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College of Sciences

UCF Hosts Summer 2023 Commencement Aug. 4-5

UCF will award more than 3,860 degrees during three commencement ceremonies at Addition Financial Arena Aug. 4-5, sending a talent pipeline of highly skilled graduates into careers that are vital for our region and our state. Of the degrees UCF expects to award, 2,986 are bachelor’s, 615 are master’s, 152 are doctoral and 6 are education specialist…

UCF Sea Turtle Research Highlighted for 50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act

UCF sea turtle research was recently highlighted for the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) with a visit from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) leadership. The visit showcased the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge and its successful sea turtle conservation efforts. Since the refuge’s establishment as…

UCF Alum on How FIEA Took Him From Gamer to Creator

More than 3 billion people are estimated to be active video game players, with the worldwide gaming market projected to be $347 billion. Behind the largest entertainment industry in the world are creators like Blake Battle ’12MS, who is anaccomplished producer at Bungie, which has developed popular games like Destiny and Halo. A UCF interactive entertainment alum, Battle’s…

UCF is Exploring the Intersection of Art and Artificial Intelligence

When photography was invented in 1822, some painters believed it was the end of art. But in fact, photography became its own medium that helped launch the modern art movement. Today, artificial intelligence (AI) — the simulation of human intelligence processes by computer systems — is transforming the art world, among several other industries, as we…

My Roots Run Deep: UCF Alumna Pays Homage to Her Caribbean Heritage

UCF is celebrating the rich and diverse cultures of the Caribbean within our university, local community and around the world in recognition of National Caribbean American Heritage Month — a month founded by Claire Nelson, founder and president of the Institute of Caribbean Studies, and officially declared by President George W. Bush in 2006. Many…

15 UCF Students Awarded Distinguished Gilman Scholarship to Study Abroad

Most college students would consider studying marine science at the Great Barrier Reef or even architecture in Europe to be the pinnacle of their college experience. However, studying beyond the four walls of their classroom is a goal only about 10% of undergraduate students nationwide get to accomplish. But with the support of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program,…

UCF Researchers Pave the Way to Better Understand and Treat PTSD

June is Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month, which aims to raise the public’s understanding of the oftentimes debilitating condition. It’s estimated that about one in three people who experience severe trauma develop PTSD. Veterans, first responders, and survivors of abuse or serious accidents are more prone to PTSD than others, according to the National…

UCF Is Leading Comprehensive Study of Centaurs and Jupiter-family Comets

UCF researcher is working on a new, NASA-funded project that will gather the most comprehensive collection of data on active centaurs and distantly-active Jupiter-family comets to date. The work will inform research into the origins of the solar system, as these bodies contain materials from the dawn of its formation. Centaurs and Jupiter-family comets are…

Celebrating 60 Years of UCF: A Legacy of Excellence, A Future of Possibilities

The University of Central Florida was founded in 1963 to fuel the talent and technology needs of America’s growing space program at the Space Coast. From the beginning, UCF’s purpose has been to help people and organizations “Reach for the Stars,” which is the university’s official motto. As you look across the constellation of industry,…

Human Migration Timeline Redrawn by Fresh Fossil Analysis

New research recasts the narrative on the earliest presence of Homo sapiens in Southeast Asia, pushing back the presence of humans in that part of the world by at least 20,000 years and a human presence in the region for at least 56,000 years. The findings are based on analysis of bones excavated from deep…

3 UCF Students Receive Prestigious 2023 Boren Scholarship

Three UCF students have been selected as 2023 Boren Scholars, a distinguished national honor that recognizes highly motivated undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in U.S. national security. This year’s recipients are Angelina Alonzo, a political science major; Flora Ngo, a criminal justice and psychology double major; and Sean Merkel, a computer sciencemajor. With support from the Office of Prestigious…

UCF Researchers Are Contributing to World Oceans Day

One of Florida’s most precious resources is its water from the aquifer to the 8,436 miles of coastline, boarded by the Gulf of Mexico, the Straits of Florida, and the Atlantic Ocean. Water is also a major player in the state’s economy, contributing $56 billion to the economy and generating 900,000 jobs according to a…

$250K Gift to Help Establish Endowed Chair for The India Center at UCF

$250,000 gift from Port Orange, Florida, residents Ramesh Chopra and Neena Chopra will bring UCF another step closer to its goal of establishing the Indian Community Endowed Chair for The India Center. Establishing an endowed chair highlights the importance of studying India at UCF. In Fall 2022, over 3,000 students from 149 countries enrolled at UCF. Students…

UCF Researchers Help Lead New, $2 Million NSF Project to Make Coastal Sciences More Inclusive

University of Central Florida Coastal researchers are part of a new, $2 million U.S. National Science Foundation-funded project to work toward a more inclusive field of marine sciences. The Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF), an estuary research nonprofit, is leading the project, which includes six partner agencies and universities, including UCF. The collaboration is…

Meet UCF’s 2nd-ever Udall Scholarship Recipient, a Champion of the Environment

For the first time in nine years, a UCF student has been awarded a prestigious Udall Scholarship — the second-ever in UCF’s history. Udall Scholarships are awarded by the Udall Foundation to around 55 college sophomores and juniors each year for leadership, public service and a commitment to issues related to Native Americans or the environment. Recipients…

Why is UCF a Leading Producer of Aviation Talent in the U.S.?

The next time you see a plane flying overhead — any plane — consider this: There’s a strong possibility that a graduate or researcher from UCF had something to do with that plane being in the air. It could be an engineer who designed the propulsion system, a pilot who trained on a simulator, or…

From Outer Space to Garden Space

Literally speaking, the moon is 238,000 miles from every schoolyard in the United States. Mars is an average of 140 million miles away. Figuratively, however, slices of the moon and Mars are landing in classrooms across the country. They arrive inside an 11-inch by  8-inch box. When students open the box, they pull out ph…

10 Knights Earn National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships

Ten Knights are the recipients of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program, where they receive financial support for their education and an annual stipend to support their research and career endeavors. It is one of the most prestigious awards for graduate students, with just about 16% of applicants awarded each year.…