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UCF Virtually Educates with TeachLivE
This research is published in Physical Review Physics Education Research. –Michael Schirber Just as pilots train in flight simulators, physics teachers can hone their skills in classroom simulators. Of course, explaining Newton’s laws to teenagers is a little less challenging than landing a 747. Still, a new study shows that undergraduate teaching assistants can gain […]
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UCF NASA Experiment Takes Flight
Five experiments testing everything from how fire reacts in space, to the effectiveness of a lizard-inspired adhesive are headed to the International Space Station on Tuesday, March 22. NASA’s commercial partner Orbital ATK Inc. is scheduled to launch the Cygnus spacecraft atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. […]
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Air Force Grant Helps UCF Soar
UCF Physics alumnus and current assistant professor in the department, Michael Chini, Ph.D., has earned $480,000 in grants from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. He is using laser pulses to create more powerful electronics and partnering with Sumit Jha,Ph.D., UCF assistant computer science professor, who is looking to combine thousands of transistors into a […]
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Spring 2017 Study Abroad Fair
Study abroad Spring 2017 applications are now available. Join UCF Abroad at their Spring Study Abroad Fair Thursday, January 21, from 10 AM – 2 PM in front of the Student Union. Come and learn about the multiple programs offered in many disciplines in countries around the world. Political Science students have the opportunity to study for a semester […]
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COS Celebrates 27 New Ph.D. Graduates
On Friday, Dec. 18, 12 new Ph.D. students graduated from the College of Sciences. A special graduation reception was held to congratulate the graduates on Thursday, Dec. 17. The event was held in the afternoon in the Physical Sciences building. Family members of the graduates, faculty advisors and members of the Dean’s office staff were in attendance. […]
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Space Dust Research Wins NASA Rides
By Scott Powers – Writer for Orlando Sentinel Tiny particles of space dust: How do they stick together? How might astronauts not stir them up? Two UCF scientists are asking, and they’ve gotten NASA’s attention. UCF physics Professor and Assistant Director at the Florida Space Institute Joshua Colwell, Ph.D., and UCF physics post-doctoral Research Scientist Julie Brisset, Ph.D., have won […]
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Community Is Key At Physics Career Day
On Saturday October 3rd, UCF’s Physics Department hosted their 3rd annual Physics Career Exploration Day. Physics Career Exploration Day is geared toward high school students who want to explore careers in physics. This event aimed to show each student the many different career paths available to graduates with a physics degree. The students were encouraged to bring their […]
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Science Café’s Magical Debut
The first Science Café of the semester had a lively atmosphere as it came out of its summer offseason. Hosted by the Office of Research & Commercialization, Graduate Society of Physics Students, the Physics Department and UCF Environmental Health & Safety, this series highlights the exciting research currently being conducted in the College of Sciences. […]
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UCF Shines at National Physics Conference
UCF was well represented by a number of faculty and students at the American Physical Society (APS) National Mentoring Community & Bridge Program Conference on October 9-11, 2015. Held in Miami, Florida at Florida International University, this conference focused on mentor/mentee relationships, gave guidance on how to build successful bridge programs and let attendees hear […]
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UCF Professors Land NASA Grants Focused on Asteroids, Comets, Venus
UCF professors are involved in two potential NASA spacecraft missions that could take flight as early as 2020. The five proposed space missions would study Venus, near-earth objects and a variety of asteroids and comets. Each mission team will receive $3 million and have a year to get their proposals ready for a final round of […]
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2015 College Showcase
On September 19th, the College of Sciences participated in College Showcase 2015 which was an event hosted during Family Weekend 2015. The showcase was hosted by the UCF College of Undergraduate Studies and took place at the student union. The College of Sciences was among the many participating colleges. The COS showcase included displays by […]
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Thinking Small Wins UCF Big NASA Project
Sometimes thinking small can get you a big win. That’s certainly the case for a team of physicists at the University of Central Florida. UCF was one of only two universities selected to prepare an experiment for a miniaturized satellite mission as part of NASA’s Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (SIMPLEx) program. Twenty-two projects […]
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2015 UCF College Showcase
The UCF College of Sciences will once again participate in the UCF College Showcase during UCF Family Weekend. Family Weekend, taking place September 18-20, is a UCF annual tradition bringing together families and students to create memories that will last a lifetime. Events taking place throughout the weekend include campus tours, The Understudy play at the UCF […]
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COS Connection to Historic Pluto Flyby
When the New Horizons spacecraft passed within a mere 7,750 miles of Pluto on Tuesday, many at the University of Central Florida cheered for the historic flight and its leader, Alan Stern, Ph.D. Stern, whose advocacy, tenacity and some would say sheer bull-headedness are largely to credit for the selection and execution of NASA’s farthest-ever […]
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UCF Leads State in Department of Defense Equipment Awards
The Defense University Research Instrumentation Program awarded Zenghu Chang, Ph.D. up to $252,000 for laser research. Chang, a distinguished professor of physics and optics at UCF, is one of three award recipients at UCF to receive an award from the program, which is the most among Florida universities. The award money will go toward purchasing […]
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Physics Undergraduates Win Bronze at Physics Competition
After 48 hours of analyzing and writing, three UCF physics majors showed the importance of research by winning the bronze medal in their participation of the fifth annual University Physics Competition. The team of Brandon Blue, Chris Tiller, and Dylan Bruce performed calculations on the orbital stability of planets and determined their conclusion based on […]
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COS Faculty Promotion and Tenure
Promotion is a mark of accomplishment and a gratifying recognition from one’s peers. Because of their hard work and dedication, the following staff members have been promoted at UCF. Promotion to Professor Tosha Dupras, Anthropology Pedro Quintana-Ascencio, Biology Enrique del Barco, Physics Viatcheslav Kokoouline, Physics Michael Mousseau, Political Science Promotion to Associate Professor and/or […]
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COS Faculty Awarded for Excellence
Throughout the year, faculty members work incredibly hard to bring quality education to UCF. To reward their hard work, the university offers the incentive award programs. The intent of the award programs is to recognize and promote faculty excellence and productivity that respond to and support the mission of UCF. The UCF Teaching Incentive Program rewards […]
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COS Outstanding Staff Excellence
UCF has recently recognized five staff members for the College of Sciences Outstanding Staff Awards. Dani Draper from the psychology department, Nicholas Schenk from the political science department, David Bradford from the physics department, Luis Mena from the Nicholson School of Communication and Monika Crittenden from the physics department were all recognized. Each recipient was awarded […]
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COS Distinguished Speaker Series Finale
This year, the Distinguished Speaker Series was held off campus for the first time. At the mouthwatering Tex-Mex cuisine restaurant, Cocina 214, guests crowded in for each guest speaker. Topics ranged from the Mayan collapse to managing conflicts in relationships. Drawing a crowd each time, each speaker was an expert in their field, bringing their […]
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New Minor Coming Fall 2015
UCF stands for opportunity, and an exciting new opportunity is coming to campus in fall 2015. Nanoscale science and technology will now be offered as a minor to students interested in the fundamentals of nanoscience and nanotechnology and the implications to society. The goal of the 18-hour minor is for students to acquire a working […]
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 […]