Category: News
UF water researchers develop prediction system for harmful algae
May 21, 2025By Dave Schlenker The slimy algae topping Florida’s waterways are more than just unsightly. They are often toxic to humans, animals and the environment. To mitigate those risks, University of Florida researchers are collaborating with North Carolina State University and University of South Florida scientists on a next-day prediction model to warn and inform water […]
Read more »Director’s note May 2025
May 15, 2025Kicking off the summer field season May marks the start of a full and exciting summer field season — one that calls for grit, teamwork and a spirit of adventure. Our students and staff will be out in the field across Florida and around the world, gaining hands-on experience in coastal research and learning what […]
Read more »From concept to flight: UF engineers build advanced coastal survey drone
May 14, 2025By Megan Sam When Florida implemented a ban on foreign-manufactured drones in April 2023, researchers in the Ifju Lab at the University of Florida faced an unexpected setback. Much of their fieldwork, from underwater mapping to wildfire management, depended on the now restricted technology. Instead of turning to commercial alternatives, the team took a bold […]
Read more »UF and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers collaborate on education and workforce development
May 14, 2025By Megan Sam Student hackathons. Joint certificate programs. Collaborative workshops and problem-solving spaces. These are just a few of the forward-thinking ideas that emerged during an energizing planning session held April 23 between the University of Florida (UF) and the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). The session brought together scientists, engineers and […]
Read more »Rising above: Cedar Key builds resilience with flood planning tool
May 14, 2025By Megan Sam After enduring two floods in just over a year, the Cedar Key Water and Sewer District realized it was time to move its administration building to higher ground. To guide that critical decision, they turned to an innovative tool developed by researchers at the University of Florida — the Resilient Cedar Key […]
Read more »Gabrielle Quadrado turns inspiration into impact
May 14, 2025By 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 […]
Read more »$7.5M research project aims to improve safety on hazardous tidal mudflats
April 3, 2025A $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 […]
Read more »Storm surge and superbugs: How hurricanes may help spread antibiotic-resistant bacteria
April 2, 2025Could 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 […]
Read more »Braving the swamp! Graduate students share the thrill of wetland science with kids
April 2, 2025When 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 […]
Read more »Revolutionizing coastal flood forecasting: Faster, smarter models on the horizon
April 2, 2025Current 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, […]
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