UF Ecologist Robert D. Holt Elected to the National Academy of Sciences
Robert D. Holt of the University of Florida Department of Biology has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), joining the ranks of leading scientists recognized for their distinguished achievements in research.
A First: Scientists Grow Plants in Soil From the Moon
Scientists have grown plants in soil from the moon, a first in human history and a milestone in lunar and space exploration. In a new paper published in the journal “Communications Biology,” University of Florida researchers showed that plants can successfully sprout and grow in lunar soil. Their study also investigated how plants respond biologically to the moon’s soil, also known as lunar regolith, which is radically different from soil found on Earth.
National Academy of Inventors Announces 2021 Fellows
The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) has elected 164 prolific academic innovators from across the world to NAI Fellow status. This includes Dr. Subrata Roy, a University of Florida professor in the department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. The 2021 new Fellows will be inducted at the Fellows Induction Ceremony at the 11th Annual Meeting of the National Academy of Inventors this upcoming June 14-15, in Phoenix, Arizona
Rob Ferl Receives NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal
Rob Ferl, distinguished professor in the UF/IFAS horticultural sciences department and assistant vice president for UF research, has received one of NASA’s most prestigious honors, the Exceptional Public Service Medal.
Dean Elected to the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida
The dean of the College of Design, Construction and Planning at the University of Florida, Chimay Anumba, Ph.D., has been elected to the Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine of Florida.
Pushy Plants? Student Discovery ‘Adds New Dimension to Plant Biology’
A new University of Florida study conducted by mathematics and botany senior Camille Sicangco, has been accepted for publication in Current Biology and shows the plant exerts force on its own, not just in response to external forces such as climate and soil. It is rare for an undergraduate student to publish research in such a prestigious journal — let alone to do so using new methods of discovery — but advisor Dr. Francis E. “Jack” Putz encouraged the naturally creative and inquisitive Sicangco to follow her curiosity.
Does Medical Marijuana Work? Florida Consortium Seeks Answers
A consortium of nine universities in Florida, led by two professors at UF, is in the early stages of investigating medical marijuana. In this episode, Professor Almut Winterstein describes the consortium, its three major efforts and the opportunities and challenges in understanding how marijuana works as a medical treatment.
SynGatorTron™ To Speed Medical Research, Alleviate Privacy Worries
Medical chatbots that can talk to people using conversational language may be available on your cell phone or computer soon thanks to SynGatorTron™, a groundbreaking artificial intelligence tool developed by UF Health and NVIDIA.
UF Scripps Researchers’ Work Sheds New Light on Relationship Between Brain Structure and Behavior in Preclinical Model of Autism
For people with autism, overstimulating sensory experiences such as noise can have a profound effect on their lives. Now, a group of scientists at UF Scripps Biomedical Research has shed new light on brain development that can lead to autism-related sensory processing disorders.
Dr. Christine Schmidt: Biomedical Engineer and Florida Inventors Hall of Fame Inductee
Dr. Christine Schmidt talks with host James Di Virgilio about her research in biochemically processed nerve grafts and what inspires her as an innovator: “When you think about innovation and invention, be open to the fact that what you're doing may have applications in different spaces and that you may take turns and enjoying those turns versus resisting. Those turns may lead you to some interesting pathways.”
