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The Order of Pegasus is the University of Central Florida\u2019s most prestigious student award. Student recipients are recognized for their academic success, university involvement, leadership qualities and community service activities. For graduate student applicants, UCF also considers previous publications or research experiences.<\/p>\n
It was his research with optics and nanoscale materials that brought physics graduate student Dan Franklin into the forefront of consideration. Now, he\u2019ll be inducted into the 2018 Order during the ceremony on April 2.<\/p>\n
\u201cWinning the award feels like an affirmation of the five to six years I\u2019ve spent here at UCF,\u201d he said. \u201cGraduate students, in general, do so much to compete and be recognized on a global stage. It\u2019s nice to know that whatever happens on that global stage, your efforts have been appreciated here by the people around you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Franklin developed a new color-changing surface, which can be tuned through electrical voltage.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy research focuses on optics and how it interacts with nanoscale materials, nanostructures,\u201d he said. \u201cI then try to use this knowledge to improve current technologies, like television, phone screens, cameras or sensors. And if I\u2019m lucky, create brand new types of technology.\u201d<\/p>\n
His research breakthrough may lead to three times the resolution in televisions, smartphones and other devices. This is because current technology relies on three tinier subpixels of red, green and blue to make up one single pixel in a screen. Franklin figured out a way for an individual pixel to forego the tinier subpixels and instead contain the color all on its own, changing to any gradation on the RGB scale with only a change in voltage. This means the individual pixel can do the same job the three smaller subpixels were doing, eliminating the need for them. Individual pixels can then decrease in size, and more of them can be packed into the screen. And bam, higher resolution with brighter screens.<\/p>\n
Using subpixel-less displays can be adapted to existing hardware, so older devices wouldn\u2019t need to be re-designed. Rather, Franklin\u2019s research increases the breadth and possibility of current technology.<\/p>\n
\u201cExpanding the capabilities of our tools and knowledge is expanding the capability of humanity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Franklin knew he wanted to study physics from an early age. Since middle school, he was set on becoming a physicist.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was a very inquisitive kid, and science class always seemed to have answers to the questions I had\u2014how the world works, and why it is the way it is,\u201d he said. \u201cI was extremely fortunate to have teachers that encouraged this curiosity and provided me with resources when they were unsure of the answers.\u201d<\/p>\n
He got his undergraduate degree from the Missouri University of Science and Technology, but was unsure if he wanted to pursue planetary science or nanoscience when he graduated.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had also heard about the optics and nanoscience programs from my undergraduate advisor and knew UCF would have the facilities needed for research in those fields,\u201d Franklin said. \u201cThat, along with UCF\u2019s strong emphasis on planetary science, would allow me the opportunity to pursue whatever I decided.\u201d<\/p>\n
When he graduates from UCF, Franklin hopes to continue researching as a post-doctoral fellow and ultimately become a professor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Order of Pegasus is the University of Central Florida\u2019s most prestigious student award. Student recipients are recognized for their academic success, university involvement, leadership qualities and community service activities. For graduate student applicants, UCF also considers previous publications or research experiences. It was his research with optics and nanoscale materials that brought physics graduate […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":22974,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[14,28,29],"tags":[5507,5506,2367,5508,2551,2686,5509,5510,5505,3457,5511],"class_list":["post-22973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-physics-departments","category-top-news","category-ucf-news","tag-2018-order","tag-dan-franklin","tag-nanoscience","tag-nanostructures","tag-optics","tag-physics","tag-research-breakthrough","tag-rgb-scale","tag-the-order-of-pegasus","tag-ucf","tag-voltage"],"yoast_head":"\n