HighlightsIgniting Curiosity at the 2019 Children’s Trust ExpoOctober 2, 2019When naming the states of matter most can identify the basics: solids, liquids and gases. But what about plasma? Although there isn’t much on Earth – aside from lightning strikes – plasma actually constitutes 99 percent of all matter in the known universe. At this year’s annual Children’s Trust Expo, engaging with plasma was one... Read more...FIU CASE, the Miami Marlins and community building in South FloridaOctober 2, 2019Only in Miami does “take me out to the ball game” mean discovering the wonders of ocean research. This season, FIU CASE joined the Miami Marlins’ “Sunday Funday” pre-game to engage families and fans with marine animals from Biscayne Bay, virtual reality goggles and microscopic plankton. It’s community partnerships like these that are setting the course... Read more...STEM Education Academy students kickstart program with visit to FIUOctober 2, 2019Recently, STEM Education Academy students from Southwest Miami Senior High School began the year with a visit to the Modesto A. Maidique campus. The STEM Education Academy is an FIU CASE initiative that prepares high school students to pursue careers as scientists and educators. The STEM-focused dual enrollment curriculum includes learning experiences beyond the traditional high... Read more...Students awarded NSF GRFP grantOctober 1, 2019The four recipients of the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GFRP) are conducting research ranging in disciplines from biology to chemistry to physics. “The GFRP awards help students by giving them full tuition and stipend so they can creatively advance research ideas of their own, and hit the ground running at their PhD... Read more...2019 Horticulture Professional Certificate Workshop kicks offOctober 1, 2019The Department of Earth and Environment’s Agroecology Program recently held its 2019 Horticulture Professional Certificate Workshop in partnership with the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA). On Saturday, Sept. 14, participants attended their first day of the program where they learned about the history, trends and divisions in horticulture. While in the past the... Read more...CREST CAChE awarded additional fundingOctober 1, 2019After just starting its fourth year, the CREST Center for Aquatic Chemistry and Environment (CAChE) has been awarded its third research funding supplement to look at urban water quality management. From mangroves in the Everglades to estuaries and coral reefs, researchers in CREST CAChE have been measuring levels of contaminants in these aquatic ecosystems and... Read more...FCE LTER book publishedSeptember 29, 2019The FCE LTER program within the Institute of Water and Environment has published a book as part of the National Science Foundation’s Long-Term Ecological Research Network Series. The book is published with Oxford University Press and will be officially released on October 9, 2019. While the title is not released yet, it can still be... Read more...Biomolecular students receive travel awardsSeptember 24, 2019Doctoral students working with faculty in the Biomolecular Sciences Institute recently received travel awards to present their research at two important national-level scientific meetings. Biochemistry PhD candidate, Pawlos Semere Tsegay, mentored by Dr. Yuan Liu, was awarded the 2019 Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society (EMGS) Student and New Investigator Travel Award for his poster presentation.... Read more...Changes to Florida education standardsSeptember 23, 2019As a new school year begins, the replacement of Florida’s current education standards is underway. Dr. Joyce Fine, program director for Reading Education at the Department of Teaching and Learning, shares her thoughts on the process of recrafting the new curriculum and what it could mean for students and teachers. Take a look at Your... Read more...From pleasure to trauma, FIU students host new radio showSeptember 23, 2019Photo courtesy Miami New Times A new radio show is making waves at FIU. Cohosts, Ellie and Linda Lust (who use pseudonyms) are stirring up conversations on deconstructing myths about gender, sexuality, relationships, rape culture and more. Despite their 25-year age difference, the two instantly hit it off after meeting in class. Both majoring in... Read more...Monitoring Earth’s climate from the ocean floorSeptember 19, 2019Scuba diving is the one way to reach the world’s only operating underwater research lab – and CBS News dove right in with our marine scientists and ecologists to see it for themselves. Aquarius Reef Base was highlighted as part of CBS’ “Eye on Earth” series leading up to the landmark United Nations Climate Action... Read more...A summer with CASE at MMCSeptember 18, 2019This past summer, the College of Arts, Sciences & Education offered K-12 students various summer enrichment opportunities on the Modesto A. Maidique campus (MMC). Over 100 students participated in three different programs throughout the summer break, all of which incorporated educational activities in a fun environment. The CASE Enrichment Camp @ MMC ran for six... Read more...Helping children cope with mass shootingsSeptember 17, 2019With the recent mass shootings around South Florida and the nation, parents and children are dealing with a frightening new reality. With social media platforms at their fingertips, it’s hard for teens especially to avoid the news updates on these events. Parents are concerned now more than ever on how to support children through these... Read more...Dissertation Writing RetreatSeptember 16, 2019The University Graduate School hosted its annual Dissertation Writing Retreat in August in coordination with the Center for Excellence in Writing. Designed for writers who feel off-track or have a short timeline for graduation, the retreat gives participants tools and a quiet space to make substantial progress towards their dissertation. Participants had the opportunity to... Read more...FIU CASE partners with the Miami-Dade Public Library SystemSeptember 12, 2019FIU’s College of Arts, Sciences & Education is partnering with the Miami-Dade Public Library System to bring literary adventures to life via interactive, hands-on STEAM-centric programs. In August, FIU CASE launched the new “Rocket Racers” program at the recently renovated Allapattah Branch Library. Young locals engineered air-propelled rockets, discovering how the power of physics guides... Read more...Biomolecular innovators receiving U.S. patentsSeptember 9, 2019Dr. Francisco Fernandez-Lima and postdoctoral fellow Kevin Jeanne Dit Fouque were recently awarded a U.S. patent for their invention: “Materials and methods for screening topoisomers” (Patent 10,386,372). This tool will be useful for identifying potential therapeutic drug candidates and will have broad application for the screening of proteins with unique composition. A high throughput tool,... Read more...Trinational coastal resilience workshop report published in Research OutreachSeptember 6, 2019Dr. Rita Teutonico, Associate Dean of Research with FIU’s College of Arts, Sciences & Education, recently organized a workshop to bring together expert scientists, economists, engineers, architects and community leaders to plan for a more climate change resilient Caribbean. The workshop, held in Cuba, marked the first National Science Foundation-funded meeting to ever be held... Read more...Embracing open science to solve nature’s mysteriesSeptember 4, 2019Photo courtesy Jenny Seifert Discovering and collecting data of ecological unknowns in an accessible and transparent manner has become a key part of Sparkle Malone’s research. The realization that open science makes data and methods available and repeatable for others changed how she approached her work. As an assistant professor in biological sciences, Malone examines... Read more...King Tide + Hurricane DorianAugust 30, 2019It’s that time of year when the highest tides in any given period – King Tides – grace South Florida. This time around Floridians have another visitor, Hurricane Dorian. With Hurricane Dorian set to make landfall early next week, the annual high tides are predicted to be even higher. The already high currents are driven... Read more...Is red tide returning?August 26, 2019Particles of dust from the Sahara Desert are responsible for the cotton candy-like skies recently seen in South Florida. Yet the wind bringing these particles may be bringing something else — red tide. So how is the dust responsible for such beauty also responsible for harmful algal blooms? Reacting to iron from the dust, Trichodesmium... Read more...Chairwoman Edmonson’s 2019 Back to School EventAugust 23, 2019FIU CASE partnered with District 3’s Chairwoman Audrey Edmonson at her 13th Annual Back to School event to get families ready for a new school year. Located in Miami-Dade County, District 3 is home to a dynamic array of neighborhoods. These include (but are not restricted to) Little Haiti, Overtown, Wynwood, Allapattah and Liberty City—where this annual... Read more...City of Doral Park grand openingAugust 22, 2019When it comes to sharing the excitement of wildlife and wild places—FIU CASE is there to engage and inspire. With partners like the City of Doral, accessible messages of environmental stewardship are truly magnified when we join forces to engage the community. Earlier this August, FIU CASE joined the City of Doral for the opening of... Read more...UBMS credits university collaboration to summer successAugust 21, 2019UBMS students with Professor Blanco in 3D Printing class. Upward Bound Math-Science wrapped up another successful summer residential program for local high school students. The program, funded by a TRIO grant from the Department of Education, offers year-round academic enrichment to Pell-eligible, first-generation students of North Miami-Dade County. During the school year, the program provides... Read more...Algae bloom has resurfaced, but it’s not red tideAugust 19, 2019Photo courtesy Bradenton Herald Blue-green algae has been clogging up the waterways in Manatee County, FL. Common this time of year, especially in fresh and brackish waters, blooms can produce red tide like illnesses. Evelyn Gaiser, Endowed George Barley Eminent Scholars Chair and member of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ blue-green algae task force, told the... Read more...Poet brings together 35 years of writing into one bookAugust 16, 2019Photo courtesy Emma Dodge Hanson Campbell McGrath recently released “Nouns & Verbs: New and Selected Poems”, bringing together 35 years of writing from the beloved poet. A Creative Writing professor in the Department of English for over 20 years, Mcgrath is a Guggenheim Fellow, Pushcart Prize winner and the author of nine full-length collections, among... Read more...Nuclear detectives gather in the UKAugust 15, 2019Photo courtesy Jacquelyn Dorhout, Los Almos National Laboratory Mansie Iyer, Department of Physics PhD student and an expert in nuclear forensics, is part of a multidisciplinary team that responds to radioactive objects found in unexpected locations. It’s tough. Known as an “interdiction,” nuclear forensic scientists must identify what it is, the origin and whether there... Read more...Journey to becoming a Diver Medical TechnicianAugust 14, 2019Experts from the Medina Aquarius Program worked with World Extreme Medicine to train a group of six physicians from around the world to become internationally-recognized Diver Medical Technicians (DMTs). Through the Hyperbaric Medicine and Saturation Diving course, students learned how to evaluate and treat diving medical emergencies while gaining practical experience in other aspects of... Read more...Save the date: 9th Annual Forensic Science SymposiumAugust 13, 2019On June 2-4, 2020, the 9th Annual Forensic Science Symposium will bring more than 200 professional and aspiring forensic scientists to Florida International University. Hosted by the Global Forensic and Justice Center, an FIU preeminent program, organizers will cover broader criminal justice topics while also focusing on traditional topics, like DNA, chemistry, toxicology, and latent... Read more...First year reflections: FIU’s MS in Organizational Science programAugust 12, 2019A true university experience is about more than what happens in the classroom. Programs like the Masters of Science in Organizational Science are designed to allow students to develop the close personal relationships with their fellow students and faculty that help them succeed. When asked what her favorite experience in the master’s program has been... Read more...First Coastal Ecosystems REU summer cohort graduatesAugust 7, 2019Nine students from universities across the country traveled to FIU this summer as a part of the NSF Coastal Ecosystems Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) to conduct research alongside Institute of Water and Environment faculty and graduate students. After several weeks of making sampling visits throughout South Florida and analyzing the data in their respective... Read more...Dr. Troxler participates in ASLA conference panelAugust 6, 2019The Florida American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) recently held its annual conference. This year’s theme, “Common Ground,” focused on the intersection between landscape architecture and other relevant topics, including environmental conscientiousness. Panelists and speakers for the conference included Dr. Tiffany Troxler, director of science for the Sea Level Solutions Center. She sat on the panel, “Unveiling... Read more...What to look for while house huntingAugust 5, 2019Moving is inevitable. Picking up and relocating can be difficult, especially for families. Dr. Charles Bleiker, associate professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning, shares with Boston Agent Magazine the importance of choosing a neighborhood with great public amenities and considering crime rates. Other aspects to prioritize include: School Quality Recreational Amenities Cost of... Read more...Astronauts test navy diver AR displays at AquariusAugust 2, 2019Navy divers face many challenges when working underwater – from zero-visibility to low-gravity – all while trying to remember complex topside instructions. Astronauts face similar challenges in space. They must remember intricate instructions while working in a no-gravity environment wearing a cumbersome spacesuit. During NEEMO-23, NASA and the Medina Aquarius Program worked with the Naval... Read more...Professor receives NSF grant to study crab evolutionAugust 1, 2019Dr. Heather Bracken-Grissom, an evolutionary biologist in the Center for Coastal Oceans Research, was recently awarded over $450,000 by the National Science Foundation to lead research on crab evolution. The project aims to reconstruct the crab “tree of life” and explain the diversity of body shapes across the almost 10,000 species in the group. *Figure... Read more...Alumna joins 2020 race for Miami-Dade School Board seatJuly 26, 2019Photo courtesy: City of Miami Springs After 30 years of helping children receive the best education possible and preparing the next generation of teachers, Miami Springs Councilwoman Mara Zapata is joining the 2020 race for the District 5 seat on the Miami-Dade County School Board. “As your school board member, I will always be your... Read more...Roger Hammer’s mission: wildflowersJuly 25, 2019Photo courtesy: South Florida Sun Sentinel A self-taught botanist, Roger Hammer, told SunSentinel he’s always been curious about nature. But it wasn’t until after reading Carlyle A. Luer’s guidebook, “The Native Orchids of Florida,” that his interest grew. He became determined to find each of Luer’s 102 orchids. Decades later, he’s found 89 – plus... Read more...Chemistry alum honored with Mentor of the Year AwardJuly 23, 2019Photo courtesy The Philadelphia Inquirer The Biotechnology Institute recently recognized Dr. Cristobal Carambo, chemistry alum, at the 2019 BIO International Convention for his service to the BioGENEius program. Hosted by the Biotechnology Institute, the BioGENEius Challenge provides opportunities to high school students to compete and be recognized for exceptional research in biotechnology. A chemistry teacher... Read more...Bills to aid oceans advanceJuly 17, 2019Photo courtesy William Prego This past June, researchers from the College of Arts, Sciences & Education joined experts and policy makers at Capitol Hill Ocean Week, an annual assembly in the nation’s capital to discuss ocean management issues. Throughout the week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed four bipartisan bills related to ocean acidification. Caused... Read more...Nat Geo’s SHARKFEST returnsJuly 16, 2019SHARKFEST is back on the National Geographic channel. Season seven kicked off Sunday with “Cannibal Sharks.” Featuring user-generated content shot around the globe, the documentary highlighted the work of Dr. Yannis Papastamatiou, Dr. Demian Chapman and Dean Michael Heithaus. Craving more? Tune into the National Geographic channel from July 15 – July 21 and Nat... Read more...NEEMO 23 crew test prototype of rescue deviceJuly 16, 2019Photo courtesy ESAPhoto courtesy ESA As astronauts prepare for a return to the moon they train for the worst case scenario: a fellow astronaut needs to be rescued. On the moon, rescue missions are challenging because of the difference in gravity. On earth, the closest environment available to practice this procedure is the ocean floor. Designed to... Read more...Could lack of sleep be a cause of ADHD?July 15, 2019Over the past two decades, parents and teachers have reported increasing numbers of children with trouble focusing, impulsive behavior and high energy. Researchers have looked at genetics, brain development, the push for early academics and many other factors for a cause. However, growing evidence suggests that a segment of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are... Read more...Students get hands-on at forensic science workshopJuly 12, 2019FIU forensic science graduate students recently got acquainted with a variety of specialties in the field at a week-long workshop showcasing interdisciplinary collaborations among professionals. The students learned about the challenges of identification in forensic anthropology. Using four real human skeletons, on loan from the Department of Applied Forensic Sciences at Mercyhurst University, they worked... Read more...CASE and Marlins come together to create new partnershipJuly 11, 2019Photo Courtesy Miami Marlins What goes together better than peanuts and cracker jacks? FIU CASE and our local South Florida community of course! We’re excited to announce we’ve partnered with our local Major League Baseball team, the Miami Marlins. This season, we’re bringing cutting-edge research to the ballpark in a series of unique family engagement... Read more...Water Quality Monitoring Network receives funding for 25th yearJuly 9, 2019Ensuring broad access to clean water is key to a healthy, thriving community. The Institute of Water and Environment’s Southeast Environmental Research Center (SERC) has been monitoring and improving water quality in the Florida Keys and across South Florida since 1995 through the Center’s Water Quality Monitoring Network (WQMN). Most recently, Dr. Henry Briceño was awarded a grant... Read more...FIU enters into $1.65M agreement with the County for water management researchJuly 8, 2019Florida International University and Miami-Dade County entered into an agreement that will enable the Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department to engage students and faculty in research and analysis on a variety of local water and wastewater issues. The agreement allows for up to $1.65M in tasks over a 3-year period in the following six areas... Read more...Beach bound? Stay safeJuly 5, 2019It’s no secret that beachgoers have seen sharks in the Atlantic Ocean this summer; but don’t worry, it’s still safe to go in the water. “You’re more likely to die taking a selfie than being bitten by a shark,” said Tyler Bowling, manager of the Florida Program for Shark Research. How to help prevent shark... Read more...Meet Sylvia Earle, a lifelong oceanographerJuly 3, 2019Photo Courtesy Yahoo News In 1953, Sylvia Earle was one of the first people to use modern scuba gear. In 1964, she was the only woman among 70 men to go on an underwater expedition. In 1979, she was the first person to walk on the ocean floor 381 meters underwater. In 1990, she became... Read more...Study shows people may be underestimating their own prejudiceJuly 3, 2019New research has revealed the more racist or sexist a person is, the more likely they are to underestimate their own prejudice. Goldsmiths, University of London’s Dr. Keon West and the Center for Women and Gender Studies’ Dr. Asia Eaton found that on average people overestimated their egalitarianism by 25% (racism) and 19% (sexism). 148... Read more...“Shocking” Ocean Mysteries with Jeff CorwinJuly 3, 2019Biologist and wildlife conservationist, Jeff Corwin, teamed up with Jennifer Rehage, Institute of Water and Environment researcher and Ross Boucek, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust scientist, to study the snook – an iconic predatory fish. Instead of using a rod and reel, they fished with electricity. Watch the video to catch a glimpse.... Read more...FIU alum joins SECORE InternationalJuly 2, 2019At 12 years old, Dr. Alain Duran knew what he wanted to do when he grew up. Diving at a young age, his experiences in the water developed a passion for the ocean that led to a life-long dedication to protect the incredible marine life he found there. So when Duran was offered a Research... Read more...Education Makeover: Inspiring an influencer-fueled worldJuly 2, 2019Photo Courtesy TubeFilter Fiorella Terenzi – astrophysicist, author, recording artist – recently discussed how she’s working to make education interesting and relevant for college students with Tubefilter. Students who take Terenzi’s “Let’s Get Astrophysical” course explore astronomy through a combination of music, art, fashion, dance and other creative pursuits. “We are going back to the... Read more...How Dr. Logan-McKibben uses her role to inspire changeJuly 2, 2019Dr. Sandra Logan-McKibben, a Florida School Counselor Association (FSCA) advocate, takes her responsibility to support the work of practicing and incoming school counselors seriously. She recently sat down with the 2018-2019 FSCA Emerging leader to discuss how she can use her role in the community to impact school counselors in the district, changes that can... Read more...Become a citizen scientist with Grove ReLeafJune 28, 2019Coconut Grove is full of enormous trees that provide a lush tropical canopy, making it unique among South Florida neighborhoods. Nevertheless, neighborhoods are developing rapidly. Concerns have risen around the future of the verdant landscape. A new research project from the Director of the International Center for Tropical Botany, Chris Baraloto, could bring some clarity.... Read more...Podcast: Making Global Learning UniversalJune 27, 2019FIU’s Global Learning Initiative is collaborating with faculty to bring together a collection of conversations about engaging diverse perspectives and complex problem solving in higher education through a podcast called, Making Global Learning Universal. Episodes are posted seasonally and feature faculty who have designed and taught courses as part of FIU’s institution-wide Global Learning for... Read more...CCOR Travel Award Winners – Summer 2019June 26, 2019Camila CacerasLanie EschCarissa GervasiSerena HackerottJordan MassieValerie PazBradley Strickland The seven recipients of the Center for Coastal Oceans Research (CCOR) summer 2019 travel awards are conducting research across the globe – from Spain to Bonaire and across five American states. Each winner received a $500 award for travel related to marine research. Funds can be used to cover any legitimate expense... Read more...Smithsonian postdoctoral fellow joins FIU faculty, visits Bermuda for researchJune 25, 2019Dr. Justin Campbell began his career at FIU in 2006 working on tropical seagrasses as a PhD student with Dr. James Fourqurean’s lab. After graduating in 2012, he became a Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History postdoctoral fellow. More than a decade later, he has returned to FIU as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and... Read more...Women in Research: Caroline SimpsonJune 24, 2019Caroline Simpson’s work is out of this world – literally. An astronomy professor in the College of Arts, Sciences & Education (CASE), she spends her time studying how stars and galaxies were formed. As a child one evening at her family’s cottage in Long Island, she looked out her bedroom window and saw the biggest,... Read more...Humans of CASE: John MoralesJune 20, 2019Inspired by Humans of New York, where Brandon Stanton shares short stories of hundreds of New Yorkers, we went on a quest to find students, alumni, faculty and staff within the CASE community who make us see the world in a different light. This is one in a series we’ve titled, Humans of CASE. John... Read more...Restoring turtle populationJune 18, 2019South Florida is in the midst of sea turtle nesting season. It’s home to three nesting species – all of which are endangered and protected by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Areas of the coast have been blocked off for the protection of the nests. Dean Michael Heithaus joined Sundial to talk about... Read more...High school senior earns geoscience scholarship to FIUJune 18, 2019Denise Garcia (Photo courtesy Cutler Bay News) Denise Garcia is one of a few students who has been selected to receive the Future Generation of Geoscientists Scholarship at FIU. As a senior graduating from Cutler Bay Senior High School, Garcia will be paired with faculty and peer mentors to help identify academic and professional goals... Read more...Scientists manage fertilizers to reduce environmental issuesJune 14, 2019Over-fertilization has been a common and damaging practice in the nursery ornamental production industry throughout the United States. When more fertilizer is applied than plants can take up, the surplus nutrients (particularly nitrogen) can leach out of the container and enter nearby surface waters through runoff. This has consistently been a problem in Florida, resulting... Read more...Oysters may offer insight into environmental threatsJune 12, 2019Over the last two decades, mangrove habitats have seen a loss of 35% of their area due to global climate change. This is more than the losses that have been observed for coral reefs and tropical forests. In an effort to illuminate the mechanisms that underlie environmental responses to climatic changes in mangrove ecosystems, students... Read more...15th Annual LC/MS/MS ConferenceJune 12, 2019As part of its tradition, the 15th Annual Workshop on LC/MS/MS Applications in Environmental Analysis and Food Safety meeting travels between Barcelona, Spain and an alternate location in the United States. This year, the workshop took place at the university’s Miami Beach Urban Studios on Lincoln Road and included over 60 local, national and international participants.... Read more...Researchers journey into midnight zoneJune 11, 2019On June 8th, a team of researchers set out on a two-week mission to explore the water column in some of the deepest parts of the Gulf of Mexico. In particular, they’re focused on organisms living below 3,280 feet – also known as the midnight zone thanks to the lack of light. The Department of... Read more...International Workshop on Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture 2019June 11, 2019FIU’s Agroecology Program recently hosted its International Workshop on Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture (IWASA). More than a dozen students, all of whom were out-of-state from different universities, participated. Students networked with other young scholars who shared a common goal – to make the future more sustainable using agroecological techniques. The workshop, which focuses on the... Read more...3 tips to beat stressJune 10, 2019Negative emotions experienced by workers are, in part, a reflection of the physical and psychosocial conditions of their job. Experiencing conflict with others is a leading source of stress for individuals and can manifest in feelings of anxiety, depression and frustration as they prepare to start a new work week or throughout the workday. Industrial-organizational... Read more...Faculty receives grant to explore photochemical reactions of mercuryJune 7, 2019Mercury is among the most notorious pollutants posing serious health risks to millions of people, yet there are gaps of knowledge in the transformation and cycling of different toxic Hg species. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry’s Drs. Yong Cai, Kevin O’Shea and Guanliang Liu were awarded over $400,000 by the Environmental Chemical Sciences Program of... Read more...FIU Baseball’s Austin Shenton drafted in fifth roundJune 7, 2019FIU Baseball’s third baseman, Austin Shenton, became the first Panther drafted in the 2019 MLB draft. Selected 156th overall in the fifth round by the Seattle Mariners, he is the 12th Panther chosen by the Mariners organization. The Bellingham, Washington native is the highest Panther taken since Aramis Garcia went 52nd overall in 2014 to the San... Read more...Professors discuss water issues at UNESCO conferenceJune 6, 2019Located at the epicenter of sea level rise impact, FIU is intimately aware of the importance of water security and sustainability both close to home and around the world. In the Institute of Water and Environment (InWE), researchers are working to develop solutions to universal water crisis. A critical part of this work, the UNESCO... Read more...How healthy is the Florida Everglades?June 6, 2019Florida’s southernmost alligators are too skinny based on a new report card and interactive website on the Everglades’ ecosystem health. Rising sea levels mean the Everglades is struggling to support the plants and animals that live there. Reported from May 2012 through April 2017 on a 1 to 100 scale, the Everglades scored a 45,... Read more...FIU Online adds Higher Education Administration master’s degreeJune 6, 2019Photo courtesy FIU Online Students looking to complete a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration can do so fully online starting in the Fall 2019 semester. The degree prepares graduates to serve in a variety of roles at colleges, universities, and related institutions. The program runs in partnership with FIU’s Student Affairs division and... Read more...Myths and realities about early childhood bilingualismJune 5, 2019Florida has the third largest K-12 student population using a language other than English at home. Dr. Ryan Pontier studies bi/multilingualism in the classroom. As visiting assistant professor in the School of Education and Human Development, he shared with The Children’s Movement of Florida what he has learned about four popular myths regarding early childhood... Read more...Appointments to South Florida Water Management scientific review panelJune 4, 2019The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) has appointed Dr. Jayantha Obeysekera and Dr. James Fourqurean to an independent scientific review panel to help inform the next Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule (LORS). The South Florida landscape provides flood protection and water supply. Lake Okeechobee is the primary location for surface water storage in this system.... Read more...Aquarius program offers course with World Extreme MedicineJune 4, 2019The Medina Aquarius Program has partnered with World Extreme Medicine to offer a unique course, Hyperbaric Medicine and Saturation Diving, designed to train physicians to recognize, evaluate and treat diving medical emergencies. Taught by dive medicine experts at Aquarius Reef Base and partner diving medicine experts, the course includes lectures, case presentations, printed support materials... Read more...The Coastal Ecosystems REU Site welcomes first student cohortJune 3, 2019Nine students from universities across the country are participating in a 10-week paid research fellowship to gain first-hand experience alongside Institute of Water and Environment faculty and graduate students. Students will work with mentors in labs and in the field on assigned projects while getting professional development experience. The summer cohort is the first of... Read more...2011 heat wave still making an impact on Shark BayMay 30, 2019Researchers from the Heithaus Lab analyzed the impact of the largest marine heat wave ever to hit Shark Bay, Western Australia. In a newly published paper, researchers used an 18-year community-level data set, captured before and after the 2011 heat wave, to assess the effect of seagrass loss on the abundance of a variety of... Read more...FIU and Southwest Senior High team up for STEM Education AcademyMay 29, 2019The College of Arts, Sciences and Education and Southwest Miami Senior High School have come together to prepare high school students to pursue STEM careers. The STEM Education Academy is a science-focused dual enrollment curriculum which includes learning experiences beyond the traditional high school classroom. Experiences include a visit to the Stocker AstroScience Center, Florida... Read more...Top 10 beaches 2019May 28, 2019Dr. Stephen Leatherman, professor in the Department of Earth and Environment and American ecologist recently revealed the top 10 best beaches in the United States for 2019. Water, sand quality, safety and management are just a few of the things he looks for when making the list. He awards bonus points for the prohibition of... Read more...Miami and the Upper Keys: City Nature ChallengeMay 24, 2019Citizen science took center stage from April 26th-29th when over 500 people from Miami and the Upper Keys recorded more than 12,000 observations of biodiversity for the 2019 City Nature Challenge. Last year, Miami had 200 participants and about 4,000 observations. Miami and the Upper Keys competed against 150 other cities from across the globe... Read more...Seaweed: Back with a vengeanceMay 22, 2019Seaweed is a common sight during the summer. However, many have already noticed an abundance of brown algae (Sargassum) washed up on the shoreline. Carried to South Florida’s beaches by ocean currents from Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, the presence of seaweed typically spikes during the summer. Although there was a decline during the months,... Read more...FCE LTER All Scientists MeetingMay 21, 2019Over 100 collaborators, students and staff from 20 institutions attended the annual Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research All Scientists Meeting on May 8-9, 2019 at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. The meeting focused on presentations of long-term data, questions prompted by their findings and why these questions matter to different research groups. Each afternoon, participants divided... Read more...Alumna expresses concern on K-12 broadband accessMay 20, 2019Photo courtesy edWeb Christine Fox, School of Education and Human Development alumna, recently offered highlights from the 2016 State K-12 Broadband Leadership Report in a recent webinar hosted by edWeb.net. As the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) deputy director, she focused on the role of state leadership in supporting districts and schools to increase high-speed connectivity... Read more...Students clean the bay at BaynanzaMay 17, 2019The 37th Annual Baynanza event was more than just a simple clean up, it was a call to action to preserve our local environment. From picking up plastic straws to empty bottles, volunteers gathered debris found on Little Sanspur Island with the support of staff members from Miami-Dade County. Catherine Forte, the event director for Baynanza, told PantherNow that... Read more...Jennifer Rehage discusses the issues and future of Florida BayMay 16, 2019David Conway, from Florida Sportman, sits down with Jennifer Rehage, Associate Professor at FIU, to discuss the hypersalinity issues Florida Bay has experienced in recent years.... Read more...Soccer for success jamboreeMay 15, 2019After-School All-Stars South Florida hosted over 60 middle school students at Florida International University’s Modesto A. Maidique Campus, for a soccer jamboree on May 4. On a beautiful Saturday morning, teams came together in the spirit of competition from Coral Way K-8, M.A. Milam K-8, Bowman Ashe Doolin K-8, Rubin Dario Middle School and West... Read more...Light, color, vision and the Underwater WorldMay 14, 2019Animals around the world, from squids to chameleons to octopus, have developed unique adaptations that allow them to change colors based on light sensitivity in their skin. A widespread phenomenon, scientists still do not necessarily fully understand it. While known reasons for color change include camouflage, communication and temperature regulation, there is still a lot... Read more...Collaboration aims to bridge seagrass conservation effortsMay 13, 2019A year ago, Dr. Guanglong Qiu traveled almost 9,000 miles from southern China to work with Dr. James Fourqurean in the Seagrass Ecosystems Research Laboratory housed within the Center for Coastal Oceans Research (CCOR). At the GuanXi Mangrove Research Center in China, Qiu is a seagrass scientist who studies the diversity, distribution and conservation efforts of... Read more...Renewing the push for equalityMay 9, 2019The Women in the Workplace 2018 survey found that even though men and women enter the workforce in similar numbers, men get promoted at a faster rate than women. At the senior management level, men outnumber women 2-to-1 and the outlook is even worse for women of color. The 2017 “Changing Gender Composition of Psychology” report... Read more...Ongoing red tide monitoring in South FloridaMay 6, 2019Red tide has continued to cause health problems for the public and wildlife throughout Florida. Although South Florida waters have not been severely impacted yet, FIU’s CREST Center for Aquatic Chemistry and Environment (CREST CAChE) team is monitoring the algae’s tracks using data buoys. Bradley Schonhoff, Program Manager of CREST CAChE, spoke to Environmental Monitor about their innovative... Read more...Alumni and students abuzz at Bee CollegeMay 3, 2019FIU student club, South Florida Beekeeping Association (SFBA) recently joined the UF/IFAS Honey Bee Lab at the 2019 South Florida Bee College, held at FAU, for all things honey bees. Bee College featured state experts on honey bees and beekeeping. Topics addressed included: beekeeping 101, in-hive skills building, research updates, current status of native bees... Read more...Cutliff and Russell break recordsMay 2, 2019Clarissa Cutliff, a School of Integrated Science and Humanity student, and Terrisa Russell, a School of Education and Human Development student, are two of the most decorated FIU track and field athletes to ever compete in its program. Earning countless honors, these two Panthers have rewritten the proverbial FIU record book for student athletes. Russell,... Read more...Agroecology student faces new challengeApril 29, 2019Photo courtesy Alex Crow With any new task, challenges arise. Persevering through them is a life lesson. For soon to be Earth and Environment graduate, Alex Crow, the task of identifying plants and trees was no picnic. During his senior year, Crow took an internship with the Agroecology Program under Dr. Cara Rockwell. Crow’s task... Read more...Miami Bridge project creating change in the communityApril 26, 2019Photo courtesy David RieraPhoto courtesy David Riera When David Riera, success coach for FIU’s Global Civic Engagement (GCE) Mini Grants, read the application from Alecia Rodriguez to fund Sadie’s Kids’ beautification project with the Miami Bridge Homestead campus, he knew he could help. Riera’s background in environmental projects and his passion for community service drove him to advocate... Read more...2019 Psych-ConApril 26, 2019Over 165 students joined us at the 2019 Biannual Psychology Undergraduate Student Conference (Psych-Con) at the Biscayne Bay Campus. Attendees learned how to market their Psychology degree, how to craft a proper resume, how to brand themselves professionally and had the opportunity to take LinkedIn headshots. Throughout the day they heard from FIU Psychology graduate... Read more...Players explore and search for butterflies using virtual realityApril 25, 2019Ever wondered what the world looks like through the eyes of a butterfly? Computer scientist, Alban Delamarre, and Dr. Jaeson Clayborn from the Department of Biological Sciences, have developed a virtual reality (VR) game dedicated to insect and plant species with a particular focus on imperiled butterflies. Butterfly World 1.0 educates players while reawakening curiosity... Read more...Women in STEM: Navigating professional transitionsApril 25, 2019Although the national average of female physics students is 15 percent, FIU has an average of 40 percent. Dr. Yesim Darici – FIU physicist, assistant provost for STEM, and director of the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies – and Tulika Srivastava – FIU physics student and president for the Society of the Advancement of Women... Read more...Alumna honored by Diverse EducationApril 24, 2019Dr. Margarita Bianco was recognized this year by Diverse Education as one of the top 35 women in higher education. Photo courtesy University of Colorado Denver A School of Education and Human Development alumna, Dr. Bianco has an interest in teaching young people with additional needs. In 2010, she developed a precollegiate program called Pathways2Teaching,... Read more...SEAS alumna awarded Polanowski PrizeApril 24, 2019School of Environment, Arts and Society alumna Anya Goldina was recently named the 2018-2019 Polanowski Prize for Excellence in Faculty-Student Advising and Mentorship recipient. Photo courtesy E-town Now Goldina earned a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Biology from FIU and now serves as an assistant professor of biology at Elizabethtown College. The Polanowski Prize... Read more...Faculty and alumni participate in “To Write Miami”April 22, 2019Miami Dade College’s Museum of Art and Design presents “To Write Miami,” a series of readings by Miami authors that explores the city’s fascinating relationship with literature. The names of many of the participating writers may sound familiar. Several featured are Department of English faculty or alumni including: Lynne Barrett P. Scott CunninghamJohn Dufresne Patricia... Read more...Dr. Vicki Burns Named Top Scholar for Globally-Engaged TeachingApril 18, 2019Center for Women’s and Gender Studies instructor Dr. Vicki Burns was named an FIU Top Scholar for Globally-Engaged and/or Culturally Responsive Teaching. Dr. Burns received this award to acknowledge the impact of her course on Campus Sexual Assault and the national recognition it has received. FIU Top Scholars are nominated by Deans and selected by... Read more...Support Ignite’s Student Food Pantry FundApril 17, 2019On April 8, Steve Fain, chair of the Ignite campaign, sent the following message to the university community: Thank you for your continued support of the FIU Student Food Pantry! This academic year, students have visited the MMC and BBC locations 2,502 times, and we’ve distributed almost 15,000 pounds of food. Unfortunately, the need is outpacing our ability... Read more...SEHD welcomes international students for seminarApril 17, 2019On April 1 and 2, 2019, the School of Education and Human Development (SEHD) hosted a group of graduate students from Universidad de la Sabana, Colombia. The 24 Colombian graduate students attended a two day International Seminar in Early Childhood Education and Special Education taught by Dr. Angela Salmon and Dr. Liana Gonzalez. Topics covered... Read more...FIU’s 100 Women: Women and Social JusticeApril 17, 2019The Center for Women’s and Gender Studies proudly hosted its annual event, FIU’s 100 Women: Women and Social Justice, on April 2. The event aims to acknowledge several women from various fields to champion their stories and achievements, and to create an inspiring culture of diversity, collectivism and collegiality. This year, CWGS brought together a... Read more...Women at the helm of redefining engineering at FIUApril 16, 2019Alexandra Coso Strong Trina Fletcher Professors Trina Fletcher and Alexandra Coso Strong are aiming to expand and improve the participation in engineering at FIU. In conjunction with the STEM Transformation Institute, the School of Universal Computing, Construction, and Engineering Education (SUCCEED), was formed in 2018 as the first engineering and computing education department at a... Read more...Aquarius Resurfaced: Caribbean sponge communities structured by top-down effectsApril 11, 2019Sponges are becoming the dominant habitat-forming organism on Caribbean reefs as corals continue to decline because of environmental stressors like ocean acidification and warming. While factors adversely impacting coral abundance have been well researched and understood, the same couldn’t be said for sponges in the Caribbean. Some scientists believed that sponge populations are controlled through... Read more...The hidden gem that is writing and rhetoricApril 11, 2019The Department of English has reformatted the bachelor’s in English degree to a more specialized format. This revised format includes specific tracks within the English undergraduate degree program. One of the tracks most recently created is writing and rhetoric. The concept of creating a program specializing in writing and rhetoric originally came about when... Read more...FIU mathematician explores Mount EverestApril 10, 2019Ada Monserrat in the Himalayas Have you ever thought about going to Mount Everest? Ada Monserrat, senior instructor within the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, traveled halfway around the globe to do just that with a trip to the Himalayas to see some of the highest peaks on the planet. Rising to 29,029 feet, Mount... Read more...Living on Earth: Everglades tour with John KominoskiApril 10, 2019Photo courtesy Lizz Malloy In a recent Living on Earth podcast,FCE’s own John Kominoski, an associate professor and ecosystem ecologist in the Department of Biological Sciences, was a personal tour guide to Living on Earth’s Lizz Malloy, as he introduced her to the vast wonders of the Everglades National Park. Kominoski presented Malloy with some... Read more...FIU’s online master’s degree in special education stands out among othersApril 9, 2019A master’s degree in special education is an outstanding way to enrich and advance your special education teaching career. In just 12 months, students grasp real-world experience based on ongoing, local research within one of the most diverse cities in the world: Miami. However, the real strength of FIU’s online special education program for students... Read more...Aquanaut Hervé Stevenin – from Aquarius to GatewayApril 8, 2019Aquanauts who participate in NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) at Aquarius Reef Base are on the cutting edge of exploration technology. Hervé Stevenin, NEEMO 19 aquanaut and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut trainer, is part of a team that is currently testing a scientific airlock aimed for use on a new habitable structure called... Read more...Dr. Bruk-Lee weighs in on the American workforceApril 4, 2019Did you know we put in more hours at our jobs than several other industrialized countries? The latest edition of the OECD Employment Outlook cites the average U.S. worker puts in 1,780 hours per year. To determine which U.S. cities represent the strongest work ethic, WalletHub – a personal finance website – compares the 116... Read more...Students awarded Dr. E. George Simms ScholarshipApril 4, 2019The Dr. E. George Simms Scholarship was established in honor of Dr. Simms’ years of service to FIU and dedication to undergraduate student research. Recently, at the annual National TRIO Day Celebration, the Dr. E. George Simms Scholarship was presented to Kaytlin Alzugaray and Parsa Nilchian. Kaytlin Alzugaray Kaytlin Alzugaray is a third year FIU... Read more...Elevating the conversation on how to prevent harassmentApril 4, 2019Dr. Vicki Burns, an instructor in the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies, was quoted in this month’s edition of the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Monitor on Psychology. The article focuses on women in psychology and leadership and the challenges they face that include wage gaps, leadership, promotions and harassment. The Monitor, the official magazine... Read more...We Are Tropics: Alexander ShepackApril 4, 2019Catching frogs and walking in the rain is more than just a hobby for FIU Tropics PhD student, Alexander Shepack. Working mostly in Costa Rica and Peru, Shepack monitors amphibians to assess their continued response to an infectious disease caused by the amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Believed to be originally from southern Asia,... Read more...Fishing for toxinsApril 3, 2019Last week Dr. John Berry, associate professor within the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, did a talk at the Ocean Life Lecture Series in Key Largo discussing his research on toxic compounds from aquatic algae. His research has aided in the identification of new toxins, the analysis of toxins in marine and freshwater ecosystems and... Read more...Scientists unearth clues to seismic event on day the dinosaurs diedApril 2, 2019A discovery confirms the meteor strike that likely wiped out dinosaurs produced tsunami-like waves reaching what is now North Dakota, according to FIU Professor Florentin Maurrasse who helped identify fossils and interpret data for the recently released findings. That means the waves traveled more than 2,800 miles from where the meteor struck off Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Palm... Read more...Meet our SERC scientists: Dr. Henry BriceñoApril 2, 2019Many don’t find rocks all that interesting, but Dr. Henry Briceño can bring everything back to the rocks – from the glass cups we drink water out of to our planet’s very existence. Briceño has been a researcher and geologist with the Southeast Environmental Research Center(SERC) for over a decade and has been working to drive... Read more...Dominant tree species drives beta diversity patternsApril 2, 2019Despite western Amazonian forests being one of the most diverse tree communities on Earth, their diversity has been exceptionally disproportionate among these communities. A small amount of dominant species account for the majority of individuals while the large majority of species are unusual to find in the local and regional areas. Even though dominant species... Read more...FEA spring panel: Imposter syndromeApril 2, 2019Our own Future Educators Association (FEA) chapter invited local professors, psychologists and teachers to speak in front of more than 50 students and future educators at its annual spring panel. “The FEA spring panel offers our students the opportunity to engage in an interactive panel discussion centered around current and relevant issues affecting learners, and... Read more...CREST CAChE enters fourth yearApril 1, 2019The CREST Center for Aquatic Chemistry and Environment (CAChE) held its third annual “All Hands Meeting” and student research symposium on March 19th. Around 90 people attended the meeting including, the External Advisory Board, faculty, staff, students and visitors from WestEd and Miccosukee Water Resources Team. The meeting aimed to provide a summary of last... Read more...Our Common Future: #StayWokeApril 1, 2019For the 2019 Our Common Future Lecture, we invited Dr. Elaine Richardson from The Ohio State University’s Department of Teaching and Learning. Professor Richardson’s exemplary scholarship is complemented by her professional leadership roles and the spearheading of socially oriented initiatives. She has held prominent roles in several committees established by the National Council of Teachers... Read more...Dr. Burt recognized by Association for Specialists in Group WorkApril 1, 2019Dr. Isaac Burt, associate professor within the Department of Counseling, Recreation, and School Psychology, was the recipient of the Association for Specialists in Group Work’s (ASGW) 2018 research article of the year award. The ASGW presented Dr. Burt with the award at the annual American Counseling Association (ACA) conference on March 28, 2019. The article... Read more...Women in Research: Lorraine BahrickMarch 28, 2019The FIU’s Infant Development Lab is bright and inviting with blue couches and colored toys and books everywhere. This warm, welcoming atmosphere is due to the work of the dedicated staff who run the lab and to its director and creator Lorraine Bahrick, a professor of psychology at FIU for over thirty-five years. Lorraine Bahrick Psychology... Read more...Student works on enhancing legacy of pioneering female botanistMarch 26, 2019Meily de Leon, a sophomore studying biology is interested in plants. “Plants are big in healthcare – they’re in the medicine we take, the food we eat,” says the pre-med student. So interested that after taking Javier Francisco-Ortega’s Biology II class last semester, she approached him and asked whether there were any opportunities available for... Read more...Professor teaches course with a twistMarch 25, 2019In the fall of 2018, FIU welcomed Dr. Vytautas Malesh to the Department of English’s writing and rhetoric program. Dr. Malesh brings with him over 12 years of professorial and writing experience. Dr. Vytautas Malesh Previous to arriving in South Florida, Dr. Malesh had stints at the University of Nevada, Schoolcraft College and Wayne State... Read more...Family Science Night at The Academy at Ocean ReefMarch 22, 2019We recently hosted a Family Science Night at the Academy at Ocean Reef in Key Largo, Florida. Students and families were encouraged to learn about science, investigate the natural world and learn about how to become environmental stewards through hands-on and engaging activities. Participating organizations included: REEFHistory of Diving MuseumMedina Aquarius ProgramInstitute of Water and... Read more...CEW presents at SWCA ConferenceMarch 22, 2019The Center for Excellence in Writing’s Assistant Director Xuan Jiang and tutors Natalie Casabone and Jordan Guido recently presented their findings on an ongoing research project at the 2019 Southeastern Writing Center Association Conference (SWCA) 2019 in Myrtle Beach, SC. The SWCA aims to further the theoretical, practical and political concerns of writing center professionals;... Read more...SISH alumna, Chairwoman leaves legislative legacyMarch 21, 2019Photo courtesy of Miami Herald Chairwoman and SISH alumna, Audrey Edmonson, is putting a spectrum of issues – including transportation, crime, gun violence, public housing, sea level rise, opioid abuse and preserving public land – on her priority list before her term’s 2020 completion. As part of the Miami-Dade County Commission, Edmonson is not wasting... Read more...SEAS alum supports students one mile at a timeMarch 19, 2019Photo courtesy of FIU Sports Former track standout and SEAS alum, Pablo Espitia, embarked on a big adventure – traveling across the Atlantic to bike through Europe and Asia, raising money to support FIU students and their pursuit of education. Espitia always had a passion for travel and adventure, and decided to take this trip... Read more...Effects of music timing on exercise experienceMarch 18, 2019Physical education undergraduate students are studying whether timing music to exercise can make exercising enjoyable. Seniors Cristina Hernandez and Tomas Colmenares and recent graduate Stephanie Escobar presented their research at Florida’s Undergraduate Research Conference at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. While research is ongoing, early results suggest pairing music with exercise routines affects... Read more...Barbara Gordon Memorial Lecture Series: Dr. Lisa GreenMarch 18, 2019Courtesy of UMass Amherst Department of Linguistics The Department of English hosted its annual Barbara Gordon Memorial Lecture Series, bringing in students, faculty and staff for a keynote address on current research in linguistics. Former Florida State Senator Jack Gordon established the Lecture Series in honor of his wife, Dr. Barbara Gordon, in 1984. Dr.... Read more...Aquarius Resurfaced: Microbial diversity in massive starlet coralMarch 15, 2019During NEEMO XX, a fourteen-day mission aboard Aquarius, the aquanaut team assisted researchers from FIU’s IMaGeS Lab in the collection of samples used for a study on the microbial diversity within the massive starlet coral. This coral is considered to be one of the most resilient and adaptive corals on Caribbean reefs with high recovery rates... Read more...BSI faculty member teams up with Engineering Resources GroupMarch 11, 2019Dr. Marcus Cooke, Environmental Health Sciences professor and Biomolecular Sciences Institute faculty member, together with Mr. Christopher Ross, Engineering Resources Group president, has received STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) funding from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. This STTR funding will support the project titled “AHTP-Comet: Development of an Automated, High Throughput Comet Assay... Read more...SEAS student pays it forwardMarch 6, 2019Growing up, William Padua stayed at shelters and faced a lack of sufficient food. Although Padua faced much adversity, the child of a Puerto Rican mother who moved to the mainland with her three children, is the first of his family to attend college. The SEAS student, a member of the National Honor Society, spent... Read more...Coral reef restoration and conservation effortsMarch 4, 2019Pillar corals may be locally extinct in Florida in five years. Recent PhD graduate, Cindy Lewis discusses the importance of these corals to our livelihoods. Take a look at The Florida Aquarium’s video below to learn more on how we can take action to save our corals.... Read more...FIU hosts CSI statewide professional development eventMarch 4, 2019FIU’s counselor education program and CSI Delta Iota chapter recently hosted the inaugural Florida CSI statewide event, “Rolling Up Our Sleeves: Counselors’ Response to Community Crisis.” With all the tragedy that has taken place in recent months and years, the topic simply seemed appropriate, said Dr. Logan-McKibben, the event’s organizer. “We wanted to create a... Read more...Beard reaches personal milestoneMarch 3, 2019The Panthers have a lot to celebrate so far this season. Holding onto an 18-11 and 9-8 in Conference USA record, the 18 wins match the fourth-best season in program history. The 83-76 home victory over Louisiana Tech was especially a momentous one for SEAS senior, Brian Beard, who became the seventh FIU player to... Read more...Sixth annual Panther Alumni Week connects past with futureMarch 1, 2019From the Class of 1975 to 2018, alumni young and old came together for the sixth annual Panther Alumni Week hosted by the FIU Alumni Association. Over 50 College of Arts, Sciences and Education graduates took part by speaking in classrooms, connecting virtually and attending speed networking events. PAW promotes the building of relationships, which... Read more...UBMS Hosts National TRIO Day CelebrationMarch 1, 2019@armandocarrada Upward Bound Math-Science, one of FIU’s TRIO programs, hosted more than 350 guests on February 23 to commemorate the annual achievements of fellow Federal TRIO programs in the South Florida community. Guests from 6 years to 75 years of age joined the celebration which featured several interactive break-out sessions, scholarship awards, an engaging Chat... Read more...Baseball player’s challenging journeyMarch 1, 2019Photo courtesy Al Diaz ADIAZ@MIAMIHERALD.COM While junior third baseman Austin Shenton may seem like just a regular guy, he’s faced many obstacles along his journey. Shenton visited Bellingham at the end of the season back in July. What the SEAS student thought would be a nice trip to his hometown quickly took a turn when... Read more...The Digital Writing Studio: Helping students with new mediaMarch 1, 2019In many writing classes across the university, professors are beginning to move away from the traditional essay and toward new media projects. But not all students may be familiar with digital composing technologies. The Digital Writing Studio (DWS) is a service offered through the Department of English to help students who have assignments dealing with... Read more...“Queen of Hearts”: A drag show experienceFebruary 28, 2019On Valentine’s Day, Wonderland came crashing onto FIU’s MMC campus! Co-sponsored by the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (CWGS) and created by the queer studies certificate program, FIU’s WST 3641: LGBT+ and Beyond had their very first drag show experience on campus. “Queen of Hearts” was coordinated by Dr. Justin Grant, associate director of... Read more...Students from Puerto Rico receive support to conduct research in BSI labFebruary 28, 2019After Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, two former undergraduate students from the University of Puerto Rico, Sarah Colon and Rosemarie Martinez Borrero, found a home at FIU. Now, the students continue in their research progress under the mentorship of Biomolecular Sciences Institute Director, Dr. Yuk-Ching Tse-Dinh. Before the hurricane, coming to Miami had... Read more...First ever CASE 3MT competitionFebruary 26, 2019First developed by the University of Queensland in 2008, the Three Minute Thesis competition (3MT®) challenges students to communicate the significance of their research projects to a panel of judges and a live audience in just three minutes. Ten students from seven departments competed in the first CASE Three Minute Thesis competition on February 15.... Read more...Twenty-five years later, prominent professor retiresFebruary 26, 2019For over 25 years, Dr. Rudolf Jaffé has dedicated his time to the Southeast Environmental Research Center (SERC), working in the area of environmental organic geochemistry and biogeochemistry. After celebrating his silver anniversary with FIU, he is now retiring and hopes to spend some time doing one of his favorite things: exploring the countryside on his... Read more...Dr. James Fourqurean: Saving seagrass to save the planetFebruary 25, 2019Dr. James Fourqurean, the Director of FIU’s Center for Coastal Oceans Research (CCOR) and member of the International Blue Carbon Initiative, a global program that focuses on mitigating climate change through conservation and restoration of marine ecosystems engaged the Keys community at the Ocean Life Lecture Series on Thursday, February 21st. The monthly lecture series,... Read more...CCOR Travel Award Winners – Spring 2019February 21, 2019Dr. WhitmanDr. SchweikertC. KnauerJ. QuinlanS. HackerottM. van Zinnicq BergmannS. Luongo We are pleased to announce the seven recipients of the Center for Coastal Oceans Research (CCOR) travel awards for the early 2019 period. CCOR faculty, post-docs, students and staff are engaged in great research all around the world. For this round of travel awards, there... Read more...Dr. Maria Donoso leads UNESCO Division of Water Sciences in ParisFebruary 20, 2019Last year, Dr. Maria Donoso spearheaded the creation of the UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Water Security at FIU. Now, Donoso has been honored with serving as the interim Director of UNESCO’s Division of Water Sciences for the next several months. Donoso has been passionate about water issues her whole life. She began her career by studying civil... Read more...Alumna joins executive judges at Miami Herald Startup PitchFebruary 19, 2019Startup entrepreneurs are lining up to pitch their business plans to judges for this year’s Miami Herald Startup Pitch Competition, sponsored by FIU’s Eugenio Pino & Family Global Entrepreneurship Center. Among the corporate executive judges is SEHD alumna, Anna Etienne. With a masters in higher education administration under her belt, she became program director of... Read more...Simulating oil spills in the labFebruary 19, 2019Dr. Piero Gardinali, professor within the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, shares on the Academic Minute how oil spills can be simulated in a lab. The Deepwater Horizon rig released gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, which made it one of the most massive oil spills in history. Take a listen... Read more...Aquarius Resurfaced: Ecology of fear in plant-eating coral reef fishFebruary 19, 2019In November 2013, during FIU’s first Aquarius mission, researchers used fiberglass models of predatory fish to study how the risk of predation changes the behavior of herbivorous fish (plant eaters) on coral reefs. They used models of the great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) and black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci) to investigate how anti-predator responses vary with predator... Read more...Forensic Science Masters program rated 4th in top ten, 1st in real world trainingFebruary 18, 2019According to OnlineMasters.com, FIU was selected as one of the Best Online Master’s in Forensic Science Programs in the country for 2019. FIU’s forensic science program placed 4th in the Top 10. Research conducted at Online Masters found the program placed first as the Best In Real-World Training. This recognition speaks to the amazing work that the FIU chemistry program is doing... Read more...BSI-mentored researchers awarded grantsFebruary 18, 2019Graduate student and Ph.D. candidate, Sana Nasim, and postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Hooi Hooi Ng, mentored by Biomolecular Sciences Institute faculty members Drs. Alexander Agoulnik, Joshua Hutcheson and Lidia Kos, have been awarded grants from the Miami Heart Research Institute and the American Heart Association for interdisciplinary research. Dr. Ng joined FIU as a Postdoctoral Associate... Read more...Richard Blanco on aging and the passage of timeFebruary 18, 2019Richard Blanco, a poetry professor at FIU and the fifth presidential inaugural poet in U.S. history, joined Jim Braude and Margery Eagan on the “Village Voice”where they discussed the themes of age and aging. The discussion celebrated the recent publication of Blanco’s poem “My Father in English” in the New Yorker, and Blanco’s birthday on... Read more...National School Counseling Week 2019February 15, 2019According to the latest figures from the Florida Department of Education, there are just over 6,000 school counselors serving all of Florida’s K-12 students, which comprises less than two percent of the workforce of all public school educator-related roles. Last week, SEHD observed National School Counseling Week by focusing public attention on the unique contribution... Read more...We Are Tropics: Matthew MorrisFebruary 15, 2019The danger of extinction for the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow is unfortunately within reach. North America’s most critically endangered bird species, residing in the dry prairie of central Florida, is approaching plunging numbers with close to 10 pairs left in the wild. A sense of urgency to save its life, lies directly with us. FIU Tropics... Read more...Psychology graduate student awarded competitive NRSA F31 grantFebruary 14, 2019Psychology graduate student Ileana Pacheco-Colón‘s F31 training grant, co-sponsored by Drs. Raul Gonzalez and Angela Laird, was recently funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. This project will leverage data from two ongoing longitudinal studies to examine associations between exercise, cognition and cannabis use among adolescents. Specifically, this proposal will examine decision making as... Read more...International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2019February 14, 2019Celebrating its 4th year, the United Nations’ event was recognized across 68 countries on Monday, February 11, 2019. The International Day of Women and Girls in Science doesn’t only celebrate the efforts and breakthroughs of female scientists in their fields, it also spreads awareness and supports women emerging in male-dominated STEM fields. FIU’s Center for... Read more...FIU Tropics Spring 2019 photo contest winnersFebruary 14, 2019Over the last two years, FIU Tropics has celebrated the merging of arts and conservation by hosting a photo contest. For the Spring 2019 semester, over 60 submissions from students with a passion for tropical biodiversity and conservation competed for funding to be used for academic research or travel with support from JJMDigital.com. Awards 1st place: $400... Read more...Ocean center welcomes new education coordinatorFebruary 14, 2019When she’s not teaching youngsters about the importance of our marine environment for the Center for Coastal Oceans Research, Analisa Duran can be found scuba diving anywhere between Palm Beach and the Keys and volunteering to help protect our marine species and preserve their ecosystems. Duran is CCOR’s newest education and outreach program coordinator. “Connecting science with... Read more...CARFS Director Jose Almirall to give plenary talk at 2019 Annual Research SymposiumFebruary 13, 2019Dr. Jose Almirall, Director, Center for Advanced Research in Forensic Science Dr. Jose Almirall, professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry will serve as the plenary speaker for the 2019 Annual Research Symposium. The symposium will be held from March 13-14 in the John Garrick Hardy Student Center at Alabama State University. As an outstanding teacher, a... Read more...Water institute presents graduate students with annual awardFebruary 9, 2019Each year, the leadership committee for the three centers at the Institute of Water and Environment decides the Graduate Students of the Year for their respective centers. The award recognizes and rewards a student whose academic achievement and current material research display a high level of excellence and distinction among their peers. The students are decided upon... Read more...NWCNHS and GFJC partner in university-based programFebruary 8, 2019In a news release by the Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences (NWCNHS), it was announced that FIU nursing received a $1.5 million grant for a university-based program to train sexual assault nurse examiners for rural and underserved Florida. Nearly 80 percent of rapes and sexual assaults go unreported, in part because of... Read more...FIU ADVANCE trains faculty how to be active bystandersFebruary 8, 2019The University’s Bystander Leadership Program (BLP) provides workshops that aim to educate STEM and Social Based Sciences faculty on how to recognize and intervene in situations that involve gender and race bias. BLP is a part of FIU ADVANCE, FIU’s institutional transformation project, which is overseen by the Office to Advance Women, Equity & Diversity.... Read more...Environmental DNA used as tracking toolFebruary 6, 2019The so-called “environmental DNA” is helping conservationists keep track of marine species. Sharks, especially, are not easy to track as many scuba divers and scientists will tell you, however postdoctoral researcher in Biological Sciences, Judith Bakker, has found a much quicker and cheaper shark tracking tool to help identify and track down certain species. By... Read more...Writing and rhetoric professor assists students in new roleFebruary 5, 2019Are you a first year student in the writing and rhetoric program and feel like you are struggling? Fear not because there is help available. The Department of English staff member, Cayce Wicks is available to you as a first year success coordinator. This position was initially created to follow up with the university’s early... Read more...SEHD alumna recognized as an Exemplary Online StudentFebruary 4, 2019Lauren Apodaca didn’t let her Guillian-Barré syndrome, a rare disorder in which the immune system attacks the nerves, prevent her from returning to school. To focus on her treatment, she had to postpone her studies after her freshman year at another university. “I basically had to learn to walk again. Needless to say, school was... Read more...Scientists concerned over drop in shark bitesFebruary 4, 2019The number of shark bites in Florida have plummeted in 2018, and scientists are trying to figure out why. Just 16 unprovoked shark bites were reported in Florida last year, compared to 31 the previous year. Year-to-year fluctuations in shark bites are normal, but 2018’s steep decline is unusual, according to these researchers. Mark Bond,... Read more...We Are Tropics: Shagufta GaffarFebruary 1, 2019Agricultural intensification goes hand-in-hand with pesticide use. Mounting evidence of their harmful impacts has forced scientists to explore ways to correct negative effects stemming from crop production. FIU Tropics Ph.D. student, Shagufta Gaffar, is focusing on mitigating agroecosystems, and soil scientists are noticing her. Originally from Bangladesh, Gaffar is pursuing a degree in Earth Systems... Read more...Alumnus recognized for impacting the communityJanuary 31, 2019SEAS alum Andres Arnavat was recently honored with the Dean’s Community Service Award. The award, which is given to students who have exceeded their community service requirement in the Honors College was presented to Arnavat by Dean Juan Espinosa. In 2016, Arnavat began volunteering at Remote Area Medical (RAM), a non-profit organization that operates mobile... Read more...FIU participates in Inaugural Broward Youth Climate SummitJanuary 31, 2019By Alvina Chackungal Nearly 500 middle school and high school students gathered on January 25th for the first ever Broward Youth Climate Summit (BYCS), where they were given a platform to promote environmental sustainability and support changes in legislation. Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) and Broward County’s Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division (EPCRD) partnered... Read more...FIU Messier catalog completedJanuary 31, 2019Dr. James Webb along with now SISH alum, Daniel Puentes, set out on a long-term project back in 2016 to image all 110 objects on the Messier List. The goal was to capture the objects in three colors and form color images using the Stocker AstroScience 24” main telescope and its CCD camera. The list... Read more...Tropical Conservation Internship Program: Fall 2018 cohortJanuary 30, 2019FIU Tropics’ Tropical Conservation Internship Program works with local partner institutions to provide students with an opportunity to develop research and professional skills and get hands-on training. This collaborative initiative supports student development and the advancement of tropical research and conservation. Every semester, FIU Tropics chooses 10 outstanding undergraduate students to participate in multiple research.... Read more...SEHD alumna becomes Rookie Teacher of the YearJanuary 28, 2019We are proud to announce that SEHD alumna, Ashley Gonzalez, has been recognized as Rookie Teacher of the Year at Bowman Ashe/Doolin K-8 Academy! Gonzalez started her career with the Academy through an internship in the fall of 2017, and was later hired as a teacher in January 2018 after graduating with a bachelor’s degree... Read more...New U.S. patents awarded for inventions by BSI faculty membersJanuary 28, 2019Three new patents were issued to FIU for inventions developed by faculty members in the Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Drs. Irina Agoulnik, Alexander Agoulnik, Fenfei Leng and Anthony McGoron. Drs. Irina Agoulnik and Alexander Agoulnik, professors in the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, in collaboration with Juan Jose Marugan, Jingbo Xiao, Marc Ferrer-Alegre, Catherine Chen, Noel Southall, Wei Zheng, and other inventors... Read more...Dr. Rolando Santos: Making waves at FIUJanuary 25, 2019Dr. Rolando Omar Santos Corujo, postdoctoral associate in the Southeast Environmental Research Center (SERC) within the Institute of Water and Environment (InWE), works to understand how different marine and coastal species respond to environmental disturbances. Santos is a seascape ecologist with expertise in fish, fisheries, benthic and spatial ecology. He was recently appointed as one... Read more...The future of South Florida’s freshwater fishingJanuary 23, 2019From backyard canals, to vast lakes, South Florida is a place where you truly never know what’s on the end of a fisher’s line. Non-native fish have been affecting the environment for native species, and could shape the future for South Florida’s freshwater fishing experience. One of the earliest freshwater fish to invade South Florida... Read more...Panther Hall’s ARLC prioritizes student successJanuary 22, 2019As an Assistant Residential Life Coordinator (ARLC), Cassidy Cook ensures that her students are her top priority while working at FIU’s first-year dorm, Panther Hall. Cook supervises desk and resident assistants and handles administrative responsibilities. At night, she’s on duty making rounds in the residence hall and ensuring student safety. Although some days can be... Read more...SEAS alum goes from collegiate basketball to international proJanuary 17, 2019FIU alum Tymell Murphy (Left) was awarded MVP Honors by Stephan Marbury (Right) in Zhoushan, China in July 2018. Photo contributed by Tymell Murphy. SEAS alum, Tymell Murphy, fulfilled his life-long dream of playing professional basketball. Murphy played as a Panther from 2012-2014 and was considered a force to be reckoned with during his college... Read more...Red Tide spikes manatee fatalitiesJanuary 14, 2019Recently, there has been an estimated 100 manatee fatalities due to the lingering toxic algae known as Red Tide. With the collaboration between FIU researchers and Mote Marine Laboratory scientists, there is a sign of hope that those numbers will drop and keep manatees from plummeting to the endangered lists. Chemist, Kathleen Rein, from the... Read more...Student’s film selected for international film festivalJanuary 14, 2019We are pleased to announce that Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing student, Jordan Hill’s, short film, Breakfast Wine, was screened at the 55th Annual Antakya Film Festival. The Antakya International Film Festival is a competitive annual event in Turkey, organized by Mehmet Oflazoglu. This past December, the festival showcased 350 different films shot and... Read more...Hands-on forensic science course celebrates 20-year historyJanuary 10, 2019As the former chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in 1998, Provost Kenneth G. Furton introduced one of his former University of Central Florida (UCF) college classmate’s, Karen Wittman, to a newly hired FIU chemistry professor, Jose Almirall, and asked them both to work on one of the first web-based classes at FIU,... Read more...The Medina Aquarius Program offers Diver Medic Technician courseJanuary 10, 2019Commercial, professional and scientific divers often need to work in remote areas where they are isolated from hospitals that can provide emergency medical care. For this reason, thorough training of Diver Medic Technicians (DMTs) is critical so that if medical emergencies occur they can be handled expertly. The Diver Medic Technician course offered by the... Read more...CREST CAChE students graduate with masters and PhDJanuary 10, 2019We are proud to announce that two more students from our inaugural CREST CAChE cohort have successfully defended their master’s thesis and PhD dissertation. Tiffany Yanez is the first student to complete her entire master’s degree with CREST CAChE. She previously received a B.S. in Biology from Florida State University in 2015. During her research... Read more...Increasing representation of underrepresented groups among STEM faculty membersJanuary 9, 2019This article originally appeared in Higher Education Today, and is the latest in a series on campus climate and STEM success. ACE is partnering with the National Center for Institutional Diversity at University of Michigan on the series. Florida International University (FIU) is a Hispanic-serving public university founded in 1965 that serves 56,000 students, 61 percent of whom are Hispanic and... Read more...FIU ranked one of the best Early Childhood Education Bachelor’s Programs in the USJanuary 9, 2019Bachelor’s Degree Center (BDC) recently ranked the top 25 best early childhood education bachelor’s programs in the nation, and FIU scored at number 16! To rank this specialized program, BDC editors did a thorough search of all the CAEP and NCATE accredited education schools in the nation. That initial pool, with more than 500 schools, was then... Read more...Who is the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force?January 8, 2019Many local South Floridians have come to know the Everglades as the nearby national park where they can bring out-of-towners when they visit the Sunshine State. The park allows visitors to see alligators, wading birds, and the sawgrass marshes that comprise the famed “River of Grass.” But there is so much more to the Everglades... Read more...Aquarius Reef Base tests new diver tracking system with US NavyJanuary 8, 2019The job of a US Navy diver is anything but ordinary. Navy divers are on duty across every one of the planet’s oceans working on tasks ranging from underwater repairs to item recoveries and salvage missions. These dive missions are not always simple and often require intense health and safety precautions for the diver. Last month,... Read more...Ros-Lehtinen joins Akin GumpJanuary 8, 2019Since finishing her time in office, SEHD alumna Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has joined Akin Gump – one of Washington’s largest lobbying firms. Ros-Lehtinen joins the firm, which has clients all around the world, as a senior advisor. “One of the things that attracted me to Akin Gump was its broad and established client base across Latin... Read more...How a technique is used to extract pesticides from wineJanuary 8, 2019Postdoctoral Associate, Abuzar Kabir, developed an extraction technique called, Fabric Phase Sorptive Extraction (FPSE), to try to solve some of the problems inherent in solid-phase extraction. Now, he is working with scientists around the world with this method to solve issues such as extracting pesticides from wine, and detecting PAHs in water. Kabir first led a team of scientists... Read more...Psychology’s Dr. Eliza Nelson awarded research grantJanuary 3, 2019Dr. Eliza Nelson was awarded a research grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD). The goal of this research is to examine early bimanual motor skill as a predictor for language development. Motor experience provides rich opportunities for learning in infants. Fine motor skills cascade from initial... Read more...Undergraduate education: Active Learning ClassroomsJanuary 1, 2019By Joseph Lichter “Give the students something to do, not something to learn; and the doing is of such a nature as to demand thinking; learning naturally results.”John Dewey, American Philosopher In the last decade, the department of chemistry and biochemistry at FIU has taken huge strides to improve undergraduate education. The effort has been made in conjunction with university... Read more...The FIU Nuclear and Radiochemistry Program keeps growingJanuary 1, 2019By Joseph Lichter Members of the FIU Nuclear and Radiochemistry group. From left to right: Dr. Cai, Dr. Wnuk, Seun Adedoyin, Gabriel Flores, Dr. Raptis, Nike Fasiku, Cristian Nodarse, Sandra Wheeler, Xiangyang Hou, Dr. Dares, Dr. Ruiz-Reyes, Josh Silverman, Felipe Pereiro, Dr. Joha Gonzalez-Moya, Dr. Almirall, Dr. Kavallieratos, Alejandro Hernandez. The Nuclear and Radiochemistry program is now a major area... Read more...BBC Science Club recognized by American Chemical SocietyDecember 27, 2018We are proud to announce that our American Chemical Society (ACS) student chapter located at the Biscayne Bay Campus has been selected to receive an Outstanding Award for its activities conducted during the 2017-2018 academic year. Over 400 chapter activity reports were submitted, and The Society Committee on Education presented 69 outstanding, 92 commendable and... Read more...Insect database helps Dubai Police solve crimesDecember 27, 2018Out of all the data resources that could help solve a crime, an insect database isn’t one that normally comes to mind. However, Dubai police are working on a database of all insects in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of their strategy to use forensic entomology in solving crimes. Brigadier-General Ahmed Matar Al Muhairi,... Read more...FIU announces partnership with Florida LotteryDecember 26, 2018As one of the largest universities in the country, FIU has announced their partnership to one of Florida’s greatest contributors in education, the Florida Lottery. Since 1988, the Florida Lottery has provided more than $33 billion dollars to education all throughout Florida. Their sole mission is to maximize revenues for the enhancement of public education... Read more...After-School All-Stars Super Fest Field DayDecember 20, 2018South Florida After-School All-Stars brought together kids from local schools to FIU for a fun-filled Super Fest field day. Check out the video below captured by Fox Sports Florida. Last week, we had the pleasure of supporting our friends at @ASASafterschool as they hosted a Super Fest field day for local kids and family at @FIU.... Read more...FIU: A university that grows with immigrantsDecember 19, 2018As the first and only public research university in Miami, FIU offers undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees to its students from around 142 countries. President Mark Rosenberg states, “diversity is in our DNA”. Many immigrants arrive in Miami with the dream of continuing their studies, and FIU has been a university that supports them in pursuing... Read more...Second chance: Anthony Jones’ miraculous recoveryDecember 18, 2018The scar on Anthony Jones’ neck, serves as a constant reminder the running back will never forget. The bullet that could’ve taken his life, however, isn’t stopping him from achieving his dreams. Shot in the back on Sept. 6, Jones and FIU offensive lineman Mershawn Miller were hurt in a drive-by shooting outside a home they... Read more...Leonardo Acuna: from helicopter mechanic to biochemistDecember 17, 2018Becoming a biochemist might seem like an unexpected next step for a helicopter mechanic, but for Leonardo Acuna, the first recipient of the UGS Veterans Fellowship, it makes perfect sense. “I decided to be a mechanic for biological systems, and for me, that means becoming a biochemist,” he says. Born in Costa Rica, Leonardo moved... Read more...FIU promotes and supports women in STEMDecember 14, 2018It’s no secret that the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) have been dominated by men. Suzanna Rose, founding associate provost of the Office to Advance Women, Equity & Diversity (AWED), is doing her part to change that standard by focusing on how to attract, recruit, promote and retain women faculty members. FIU... Read more...FIU’s Society of Physics Students chapter wins bigDecember 11, 2018We are proud to announce that FIU’s Society of Physics Students (SPS) chapter, advised by Dr. Pete Markowitz, has been recognized by the SPS National Council as a 2017-2018 Outstanding Chapter and was also awarded the Blake Lilly Prize. The SPS Outstanding Chapter is the highest level of distinction given to SPS chapters and is... Read more...Dr. Logan-McKibben honored with FSCA’s School Counselor Advocate awardDecember 10, 2018We are pleased to announce that Dr. Sandra Logan-McKibben, assistant professor within the Department of Leadership and Professional Studies, was honored with the Florida School Counseling Association’s School Counselor Advocate: Family, School, Community Award at this year’s annual conference. Dr. Logan-McKibben was recognized for her work in impacting school counselors as well as making a... Read more...FIU earns school-record C-USA selection totalDecember 10, 2018The Conference USA announced its 2018 All-Conference teams, with the Panthers earning a school-record 17 C-USA selections, with two first team, two second team and 13 honorable mention members. The pair of first teamers earned for FIU is the most for any Panther team since 2015. The Panthers hauled in 11 selections in Coach Butch... Read more...Ileana Ros-Lehtinen finishes a 29-year run in CongressDecember 9, 2018Photo courtesy Miami Herald SEHD alumna, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, finishes out her final weeks in office as Miami’s longest-tenured congresswoman with much she wishes to accomplish. The first Latina in Congress’ bill that would limit U.S. loans to the government of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega until he carries out democratic reforms passed the U.S. Senate, though... Read more...Jeffreen Hayes gives TEDx Talk on arts activismDecember 7, 2018Jeffreen Hayes earned a BA in Humanities from FIU, a Masters in Art History from Howard University, and a Ph.D. in American Studies from the College of William and Mary. She is a trained art historian and curator, and an advocate for racial inclusion, equity, and access. When she was a child, her mother gifted her a... Read more...The future of red tide: what scientist are sayingDecember 7, 2018This year’s red tide outbreak slowly spread into Manatee County waters by August and fish died by the thousands, washing up on Anna Maria Island beaches and clogging canals. So what does 2019 and beyond look like for beaches? The short answer is nobody knows for sure and scientists are still struggling to find out.... Read more...Sam and Joyce Moore say their goodbyes to President George H.W. BushDecember 6, 2018CASE Artist-in Residence, Sam Moore and his wife of 37 years, Joyce Moore, were invited guests for Wednesday’s state funeral for President George H.W. Bush at the Washington National Cathedral. The Moores came to know President Bush when Sam performed at an inaugural event co-produced by Joyce in January 1989. The couple traveled to the... Read more...Women in Research: Deborah GoldfarbDecember 6, 2018Deborah Goldfarb, assistant professor of psychology and attorney, spends her days attempting to unravel the mysteries of some of the world’s most complex organizations – the workings of our memories and the intricacies of the U.S. legal system. Goldfarb received her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. She worked for years as... Read more...Veteran Michelle Lux honored with Ernest McFarland AwardDecember 6, 2018FIU’s Veteran and Military Affairs recently held its first Graduating Veterans Recognition Ceremony. Student veterans were honored for their academic achievements, involvements and contributions. Amongst those honored was Michelle Lux, who is a part of the Professional Science Masters in Forensic Science graduating cohort class. Lux, United States Air Force, Operation Enduring Freedom combat veteran,... Read more...Dr. Stephens awarded American Psychological Associations’ Shining Star AwardDecember 6, 2018Dr. Dionne Stephens, associate professor within the Department of Psychology, has been awarded the American Psychological Associations’ Shining Star Award for her outstanding research and teaching in the area of multicultural psychology and diversity. One of the highest APA awards in this area of focus, it recognizes the efforts of a mid-career psychologist whose research has demonstrated a commitment to multicultural research, teaching, and advocacy,... Read more...Lukas Lamb Wotton: Leaving a Footprint in Everglades ResearchDecember 6, 2018 Lukas Lamb Wotton, M.S student in the Department of Biological Sciences, is on a scientific journey to identify areas in the coastal Everglades that are most vulnerable to collapse and on a similarly challenging and rewarding journey to help fellow graduate students with the ups and downs of graduate school. Wotton’s master’s thesis project... Read more...Panthers claim Conference USA Swimming and Diving awardsDecember 5, 2018The FIU Women’s Swimming and Diving team recently claimed both the Conference USA Swimming and Diving awards, SEHD student Stephanie Hussey earned Swimmer of the Week honors, while freshman Maha Gouda was named Diver of the Week. Nominated twice for the award, Hussey picks up her first recognition of the year. She has been a... Read more...Watch how Aquarius is used for future space missionsDecember 5, 2018 Located eight and a half miles from Key Largo, Florida and 62 feet below the surface, Aquarius is used for research and astronaut training for future space missions. So far, this underwater laboratory has been used for over 20 expeditions where astronauts usually live down here for 10 straight days. WNYW (Fox) interviews Operations... Read more...Survival guide for flying with childrenDecember 5, 2018If the thought of flying with children in the most busy and stressful holiday season raises your blood pressure, you are not alone. In survey after survey, airline passengers say kids – especially the misbehaving, seat-kicking kind – are their top annoyance. Along with some young kids who are uncomfortable with ear popping or motion... Read more...Psychology’s Dr. Stephen Charman awarded NSF grantDecember 4, 2018Eyewitness researchers often advocate for video-recording eyewitnesses’ lineup identifications, as this preserves a record of what happened during the lineup procedure. But are there other consequences—either positive or negative—of video-recording eyewitnesses? Awarded with an NSF grant, the Department of Psychology’s Associate Professor, Dr. Stephen Charman, in collaboration with Dr. Amy Douglass from Bates College, examines... Read more...World’s only undersea research laboratoryDecember 4, 2018Aquarius Reef Base gives researchers and divers the convenience of living in their underwater field site without sacrificing the comforts of home. Made to withstand the pressure of ocean depths up to 120 feet, the lab currently sits in a sand patch adjacent to the deep coral reefs of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.... Read more...Dr. Vicki Burns appointed APA Division 35 Chair for the Violence Against Women CommitteeDecember 3, 2018Dr. Vicki Burns, instructor in the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies, was recently appointed Chair of Division 35’s Violence Against Women Committee for the American Psychological Association (APA). Division 35, the Society for the Psychology of Women, is a national feminist organization dedicated to highlighting diversity issues in the lives of women with an... Read more...CSI Camp recognized for their contributions to forensicsDecember 3, 2018We are proud to share that our CSI Camp program was recognized in Forensics Colleges’ post “Body Farms and Other Novel Tools of Forensic Education” for their ability to engage in a hands-on, fun experience led by forensic scientist and CSI experts. Staff from the International Forensic Research Institute and the National Forensic Science Technology Center... Read more...Dr. Bhansali honored by American Association for the Advancement of ScienceNovember 30, 2018We are proud to announce that Dr. Shekhar Bhansali, Biomolecular Sciences Institute faculty member, was elected as a Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). A select group of members of the AAAS has received the lifetime honor of being an elected Fellow in recognition of their extraordinary achievements in advancing science. Those... Read more...FIU shines at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority StudentsNovember 30, 2018FIU was well-represented at the 2018 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students in Indianapolis, Indiana. Twelve undergraduates including members of the MARC U*STAR, QBIC, Honors College, and Provost Research Scholars Programs attend the conference. ABRCMS is one of the largest, professional conferences for underrepresented minority students, military veterans, and persons with disabilities to pursue advanced training in science, technology, engineering and... Read more...SEHD alumna named new principal at Sunrise ElementaryNovember 29, 2018Sunrise Elementary has chosen Natalia Robledo as their new principal. This is a welcome back for Robledo, who once served as assistant principal at Sunrise from 2009 – 2013. Robledo leaves her post as assistant principal at Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks, a K-8 school, to pursue her principal duties. Robledo has a bachelor’s degree... Read more...A long way from home: Arctic research project’s tiny boat found in IcelandNovember 29, 2018Three years after being launched upon the ice of the North Pole, a miniature wooden boat washes ashore on a beach in Iceland. A local man walking his dog comes across the item, uncertain of its origin just yet. He recognizes a URL on the tiny vessel and decides to visit the website when he... Read more...Meet our SERC scientists: Dr. Michael RossNovember 29, 2018Dr. Michael Ross spends much of his job interpreting what the history of our environments can tell us about how to help them survive and adapt to our changing world. Ross is a researcher in the Southeast Environmental Research Center and a professor in the Department of Earth and Environment. He studies the consequences that... Read more...Senior Santiago Patino could be headed to MLSNovember 28, 2018FIU men’s soccer player, Santiago Patino, was not only ranked third in Conference USA in goals and shots and fourth in points, but he was also recognized for his academic achievements. Set to graduate next month with a major in sports management, Patino appears to have a future in pro soccer. His draft rights in Major League... Read more...A look at FIU’s RB Napolean MaxwellNovember 27, 2018From a shattered left knee, to rushing 673 yards, running back Napolean Maxwell has had an unforgettable season. He went 33 months and nine days in between football games, but has since made a full recovery. FIU (8-4, 6-2) will continue on to play against Toledo (7-5, 5-3 Mid-American Conference) in the Bahamas Bowl on... Read more...Broward County School Board Elects SEHD Alumna as Vice ChairNovember 27, 2018The School Board of Broward County, Florida, recently elected Donna P. Korn (Countywide At-Large, Seat 8) as Vice Chair along with five other School Board members. With having served on the School Board since 2011, Donna also completed courses towards a Master’s degree in Urban Education at Florida International University. The nominations and election took... Read more...FIU joins nationwide effort to improve college accessNovember 26, 2018Florida International University is among a group of 130 nationwide universities to improve college access and close the achievement gap between minority, low-income students and their non-minority peers. The universities will share data with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), which organized the effort, called Powered by Publics: Scaling Student Success. It’s the largest... Read more...The Medina Aquarius Program teaches trauma component of shark handling workshopNovember 21, 2018Anyone who has ever conducted fieldwork knows that sometimes things do not go according to plan. Being prepared for the worst-case scenario, a traumatic injury, is a crucial skill that can save lives in the field, where access to emergency medical care is often out of reach. As part of Dr. Yannis Papastamatiou’s Predator Ecology... Read more...From scientist to best election supervisor in MiamiNovember 21, 2018After seven pressure-packed days, the Miami-Dade county’s recount of three very close elections was complete, all thanks to Elections Supervisor Christina White. She managed a brisk, clean, efficient operation which is usually the opposite with Florida’s history on elections. Part of White’s success stems from her assumption that in an election, anything that can go... Read more...Nonlinear Phenomena in Stockholm: Kinetic Meets DispersiveNovember 19, 2018This International Conference on Nonlinear Analysis and Partial Differential Equations focuses on the mathematical description of interactions between many constituent particles. Very often, even when the interactions between the particles are well-defined, the governing mathematical equations are not well understood and as a consequence, the collective behavior of the system remains a mystery. Examples of... Read more...Agroecology student participates in Regional Soil Judging ContestNovember 14, 2018On October 25th, six teams gathered in Stillwater, Oklahoma for the Region IV Collegiate Soil Judging Contest. Among the 2018 team members was FIU Agroecology student, Clara Riquelme. Soil contestants were expected to identify, evaluate, classify, and describe soil profiles. Since 2017, the contest included a Multi-Institutional Team supported by a USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture... Read more...Professor improves mass spectrometersNovember 13, 2018Associate professor within the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and director of our Advanced Mass Spectrometry program, Dr. Francisco Fernandez-Lima began his career with a focus in physics and slowly merged into chemistry and biology. “Mass spectrometry is a perfect bridge between medicine, biology, chemistry, and physics,” Francisco says. Francisco has distinguished himself through his... Read more...Ph.D students go beyond the surface at FLL Boat ShowNovember 13, 2018Every year, the Ft. Lauderdale Boat show exhibits a vast array of the industry’s latest boats and yachts of all sizes plus a myriad of marine products and accessories to enhance the nautical lifestyle. Beyond the surface, there is an educational component where over the course of four days, multiple scientists and researchers share marine projects... Read more...We Are Tropics: Javier Rodriguez-CasariegoNovember 9, 2018The daunting task of addressing global changes in climate has taken center stage in the scientific community for years. Despite the— rightfully— alarming statistics that flood our news feeds every day on this issue, FIU Tropics and CREST CAChE PhD student Javier Rodriguez-Casariego wants you to know that it’s not all doom and gloom. There is... Read more...Pine Rocklands Conference expands footprintNovember 9, 2018The 2018 Pine Rocklands Working Group Conference brought together scientists, educators, land managers, policy makers, naturalists, students, and concerned citizens alike, with one overarching goal in mind – expanding the footprint of pine rocklands restoration. The fitting theme for this year’s conference touches on the urgent need to reverse the trend of diminishing extent and... Read more...Do we take our natural habitats for granted?November 7, 2018 BBC Earth shared a video on how storms, specifically Hurricane Irma, has affected Florida’s mangroves and their overall habitat in the Everglades. Research Associate, Edward Castaneda, from the Southeast Environmental Research Center spoke about how other factors like warming oceans, sea level rises, and human encroachment are causing mangroves to decline globally. By monitoring mangroves post-Irma, their team... Read more...Recycle your campaign signs to make a statement about sea level riseNovember 7, 2018With the mid-term elections behind us, artist Xavier Cortada suggests we talk openly and honestly with each other about a threat we all face in a state surrounded by water: sea level rise. We need to find a way to come together to solve the problem to protect the environment. According to the National Oceanic and... Read more...Mixed feelings on Miami Beach’s new beachwalkNovember 6, 2018Construction on Miami Beach has been the talk to some of their residents. They are concerned that a section of the beachwalk being built on the sand dunes between Third and Fifth streets could affect their ability to shield seaside buildings from storms and keep sand from washing away. Others, however, find it exciting to... Read more...Physics and Astronomy Clubs make it a family science night outNovember 6, 2018Over 100 young students turned out to Somerset Academy for Family Science Night, hosted by the School of Environment, Arts and Society. Family Science Night is a community-building event intended to be an exciting and fun night of various science activities that engage students, parents and school faculty and staff. These events bring together labs, university clubs and... Read more...2018-2019 Distinguished Postdoctoral FellowsNovember 5, 2018This past Spring, the College of Arts, Sciences & Education (CASE) opened a call for the newly established Distinguished Postdoctoral Scholar program. An interdisciplinary committee of faculty and leadership representing various centers and departments reviewed over 100 applications of individuals across the world conducting research in fields of study relevant to our scholarly research areas in... Read more...Red tide returns after Hurricane MichaelNovember 5, 2018Just before Hurricane Michael made landfall last month, an extreme red tide that had covered Florida’s Gulf Coast, depositing countless dead marine life on beaches, had finally started to disperse. But in the weeks following the storm, red tide has returned. The tide is continuing to take a toll, especially on waterfront businesses, like hotels and restaurants.... Read more...Citizen scientists band together to measure urban flooding in MiamiNovember 2, 2018More than 100 FIU students and faculty, government officials and concerned citizens gathered on October 27 for FIU’s 3rdannual Sea Level Solutions Day to document climate change impacts in South Florida. Dr. Tiffany Troxler, Director of Science for the Sea Level Solutions Center within the Institute of Water and Environment, has led the annual citizen... Read more...FIU junior awarded scholarship from Arrow ExterminatorsNovember 2, 2018LeChara Pryor, a junior from FIU, was recently awarded a scholarship from Arrow Exterminators. The scholarship program was open to Arrow team members and their dependents who were either graduating high school seniors or enrolled in a college program. The applicants were asked to write a short essay on what has surprised them the most... Read more...Psychology graduate student awarded 2 year grant from NIHOctober 31, 2018The National Institutes of Health Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NIH F31 NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship provides funding for “promising predoctoral students to obtain individualized, mentored research training from outstanding faculty sponsors while conducting dissertation research in scientific health-related fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers.” Tommy Chou,... Read more...How the Organic Garden has bloomedOctober 31, 2018The Agroecology Program integrates science-based education, research, and outreach in the fields of agriculture and natural resources. The program consists of specialized agroecology courses, field trips, internships, undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships, and training workshops. One of the most important assets of the Agroegology program is the Organic Garden, a hands-on teaching facility. Students gain experiential... Read more...A day with the DeanOctober 31, 2018Children at Downtown Doral Charter Elementary School had the chance to experience “A day with the Dean” when Mike Heithaus paid them a visit in late October. He met with every 4th and 5th grade science class (seven total) to talk about marine science, sharks from around the world, and his research from the Caribbean to... Read more...Recovery of local waters could take decadesOctober 31, 2018The Florida Keys marine environment likely will need decades to recover from Hurricane Irma, scientists told marine advisers. Mangrove forests that lay in the Lower Keys path of Irma endured “extensive canopy damage from high winds,” typically losing more than half their canopy cover, Kara Radabaugh of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said... Read more...Student makes a difference for children with special needsOctober 30, 2018Master of Science in Special Education student Natasha Quesada’s passion stands out while her skills help her make a difference in the lives of some truly special students. “They need love and respect, and we can’t just define students on behavior – there’s so much to it,” Quesada explained as she spoke about one of... Read more...FCE LTER joins the 2018 LTER All Scientists’ MeetingOctober 29, 2018Every three years, the NSF LTER Network gathers at the All Scientists’ Meeting as an opportunity to share insights, learn about research and education activities, and develop new collaborations. This year, FIU scientist from the Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research (FCE LTER) program within the Southeast Environmental Research Center joined the meeting for four days of science, outreach, and sharing... Read more...Basketball teams host first ever FIU HooplaOctober 29, 2018Last Thursday, the men’s and women’s basketball teams hosted FIU Hoopla, the first of what the teams hope becomes an annual and free party just before the start of their seasons. Rather than hold the event in the arena, they took Hoopla to the people at the Wellness and Recreation Center outdoors courts. “We’re bringing... Read more...Rethinking Education in the Wake of DevastationOctober 28, 2018Earlier this semester Aimee Viana, the Executive Director of White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, visited FIU as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s “Rethink School tour” that saw stops in Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands. Specifically set out to explore schools that were implementing innovation in areas including, but not... Read more...Shark facts with Dean HeithausOctober 28, 2018Nova Southeastern University hosted a Celebration of Campus Children’s Centers (N4C) at The Mailman Segal Center for Human Development (MSC). N4C is a nonprofit educational membership organization supporting excellence in programs for young children in communities of higher learning by providing opportunities for leadership, professional development, research, networking, and advocacy. The focus of the week long... Read more...We Are Tropics: Donna MolfettoOctober 27, 2018As the human population continues to skyrocket, so does the number of people living in or around urban areas. So, what does this mean for local wildlife? FIU Tropics PhD student explores this question in a unique study focused on an avian apex predator that flies above our own backyard. Through her work with our Department... Read more...BSI faculty Prem Chapagain to explore vaccine antigens with molecular simulationOctober 26, 2018Physics professor and Biomolecular Sciences Institute faculty member, Prem Chapagain, has teamed up with the pharmaceutical research group at Luna Innovations to select and design a panel of antigens for the Marburg virus (MARV) vaccine. Antigens are molecules capable of inducing an immune response in a host organism such as producing antibodies against any particular disease.... Read more...Lakes write music, science is listeningOctober 26, 2018Growing up, Dr. Evelyn Gaiser spent summers by the water. Today, she’s an aquatic ecologist who studies long-term dynamics of ecosystems in response to environmental change. As the Endowed George Barley Eminent Scholars Chair and lead principal investigator of the Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research program, her research focuses on algal communities, particularly long-term change... Read more...Women in Research: Angela LairdOctober 26, 2018Angela Laird, Professor from the Department of Physics, is committed to finding the answers to two questions – “How does this work?” and “What does this mean?” Laird, a cognitive neuroscientist and medical physicist, is the Director of FIU’s Center for Imaging Science (CIS), hired in 2012 as part of a push to grow FIU’s... Read more...Education team awarded $1.2 million training grantOctober 25, 2018Learning disabilities. Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder. Anxiety. Trauma. These are the challenges and circumstances that many of our students are displaying, both at the elementary and secondary levels. Now more than ever, educators need to be trained on how to collaborate and most effectively work to support the needs of students. FIU’s School Counseling Track Coordinator,... Read more...Tying college funding to graduation ratesOctober 25, 2018Florida is one of 35 states that tie college funding to graduation rates. But a new study,“The Pell Divide,” finds a difference in graduation rates between students who receive funding assistance from Pell Grants and those who don’t. Florida International University is one that’s using predictive analytics to identify students likely to struggle, so they... Read more...Biochemistry Ph.D. candidate focuses on fight against prostate cancerOctober 25, 2018Manqi Zhang, a student in the Biochemistry Ph.D. Program, has published as first author in an Oncogene paper that was ranked (by impact factor of the journal) as the top publication of Prostate Cell News in its issue of Volume 9.36, September 21, 2018 (see Oncogene summary below). Titled “Inositol Polyphosphate 4-Phosphatase Type II Regulation of... Read more...How do episodic disturbances affect Everglades water quality?October 24, 2018Floridians are no strangers to disturbances like hurricanes and heavy rainfall— in fact, we consider ourselves seasoned professionals in the matter. What we lack, however, is an understanding of how these episodic disturbances, and others like them, affect our invaluable Everglades ecosystem. Fortunately, FIU’s Florida Coastal Everglades LTER (FCE LTER) scientists are on it. A recent... Read more...How astronomy inspired professor James Webb’s musicOctober 24, 2018There are so many singers, songwriters, and bands inspired by astronomy or spaceflight. Just think back to the theme song to the TV series “The Big Bang Theory” by The Barenaked Ladies, or Elton John’s “Rocket Man” to name a few. But there are also professional astronomers out there who use science to inspire their own... Read more...Tutors Oberta and Borges present at SWCA’s Florida Tutor Collaboration DayOctober 23, 2018On September 29th, Rachel Oberta and Carlos Borges, tutors within the Center for Excellence in Writing, presented and guided discussions for the Southeastern Writing Center Association (SWCA) at Nova University. The SWCA was founded in 1981 to advance literacy; to further the theoretical, practical, and political concerns of writing center professionals; and to serve as... Read more...What to do if your child is bulliedOctober 23, 2018National statistics show that approximately one in five students in the U.S. have experienced bullying and 70 percent of youth say they have seen bullying in their schools. Being bullied may have negative consequences for a child, leading to poor school performance, low self-esteem, anxiety, and even depression. It’s important to take bullying seriously and... Read more...TCI and Rare Species Foundation work to save endangered wildlifeOctober 22, 2018The Tropical Conservation Institute (TCI) has partnered with the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation (RSCF) in an effort to save the world’s most critically endangered wildlife. Founding Director of RSCF and Director of TCI Dr. Paul Reillo and his staff of 10 work tirelessly to save some of the world’s most endangered wildlife. Reillo and Dean Heithaus serve... Read more...Kylee O’Hara’s journey towards becoming an FIU women’s basketball playerOctober 22, 2018FIUSports had the chance to meet and sit down with FIU women’s basketball newcomer, Kylee O’Hara , to discuss her journey to Miami, college life at FIU and her disinterest in hockey. A native of Ajax, Ontario, Canada, O’Hara comes to FIU after a highly successful prep career that led her to receiving an invitation to the Canadian National Team training... Read more...How a national punching bag put together the game of Brock Osweiler’s lifeOctober 19, 2018Brock Osweiler has a secret weapon in his ability to remain upbeat and insanely confident after a career that would crush mere mortals. Osweiler is as sunny as a Phoenix morning, and he saw more than a few during his three seasons at Arizona State. He has the mindset of a four-time champion, not a guy on... Read more...Promoting LGBTQ students’ well-being in schoolsOctober 18, 2018Research shows that LGBTQ youth are disproportionately bullied (whether in person or via cyberbullying), verbally and physically harassed, and assaulted in schools by peers and staff. Such hostility has been correlated to lower school performance and psychological and emotional distress, including suicidal ideation and attempt, depression and anxiety. Many LGBTQ students identify school counselors as... Read more...NSF celebrates Hispanic scientist at FIUOctober 18, 2018José R. Almirall is a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Florida International University and director of the NSF-funded Center for Advanced Research in Forensic Science (CARFS). He was a practicing forensic scientist for 12 years in Miami where he testified in over 100 criminal cases prior to his academic appointment at FIU in 1998.... Read more...Will climate change turn Miami into a future Atlantis?October 18, 2018Florida research professors studying climate change have serious warnings for the Magic City. They say that Miami’s buildings have come a long way in becoming more resistant to sustained, heavy winds. However, the city’s infrastructure may not be prepared to protect it from a huge hurricane storm surge. In this edition of PBS News Hour,... Read more...Empathy rises as Hurricane Michael zeroes in on FloridaOctober 17, 2018About a year ago, South Floridians struggled after Hurricane Irma, sweltering in their homes as they waited for electricity to return. Some had tried to outrun Irma, hitting the road, only to have to turn around as the storm’s trajectory skipped toward the west. Some went on social media, saying they were willing to open... Read more...Paul G. Allen, A ChampionOctober 17, 2018Paul G. Allen was committed to the community, the arts, and conservation. He made a difference to so many communities and species on land and in the oceans. As an investor and philanthropist, Allen worked to save endangered species, slow climate change, improve ocean health, share art, history and film, develop new technology, tackle epidemics, research how the... Read more...Faculty and students react to Nobel Peace PrizeOctober 15, 2018We value the importance in sharing the expertise and diverse perspectives of members of the university community. In this series, we asked faculty and students to offer their view in response to the recent announcement of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to a survivor and a doctor fighting against rape as a weapon of war. The opinions... Read more...Climate change threatens to reverse manmade work in EvergladesOctober 15, 2018A recent report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine warns that rising temperatures are threatening the Everglades, including changing rainfall patterns and accelerating sea-level rise. Sea water occupying the Everglades will endanger decades of work by a government program to reverse manmade damage to the ecosystem at the tip of Florida. The federal,... Read more...SISH alumna inducted into Lakeland Alumni Hall of FameOctober 14, 2018The Lakeland Community College Alumni and Friends Network recently inducted seven new members into the 2018 Lakeland Alumni Hall of Fame. The award honors Lakeland graduates who have made a difference in their careers, in the community and at Lakeland. Amongst this year’s Lakeland Alumni Hall of Fame inductees is Linda M. Erdei, Lakeland class of 1977;... Read more...We Are Tropics: Ariel FreidenreichOctober 12, 2018As the only place within the contiguous United States to have a subtropical/tropical climate, South Florida’s unique Redland area has, unsurprisingly, become a hotspot for tropical fruit production. Working to further “sweeten” this deal through her research, is FIU Tropics PhD student Ariel Freidenreich. Freidenreich’s work with the FIU Agroecology program aims to develop sustainable... Read more...Influencer Series: Lawmakers must stop re-directing affordable housing fundsOctober 11, 2018In this important election year, the Miami Herald, el Nuevo Herald and Bradenton Herald want to drive a discussion on the important issues facing the Sunshine State. They’ve assembled a panel of 50 influential Floridians who will offer their views through the November elections. In a new survey of the Florida Influencers, a clear majority (84... Read more...“Mouth on Its Belly” worm infests central FloridaOctober 11, 2018The New Guinea flatworm, a creature on the world’s most invasive species list, is causing concern among some central Florida residents amidst new reports of sightings of the species that could carry the dangerous rat lungworm parasite. WESH 2 News reported that it had received photos of a suspected New Guinea flatworm found in Grant, Brevard County, inside... Read more...2018 CASE AwardsOctober 10, 2018Nominated by their fellow colleagues, our dedicated faculty members were recognized at the annual CASE Awards ceremony. The winners were acknowledged for their exceptional work in research, teaching, service and engagement. Teaching The heart of any university’s mission, teaching is fundamental to students’ intellectual development. While teaching spans a range of activities and contexts, the dedication of those nominated... Read more...How a medical doctor and photography entrepreneur is advancing tropical conservationOctober 10, 2018Less than a year after the launch of the FIU Tropics Photo Contest, a program that incentivizes students to communicate the importance of tropical conservation through photography, the art-science initiative has found an unlikely supporter – a healthcare expert. A healthcare veteran with an innate passion for helping others, Dr. Jim McCormick has an MD... Read more...Excelencia in Education Advancing Latino Student SuccessOctober 10, 2018Conducting research on recruiting and serving Latino students, cultivating a safe community on campus, and using data to implement student support initiatives were some of the strategies discussed during Excelencia in Education’s Accelerating Latino Student Success (ALASS) Institute gathering. Those attending the institute had the opportunity to learn how to grow or enhance their own Latino student... Read more...Train the parent, help the childOctober 9, 2018During the school year, a key component of behavioral parent training (BPT) is the daily report card. Early in the school year, the parents and teacher decide on certain behaviors that they want to see improved, behaviors that if changed would lessen the child’s problems in daily life. The behaviors might involve: Peer relations. Goals... Read more...Miami’s King Tide makes little splash this time, thanks in part to better plumbingOctober 8, 2018The highest high tides of the year, known as King Tides, have made headlines in South Florida over the years as floodwater swamped roads, ruined cars and turned parks into lakes. This year, however, at the height of the season’s annual tides, they barely caused a ripple. The combination of a reprieve from nature, with... Read more...Opinion: Protect the Everglades because it protects South FloridaOctober 8, 2018Saving the Everglades from sea-level rise means much more to South Florida than just protecting panthers, alligators and pythons. Without the Everglades as a buffer to hurricanes and as a source of drinking water, its people living in South Florida risk becoming the endangered species. The Everglades guards our western flank during hurricanes, absorbing storm... Read more...5 things every parent needs to know about ADHDOctober 8, 2018A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looks at the best way to treat young children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD. ADHD is a biological disorder that causes hyperactivity, impulsivity and attention problems in children. Currently, there are two million children who are diagnosed with the disorder before the age of... Read more...Clinical Science Ph.D. Student receives dissertation fellowship from the Department of Health and Human ServicesOctober 5, 2018Bridget Poznanski, a fourth year doctoral student in FIU’s Clinical Science in Child and Adolescent Psychology program, under the mentorship of Dr. Katie Hart, received a two-year dissertation fellowship from the Department of Health and Human Services/ Administration for Children and Families/ Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation for her project entitled: “Examining Positive Behavioral... Read more...Women in Research: Dee MillsOctober 3, 2018When it comes to deducing conclusions from the examination of minute traces of evidence, DeEtta “Dee” Mills, associate professor of Biology could give Sherlock Holmes a run for his money. Mills is the director of the International Forensic Research Institute (IFRI), which serves local and national law enforcement efforts in the application of scientific principles to the... Read more...Live every week like it’s Shark WeekOctober 3, 2018Global Fin Print’s Dr. Demian Chapman, Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, shared his thoughts on how the United States and the Bahamas are setting new world standards for shark conservation. Chapman states that shark populations benefit the coastal communities that live beside them. Research shows that there is evidence that if sharks weren’t... Read more...Decomposing tea bags help students understand climate changeOctober 2, 2018This Fall semester, tea bags will be the stars of FIU Florida Coastal Everglades LTER’s new aptly named citizen science project: LTeaER. The project will engage local high school students in the Teabag Index mission aiming to create a global soil map of plant material decay rates using tea bags to test the relationship between environment and... Read more...Puerto Rican alumni among non-binary writers telling new storiesOctober 2, 2018The latest issue of Exectric Literature magazine features an extensive feature on “16 Puerto Rican Women and Non-Binary Writers Telling New Stories.” Included in the all-star lineup are Master of Fine Arts alumni Jennifer Maritza McCauley and her collection “Scar On/Scar Off” ; Anjanette Delgadoand, her novel The Clairvoyant of Calle Ocho; as well as Jaquira Díaz,... Read more...South Florida prepares for king tide seasonOctober 1, 2018It’s king tide season again in South Florida, when an intrusive sea lifts fancy boats to street levels, forces tourists to slosh their way through thoroughfares, and sends cities rushing to erect barricades. Cities and counties all around South Florida are acting not only on their own initiatives, but in concert with others to find... Read more...Opinion: Dr. Vicki Burns believes in AmericaOctober 1, 2018We value the importance in sharing the expertise and diverse perspectives of members of the university community. In this opinion piece, Dr. Vicki Burns, an instructor within the Center for Women and Gender Studies, offers her perspective on why women who are sexually assaulted are blamed intensely regardless of the evidence. The piece, titled “It’s 2018... Read more...FIU professor develops app to promote bilingualism in hispanic childrenOctober 1, 2018In most circumstances, a child’s parents are the ones who teach the child how to speak. The process might seem simple, but it can be challenging for Hispanic parents trying to teach their children Spanish when living in English-speaking countries likes the US. They face pressure to focus more on English. Melissa Baralt, Associate Professor... Read more...Graduate student leads team’s research on bisonOctober 1, 2018A student-led research team from the Hendrix College Department of Biology has concluded that the behavior of bison may make a valuable contribution to conserving the habitat of arthropods or invertebrate animals. Zachary Nickell, the lead author on the paper, began participating in the research the summer after his sophomore year at Hendrix and continued... Read more...Dams are changing the AmazonSeptember 30, 2018New dams in the Amazon could threaten ecosystems. Elizabeth Anderson, assistant professor in the Department of Earth and Environment, describes the challenges of new dams changing the flow of rivers in the basin. The primary source of food for 20 million people is being threatened by the rapid development of hundreds of dams across the Amazon basin.... Read more...The Southeast Environmental Research Center celebrates 25 years!September 28, 2018Ariana Grande, the European Union, Jurassic Park and Intel’s Pentium Processor all have one thing in common – they all share a 25th birthday with the Southeast Environmental Research Center (SERC)! Twenty-eighteen marks the year that SERC turns 25 years old. Last week on September 21st, the Center (now a critical part of the young... Read more...InWE hosts first annual Water and Environment Security ConferenceSeptember 28, 2018The FIU Institute of Water and Environment hosted the first annual Water and Environment Security Conference last week on September 17-18. In its inaugural year, the conference brought together over 60 experts who highlighted the challenges of and opportunities to address regional, international and global water and environment security issues. Presentations and panel discussions covered... Read more...Collaborative Everglades learningSeptember 27, 2018Every day, ForEverglades Scholarship alumnus Gregory Koch connects a multi-generation of visitors, volunteers, and educators in an effort to expand conservation education. Koch discovered his passion for communicating science while working on his Ph.D. dissertation at FIU, studying how ecosystem metabolism responds to changing hydrology and phosphorus availability in Taylor River. Now at Zoo Miami... Read more...Kavanaugh’s judiciary hearing becomes teachable momentSeptember 27, 2018Assistant Professor Victoria Burns, who teaches women and gender studies, showed Thursday’s heated Senate Judiciary hearings to her classroom. “Almost everyone knew what was going on and wanted to watch it,” said Burns. “I checked to see if they were really watching or were on their phones, and they were all really engaged.” Burns and... Read more...Dr. Rachel Ritchie wins Faculty Choice Award for Student EngagementSeptember 26, 2018Since 2014, the Faculty Choice Awards for online courses has become one of the most anticipated events at the annual FIU Online Conference. Each year, faculty self-nominate a fully-online course for an award in one of five categories: Student Engagement, Innovative Use of Open Content, Innovative Course Design, Creative Tool Use, and Top Score in... Read more...We Are Tropics: Carissa GervasiSeptember 24, 2018Recreational fishing is a critical component of South Florida’s economy, making the health of local fish communities crucial for both our economic and ecological well-being. With this in mind, ForEverglades Fellow and FIU Tropics PhD student Carissa Gervasi explores the effects of marine protected areas on fish communities and recreational fishing. Gervasi’s work with FIU’s... Read more...Alumnus Frankie Thon Jr. to serve as Mariners director of international scoutingSeptember 23, 2018The Seattle Mariners have found a replacement for one of their top scouting positions to one of our FIU Alumnus, Frankie Thon Jr. After receiving a master’s degree in Philosophy and Asian Religions from FIU in 2008, Thon Jr. was dedicated to become an MLB scout, since it’s in his blood. His father, Frankie Thon,... Read more...National Institutes of Health awards FIU Alumnus Assaf OshriSeptember 23, 2018FIU Alumnus, Assaf Oshri, was recently awarded a Career Award by the National Institutes of Health to conduct a neuroimaging study of resilience among rural youth. Assaf graduated with a master’s and Ph.D. in developmental psychology in 2009. Since then, he has earned his post-doctoral degree in developmental psychopathology, became an associate professor at the... Read more...Largest class yet of Biochemistry Ph.D. ProgramSeptember 21, 2018Eight students from around the world have set their sights on FIU’s Biochemistry Ph.D. Program. The graduate students joining the program represent the largest incoming cohort since the Biochemistry Ph.D. Program was first launched in 2011. They hail from Egypt, Lebanon, Mexico, China, Cuba, and the United States. Currently, the program has 23 Ph.D. students... Read more...How mangroves are affected by climate changeSeptember 21, 2018 The video provided by 4Ocean features Dr. Parkinson, a research associate within the Sea Level Solutions Center. In just the last decade, at least 35% of the world’s mangroves have been destroyed. Dr. Parkinson discusses the importance of these trees and why they are necessary for us to thrive.... Read more...Dr. Hebin Li’s quantum information processing research featured in PantherNOWSeptember 19, 2018Physics Associate Professor Hebin Li provided insights into the tools, concepts and potential applications of quantum computing research in a feature story on student-published PantherNOW.com. Dr. Li, whose Li Research Group uses optical instruments to study how light and matter interact, told PantherNOW that “We are on the verge of a second quantum mechanic revolution.” Computers... Read more...Everglades on the Path to Recovery after Hurricane IrmaSeptember 14, 2018On the morning of September 10th, 2017, Hurricane Irma, one of the strongest hurricanes on record, made landfall in the Florida Keys and took aim west, sparing Floridians in the state’s densely populated eastern coast from the hurricane’s most destructive power. Irma’s path, however, had a direct impact on the western Florida Everglades, bringing along... Read more...CWGS: Women Studies Student Association (WSSA) at Club FairSeptember 13, 2018To kick off the Fall semester, the Women’s Studies Student Association (WSSA) and countless other clubs were at the Graham Center Ballrooms, promoting and spreading awareness of their organizations to prospective members. President Megan Yavar’s display and dedication at her booth was exceptional. The WSSA promotes and advocates the discussion of the inequalities and and... Read more...Physics alumna Analis Lawrence featured in Astronomy in ColorSeptember 12, 2018The fifth TAURUS Scholar Spotlight of the summer focuses on Analis Lawrence, a graduate of FIU with a bachelor’s in Physics, and minors in Mathematics and Astronomy. She participated in The University of Texas at Austin’s TAURUS Summer Research Program this past summer. She will be attending the University of Florida as a graduate student in the... Read more...As Sea Water Moves into the Everglades, Marshes CollapseSeptember 11, 2018Decades of reduced water flow and the effects of climate change on sea level rise are causing rapid saltwater intrusion into the central Everglades. Scientists warn that one of the most alarming consequences of salt water intrusion is that sawgrass marshes, which are adapted to freshwater, are collapsing when exposed to salt. The collapse of... Read more...School of Education and Human Development Scholarship AwardeesSeptember 10, 2018The School of Education and Human Development is proud to announce their 2018-2019 scholarship recipients. Committee members awarded 18 students. Andrea Castillo Foundation Scholarship The Castillo Family established this scholarship in memory of Andrea Castillo, a talented and exceptional student that dreamt of being a teacher. This scholarship is awarded to Miami-Dade County Public School... Read more...Raptor rescued from extinction by unlikely saviorSeptember 10, 2018The Everglades snail kite, a raptor with red eyes and a knife-sharp beak, was slowly becoming extinct a decade ago, fading from Florida skies forever. In a strange twist to Florida’s storied tale of defeat in the face of invasive species, an exotic snail considered harmful for its voracious appetite and proficient procreation is propping... Read more...U.N. Indigenous Women in Ecuadorian Rights and Politics with Lourdes TibánSeptember 10, 2018Partnered with FIU’s Global Indigenous Forum, the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies co-sponsored U.N. Indigenous Ecuadorian Representative Lourdes Tibán’s lecture! Breaking through traditionalist expectations of women, focusing on the importance of discussing ecology between territories and the government, and persisting to preserve culture, Tibán opened the intersectional eyes for all those who attended. From... Read more...Expedition: Sharks in Palm Beach CountySeptember 10, 2018Angari Foundation marked their first expedition with FIU researchers towards their research on sharks. The scientists included Laura Garcia from the Predator Ecology and Conservation Lab, Kirk Gastrich from the Marine Community and Behavioral Ecology Lab and Global FinPrint, and Gina Clementi from the Predator Ecology and Conservation lab and Global FinPrint. The team led 15 marine... Read more...Doctoral student Jaeson Clayborn selected as one of five ESA Science Policy FellowsSeptember 7, 2018The Science Policy Fellows (SPF) program is a two-year active training program to teach entomologists the skills needed to successfully advocate for the discipline. Each year, five applications are selected by during a competitive application process. We’re excited to congratulate Jaeson Clayborn, a doctoral student and adjunct professor in the School of Environment, Arts and... Read more...Communicating Science Through Interactive ExperiencesSeptember 6, 2018In a complex political environment, understanding ecosystem dynamics and accelerated changes occurring within the Everglades must extend beyond communications with the scientific community to reach all stakeholders that depend on the River of Grass. That is the work and task of Dr. Kristie Wendelberger, Outdoor Education and Outreach Coordinator at the Everglades Foundation. A recent... Read more...Navigating the Red Zone with CWGS’ Dr. Vicki BurnsSeptember 5, 2018Dr. Vicki Burns was a panel member at FIU National Organization for Women’s (NOW) Red Zone event, which was co-sponsored by the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (CWGS). The “Red Zone” is the time period when incoming college students are the most vulnerable to sexual assault, which is typically during the first six weeks... Read more...We Are Tropics: Andrea Primoli SalasSeptember 4, 2018When scientists and farmers work together, great things can happen. Just ask FIU Tropics PhD Candidate Andrea Primoli Salas. Primoli is working with local farmers to explore how the use of native perennial insectary plants influences beneficial trophic interactions in agro-ecosystems. Her work aims to fulfill the needs of local farmers while also contributing to... Read more...Alumna Stephanie Texeira reflects on first professional softball seasonSeptember 3, 2018After a successful first season in the American Softball Association (ASBA), former FIU softball standout and Liberal Studies alumna, Stephanie Texeira took time to reflect on her great summer. The Panther great was selected in the inaugural ASBA draft over the summer, where she was picked 32nd overall by Moh-beel! USA in the eighth round. Texeira was... Read more...Meet our SERC scientists: Dr. Jennifer RichardsAugust 31, 2018Dr. Jennifer Richards likes to immerse herself in new and foreign worlds, exploring the unknown and experiencing the unexpected. So it’s no wonder she found herself dissecting the secret lives of plants. Richards is a researcher in the Southeast Environmental Research Center and a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. She studies the responses... Read more...Do fidget spinners help children with ADHD focus?August 30, 2018The small, spinning toys known as fidget spinners are popping up in playgrounds and classrooms everywhere. Not only are they fun, but many manufacturers also advertise them as useful tools for reducing anxiety and improving attention. Paulo Graziano started paying attention to these advertisements when his own daughter became interested in the toy. Scientists had... Read more...Professor helps create sea-level rise appAugust 30, 2018When it comes to sea-level rise, planners in South Florida typically use the benchmark of two feet in the next 40 years, but there’s a chance it could be less — or more– than that. A team at FIU developed an app called Eyes on the Rise to help homeowners and businesses plan for the... Read more...Is there a Tampa accent? How about a Florida accent? It’s complicated, but maybe.August 30, 2018A recent article from the Tampa Bay Times looked into the question: Is there a Tampa accent or even a Florida accent? In the case of Tampa’s supposedly distinct dialect, deep-rooted natives say they know it when they hear it. First, they say it’s not so much a Tampa accent, but a West Tampa accent. Also,... Read more...Austin Shenton has breakout summerAugust 29, 2018Every summer, the nation’s top college baseball players gather in the Cape Cod Baseball League to show their skill-set in front of fans and professional scouts alike. Liberal Studies sophomore, Austin Shenton headed to Massachusetts for the summer to represent FIU Baseball. He joined the Wareham Gatemen with modest goals for his stint in the... Read more...Researchers participate in Congress AQUATROP meetingAugust 28, 2018For three days, scientists and researchers from across the world came together to discuss the significant changes in freshwater ecosystems in the tropics and subtropics of the Americas. They met during the first “AQUATROP Congress: Ecosistemas acuáticos tropicales en el antropoceno” (Tropical Aquatic Ecosystems in the Anthropocene) from July 23-26 in Quito, Ecuador. The event was organized by the... Read more...A freshwater, saltwater tug-of-war is eating away at the EvergladesAugust 27, 2018The Everglades, nicknamed the river of grass, has endured its share of threats. Decades of human tinkering to make South Florida an oasis for residents and a profitable place for farmers and businesses has redirected water away from the wetlands. Runoff from agricultural fields bordering the national park causes perennial toxic algal blooms in Florida’s... Read more...Diana Moore named Georgia Biology Teacher of YearAugust 24, 2018During a surprise event at Lithia Springs High School, teacher Diana Moore received the news that she is the recipient of the 2018 Georgia Outstanding Biology Teacher Award. The National Association of Biology Teachers has given this award annually since 1961 and identifies a teacher from each state who has made valuable contributions to the profession. Criteria for the award... Read more...What are the challenges of living underwater?August 23, 2018The Aquarius Reef Base is an underwater habitat which was built for oceanographic research and is the world’s only undersea laboratories. Sitting 60 feet beneath the surface in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, it’s a globally significant asset that provides unparalleled means to study the ocean, test and develop state-of-the-art undersea technology, train specialized... Read more...Watch Richard Blanco discuss his childhood as a Cuban immigrantAugust 22, 2018Department of English Professor, Richard Blanco – the first Latino and openly-gay presidential inaugural poet – spoke about his book, The Prince of Los Cocuyos: A Miami Childhood, at a lecture put together by Trinity University. The Prince of Los Cocuyos is a vivid account of Blanco’s coming of age as the child of Cuban... Read more...Dr. Rose and Dr. Darici are addressing inequality in EducationAugust 21, 2018The underrepresentation of women and minority groups in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) related fields of employment and study is a widespread and serious issue in academia. Dr. Suzanna Rose, Psychology professor and Founding Associate Provost of the Office to Advance Women, Equity, & Diversity, is breaking down the barriers that women and minorities face in... Read more...Alumna’s love of the outdoors led to environmental centerAugust 20, 2018School of Environment, Arts and Society Alumna Sandy Falcon has been at the Lyonia Environmental Center in Deltona for nine years, the last nearly seven years as manager. After high school graduation, Falcon said she went to community college and was taking courses in journalism. She realized journalism wasn’t for her and switched her major... Read more...Early Childhood Education program ranked by Online Schools CenterAugust 17, 2018Online Schools center released their Top Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education Online Degree Programs and the School of Education and Human Development made the cut! FIU online offers a Bachelor in Early Childhood Development that focuses on learning development during the early childhood years. Topics include cognitive, language and social/emotional development of young children, as well... Read more...Dr. Burns recognized by the American Psychological AssociationAugust 17, 2018The Center for Women and Gender Studies‘ Dr. Vicki Burns recently received the honorable mention for the Mary Roth Walsh Teaching Award sponsored by the Society for the Psychology of Women (Division 35) of the American Psychological Association. This is the first time in the history of this award that an honorable mention has been... Read more...Has Everglades restoration been effective?August 16, 2018The need for Everglades restoration is indisputable, but exactly how effective have restoration efforts been so far? A decade-long study of phosphorus concentrations may offer some insight. Sixteen years since the inception of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), FIU masters student Shishir Sarker investigates the effectiveness and progress of this restoration effort by analyzing... Read more...Botanical secrets from the French revolutionAugust 16, 2018What could plant exploration in Puerto Rico possibly have to do with the French Revolution? According to Dr. Eugenio Santiago, far more than you would expect. Santiago, a professor at the Universidad de Puerto Rico, is collaborating with International Center for Tropical Botany professor and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden adjunct faculty Dr. Javier Francisco Ortega... Read more...Dr. Jose Almirall appointed to the Forensics Technology GroupAugust 15, 2018Dr. Jose Almirall, director of the Center for Advanced Research in Forensic Science (CARFS) and professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry was appointed to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ)‘s newly created Forensic Laboratory Needs Technology Working Group (FLN-TWG). The working group will provide objective and independent knowledge and expertise, ensuring that research is relevant and responsive to the needs... Read more...Meet the 2018 CREST CAChE summer fellows cohortAugust 14, 2018During the summer, CREST Center for Aquatic Chemistry and Environment welcomed their 2018 summer fellows student cohort. At their orientation session, the students had the opportunity to meet their peers, mentors, faculty, staff, and graduate students, as well as take a tour around their labs and CREST facilities. The mission of this research experience was to... Read more...Can you remember being a baby?August 13, 2018Every life-stage has its share of novelty—first kiss, first tax return, first job—but when it comes to new experiences most of us peak in infancy as we cycle through thousands of firsts. Some claim to remember being born, but is it possible to remember that or what life was like at such a young stage?... Read more...High school students engage in immersive STEM college experience with Upward Bound Math-ScienceAugust 10, 2018Thirty-four students from schools across Miami-Dade County partook in a five-week long immersive college experience this summer with Florida International University’s Upward Bound Math-Science, a TRIO grant program funded by the Department of Education’s initiatives for first-generation and Pell-eligible college students. “We are serving underrepresented groups that want to pursue STEM careers, so we make... Read more...Aquarius and CCOR featured in new podcast, “Flash Forward”August 9, 2018The Center for Coastal Oceans Research (CCOR) and Aquarius Reef Base were featured in a new podcast, “Flash Forward” which discusses the possible (and not so possible) future. The podcast episode titled “Under the Sea” starts with a “field trip” to the future (2059) where humans have the ability to live underwater. After a quick... Read more...Tiffany Troxler selected for Miami Herald’s Influencer SeriesAugust 8, 2018The Miami Herald, el Nuevo Herald and Bradenton Herald want to drive a discussion on the important issues facing the Sunshine State. They assembled a panel of 50 influential Floridians, including Dr. Tiffany Troxler – Director of Science of our Sea Level Solutions Center. The selected individuals will offer their respective point of views throughout the next... Read more...Dr. Yi Xiao’s research featured on NIJ’s websiteAugust 8, 2018According to a new study by Dr. Yi Xiao, assistant professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Center for Advanced Research in Forensic Science (CARFS) funded researcher, a new test for detecting and identifying illegal drugs in oral fluids may be superior to the current test widely used in the field by law enforcement. Dr. Xiao’s... Read more...Dean Heithaus contributes to new Shark Research textbookAugust 7, 2018Over the last decade, the study of shark biology has benefited from the development, refinement, and rapid expansion of novel techniques and advances in technology. Shark Research: Emerging Technologies and Applications for the Field and Laboratory written by experts in shark biology and edited by our Dean Dr. Michael Heithaus alongside Dr. Jeffrey C. Carrier and Dr. Colin... Read more...Alumna and husband start South Florida Fungi businessAugust 6, 2018 Carmen Adriana Rodriguez dreamed of a better life. She migrated from Lima, Peru when she was 7 alongside her mother and later became the first to graduate in her family with a Bachelor’s degree. While a part of the School of Environment, Arts and Society she majored in Environmental science and was a part... Read more...Ecuador’s ESPOL visits the Institute of Water and EnvironmentAugust 3, 2018Last month, representatives from the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL) in Ecuador visited the Institute of Water and Environment in order to discuss the potential for a fruitful partnership. Luis Altamirano, professor of Oceanographic Engineering at ESPOL, and Douglas Plaza, automation expert in ESPOL’s Vision and Robotics Center, met with InWE’s International Program co-director, Maria Donoso, as... Read more...University of Puerto Rico students join CREST CAChE for researchAugust 2, 2018As Puerto Rico continues to recover from the extensive destruction of Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Irma, the CREST Center for Aquatic Chemistry and Environment welcomed Yuleika Martínez and Nicole Diaz, two undergraduate biology students from the University of Puerto Rico, Bayamón Campus. The students joined FIU for the summer as the University offered them a... Read more...Aquanaut Matthias Maurer explores how space environment affects human healthJuly 27, 2018How does the space environment impact human health? NASA Extreme Environments Missions Operation (NEEMO)- 21 aquanaut Matthias Maurer is working to find out. Maurer, one of several aquanauts who has participated in the NEEMO missions with FIU’s Medina Aquarius Program, is now exploring the ways in which living in the space environment affects human health,... Read more...We Are Tropics: Andria BealJuly 26, 2018Could epigenetics research help sharks and humans in one fell swoop? Andria Beal, an FIU Tropics Ph.D. Candidate studying environmental epigenetics, explains how it absolutely can. Beal conducts environmental epigenetics research that focuses on marine wildlife such as sharks, dolphins, and whales. Her research serves to create new molecular tools with the potential to uncover... Read more...Why we should be thanking sharks for making our oceans healthierJuly 24, 2018Our very own College of Arts, Sciences and Education (CASE) dean, Dr. Michael Heithaus, recently wrote an article on Paul Allen’s website discussing the ways sharks make our ocean healthier. Shark attacks get all the headlines. Less appreciated until recently is just how much trouble many species of sharks are in. So are their close relatives,... Read more...BSI faculty and students receive patents on discoveries to fight superbugsJuly 24, 2018The world faces the threat that bacterial infections acquired in hospitals or community settings such as gym facilities could become life-threatening due to the insufficient number of new antibiotics in the pipeline during the past decades. Two Biomolecular Sciences Institute (BSI) faculty members, Dr. Yuk-Ching Tse-Dinh and Dr. Fenfei Leng are utilizing their world-leading expertise... Read more...Director of the Natural History Museum of Jamaica conducts research at FIUJuly 23, 2018As if being the Director of the Natural History Museum of Jamaica weren’t impressive enough, Ph.D. Candidate Mrs. Tracy Commock has now co-authored two publications aimed at further understanding and conserving, plant species found exclusively in Jamaica. Tracy, a Ph.D. student at the University of West Indies (UWI) at Mona (Major Advisor Prof. Philip Rose),... Read more...How do tree species coexist in the Amazon? FIU researchers are on it.July 20, 2018While some of the mechanisms behind the coexistence of plant species in highly diverse tropical forests remain a mystery, FIU researchers have brought us one step closer to understanding why, and how, these ecosystems remain so diverse. Through their research with FIU’s International Center for Tropical Botany Drs. Christopher Baraloto and Diego Salazar Amoretti are... Read more...Is “just adding water” a solution to coastal wetlands threatened by sea level rise?July 20, 2018FIU researchers have been studying whether or not enhanced freshwater delivery or strategic withdrawal in the Everglades coastal wetlands can offset the effects of sea level rise (SLR) and saltwater encroachment (SWE). Drs. John Meeder, Michael Ross, and Randall Parkinson explain that “future adaptive management of Biscayne Bay coastal wetlands is totally dependent upon the availability of... Read more...Forensic Science alumni featured on ASCP 40 Under Forty programJuly 20, 2018The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) 40 Under Forty program recognizes members under the age of 40 for their achievements and leadership qualities that are making an impact on pathology and laboratory medicine. Pathologists, Laboratory Professionals and Residents are chosen annually through an application or nomination process. The program has recognized worthy members of... Read more...Miami faces an underwater futureJuly 17, 2018In Miami, the rising sea is already an ineluctable part of daily life. Everyone is affected—whether storm flooding forces a small-business owner to shut down for a few days (at tremendous cost), or daily tides hinder students commuting to school, or the retreating coastline forces people to abandon their homes. There are other, less obvious,... Read more...Counseling people who have HIV/AIDS: A workshop for FIU studentsJuly 17, 2018Last month, the Department of Leadership and Professional Studies‘ Counselor Education program hosted a three-hour continuing education workshop on working with people who have HIV/AIDS. This event took place at the School of Education and Human Development (SEHD) on our Modesto A. Maidique Campus. Workshop presenter, Dr. Marilyn K. Volker, who is highly acclaimed in... Read more...FIU researchers identify best wetland practicesJuly 16, 2018A recent FIU study pinpoints best practices for wetland restoration. Researchers analyzed restoration progress in the Greater Everglades (USA), the Murray-Darling Basin (Australia), and other wetlands in less affluent regions. Drs. Luca Marazzi, Max Finlayson, Peter Gell, Paul Julian, John Kominoski, and Evelyn Gaiser have concluded the following: “to help better define goals of restoration, reference... Read more...Aquarius – on the road to recoveryJuly 11, 2018Hurricane Irma roared through the Florida Keys last September causing substantial damage on land and at sea. Five miles off the coast of Tavernier, the Aquarius undersea laboratory and the associated Life Support Buoy felt the storm’s impact. Aquarius’ external superstructure was damaged and mission-related test items deployed on the reef were lost, but the... Read more...Writing tips with Richard BlancoJuly 11, 2018In a recent interview with the Miami New Times, English Professor Richard Blanco discussed his tips and tricks to writing as well as his personal experience as a writer. And if you want to learn how to write, there’s pretty much no one better qualified to instruct you on poetry than Blanco. He’s an education ambassador... Read more...Dr. Lindsay Malloy TedxFIU- Why teens confess to crimes they didn’t commitJuly 9, 2018Why do juveniles falsely confess to crimes? What makes them more vulnerable than adults to this shocking, counterintuitive phenomenon? Through the lens of Brendan Dassey’s interrogation and confession (as featured in Netflix’s “Making a Murderer” documentary), developmental psychology professor and researcher Dr. Lindsay Malloy breaks down the science underlying false confessions and calls for change... Read more...New global model uncovers discrepancies in crucial mangrove ecosystem dataJuly 9, 2018FIU Research Associate Dr. Edward Castañeda along with LSU Research Associate Dr. Andre Rovai and LSU Professor Dr. Robert Twilley have created a global model that sheds light on highly significant discrepancies in crucial mangrove ecosystem data. Their research with the Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research (FCE-LTER) program found that mangrove soil organic carbon (SOC)... Read more...Psychology graduate’s sexual health research leads to year abroad in IndiaJuly 6, 2018Hector Peguero, an FIU Psychology graduate, was recently awarded a Fulbright Student Research Grant for his research project that sought to identify the subjective beliefs about HIV and related stigmas among sexual minority populations in Mysore, India. The Fulbright grant provides all research funding and living expenses for his year-long research project. This proposal was an extension of the Psychology Honors Thesis... Read more...Professor Emeritus of Chemistry honored by the White House and the NSFJuly 2, 2018The White House Office of Technology Policy and the National Science Foundation (NSF) have honored Zaida Morales-Martinez, FIU Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, with a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Math, and Engineering Mentoring. This award recognizes Ms. Morales-Martinez’s many years of mentoring services at FIU and in the American Chemical Society Scholars Program. Throughout her career,... Read more...Meet our SERC scientists: Dr. Jay SahJune 29, 2018Dr. Jay Sah grew up in a small village in Nepal, where houses are made of nature’s bounty and schoolwork is done in rooms lit by kerosene lamp or moonlight. As a child, Sah lived mostly without electricity until he moved to the larger urbanized city of Kathmandu for college. He was following the expectations... Read more...The voices of climate change heard on summer solsticeJune 29, 2018A group of diverse FIU students attended a field trip to Pinecrest Gardens and took part in an art-science experience that captured the voices of 24 individuals from across the globe who have been directly impacted by climate change. Before long, students would realize just how much they had in common with those 24 distant... Read more...Dr. Idaykis Rodriguez featured by the American Association of Physics TeachersJune 28, 2018Our very own Instructor for the STEM Transformation Institute, Dr. Idaykis Rodriguez, was recently featured as a member spotlight on the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) website. Dr. Rodriguez discusses her experience as a Latina woman in the field, who inspired her love of physics, as well as her involvement in the AAPT. “One... Read more...Tropical Botany 2018- 38 years of legacyJune 27, 2018For 4 weeks, a group of fifteen advanced students and professionals from seven different countries took part in the 2018 Tropical Botany course hosted by FIU’s International Center for Tropical Botany (ICTB) and The Kampong for the 38th consecutive year. Here’s what they experienced. Students from across the U.S., Trinidad and Tobago, France, Brazil, Jamaica, French... Read more...Rehabilitation Counseling students win big at the ACA-ARCAJune 27, 2018Alexis Duggan and Jasmine Bryant, graduate students enrolled in the MS in Counselor Education: Rehabilitation Counseling Track Program within the Department of Leadership and Professional Studies, recently entered and won the National American Counseling Association- American Rehabilitation Counseling Association (ACA-ARCA) Division Understanding Rehabilitation Counseling project competition. The Understanding Rehabilitation Counseling project is an annual national scholarship... Read more...Scientists say 848 Hampton Roads homes could be underwater by 2030June 25, 2018Millions of dollars of property would be lost and thousands of people displaced in South Hampton Roads in just over a decade under flooding and sea level rise scenarios predicted in a recently released nationwide report. It comes from the Union of Concerned Scientists, a nonprofit founded in 1969 that advocates for government solutions based in science.... Read more...Dr. Dionne Stephens awarded 2018 Miami Lakes Women of Distinction in EducationJune 25, 2018The Town of Miami Lakes and its Cultural Affairs Committee recently hosted a luncheon in honor of Women’s History Month. During this luncheon, the town awarded multiple Women of Distinction awards to women living or working in the town who excel in areas of Arts, Business, Civic Affairs, Education, and Health. Our very own Associate Professor... Read more...University of Algarve visits the Institute of Water and EnvironmentJune 25, 2018This month the Institute of Water and Environment (InWe) hosted a visit by representatives from the University of Algarve, a young state university located in southern Portugal. Dr. Alex Teodosio, dean of research and international programs at the University of Algarve, and Marlene Dias, coordinator of international programs at the University, joined FIU Institute researchers... Read more...This Atlantic hurricane season may be quieter than expectedJune 24, 2018At the end of May, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its 2018 hurricane forecast, predicting a likely active or above active season in the Atlantic Ocean — though certainly not on par with 2017’s exceptionally stormy season. But almost a month later, conditions in the Atlantic are showing signs that the 2018 season might be quieter... Read more...Dr. Francisco Fernandez-Lima elected to the Diversity Committee of the American Society of Mass SpectrometryJune 21, 2018Congratulations to Dr. Francisco Fernandez-Lima, associate professor of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and director of the Advanced Mass Spectrometry program at FIU for being elected to the Diversity Committee of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS). The American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS), formed in 1969, promotes and disseminates knowledge of mass... Read more...As algae concerns grow, Lake Okeechobee southern reservoir plan gains supportJune 18, 2018A reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee would benefit the state’s flora and fauna from oyster beds in the lake-bombed northern estuaries to Florida Bay seagrasses, according to a draft environmental impact statement released last week. The 140-page report from the Army Corps of Engineers does express concerns about whether water flowing south from the reservoir into the Everglades will... Read more...FIU study shows dogs can detect agricultural diseasesJune 18, 2018A recent FIU study evaluates the use of scent-discriminating canines for the detection of laurel wilt-affected wood from avocado trees. Julian Mendel and Dr. DeEtta Mills, from the International Forensic Science Institute (IFRI), along with Dr. Kenneth G. Furton, Provost and Executive Vice President of FIU, have ferreted out a possible solution to a serious issue... Read more...Dr. Sandra Logan-McKibben voted into FSCA Board of DirectorsJune 18, 2018Our very own Dr. Sandra Logan-McKibben, Clinical Assistant Professor of Counselor Education with the Department of Leadership and Professional Studies, was recently voted into the Florida School Counselor Association (FSCA) Board of Directors. Dr. Logan-McKibben, who already serves as the Scholarships and Grant Committee Chair, is excited for this new opportunity to serve FSCA’s Board... Read more...Students win exclusive Scholar Latina AwardJune 14, 2018The American Psychological Association (APA) is the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States, with more than 115,700 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students as its members. Power, Women and Relation Lab’s (PWR) Ph.D. students Yanet Ruvalcaba and Vanessa Quiroz were the only two students granted the Student Scholar Latina Award... Read more...PhD Candidate Mark Barton explains why, and how, to conserve our oceansJune 11, 2018FIU Marine Sciences Program Ph.D. Candidate Mark Barton is “one of those lucky few who knew what they wanted to do with their lives from an early age.” After first seeing marine life at the age of 8, he knew that he wanted to be a marine scientist. Today, Barton is a part of Dr.... Read more...Project SEED scholar finds her passion at our International Forensic Research InstituteJune 11, 2018Project SEED scholar, Michelle Melo, always knew she had a passion for forensic science since she was in the 11th grade. With help from her high school guidance counselor, Melo found out about the ACS Project SEED Program. The ACS Project SEED Program helps economically and disadvantaged junior or senior high schools students to experience what... Read more...Is disease susceptibility the price of bleaching resistance for corals?June 7, 2018Coral bleaching and disease have made headlines for decades- and with good reason. FIU researchers have proposed an idea on the topic that will open the floodgates for questions that, until now, have not been explored. Our very own Marine Sciences Program Ph.D. Candidate, Daniel Merselis, and his team tracked 152 individual corals through the 2014... Read more...SEED scholar Michelle Melo featured in C&E NewsJune 1, 2018Forensic scientists, the scientific army behind law enforcement, are featured on many popular TV shows, such as “Law & Order,” “Bones,” and “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.” Michelle Melo didn’t need Hollywood to help her realize that was the career for her. “I’ve known what I wanted to do since I was in the 11th grade,”... Read more...Hurricanes of the future- stronger, slower, much wetterJune 1, 2018Hurricane season has officially commenced for the Northern Atlantic Ocean which could directly affect South Florida. A recent Miami Herald article stated that new research suggests storms of the future may look more and more like Hurricane Harvey, higher category hurricanes supercharged by warming ocean waters with drenching rains. The record-breaking 60 inches of rain from... Read more...Dr. Vicki Burns receives HERStory AwardMay 31, 2018Dr. Vicki Burns, an instructor for the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies was awarded the 2018 HERStory FIU Faculty and Staff Award. This is the third annual HERStory Awards ceremony where the Panhellenic Council has honored those in the Panhellenic and FIU community who have made an impact on campus. The FIU Faculty and Staff Award... Read more...ESPOL’s Dr. Pilar Cornejo visits the Institute of Water and EnvironmentMay 29, 2018This month, the Institute of Water and Environment International Program (InWE-IP) welcomed Dr. Pilar Cornejo, Dean of the College of Maritime Engineering, Ocean and Biological Sciences and Natural Resources and Director of the Pacific International Center of Disaster Risk Reduction at the Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral (ESPOL) in Ecuador. Cornejo met with several leading scientists and... Read more...We Are Tropics: Josh DiamondMay 29, 2018Ever questioned your sanity wondering, “Is that…a large parrot perched on that palm tree?” The answer to this rhetorical question is likely, yes, it is indeed an exotic parrot and not a figment of your imagination. FIU Tropics Ph.D. Candidate Josh Diamond explores the effects of invasive bird species in South Florida. Diamond studies specific bird... Read more...Historical art paints a picture of past shark abundanceMay 29, 2018Sharks ruled the waters of the Mediterranean for hundreds of thousands of years before humans ever so much as dipped a toe into the waves. Before overfishing and fear-driven persecution put the run on them, some sharks were the Mediterranean’s apex predators, weeding out sick and weak individuals and ultimately enforcing a balanced and robust... Read more...Dr. Timothy Allen changes how neurobiology research is done in FloridaMay 29, 2018Our very own psychologist, Dr. Timothy Allen, and other researchers have created the Florida Consortium on the Neurobiology of Cognition (FCNC) to facilitate collaboration and resource sharing among top neurobiology research institutions in the state. “The FCNC was created to fill a gap in neurobiology research in the state,” said Allen. “There were multiple institutions doing... Read more...IFRI science academy encourages high school students to pursue forensic careersMay 25, 2018The seventh annual Forensic Science Symposium was concluded Thursday, May 3, with the FIU High School Forensic Academy Day. Nearly 150 high school students from Miami-Dade County Public Schools took part in hands-on activities guided by our International Forensic Research Institute’s (IFRI) professors and graduate students. The academy brings together forensic scientists, faculty researchers, FIU students... Read more...English Alumna inspires future Latina RebelsMay 24, 2018Our very own Department of English Aluma, Prisca Dorcas, recently spoke at the University of Portland during their Diversity Dialogues event hosted by the universities Diversity and Inclusion program. Prisca Dorcas, who received her Bachelor’s Degree in English from FIU in 2010, used the event as a platform to share her graduate school experience as... Read more...Sweetwater Elementary School’s Cabinet of Curiosities ExhibitionMay 18, 2018It is safe to say that Sweetwater Elementary School students have given the adults around them a run for their money this year with the Cabinet of Curiosities Exhibition at the Power of Art Museum. The museum- directed, curated, and presented by these students- included art pieces, projects, and yes, even robots. Cabinet of Curiosities,... Read more...Professor investigates DNA for ways to battle cancer and bacteria resistant to current drugsMay 17, 2018Dr. Fenfei Leng, a faculty member of the Biomolecular Sciences Institute (BSI) and associate professor for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry was recently awarded two patents for his research in DNA topology and topoisomerases. DNA can be viewed as an extremely long double-stranded rope in which the two strands are twisted around the other. DNA... Read more...Logan’s Love teams up with SEAS for planting and clean-up eventMay 17, 2018Logan’s Love, Inc. and the School of Environment, Arts and Society (SEAS) recently teamed up on our Biscayne Bay Campus for a planting and clean-up event. This event was organized in memory of Logan Helene Renshaw to encourage acts of positive change. Founded by Logan’s parents, Helen and Al Renshaw, Logan’s Love provides inspirational events, acts... Read more...FIU Online Bachelor of Psychology degree rankedMay 16, 2018Psychology is one of the most popular undergraduate majors at any higher education institution. This type of challenging curriculum educates students in the natures of human behavior and the inner-workings of the mind while training them to address these natures to influence any number of future career paths and disciplines. Whether students plan on continuing... Read more...ITCB scientist completes the most comprehensive chemistry evaluation of any tree genus to dateMay 15, 2018Scientists have long studied the enthralling arms race between plants and their natural enemies. Yet, with the overwhelming intricacies of these interactions, several questions remain unanswered. Our very own Department of Biological Sciences Assistant Professor, Dr. Diego Salazar Amoretti, attempts to answer one such question in a unique study conducted in an Amazon rainforest. Through his... Read more...Dr. Maria Jose Miguez hosts webinar with NIHMay 15, 2018The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Extramural Research hosts webinars on a variety of subjects. Webinars are designed in an interactive format and provide additional information for the intramural and extramural research community. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) HIV/AIDS Program research webinar series highlights state-of-the-art research from experts in the field and provides a platform... Read more...Miami competes in Global Citizen-Science and Biodiversity ChallengeMay 14, 2018Citizen-Science took the center stage in Miami from April 27th-30th when almost two hundred people all over Miami-Dade County recorded close to four thousand observations of biodiversity for the 2018 City Nature Challenge. During this year’s City Nature Challenge, Miami competed against 68 other cities from across the globe for the title of “most biodiverse”.... Read more...2018 SISH Scholarship AwardeesMay 14, 2018This year the School of Integrated Science and Humanity (SISH) awarded eight scholarships to students who excelled in one of the following areas: Astronomy, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics and Women’s Studies. On May 3rd, families, faculty members and friends of SISH attended the 2018 SISH Scholarship Awards Ceremony to celebrate the student recipients and their... Read more...Hawaii’s 10 best beaches by Dr. Stephen LeathermanMay 14, 2018Our very own Department of Earth and Environment Professor Dr. Stephen “Dr. Beach” Leatherman recently evaluated Hawaii’s spectacular coastline and narrowed down the top 10 beaches. Dr. Leatherman is the director for the laboratory of Coastal research and has spent nearly 30 years evaluating beaches based on 50 criteria from water temperature to sand softness. Here is his list... Read more...This new FIU class had 48 women, 2 men. Their assignment: Prevent rape on campus.May 14, 2018Even though it was only a year and a half ago, Daniela Ferrera can’t remember learning a whole lot about consent and sexual assault prevention during her freshman orientation at Florida International University. She recalls peer educators acting out a few skits depicting a male student as the aggressor and a female student as the... Read more...The decline of coral reefs near Havana, Cuba- it’s not too late just yetMay 11, 2018The picturesque coral reefs of the Caribbean face a downward trajectory with no end in sight- that is, unless action is taken now. Recent Ph.D. Graduate, Dr. Alain Duran, investigated the impacts of fishing, pollution, and climate change in the long-term decline of coral reefs near Havana, Cuba. Coral abundance throughout the Caribbean has experienced... Read more...CREST CAChE outreach event at Zoo MiamiMay 9, 2018This past Spring semester, the students of the CREST Center for Aquatic Chemistry and Environment Discovery 1 course turned their research project into fun activities for kids and their families for an Earth Day event at Zoo Miami. CREST CAChE Discovery 1: Research in Aquatic Ecosystems, introduces undergraduates to the science of South Florida’s environments and gives students... Read more...Everglades National Park adapts to changing climateMay 9, 2018Encompassing 1.5 million acres of mangroves, sawgrass marshes, and upland forest, the Everglades is the leading edge of coastal Florida, and like a massive shock absorber, it soaks up the fury of passing storms. Seven months after Hurricane Irma has passed through, the park is still in recovery. Recovery efforts are said to continue through... Read more...Dr. Cooke patents new invention for assessing and repairing DNAMay 8, 2018Dr. Marcus Cooke, faculty member of the Biomolecular Sciences Institute, and head of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, was recently granted a U.S. Patent (Patent No. US 9,897,572, “Devices and Methods for High-Throughput Assay”) for his invention of an automated device for assessing... Read more...Agroecology clubs and Hope for Miami start a gardenMay 8, 2018The agricultural-ecological (Agroecology, aka agro-centric) clubs of FIU, i.e. Garden Club, South Florida Beekeeping Association (SFBKA), and the FIU Chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related-Sciences (MANRRS), united to plan, organize, execute, and implement a pragmatic but dynamic solution, locally in our community, at Kinloch Park Middle School (KP), Little Havana, Miami, Florida.... Read more...Psychology Graduate student discusses effect of zero tolerance sexual harassment policiesMay 7, 2018The content of a sexual harassment policy is very important. In research presented at the recent Annual Conference of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP), titled “How Organizational Policies Influence Bystander Likelihood of Reporting Sexual Harassment“, SIOP Student Affiliate Ryan K. Jacobson, a Ph.D. student with the Department of Psychology, examined how the likelihood of... Read more...Students visit DC to understand science communication for policy integrationMay 7, 2018Last month, seven students from the Southeast Environmental Research Center‘s CREST CAChE and the Sea Level Solutions Center (SLSC), flew to Washington, DC to represent their student group at the USA Science and Engineering Festival and meet with almost a dozen prestigious science agencies and NGOs. Christian Lopes and Jason Howard, graduate students at FIU, sat around... Read more...Students propose programs to bring sexual assault awarenessMay 4, 2018Students had the opportunity to have their voice heard on how to combat sexual assault, thanks to the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies. On Wednesday, Apr. 25, ten presentations were given in which groups of students proposed hypothetical programs that would educate others on sexual assault on campus. The event took place in PCA... Read more...Future offshore drilling could wreak havoc on deep sea ecosystemsMay 3, 2018In early January, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced that more than 90 percent of the outer continental shelf in federal offshore areas is now available for offshore drilling exploration and development. In the official release, Zinke noted that the plan for this new exploration would strike a balance between protecting the coasts and achieving... Read more...Ph.D. candidate Tanja Zerulla discusses her research on MosquitofishMay 3, 2018Tanja Zerulla, our Ph.D. candidate is currently studying social behaviors in the Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki). She is working with Dr. Phillip K. Stoddard in his Neurology, Behavior, Ecology, & Evolution of Communication lab. Tanja was recently featured in the Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL) blog for her research on male mosquitofish and spoke about her experience with... Read more...English Professor elected Vice President of the ACWWSMay 2, 2018Our very own Department of English Associate Professor, Dr. Aza (Donna) Weir-Soley, was recently unanimously elected Vice President of the Association of Caribbean Women Writers and Scholars (ACWWS). The Association of Caribbean Women Writers and Scholars (ACWWS) was formed in 1994 to continue the momentum sparked by the 1988 Caribbean Women Writers and Scholars conference organized... Read more...Agroecology Graduate students win big at their Research SymposiumMay 2, 2018The Department of Earth and Environment recently hosted their Graduate Research Symposium and the Agroecology Program graduate students took the win for their Outstanding Poster Presentations. Jennifer Gil, an MS student working on an innovative research project studying the effect of nanomaterials on microalgae, won first place in the poster competition. Shagufta Gaffar, a Ph.D. student working on... Read more...SLSC report wins Society for Technical Communication awardMay 2, 2018Every year, the Society for Technical Communication (STC) Washington DC – Baltimore (WDCB) Chapter sponsors an annual competition evaluating technical communications. The competition is open to members as well as non-members, who submit samples of their work for judging by their peers. The judges decide whether the entrants can “translate technical information into plain language that... Read more...Can we eliminate gender stereotypes?May 2, 2018From the success of the Women’s March through to the #MeToo movement, women (and many men) are coming together in solidarity, raising their voices and demanding just treatment and equality but can we eliminate gender stereotypes? The European Institute for Gender Equality defines gender stereotype as “preconceived ideas whereby females and males are arbitrarily assigned characteristics and roles... Read more...CASE Spring 2018 Worlds Ahead GraduatesMay 2, 2018As we close out the 2018 academic year, we would like to take a moment to showcase the CASE Worlds Ahead graduates. These graduates exhibit outstanding perseverance, intelligence and personal strength during their time at FIU, and fully demonstrate and embrace what it means to be Worlds Ahead. Worlds Ahead Graduates are nominated by faculty members... Read more...Everglades “wet hike” takes undergrads on educational adventureMay 1, 2018On Saturday, April 7th, which was, by coincidence the birthday of Everglades-champion Marjory Stoneman Douglas, a group of 12 undergraduate students pursuing different degrees at FIU, including from the Honors College and the Department of Earth and Environment, participated in a day-long exploratory trip in Everglades National Park. The field trip was organized by Luca Marazzi (Postdoctoral Associate in the Southeast Environmental Research Center),... Read more...InWe collaborates with US AFRICOM to address water security in AfricaApril 25, 2018The Institute of Water and Environment International Program holds a Water and Environmental Security Symposium Series that focuses on addressing the important issues facing the international community around water and environmental security. Just this week a news story broke on CNN with a devastating headline: “Malawi cholera outbreak kills 30.” According to the article, an outbreak of... Read more...Psychology alumna now works to promote culture and diversityApril 25, 2018Vanessa Franco received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology right here from FIU’s Department of Psychology. Since then she has received her Masters in Educational Leadership, specifically with the student personnel track from the University of Central Florida and is now the Assistant Director of Campus Life and Student Engagement at NSU and has streamlined over 100 Organizations. Vanessa... Read more...FIU represented at the 2018 Emirates Forensic ConferenceApril 25, 2018FIU was recently represented at the 2018 Emirates International Forensic Conference and Exhibition in Dubai. The three-day conference hosts discussions and sessions in the field of forensics highlighting the impact of Artificial Intelligence and next-generation technologies on forensic sciences. Our very own Professor of Chemistry, Dr. Bruce McCord, gave a detailed account of ‘The Application of Surface-Enhanced Raman... Read more...CCOR Travel Award WinnersApril 25, 2018Congratulations to the Center for Coastal Oceans Research (CCOR) Travel Award Winners. Each winner has received a $500 travel award for travel related to marine research. CCOR travel award funds can be used to cover any legitimate expense related to field research or the presentation of CCOR research at conferences and meetings. If the award is made... Read more...Teen replants mangroves trampled by Hurricane IrmaApril 24, 2018After Hurricane Irma made its way through South Florida in September 2017, much of our mangrove filled coastline was ravaged in the process. Mangroves are salt tolerant trees found on our coast, there are three types of mangroves here in Florida, located closest to the shore are the red mangroves that can be easily identified... Read more...Can maternal depression have a lasting effect on the mother-baby bond?April 23, 2018The emotional bond that occurs between a mother and her baby is instant. It is perhaps one of the most significant bonds in life—so strong that it can have a lasting impact on the lifelong development of an individual. When mothers and their babies interact, the mother may smile or laugh while looking at her... Read more...FIU-Hinshaw conference encourages solutions to sea level riseApril 23, 2018This month the Sea Level Solutions Center (SLSC), in partnership with Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, hosted a day long conference on sea level rise. The conference consisted of six panels and a keynote presentation and was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Brickell, an area which experienced the consequences of sea level rise, not... Read more...Sam Moore honored as Trailblazer at the 2018 Dream Ball GalaApril 23, 2018The legendary Soul Man and CASE Artist-in-Residence, Sam Moore, was recently honored with the Trailblazer Award at the 2018 Dream Ball Gala produced by Nancy Lieberman Charities. This organization promotes healthy lifestyles and educational opportunities for young girls and boys that are dedicated to expanding and ensuring that educational and sports opportunities exist for economically disadvantaged youth. The Dream Ball... Read more...Center for Advanced Research in Forensic Science featured in Forensic MagazineApril 19, 2018Dr. Jose Almirall, Director of the Center for Advanced Research in Forensic Science (CARFS) was featured in an interview for the March 2018 issue of Forensic Magazine. As the first forensic science center to be added to the National Science Foundation’s Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers, CARFS will provide increased industry and academic collaborations to address challenges in the... Read more...FIU contributes to new water report at 8th annual World Water ForumApril 18, 2018The Institute of Water and Environment International Program‘s Co-Director, Dr. Maria Donoso, participated in the 8th annual World Water Forum, which took place last month in Brazil. Donoso spoke on a panel thematic session, participated in workshops and seminars, and represented FIU as one of only 2 universities who contributed in the development of a new... Read more...Psychology student is showing Spina Bifida who’s bossApril 18, 2018Our very own Psychology student, Christine Ballart, was recently interviewed by Study Breaks, an independently run website and magazine written, edited and illustrated by a rotating staff of college students from across the country. During the interview, Christine discusses how she was born with Spina Bifida, a birth defect in which a developing baby’s spinal cord fails... Read more...Amazon Dams Computational Sustainability Meeting brings top researchers to campusApril 17, 2018In light of recent research demonstrating an alarming increase in the construction of dams within highly diverse Andean- Amazonian rivers, last week FIU Tropics in collaboration with the Institute of Water and Environment, invited a number of top researchers to meet in Miami for a three day workshop on computational sustainability in the Amazon. The workshop,... Read more...Dr. Pettit discusses suicide prevention on CBS4 NewsApril 16, 2018The Center for Children and Families’ (CCF) Dr. Jeremy Pettit, Director of the Child Anxiety & Phobia Program (CAPP), sat down in an interview with CBS4 news’ Jim Berry on Focus on South Florida to discuss the rise of suicide and depression as well as how to be aware of the warning signs to prevent... Read more...Biochemistry Graduate student receives Travel award from ASBMBApril 16, 2018Fourth-year graduate student Pamela Garcia has received an American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) 2018 graduate travel award to present her research findings and work at the ASBMB Annual Meeting in San Diego, taking place April 21-25. This award recognizes the significance of Garcia’s research presentation “Rv1495 toxin as a model for inhibitors... Read more...Congratulations to CREST CAChE Graduate students on their dissertation defensesApril 16, 2018Congratulations to Abraham Smith and Jason Howard, two graduate students from the CREST Center of Aquatic Chemistry and Environment and the Department of Biological Sciences, for successfully defending their Ph.D. dissertations. Dr. Smith joined FIU’s Graduate School when he started to work as a technical expert and student mentor in the Ecotoxicology & Risk Assessment Lab. He worked closely with... Read more...FIU contributes to improving water quality in West AfricaApril 13, 2018Over the past two years Florida International University, through the Institute of Water and Environment’s International Program, has been involved in organizing institutional and human capacity building workshops in West Africa in collaboration with US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and USAID/West Africa. The objective of these capacity building efforts is to develop the capacity of... Read more...Expedition aboard DISCOVERY Yacht ArchimedesApril 12, 2018The International SeaKeepers Society partnered with Global Marine Travel (ISS GMT) and traveled to the southern coast of Antigua with Florida International University to conduct BRUVs surveys aboard DISCOVERY Yacht Archimedes. As an area recently devastated by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, data collected so recently post-storm is incredibly valuable to the project. The... Read more...CREST CAChE students witness local Sea Level RiseApril 11, 2018The students of the CREST Center of Aquatic Chemistry and Environment’s (CAChE) Discovery 1 class became citizen scientists for a day when they witnessed the ever-rising flooding in Shorecrest last weekend. During high tide, the student researchers waded into the flooded areas, collecting water to measure the quality of the water and the depth of the... Read more...Aquanaut Jessica Meir lived underwater to train for Life in SpaceApril 11, 2018Many people dream of becoming astronauts, but very few truly have what it takes to make the cut. In 2002, as part of NASA’s Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO-4), Dr. Jessica Meir participated in a five-day mission living underwater at FIU’s Aquarius Reef Base, the world’s only undersea research laboratory. In 2015, Dr. Meir completed astronaut... Read more...2018 Agroecology Symposium honors recipients of the Torch-Bearer AwardApril 6, 2018The 2018 Agroecology Symposium welcomed students, researchers, professors, farmers and community members to engage in conversations about sustainable agriculture. The symposium featured Agroecology students’ research and honored Professors Dr. Mahadev Bhat and Dr. Krishnaswamy Jayachandran– the recipients of this year’s Torch Bearer Award. This annual event showcases the research of Agroecology students, whose work focuses... Read more...Psychology Doctoral student wins national recognition for her researchApril 5, 2018Rachel B. Tenenbaum, a doctoral student in the FIU Clinical Science Program was always passionate about helping children. As an undergrad, she was involved in research labs working with adults suffering from mental health problems and became interested in early intervention and prevention efforts after realizing she had the power to improve their outcomes. “I... Read more...BSI Faculty and Students recognizedApril 5, 2018Faculty members and students from the Biomolecular Sciences Institute (BSI) were recognized for their research, mentorship, and presentations during this month’s science celebration events. At the beginning of March, students participated in the 20th Annual Biomedical & Comparative Immunology (BCI) Symposium and wrapped up the month at the Graduate Student Appreciation Week (GWAS) Scholarly Forum. BSI faculty... Read more...Sea level rise is unlocking decades old pollution in the Chesapeake BayApril 4, 2018Agroecologist Kate Tully has been working in collaboration with our very own Ecologist Dr. John Kominoski, looking at the impacts of Saltwater intrusion in the Chesapeake Bay. Dr. Kominoski’s work focuses on saltwater intrusion effects on coastal wetland nutrient cycling and carbon storage, he notes that phosphate levels in the nearby marshes of the Chesapeake are... Read more...2018 Student Literary AwardsApril 4, 2018The 2018 Student Literary Awards hosted by the Creative Writing Program, within the Department of English, honors undergraduate and graduate students within the program for their impressive entries. At this event, students read their fiction, poetry, and non-fiction works at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore on our Biscayne Bay Campus. See the full list of undergraduate and... Read more...Sharks provide a natural fertilizer to help nourish coral reefsApril 4, 2018It’s long been known that sharks help nourish coral reefs, but exactly to what extent has never been scientifically mapped out — until now. Researchers studying the vital role between the marine predators in providing nutrients to coral reef ecology have found that sharks may be adding more to our ecosystems than we think. Studies... Read more...Mutating Ebola’s key protein may stop replicationApril 2, 2018Our very own Department of Physics professors, Prem Chapagain and Bernard Gerstman, along with FIU alum, Jeevan GC recently collaborated with Robert Stahelin of Purdue University to find a way to stop the replication of the Ebola virus by mutating its most important protein. The team of researchers were able to mutate Viral Protein 40 (VP40)... Read more...A girl gets married every two seconds somewhere in the worldApril 2, 2018According to a recent CNN article, child marriages remain a problem worldwide even in 2018. Each year almost 15 million girls are married before the age of 18 according to Girls Not Brides, a global partnership committed to ending such marriages. That’s 28 girls every minute; 1 every 2 seconds. Few perceive the United States as... Read more...Border Force patrols enable sharks return to Australian reefApril 2, 2018Sharks driven away by illegal fisherman from a remote reef off Western Australia’s northern coast have started to return, thanks to Border Force officers. Ashmore Reef, near Australia’s border with Indonesia, is home to an array of marine life. It is also a target for illegal fisherman from Southeast Asia. High on their hit list... Read more...CREST CAChE Students Present Impressive ResearchApril 2, 2018Jennie Rivera and Christian Perez, two students within the CREST Center for Aquatic Chemistry and Environment recently had the opportunity to showcase their research and share their findings at two different scientific conferences while representing FIU’s CAChE Research Center. On March 19th, Riviera presented her research at the American Chemical Society National Meeting in New Orleans. She joined... Read more...Why fishing in the Everglades is more important than you thinkMarch 28, 2018The recreational fishing industry in Everglades National Park is, to local anglers and tourists alike, a highlight of their visit to the park. FIU researchers explore the effects that reducing freshwater flow to the Everglades may have on the 1.2 billion dollar industry within the region. The study, a part of the Department of Earth... Read more...Untangling the origin of Earth’s beachesMarch 15, 2018An international team of scientists led by FIU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry professor, Alexander M. Mebel, Ralf I. Kaiser of University of Hawaii at Mānoa and Tom J. Millar of Queen’s University Belfast (Northern Ireland) discovered a novel chemical route to form silicon dioxide (SiO2) – the key molecular building block of terrestrial sand and silicates –... Read more...FIU Team Goes on Coral Epigenetics ExpeditionMarch 15, 2018Six months after hurricanes Irma and Maria, the struggle for the inhabitants of Puerto Rico to return to normal continues. At the same time that power and infrastructure is restored and repaired by humans, reefs around the island are struggling to survive after being dramatically altered by the storms. This constitutes an incredible opportunity to... Read more...SEHD students show support after Parkland shootingMarch 14, 2018It’s been a month since the Valentine’s Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High school in Parkland, Florida and although we are still trying to put the pieces of this tragedy together our Counselor Education students have begun efforts to help these students heal. Our Counselor Education students in the School of Education and Human... Read more...CREST CAChE deploys water quality buoyMarch 14, 2018The CREST Center for Aquatic Chemistry and Environment’s (CAChE), housed within the Southeast Environmental Research Center (SERC), deployed a brand new buoy on Monday, March 5th in the lake in front of the FIU MMC Green Library. The Center had the pleasure of welcoming Xylem YSI, a leading provider of water management solutions and laboratory instrumentation,... Read more...Dr. James Webb awarded at the 2018 HR Service and Recognition AwardsMarch 13, 2018Dr. James Webb, Physics professor and Director of the Stocker AstroScience Center, was recently honored as the Community Award Recipient at the 2018 HR Service & Recognition Awards. Dr. Webb was nominated for his community outreach including the involvement of many who attended the 2017 Solar Eclipse Watch Party. Hundreds of FIU faculty and staff, students, members of the community... Read more...MFA Alumna publishes her first novelMarch 13, 2018Lauren Doyle Owens, a graduate of the Creative Writing Programs Master of Fine Arts (MFA), has published her first novel The Other Side of Everything. The Other Side of Everything is a mystery novel that follows three Florida neighbors in the aftermath of a violent crime. Ms. Owens builds her novel around three major characters whose situations... Read more...The Oceans “Twilight Zone”March 12, 2018Little is known about the Mesopelagic region of our oceans, even less is known about the fish and invertebrates that inhabit the depth of the deep blue sea, but that may be changing. Some nations are viewing the deep as a potentially untapped reservoir for fisheries. Virtually no sunlight reaches down to the Mesopelagic zone which... Read more...Bridging the Gap between Art and ScienceMarch 8, 2018In a mission to engage the next generation of leaders, scientists and creators to take an active role in protecting our local ecosystems, the School of Environment, Arts, and Society’s (SEAS) is leveraging their partnership with Pinecrest Gardens and Xavier Cortada, FIU SEAS artist-in-residence, to bring art and science together and inspire youth during the... Read more...Tropical Botany course prepares the next generation of conservation scientistsMarch 8, 2018The International Center for Tropical Botany and The Kampong of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, in collaboration with Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, and the Montgomery Botanical Center, will be offering a month-long, in-residence Tropical Botany course from May 20 – June 17, 2018. The course provides training in the taxonomy, phylogeny, diversity of structure, economic... Read more...Samoa announces new shark sanctuaryMarch 6, 2018Over 100 million sharks are killed each year in commercial fisheries to meet the high demand of shark fins, despite the fact that healthy reefs are vital for tourism. Science show that sharks help maintain the health of coral reefs, and Pacific Ministers are building momentum to conserve our iconic marine species. The very first... Read more...Psychology professor presents research on Alcohol and Witness MemoryMarch 6, 2018FIU’s Department of Psychology Professor Dr. Nadja Schreiber Compo was recently invited to present her research teams work on Alcohol and Witness Memory as part of the Drug-facilitated crime in the 21st-century workshop at the International Association of Forensic Toxicologists Conference. Professor Compo was invited to present her research as part of her involvement with the Society of Forensic... Read more...FIU Libraries will accept food for fines in new pilot programMarch 6, 2018It’s spring cleaning and you’ve found a book you checked out from the FIU Library earlier in the semester. Typically, this would result in an overdue fee when you attempt to return it. However, from March 19 through March 30, students will have the opportunity to pay it forward while reducing fee debt. In a... Read more...BSI to collaborate with PREMIER Biosoft in advancing lipidomics researchMarch 5, 2018The Biomolecular Sciences Institute (BSI) and PREMIER Biosoft are pleased to announce their research collaboration in providing advanced mass spectrometry-based data analysis solutions for lipidomics. PREMIER Biosoft, in collaboration with BSI researcher Dr. Fráncisco Fernández-Lima, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Director of the Advanced Mass Spectrometry Facility at FIU, will work... Read more...ICTB Ph.D. student records a first within the Lamiaceae FamilyMarch 2, 2018FIU Ph.D. student Brittany Harris and former Wertheim Conservatory curator Scott Zona have recorded a first within the Lamiaceae plant family: heterocarpy. Their research with FIU’s International Center for Tropical Botany has revealed an ingenious evolutionary strategy exhibited by Salvia roemeriana or Cedar Sage and their recent publication explains their findings. Plants, particularly angiosperms, often... Read more...Dr. Dionne Stephens receives the Faculty Mentor of the Year awardMarch 2, 2018At the 24th annual Institute for Teaching and Mentoring Conference, which convenes nearly 1,000 underrepresented minority Ph.D. students and faculty in research funded programs, our very own Department of Psychology Professor Dr. Dionne Stephens, was awarded the Faculty Mentor of the Year award. She was nominated for the award by one of her mentees, FIU doctoral student Brittany Boyd, who... Read more...HistoryMiami Museum pays tribute to “Soul Man” Sam MooreMarch 1, 2018CASE Artist-in-Residence, the legendary “Soul Man” Sam Moore, was recently recognized with a new exhibit at the HistoryMiami Museum. Grayscale animated scenes of Moore’s pre-civil rights movement upbringing cover the walls around a pedestal displaying Moore’s 1967 Grammy and a platinum plaque for the Sam & Dave classic “Soul Man.” The exhibition opened with a... Read more...Orange Crocodiles could be evolving into a new speciesFebruary 28, 2018Deep in the caves of central Africa live Orange Dwarf Crocodiles that according to a team of researchers could be evolving into a new and separate species. Originally discovered in Gabon in 2008, these crocodiles were already an interesting specimen for researchers to study as they do not match certain behaviors and characteristics of our everyday... Read more...Education Alumna now helps inspire UNLV Graduate StudentsFebruary 28, 2018Education Alumna, Celinda Miranda-LaBella, switched her major five times in three years while earning her undergraduate degree at FIU. It wasn’t until her fourth major change while working as an Orientation Leader that her Assistant Director suggested a career in higher education and student affairs. Celinda now works as the Graduate College’s senior retention, progression, and... Read more...Spanish use is steady or dropping in the U.S. despite high Latino immigrationFebruary 27, 2018English professor, Dr.Phillip M. Carter, recently wrote an article for The Conversation that discusses the unspoken concern beneath recent debates over immigration in the United States: language. Specifically, whether immigration from Spanish-speaking countries threatens the English language’s dominance. In his article, Dr. Carter addresses that although roughly half of all immigration has come from Latin American... Read more...Co-Director of Urban Resiliency to Extremes Sustainability Research Network visits FIU February 27, 2018Few cities in the U.S. face potential environmental challenges as daunting as the ones being predicted for Miami. For social, economic, and environmental reasons, South Florida’s responsibility to secure its future is more pressing now than it has ever been. Given the urgency of establishing resiliency within urban areas in South Florida, the FIU School... Read more...2018 S.T.A.N.D. Youth SummitFebruary 27, 2018The Miami-Dade Police Department recently hosted their annual Students Together Against Negative Decisions (STAND) Youth Summit in partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools and our School of Education and Human Development. The STAND program is nationally recognized and was originally instituted as a possible long-term solution to the growing teen alcohol and drunk driving problem... Read more...FIU Tropics’ Tropical Conservation Internship welcomes Spring cohortFebruary 26, 2018For the fourth consecutive semester, FIU Tropics is offering a diverse group of undergraduate students the opportunity to gain invaluable hands-on research experience alongside seasoned conservation professionals. With support from the Pave the Way foundation, the program offers ten undergraduate students the opportunity to work with local conservation organizations every semester. Counting on partnerships with... Read more...Invasive Flatworm slithers into the Florida KeysFebruary 26, 2018In a very short time, the New Guinea flatworm, measuring at only 1 to 3 inches long, has taken over the Florida Keys. Although this carnivorous worm does not look alarming, the damage it has done to the snail population in the Keys has been evident. “They are a large threat to snails,” said Tim... Read more...Accelerating Rate of Sea Level RiseFebruary 25, 2018During the last century, the global rate of sea level rise has to accelerate to 3.4 mm/yr and our regional rate here in South Florida is now 9 mm/yr. This acceleration is a direct result of increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere associated with anthropogenic (human-caused sources) increased global temperature. The results of Sea level rise are vast, one... Read more...Will school shooters survival help us understand this growing epidemic?February 23, 2018The carnage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shared all of the horror of America’s worst mass shootings. But one scene was unusual — the shooter Nikolas Cruz being led away alive in handcuffs. Of the 10 deadliest mass shootings in modern U.S. history, 19-year-old Cruz is the only shooter to survive. Gunmen in Orlando, Virginia Tech, Las... Read more...Young scientists join Global FinPrint in shark researchFebruary 23, 2018The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California recently teamed up with Global FinPrint to work on a Citizen Science Program geared towards shark conservation. The program was created by Aquarium staff member Erin McCombs who traveled to Belize in 2017 and worked with Dr. Demian Chapman, of Global FinPrint, on his shark conservation research.... Read more...Social justice in our food system: It’s up to usFebruary 21, 2018In between beekeeping, consulting, and teaching at several schools in the Massachusetts area, FIU Alumni Angela Roell has been busy creating, and inspiring others to create, social justice in our food system. As she stressed during her workshop- the biggest source of potential for change lies with us. Despite having an impressive resume worthy of... Read more...Hiking for Sea Level Solutions CenterFebruary 19, 2018Over the last few years Timothy Long, Multimedia Manager for the Department of External Relations, has spent his time creating short films and web videos focused on climate science. Although Tim has talked the talk for quite some time now, it’s time for him to walk the walk. Literally. This summer, Tim will be hiking... Read more...Psychology Doctoral student Ana Rodriguez awarded Junior Researcher Bridge AwardFebruary 16, 2018Developmental Psychology second year doctoral student Ana Lucia Rodriguez has received the Complex Systems Society’s Junior Researcher Bridge Award. She was awarded this for her proposal to work on an international data analysis collaboration. Ana is part of Department of Psychology’s Health Disparities and Cultural Identities (HDCI) research lab. The HDCI Lab’s research brings attention to the... Read more...CWGS Dr. Vicki Burns leads the discussion on “Not Just Locker Room Talk”February 16, 2018Dr. Vicki Burns from the Center of Women’s and Gender Studies was recently featured on the iheartradio “Talks with Gigi” podcast where she discussed FIU’s newest course about understanding and preventing campus sexual assault. During this interview Dr. Burns discusses her experience in counseling where she found that people did not understand that certain experiences they... Read more...First annual Student-Alumni-Faculty Networking eventFebruary 15, 2018On Feb. 6th, 2018, the Department of Earth and Environment held its First Annual Student-Alumni-Faculty Networking event at the Science Village in Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden. Twelve alumni, who received their Bachelor’s or Graduate degrees between 1995 to 2016, and are working locally attended the event. In addition to alumni, multiple Earth and Environment faculty... Read more...Sea rise is outpacing Everglades restoration — but scientists say there’s a solutionFebruary 15, 2018For years, South Florida water managers struggling to reverse the damage done to the Everglades by decades of flood control have done their best to replicate nature, timing the flow of water into marshes with the state’s wet and dry seasons. But now researchers looking at 16 years worth of data say creeping sea rise... Read more...Women in STEM RoundtableFebruary 14, 2018Women have not always been offered a seat at the table in STEM fields. Fortunately, that did not deter women like Dr. Nancy Grimm, the 2018 Our Common Future Lecture speaker, and FIU Physics Professor Dr. Yesim Darici from taking a seat anyway. This year, FIU’s School of Environment, Arts and Society worked with the... Read more...BRUVS surveys determine abundance of sharks and raysFebruary 13, 2018FinPrint, the largest survey of reef sharks and rays in the world, are conducting an international effort focused on learning more about why and how the numbers of sharks and rays are decreasing so rapidly. FinPrint researchers use Baited Remote Underwater Videos Stations (BRUVS) – a non-intrusive tool for observing underwater life which is becoming... Read more...Geoscience majors prepare for next Death Valley expeditionFebruary 12, 2018Every 2 years, the Department of Earth and Environment plans a one-week geology field trip to Death Valley National Park, located near the border of California and Nevada, as part of the Geosciences Program. The Death Valley region is the opposite of South Florida and offers these future geologists quite the learning experience. When students enroll in GLY-3782, they... Read more...Psychology Professor gives keynote address at Sex/Ed Conference in IndiaFebruary 12, 2018The Wellesley Centers for Women (WCW) partnered with colleagues at the Centre for Studies in Gender and Sexuality (CSGS) at Ashoka University to jointly host the Sex/Ed conference in New Delhi, India. Our very own Department of Psychology Professor, Dr. Dionne Stephens, was invited to give the keynote address. Dr. Stephens presented a talk titled “It’s... Read more...Dr. Donnelly honored with the 2017 Robert K. Johnson Award for Excellence in ServiceFebruary 9, 2018Congratulations are in order for our very own Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Dr. Maureen Donnelly, who was recently awarded the 2017 Robert K. Johnson Award for Excellence in Service. The Johnson Award recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH) through their service to the organization and... Read more...Split-gene drive could hinder spread of ZikaFebruary 8, 2018Gene drives are being looked at to hinder the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. Gene drive is the process of editing the genes of an organism, genes can be edited to alter a gene that allows mosquitos to seek out people by their scent, virtually eliminating mosquito bites. Genes can also be split to hinder the spread... Read more...Family Science Night aims to increase STEM involvementFebruary 8, 2018Family Science Night at Wilton Manors Elementary was part fun, part future job training. FIU teams up locally with schools in an effort to get students interested in pursuing STEM-related careers. School administrators funded FIU’s participation through a grant the school won for its environmental sustainability efforts – the P3 Eco-Challenge. This event featured hands-on... Read more...Online Education program moves up in rankingFebruary 7, 2018As Miami’s first and only public research university, FIU added a new top-tier ranking from U.S. News and World Report for its online Education program. The newly released 2018 ranking is a testament to FIU’s enduring commitment to quality online learning. FIU Online’s master’s degree Education programs gained an astounding 20 places on the 2018 Best Online Education... Read more...ABCD study featured on the Today ShowFebruary 7, 2018NBC special anchor, Maria Shriver, recently reported on the ABCD (Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development) study that is being conducted across 19 universities in the United States- FIU is one of the universities working on this study. The ABCD study is the largest, long-term evaluation of brain development and child health ever to be conducted in the... Read more...Biologist becomes one of America’s greenest mayorsFebruary 5, 2018You may have seen Philip Stoddard around campus or have had the pleasure of taking one of his Biology courses. What you may not know about him is that he has spent the last eight years protecting the environment as the Mayor of South Miami. As mayor, Stoddard has fought off attempts by Florida Power... Read more...Dr. Bruce McCord discusses advances in DNAFebruary 5, 2018Advances in DNA are changing the way research can help solve crimes forever. About 24 years ago, it would take a blood or semen stain at least the size of a nickel to be able to extract DNA from. Now, DNA can be extracted from samples as small as the head of a pin. Our... Read more...InWE-SBEI and CARTA host Resiliency Workshop in D.C.February 1, 2018The Institute of Water and Environment‘s Sustainable Built Environment and Informatics (SBEI) group teamed up with researchers from the College of Communication, Architecture + the Arts(CARTA) to host an important workshop on climate resiliency. Dr. Rita Teutonico, Associate Dean of Research for CASE, and Dr. Marilys Nepomechie, Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives for CARTA, moderated... Read more...Young women are using A.D.H.D. drugs in greater numbersJanuary 31, 2018The percentage of young adult women who filled prescriptions for drugs used to treat attention deficit disorder has increased more than fivefold since 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported this month. The new report raises questions about the increasing use of a diagnosis that once was reserved for children and adolescents. Government... Read more...Two successful seasons of handcyclingJanuary 26, 2018The School of Education and Human Development’s Recreational Therapy program, in partnership with Miami-Dade Parks Disability Services, recently celebrated two successful seasons of their Handcycling program at Tamiami Park for individuals with physical disabilities. The idea behind this program is to create an inclusive cycling community of individuals with and without disabilities. The program aims... Read more...Concrete with a PurposeJanuary 26, 2018In an empty lot near the corner of 23rd Street and North Miami Avenue in Wynwood there’s a giant statue of a man carrying a fish on his back. A few feet away there are smaller human-like sculptures arranged in a circle facing a pyramid, a sphere and a cube. These concrete molds titled “The Fisherman”... Read more...Student Media hosted interactive sexual assault forumJanuary 25, 2018Hosted on Thursday, Jan. 25, the forum was moderated by Raquel Perez, instructor of Communications. The panel was comprised of Sharon “Sherry” Aaron, director of FIU’s Victim Empowerment Program; Victoria Burns, assistant professor of Women’s and Gender Studies; Dr. Antonio “Tony” Delgado, interim dean of students; Fred Blevens, a professor from the School of Communication +... Read more...Patent invention could stop cancer in its tracksJanuary 25, 2018Professor Yuan Liu, a faculty member of the Biomolecular Sciences Institute (BSI), was recently granted a U.S. Patent (Patent No. US 9809843 B1) for her invention of a high throughput measurement of DNA base lesion repair capacity in human cell and tissue. This novel fluorescence-based technology features a simple, fast, accurate and high throughput measurement... Read more...Congratulations to the InWE Graduate Students of the YearJanuary 19, 2018Each year, the leadership committee for each of our centers at the Institute of Water and Environment decides the Graduate Students of the Year for their respective centers. The award recognizes and rewards a student whose academic achievement and current material research display a high level of excellence and distinction among their peers. The students are decided... Read more...Global FinPrint collaborates with Shedd AquariumJanuary 18, 2018Chicago teens may live far from the ocean, but that doesn’t mean they can’t study and research sharks. Thanks to a collaboration between Shedd Aquarium and Global FinPrint — an international research project — teens can become citizen scientists. Through Shedd’s Teen Learning Lab, Global FinPrint gives the Chicago locals the opportunity to watch 60... Read more...CASE student awarded 2018 MLK Peace AwardJanuary 17, 2018Congratulations are in order for Nery Lopez, a College of Arts, Sciences & Education student, who was awarded the 2018 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Award. This award recognizes students who are involved in extracurricular activities, both on and off-campus that promote social justice and represent the ideals of MLK. Nery was strongly recommended... Read more...Dr. Jeffrey Wells teaches forensic scientists in DubaiJanuary 12, 2018One international function of FIU’s International Forensic Research Institute (IFRI) is a role advising and collaborating with forensic scientists of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). During the recent holiday break, IFRI faculty member Dr. Jeffrey Wells, professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, taught a five-day workshop in Dubai covering the analysis of insect evidence by... Read more...Coastal colleges struggle to prepare for sea level riseJanuary 12, 2018For many colleges and universities on America’s coasts, the threat is no longer theoretical. Sea-level rise — along with increased stormwater from altered weather patterns and the possibility of more-frequent, more intense hurricanes — is already a concern. The uncertainty now is how much and how soon. Our Biscayne Bay Campus (BBC) was recently featured as... Read more...East Coast will miss a once in a Blue Moon opportunityJanuary 12, 2018On January 31st 2018, a super blue blood moon eclipse will be visible in the night sky; a sight not seen in over 150 years. Unfortunately for Floridians, as well as anyone on the East Coast of the United States, the sight won’t be visible from here. Despite being referred to as a blue moon,... Read more...Community Literacy Journal coming to FIU English DepartmentJanuary 10, 2018In November 2017, Associate Professor Paul Feigenbaum became co-editor of the Community Literacy Journal, a peer-reviewed journal in Writing Studies. Dr. Veronica House, founder of the Conference on Community Writing, will co-edit. The Community Literacy Journal publishes scholarship, work by literacy practitioners, and collaborations between academics and community members. The journal is housed at FIU... Read more...Global FinPrint: Tech project to look for in the coming yearJanuary 9, 2018IEEE Spectrum recently released its Top Tech 2018 list. Making this year’s list is Vulcan Inc.’s Global FinPrint. While sharks and rays are threatened worldwide, scientists have been able to evaluate the extent of the problem. The three-year project counts sharks, rays and other marine life around coral reefs using remote underwater video stations as... Read more...Rare footage captured of sixgill shark in PhilippinesJanuary 9, 2018On a recent mission to search for sunken World War II ships off Leyte Island in the Philippines, a rare sighting of a female bluntnose sixgill shark quickly captured the attention of the passengers aboard Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s research vessel the RV Petrel. “In places like the Philippines we don’t have any information on them,”... Read more...Scientists reflect on the future of climate change in FloridaJanuary 8, 2018Department of Biological Sciences professor Philip Stoddard was recently featured in an article by The Center for Public Integrity regarding the effects of climate change on the state of Florida. Philip Stoddard and his wife are saving money to prepare for the day climate problems render their home worthless and force them out. Stoddard lives... Read more...Dr. Bruce McCord discusses a new tool for forensic detectivesJanuary 5, 2018Dr. Bruce McCord, a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and a faculty member in the International Forensic Research Institute (IFRI), was recently interviewed by News Medical Life Sciences to discuss his upcoming talk “Forensic Epigenetics: A Novel Method for Body Fluid Identification and Phenotyping.” In his interview, Dr. McCord shares that his team will... Read more...Citizen scientists study sea level riseJanuary 5, 2018Tiffany Troxler, Director of the Sea Level Solutions Center, recently gathered 75 volunteers to collect data from puddles across the Biscayne Bay area in an effort to help scientists understand how rising seas will affect the city. Troxler and her citizen scientists checked the salinity of the water to confirm that the flooded water is... Read more...Richard Blanco collaborates with BacardiJanuary 3, 2018The 2013 Presidential Inaugural Poet and FIU alumni turned professor, Richard Blanco, recently partnered with Bacardi/The Real Havana Club from Puerto Rico on their new ad campaign. Bacardi reached out to Mr. Blanco about writing a poem about being Cuban and the history of Havana Club, to be used as the basis of the script... Read more...ICTB scientists educate students on Butterfly ConservationJanuary 2, 2018As Miami-Dade’s urban areas continue to expand, South Florida’s unique biodiversity faces significant pressure because of habitat fragmentation. The Schaus Swallowtail butterfly, native to South Florida and the Bahamas, was put on the Endangered Species List in 1984 because of habitat loss. Historically, these butterflies lived in hardwood hammock forests of the South Florida peninsula... Read more...CREST CAChE Career Pathway PanelDecember 21, 2017CREST Center for Aquatic Chemistry and Environment recently hosted a career pathway panel for their students as an opportunity to learn more about various jobs and professions in the science field. The panel discussion included Amanda Bourque, Ecologist with the Biscayne National Park, Maria Donoso, Coordinator of International Programs for the Institute of Water and Environment at... Read more...Holiday tips for families with special needs childrenDecember 21, 2017For kids with special health needs, the flashing lights, blaring music, crowded malls, social events and schedule changes of “the most wonderful time of year” can be overwhelming. Children with mental health issues or developmental and physical challenges such as autism, ADHD, sensory issues, depression and anxiety may need extra help managing the festivities of the season. One tip... Read more...Aquarius Reef Base featured in new exhibit at the History of Diving MuseumDecember 21, 2017While FIU’s underwater research laboratory, Aquarius Reef Base, is the only operating underwater research laboratory in the world, living underwater is by no means a new idea. People have been living and working beneath the sea for over fifty years in over sixty different underwater habitats. The History of Diving Museum in Islamorada has featured... Read more...CREST REU students work in Puerto Rico on post-hurricane researchDecember 20, 2017Last summer, Marla Valeria Santos-Crespo and Tatiana Barreto were part of the very first CREST Center for Aquatic Chemistry and Environment (CAChE) –Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), where they gained hands-on and in-depth field and research experience for ten weeks working on mangroves in both Miami and Puerto Rico. Both Santos-Crespo and Barreto are currently students... Read more...Recent study links brain activity and suicidal thoughtsDecember 20, 2017A recent study conducted by psychologists from FIU, Carnegie Mellon University and Harvard University, recently examined the association between brain activity in response to certain words and whether or not an individual has suicidal thoughts. The study consisted of 34 participants — 17 people who had suicidal thoughts and 17 who did not. Participants entered... Read more...Untitled Art Fair features Garbage WallDecember 20, 2017This year at Miami’s Untitled Art Fair, guests were immediately greeted by a wall of garbage. The “Garbage Wall” was created by our Honors College students but the concept was based off of Matta-Clark’s original “Garbage Wall” (1970) which confronted environmental issues and the homelessness crisis. Our Garbage Wall was constructed from marine debris collected... Read more...Principles and practices of Agroecology at work in FIU organic gardenDecember 18, 2017As part of an agroecology course within the Department of Earth and Environment, students engage in experiential and experimental learning at the FIU Organic Garden. This Fall 2017 semester, students started preparing the plots by incorporating summer cover crops (sunn hemp), prepared nurseries with various crops from the seeds, transplanted them in a combination of... Read more...Science and Performing Arts Come Together for the Future of Biscayne BayDecember 15, 2017The School of Environment, Arts and Society (SEAS) recently joined forces with the Sea Level Solutions Center and the College of Communications, Architecture and the Arts (CARTA) to host a public event at the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. This innovative art-science community event had the goal of igniting action concerning the health of Biscayne Bay, the global... Read more...CASE Fall 2017 Worlds Ahead GraduatesDecember 14, 2017As we prepare for the Fall Class of 2017 Graduation Ceremonies, we would like to take a moment to showcase the CASE Worlds Ahead graduates. These graduates exhibit outstanding perseverance, intelligence and personal strength during their time at FIU, and fully demonstrate and embrace what it means to be Worlds Ahead. Worlds Ahead Graduates are nominated by... Read more...Miami-Dade County Cares About KidsDecember 11, 201715 years ago, Miami-Dade County voters approved dedicating $50 per $100,000 of property value to improve the lives of children through The Children’s Trust. The Children’s Trust recently supported the Center for Children and Families in making sure as many children were able to attend their Summer Treatment Program for Pre-Kindergarteners (STP-PreK). The Summer Treatment Program... Read more...Contract Sex: Decriminalization vs. LegalizationDecember 7, 2017Our very own Department of Philosophy Professor, Dr. Laurie Shrage, was recently a distinguished speaker at the Parr Center for Ethics at the University of North Carolina and gave a talk on “Contract Sex: Decriminalization vs. Legalization.” Dr. Shrage’s issue of focus does not receive much public support such as other social issues like the legalization of... Read more...InWE International Program Co-Director Presents at Water Expo in MexicoDecember 4, 2017Dr. Maria Donoso, co-director of the InWE International Program, attended the 31st Annual Convention and EXPO of the National Association of Water and Sanitation Enterprises (ANEAS) last week. The event took place in Puebla, Mexico from November 27 to December 1 and addressed wastewater management challenges and solutions. Dr. Donoso presented on water security issues during... Read more...Toddler study aims to increase STEM involvementNovember 30, 2017According to our FIU researchers, parents of preschoolers have the power to put their toddlers in the path of careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) simply by using spatial language. Spatial language means words which describe shapes, sizes, and features. “Things that you generally would hear if you’re putting a puzzle together. You... Read more...A Look Into the 4th Annual Horticulture Professional WorkshopNovember 30, 2017The Agroecology Program in the Department of Earth and Environment just wrapped up their 4th annual Horticulture Professional Workshop. This workshop covers all major aspects of horticultural concepts, using hands on activities that apply these concepts and is hosted every Fall semester. Participants in this workshop get the opportunity to explore the fundamentals of horticulture, botanical... Read more...The PWR Lab wins big with Psychology Department SEED grantNovember 22, 2017The Power Women and Relationships Lab conducts social psychological research on how social power grounds and structures beliefs about gender, gender-differentiated behaviors and interpersonal relationships between men and women in the U.S.. The PWR Lab recently shared on their Facebook page that all three of the labs Ph.D. students who applied for the Department of... Read more...FIU Hosted FEA Regional ConferenceNovember 21, 2017The Future Educators Association (FEA) at FIU is a student organization that seeks to promote and support the professional development of future educators, provide social support for members of our FEA community, and promote awareness of the various fields and career opportunities in education. FEA at FIU is affiliated with Educators Rising, formerly known as... Read more...Sea Level Rise is Outpacing AccretionNovember 21, 2017More than 500 million people, or nearly 7 percent of the human population, live on a delta. The fragile balance between sea level rise and sediment accumulation that deltas rely on is in peril, according to new research published in the Journal of Coastal Research. The world’s deltas formed prehistorically when the rate of sea... Read more...Dr. Laird Kramer Discusses Interactive LearningNovember 20, 2017Dr. Laird Kramer, Director of the STEM Transformation Institute and Physics professor, was recently interviewed by The Academic Minute to discuss interactive learning and a new approach to increasing student optimism. In his statement, Dr. Kramer discusses how the environment of traditional lecture halls can create a “preexisting barrier to learning” that causes students to be... Read more...FIU Included in Best Online Bachelors in Early Childhood EducationNovember 17, 2017Florida International University was recently named one of the best online Bachelor Degrees in Early Childhood Education by the Best Education Degrees website. Our online Bachelor’s of Science in Early Childhood Education gives teachers the skills needed to understand the emotional and cognitive development of maturing youth. The program spans childhood development from birth to... Read more...Study Finds Dams Increase Risk of Fish Extinction in RiversNovember 16, 2017Over the last several years, a team of researchers led by Dr. John Kominoski, aquatic ecologist within the FIU Southeast Environmental Research Center and Department of Biological Sciences, have been studying how freshwater resources and ecosystems are impacted by changes in the climate, as well as by human water management policies. In their latest publication, Kominoski and his... Read more...Dr. Jeremy Kiszka Advises on Mitigating Marine Mammal BycatchNovember 16, 2017The Marine Mammal Commission sponsored Dr. Jeremy Kiszka and Brendan Talwar to attend the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) Working Party on Ecosystems and Bycatch (WBEP) in San Sebastian, Spain. The meeting focused on conducting a stock assessment for the blue shark, a common bycatch species in the tuna fisheries of the Indian Ocean region. Thanks to... Read more...A New Generation of CodersNovember 15, 2017CodeArt is among numerous organizations aiming to inspire and encourage youngsters to learn the necessary skills to fill the jobs of the future. Tech companies are already seeing a shortage of qualified workers. The U.S. is projected to face a shortage of one million employees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields by 2022,... Read more...FIU to Share Resources with New Marine Research HubNovember 13, 2017Something much larger than a luxury yacht was unveiled at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. South Florida’s new Marine Research Hub hopes to make the region the next Silicon Valley or Durham Research Triangle for marine sciences. The eight founding partners of the Marine Research Hub gathered at a breakfast with members of the science and... Read more...CWGS graduate student starts petition to discipline groupNovember 13, 2017More than 700 students have now signed a petition on Change.org demanding President Rosenberg discipline the group, College Republicans. The petition notes that school leaders began investigating a fraternity on campus only after New Times and other outlets reported on leaked chats from the frat showing members joking about rape and hazing. “Since the College Republicans are not... Read more...ICTB Graduate Students Solidify Partnerships in Haiti though Research and OutreachNovember 8, 2017Last month, Ph.D. candidates from the International Center for Tropical Botany and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Nichole Tiernan and Jonathan Flickinger, were hosted by Les Cayes Botanic Garden in Haiti. Nichole facilitated a two-day workshop on environmental education to garden staff members, local teachers and principals, and members of Haiti Futur– a non-profit dedicated to... Read more...FIU Tutors Win Big at NCPTWNovember 8, 2017The National Conference on Peer Tutoring in Writing (NCPTW) is a conference with a history of reaching out. This year’s conference at Hofstra University was committed to extending NCPTW’s legacy by reaching peer tutors and writing center administrators from across the country. This years NCPTW brought together tutors through their shared interest in teaching, research,... Read more...FIU Team Wins Statewide FCI Climate Video ContestNovember 7, 2017This fall the Florida Climate Institute (FCI) called on all students across their university partners to create compelling videos on climate challenges that would promote understanding of impacts and inspire action. The Sea Level Solutions Center within the Institute of Water and Environment sent two teams to the FCI’s Climate Challenge Student Video Competition. Students were prompted to create a... Read more...Cognitive Interviewing Can Lead To More Accurate MemoriesNovember 6, 2017In 2015, a woman who was attacked by her Air Force instructor in 2000 had been able to describe a family portrait she noticed in his home. The instructor denied that it had ever hung on his wall—until the prosecution projected a photo of his family sitting on their living room sofa with the portrait... Read more...New State-of-the-Art Research Vessel Arrives in FloridaNovember 3, 2017Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO) welcomed the state-of-the-art R/V W. T. Hogarth to Bayboro Harbor on earlier this year at the Marine Exploration Center in St. Petersburg, Fl. Built by Duckworth Steel Boats in Tarpon Springs, the 78- foot, 139-ton vessel is equipped with wet and dry labs on board, berths for 10 scientists and... Read more...Study Shows A.D.H.D Rarely Begins in AdulthoodNovember 3, 2017In just the past few years, researchers have identified what they believe is an adult version of attention deficit disorder: a restless inability to concentrate that develops spontaneously after high school, years after the syndrome typically shows itself, and without any early signs. The proposed diagnosis — called adult-onset A.D.H.D. and potentially applicable to millions... Read more...Great white captured on research expeditionNovember 3, 2017On a research expedition to the Southwest Pacific, scientists from Massey University had a goal of capturing footage of sharks and other marine life. They were surprised when a great white arrived when they’re accustomed to seeing grey and whitetip reef sharks, among others. According to GeekWire, the 13-foot-long shark, named “Kermi
