, April 29, at […]
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Vertical Archaeology Explores Tomb Secrets
This summer, J. Marla Toyne, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the UCF Anthropology Department, will return to the high jungle of Peru to continue her research of ancient tombs. However, instead of digging down to uncover remains, she and her team will climb and rappel along mountain ridges, plateaus, and narrow cliffs. The ancient Chachapoya people […]
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COS Excellence in Academics
The UCF College of Graduate Studies recognized graduate students and faculty for excellence in research, teaching and mentoring at an awards ceremony during the 13th Annual Graduate Research Forum on April 5, 2016. Each year the Graduate Council Program Review and Awards Committee reviews college nominations and recognizes graduate students for the University Graduate Awards […]
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A Summer in Sicily
Caitlin Sawyer, senior anthropology student with a focus in bioarchaeology, was recently selected for a National Science Foundation Research Experience (NSF REU) in Sicily, Italy. This very selective program is conducted through the University of Georgia, where she will be working with assistant professor Laurie Reitsema, Ph.D., from UGA. Caitlin’s NSF REU will specifically focus on “Immersive Research in the Bioarchaeology […]
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COS Shines at Student Research Week
Student Research Week celebrates the research and creative projects of UCF undergraduate and graduate students. From April 4 through April 7, graduate and undergraduate students attended workshops, presented research, developed research skills, and met with researchers. On April 5 and April 7, students from all disciplines, shared their research with the UCF community at the annual Graduate […]
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Alumni Fund Biology Scholarship
Born and raised in Stuart, Florida, Clay Scherer, ’94, is a third generation Floridian. Growing up in one of the most ecologically diverse places in the world, he enjoyed the outdoors and developed an appreciation for nature. Clay and his wife Juliann recognize the importance of natural history in today’s education of biologists and want to make sure […]
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Master’s in Data Analytics
A new Master of Science degree in Data Analytics is now being offered by the UCF College of Sciences (COS) and College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS). There is an increasing need to turn large and complex amounts of data into knowledge to drive business decisions. This master’s degree will train students to help […]
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Anthropology Student Sheds Light on European Crisis
Adam Kersch, second-year master’s student and graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Anthropology, has been named a guest columnist with the Orlando Sentinel. His new article, which was published April 13, was about the migrant crisis taking place in Europe. Adam published a piece in the Orlando Sentinel in 2014 regarding his preliminary fieldwork analyzing the poor provision of […]
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Biology Service Learning Students Steal the Show
All of the students in UCF Biology professor Linda Walters’, Ph.D., advanced marine biology course were winners at the 2016 UCF Service-Learning Showcase on Thursday, April 14. The team, dubbed the “Microterrors,” conducted research on microplastic abundance and diversity on Central Florida beaches and estuaries and then presented this research to Ms. Tricia LaChance’s fifth […]
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UCF Downtown Celebration
On April 6, the College of Sciences toasted to the downtown project with other excited UCF representatives and partners. Over 200 people including, UCF faculty, staff, donors, alumni and other professionals joined together to celebrate the launch of UCF Downtown. In Sept. 2014, President John Hitt, Ph.D., officially announced to the Orlando community that UCF will […]