See how UCF academics and leaders intersect and collaborate with the community and others in making the world a better place.
Fri Dec 11
Detective Eric Walton of the UCF Police Department was recognized Thursday by the U.S. Secret Service as one of the top 50 law enforcement graduates of the agency’s 2020 National Computer Forensics Institute program. Walton ranked 19th out of 1,747 officers who completed the program that teaches digital forensic-examination techniques to carry out investigations on computers,…
Thu Dec 10
The following stories captured our attention throughout the year. They are ranked by page views from Jan. 1, 2020 through Dec. 10, 2020.20. UCF Researchers Develop Groundbreaking Rocket Propulsion System Page views: 7,423 Rotating detonation rocket engines will allow upper stage rockets for space missions to become lighter, travel farther and burn more cleanly.19. Asteroid Visiting Earth’s…
Thu Dec 10
While COVID-19 has greatly impacted this year’s holiday season, many of us will still be making – and unfortunately overindulging in — holiday foods. This pandemic is stressful, which also causes many of us to overeat. So this week, we turn to College of Medicine faculty member Dr. Magdalena Pasarica, an M.D./Ph.D. who specializes in…
Wed Dec 9
Even in the best of times, the holidays can be a stressful period. The global pandemic and all the disruptions it has caused in 2020 have made it even more challenging which is why taking care of your mental health is especially important this year. Students, even graduate students, are not immune to stress. Many…
Tue Dec 8
“You can’t understand someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.” This popular saying is the idea behind the Human Library Project recently launched at the College of Medicine to challenge societal stigmas and stereotypes. The Harriet F. Ginsburg Health Sciences Library has partnered with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to introduce the project, which features…
Mon Dec 7
Fourteen UCF faculty physicians were named the community’s best doctors in Orlando Magazine’s yearly recognition – the most ever in medical school history. The honorees include physicians in various specialties who practice at UCF Health, the College of Medicine clinical practice. The magazine featured two lists this year – a “Top Doctors List” compiled by Consumers’ CHECKBOOK,…
Mon Dec 7
It is encouraging that multiple COVID-19 vaccine candidates are demonstrating high effectivity and may soon become publicly available. However, that must not stop our efforts to remain focused on protecting ourselves and others from COVID-19 during the holiday season. UCF may serve as a mass vaccination site in the spring. We will encourage students, faculty…
Mon Dec 7
Presidents in Florida, a documentary by WUCF TV based on a book of the same name by UCF history faculty member James C. Clark, will premiere Thursday, Dec. 10. Florida has had a far-reaching effect on the presidency dating all the way back to George Washington, before the region was even a state. The film, written…
Thu Dec 3
Here’s a look back at the year that was 2020 through images that captured us. Florida state representative Anna Eskamani ’12 ’15MNM ’15MPA (right) visited the Limbitless Solutions lab on campus. The nonprofit direct-support organization at UCF specializes in creating and donating personalized 3D-printed prosthetic arms for children. Civil engineering students built a canoe for the annual ASCE…
Wed Dec 2
This is usually the season for parties, and with COVID-19 infections on the rise, more of us may be considering hosting virtual events. For advice on hosting a great – and we hope stress-free – online event, we turn to two faculty members from the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, Jeannie Hahm and Michelle Holm,…
Wed Dec 2
2020 has been quite the year. On top of a viral pandemic, in which people have gotten sick, people have lost their jobs, have lost friends, co-workers and even family members to disease or suicide. Fear has taken root in our society, gnawing on our comforts and dragging our complacencies into the light. Stepping outside your door…
Tue Dec 1
The instrument platform of the 305-meter telescope at Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico fell at approximately 7:55 a.m. Puerto Rico time today, Dec. 1. No injuries were reported as a result of the collapse, but it caused damage to the observatory dish and surrounding facilities. Extent of the damage is being assessed. “Safety of personnel…
Tue Dec 1
It’s hard to imagine a virtual Tupperware party. Sales presentations are trickier with the move to increased online communication. Gone (for now) are the days of making small talk with prospective clients in the hallway and capturing their undivided attention face-to-face. Now that life has gone virtual, is it really possible for sales professionals to…
Mon Nov 30
The University of Central Florida and its partners this month will launch the Center for Innovation, Design and Digital Learning, a national hub that will be open 24/7 to help professors get a leg up on using technology. Before the global pandemic rocked the country, the U.S. Department of Education was already talking about a…
Wed Nov 25
When astronauts had their first glimpse of Earth from space, the effect it had on them was more than just visual. They described an intense state of self-transcendent awe, wonder and oneness, called the “overview effect.” Heading to space was not an option for me at the time, so the change in worldview that I…
Tue Nov 24
Growing up with family members who held leadership positions with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians — the only federally recognized tribal nation in Alabama — Rebecca Naragon ’07 knew she wanted to pursue a career in public service. Now the political science grad is an economic development director for the United South and Eastern Tribes, a nonprofit organization…
Tue Nov 24
In response to the psychological toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Central Florida’s psychological trauma clinic, UCF RESTORES, is working with Orange County on two new projects to provide treatment services in the area. The work will focus on residents of Azalea Park on the east side of Orlando and essential workers who live…
Mon Nov 23
Florida’s economy remains on track to a faster recovery — outpacing much of the nation in job and income growth — provided the Sunshine State can avoid more shutdowns, says Sean Snaith, nationally recognized economist and director of UCF’s Institute for Economic Forecasting. Released this week, the institute’s third-quarter report forecasts Florida’s economy, as measured by…
Mon Nov 23
The pandemic has brought great uncertainty, changed our opportunity to interact with loved ones and has affected millions of jobs. While 2020 has been a trying time, which will likely impact the next few years of our lives, some would suggest it’s even more important now than ever to be thankful for what you have.…
Mon Nov 23
About this time of year the past several years, my husband can’t help but comment on the total departure from the “traditional” Thanksgiving feast available at our family’s gathering. He says something along the lines of: “I’m pretty sure the Pilgrims at Plymouth did not have pernil on their table during their Thanksgiving celebration.” (For…