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College of Engineering and Computer Science

UCF Researchers Uncover Key Mechanisms for Sustainable Ammonia Production

University of Central Florida research team with collaborators at Virginia Tech have published critical findings about the electrochemical synthesis of ammonia, advancing sustainable fertilizer research and thus aiding global food safety efforts. Ammonia, a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen, is an essential ingredient in many fertilizers for food production. However, its primary method of production,…

Rising in U.S. News Rankings, UCF Advances Florida’s Workforce Through High-quality Online Programs

The University of Central Florida unleashes the potential of its students with high-quality degrees, faculty with strong academic and industry expertise, and multiple educational pathways that best position students for success while advancing Florida’s workforce needs. Online programs are a vital pathway for the approximately 73% of students enrolled in college who are considered nontraditional students.…

Get to Know Pageant Winner, Miss Universe Contestant: UCF’s Ashley Cariño

Growing up, Ashley Cariño was just as likely to watch an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation as she was a Miss Universe pageant. She dreamed of working for NASA and wearing the Miss USA crown. The 27-year-old is now well on her way to achieving both goals. Cariño, an aerospace engineering student at UCF, won the title of Miss…

FSI Researcher Richard Blair Invited to Join National Academy of Inventors 2022 Fellows

The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) recently announced the induction of 169 inventors as NAI Fellows. This prestigious invitation is the highest merit for the academic inventors, whose backgrounds include science, engineering and medicine. Florida Space Institute’s Richard Blair received one of these invitations and will be inducted at the 12th Annual Meeting of the National…

New UCF-developed Battery Could Prevent Post-hurricane Electric Vehicle Fires

University of Central Florida researcher has developed technology that could prevent electric vehicle fires, like those caused by saltwater flooding from Hurricane Ian. The technology, an aqueous battery, replaces the volatile and highly flammable organic solvents found in electric vehicle lithium-ion batteries with saltwater to create a battery that is safer, faster charging, just as…

UCF’s 30 Best Photos of 2022

Here’s a look at some of the most memorable photos of the year. Forward CJ Walker prepares to score in the Addition Financial Arena. UCF defeated Memphis 74-64. Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences Assistant Professor Salvador Almagro-Moreno studies the emergence and evolution of bacterial pathogens. English alum and applied sociology graduate student Shawn Welcome ’17, who is  Orlando’s second poet laureate,…

UCF Researchers Create Technology that Harvests Radio Waves for Energy

To meet the growing energy needs of the internet of things (IoT) and wireless communication systems, University of Central Florida researchers have developed a technology for converting radio frequency signals into direct current electricity. The technology can reduce the electronic industry’s reliance on batteries and broaden the expansion of the IoT and its energy needs.…

Top 20 UCF Today Stories of 2022

The following stories gained great interest throughout 2022. They are ranked by page views from Jan. 1 through Dec. 5. 20. UCF’s Perla Latorre-Suarez Named Among Best Aerospace Graduate Students in the World Aviation Week Network magazine’s annual 20 Twenties Award Class listing identifies students with the potential to change the aerospace industry. Latorre-Suarez — who is…

UCF Researcher Receives NASA Award to Inspire Local High School Students in Aerospace Engineering

University of Central Florida researcher has received NASA funding to create aerospace engineering opportunities for high schoolers from underserved and underrepresented communities to encourage them to think about space. “Novel Experience Geared to NASA Engineering Design Challenges,” or NEXTGEN-EDC, seeks to ignite local high school students’ interest in STEM through engineering projects, professional development workshops…

UCF Podcast: Finding a Cure for Type 1 Diabetes

eason three of Knights Do That, UCF’s official podcast, returns with its eighth guest, Christopher Clifford ’22, a UCF electrical engineering alum who is pursuing a Ph.D. in bioengineering at Harvard-MIT. Clifford’s research is centered around find a cure for and reducing the impact of Type 1 diabetes — a cause that’s personal to him. Before attending Harvard-MIT,…

Aerospace Engineering Doctoral Student Selected for ISS National Laboratory Fellowship

AUniversity of Central Florida aerospace engineering doctoral student is beginning a year-long project that could lead to a better design of space station systems, including Gateway, the planned lunar outpost that will serve as a vital component of the Artemis program. She joins the ranks of multiple UCF students and faculty who have been working on research projects that support…

UCF Researchers Awarded NSF Grant to Establish Local Resiliency Hubs

Central Florida is no stranger to strong storms and extreme weather, but a new collaboration between UCF and the City of Orlando aims to strengthen the area’s response capabilities by developing portable resilience hubs that offer power, internet and air conditioning for residents. Through this project, Resilience, Education and Advocacy Center for Hazard preparedness (REACH)…

The Gray Men and Women of UCF

Mike Kepner ’19MA does not intend to stand out. Yet the precision in his posture and cordiality in his voice are impossible to miss. You notice as he welcomes students into a relaxing office next to Addition Financial Arena. He offers them quiet places to study, something to drink, and space to be themselves. The students…

UCF Recognizes 6 Top Scholars as 2022 Luminary Award Winners

Six faculty members were lauded for being leaders and making impacts in their fields during UCF’s annual Luminary Awards on Tuesday at Leu Gardens in Orlando. The Luminary Awards are designed to recognize some of UCF’s brightest stars who shine a positive light on UCF and on their respective fields, as well as illuminate a…

The Way We Remember

Lori Walters and Joseph Kider make an interesting research team at UCF’s School of Modeling, Simulation and Training (SMST). Walters grew up under the blue skies of South Florida. Kider grew up in inner-city Philadelphia. Walters would watch I Dream of Jeannie after school. Kider played baseball with the guys. Walters teaches courses for UCF’s history department…

UCF Student Receives Women in Aerospace Awards Scholarship

UCF mechanical engineering student Lauren Bansberg ’20 is one of four student from across the U.S. who have been selected for a Women in Aerospace (WIA) scholarship — making her the first student to be honored by organization. WIA is a Washington, D.C.-based organization dedicated to increasing the leadership capabilities and visibility of women in the aerospace…

UCF Recognized Nationally for Efforts to Support Hispanic Students’ Education and Excellence

Since UCF was designated a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) in 2019, the university has strived to elevate how it serves and supports its Hispanic/Latino/a/x students, which currently accounts for about 28% of the student body. Today, the university is being recognized nationally by an educational publication and a federal education bureau, validating the university’s intentional efforts…