Author: megansam@ufl.edu

By Megan Sam When Gabrielle Quadrado first started flipping through her mom’s biology books at 8 years old, she wasn’t thinking about scientific research or earning a Ph.D. She was a curious child playing “professor,” inspired by her mom, who is both a researcher and biology professor. Years later, that early spark of curiosity became […]

By Megan Sam Scott Lee Young is driven by a simple but powerful question: What can I accomplish that I once thought was impossible?   This mindset took root in his home country of Jamaica, where he and his high school team spent six months preparing for a national quiz competition. Covering topics ranging from proverbs […]

A $7.5 million, five-year project funded by the Office of Naval Research is breaking new ground in tidal mudflats research.   Led by Nina Stark, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Civil & Coastal Engineering, this ambitious initiative brings together an interdisciplinary team of researchers from five universities across the country. The project […]

Could hurricanes be fueling the spread of microplastics and harmful bacteria in our oceans? With support from a National Science Foundation (NSF) RAPID grant, Chamteut Oh, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the University of Florida’s Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences (ESSIE), is launching a new research project to investigate how back-to-back storms might accelerate the […]

When children see photos of Alexis Jackson wading through muddy wetlands — swarmed by insects, enduring scorching heat and working alongside alligators and snakes — their first question is usually, “Why are you doing this?”   On February 8, at the Florida Museum of Natural History’s Girls Do Science event, which was attended by more than […]

Current flood forecasts in coastal areas often lack the precision people need. It’s like being told, “it will rain this afternoon,” without knowing whether it’ll be a light drizzle or a heavy downpour. But scientists are working to change that. By leveraging powerful graphics processing unit (GPU) technology, researchers are making coastal flood predictions faster, […]

A heartfelt thank you and exciting future ahead Dear Friends and Colleagues,  We sincerely appreciate everyone’s support during our Giving Day campaign on February 20. Whether you made a gift, helped spread the word, or cheered us on, we truly appreciate you. Your generosity and encouragement are essential to the work we do at the […]

Congratulations to Dakota Lewis, recipient of the 2025 Guy Harvey Fellowship!  With this support, she’ll be diving deeper into how environmental changes affect fish populations in Florida Bay and predicting how they’ll respond to our changing climate.   “What I love about using fish as a study system is that they can move around,” said […]

AECOM At AECOM, we believe infrastructure creates opportunity for everyone – uplifting communities, improving access and sustaining our planet. We’re listening to clients and the communities we serve in order to improve lives and livelihoods, and to create sustainable legacies for generations to come. Thinking without limits is what keeps us at the vanguard. Ideas have no borders, and this ethos is embedded in […]

What if decision-making included experiencing the future firsthand? Community leaders can now forecast hazards like hurricanes, model future scenarios, and test strategies to ensure a healthy, resilient and economically vibrant future for Jacksonville’s residents using the JaxTwin, a digital replica of the city. This novel tool, developed by a trans-disciplinary team of UF researchers and […]