Rain or Shine? How Rainfall Impacts Size of Sea Turtle Hatchlings | |
Hatchling size matters. Larger hatchlings, which move faster, are more likely to survive because they spend less time on risky beach sands. Researchers from the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science joined an internationally collaborative study that reveals how local weather influences hatchling development across 37 beaches worldwide, showing that it has a more profound effect than changes in air temperature. Read more. | |
“Findings from our study highlight the need for more localized data on how regional weather influences incubation and hatchling development,” said Jeanette Wyneken, Ph.D., co-author and professor, Department of Biological Sciences, FAU Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. “These data are essential for refining conservation strategies to protect sea turtles amidst global warming.” | | |
Banning Friendships Can Backfire: Moms' 'Meddling' Worsens Behaviors | A new study co-authored by Brett Laursen, Ph.D., a professor of psychology in Florida Atlantic’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, cautions parents to resist the temptation to prohibit friendships. Results from a new longitudinal study of middle school youth, published in The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, indicates that maternal disapproval of friends in response to child conduct problems damages the child’s standing among peers. Read more. | |
“Youth may report restrictions and their reasons to friends. Or mothers may express their disapproval directly to friends. Neither are likely to be welcomed by recipients," said Laursen. "Friends may respond by spreading contempt or ridicule throughout the peer group. Social opportunities are likely to wither as peers avoid affiliating with someone who is depicted as uncool.” | | |
Play it Forward: Lasting Effects of Pretend Play in Early Childhood | Pretend play is associated with a host of enhanced cognitive abilities such as executive function, language and perspective taking, which are important to education. From developing social skills to fostering creativity, pretend play in young children is likened to being a “metaphoric multivitamin” in an editorial published in the journal Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews by David F. Bjorklund, Ph.D., associate chair and professor in the Department of Psychology within FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. Read more. | |
“Throughout our species’ history and prehistory, and in hunter-gatherer and traditional cultures today, young children acquired important cultural knowledge and skills through play and observation, with much adult behaviors being imitated during play,” said Bjorklund. | | |
Hot Streets, Historic Bias: Impacts on Walking in Older U.S. Adults | |
A study led by Schmidt College of Science researchers examined the relationships between urban heat islands, historic redlining, and neighborhood walking in older adults. The study, published in the Journal of Urban Health, suggests that discriminatory policies have left indelible marks on neighborhoods across the U.S., leaving communities more vulnerable to detrimental environmental exposures, including extreme heat. Read more. | |
“Neighborhoods with historic redlining scores of ‘still desirable’ and ‘best’ tend to have more favorable built and social environments for walking, such as higher socioeconomic status, more greenspace, and better pedestrian amenities,” said Diana Mitsova, Ph.D., senior author, chair and professor of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Schmidt College of Science. | | |
FAU Jumps in U.S. News & World Report's 2025 List of Top Universities | |
Florida Atlantic University made considerable gains in the U.S. News & World Report list of "Top Public Schools," moving up to No. 103 from No. 112 in this year's ranking of the nation's best universities. U.S. News & World Report also ranked FAU at No. 189 for “Top National Schools,” moving up 20 spots from No. 209 last year. In other rankings, the college's undergraduate psychology program is now No. 229 compared to No. 234 last year. Read more. | |
Exploring How Income, Race and Design Affect Pedestrian Casualties | |
Researchers from the Schmidt College of Science examined the environmental factors associated with crash incidence in lower-income and more affluent areas in Broward and Palm Beach counties. Results of the study, published earlier this year in the journal Transportation Research Record, showed that lower income communities experience fully three times the number of pedestrian deaths and injuries per capita as do affluent ones. Read more. | |
“Pedestrians in lower-income areas are likely to be struck by a car because they are trying to access everyday needs like food and shopping in environments that are poorly designed,” said Eric Dumbaugh, Ph.D., senior author and a professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, within FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. “This isn’t the problem in affluent areas. If a street feels unsafe, they don’t need to walk. They simply drive instead.” | | |
2024 ECOS Publication Grant Supports Novel Harmful Algae Bloom Study | Vivian Merk, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science and College of Engineering and Computer Science, was named the recipient of the School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability’s (ECOS) 2024 Publication Grant. It is believed that her team’s study is the first to use advanced multimodal microscopy, in particular 2D and 3D synchrotron X-ray fluorescence microscopy under cryogenic conditions, to study the morphology and elemental composition of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae. Read more. | |
Schmidt College of Science Team Attends National STEM Reframing Institute | |
Several faculty members from the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science were accepted to attend the American Association of Colleges and Universities’ (AAC&U) 2024 Institute on Reframing Institutional Transformation to Empower Non-Tenure Track STEM Faculty over the summer. The institute aimed to increase awareness about the importance of the nation’s non-tenure track STEM faculty, as well as provide guidance on how to create transformational change. Read more. | |
Chemistry Professor Presents Cancer Research at NCI's 2024 DCB R15 Investigator Workshop | |
Mare Cudic, Ph. D., associate professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and director, Honors in Chemistry Program, Schmidt College of Science, was invited to present at the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Division of Cancer Biology (DCB) R15 Investigator Workshop on June 26-28. Cudic’s presentation was one of the seven invited scientific presentations at the workshop, where she presented research findings supported by the R15 grant titled, “Mechanistic insight into tumor-associated MUC1 glycopeptides binding to macrophage galactose-type lectin.” Read more. | |
FAU Interim Vice President for Research Named Fulbright Specialist | |
Gregg Fields, Ph.D., professor of chemistry, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, and university interim vice president for research, was selected as a Fulbright Specialist Program grantee by the United States Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for his expertise and contributions in disease discovery and treatment. His extensive background in chemistry has helped to advance specialization in pharmaceutical chemistry. Fields is also a dedicated educator and international collaborator who has delivered more than 280 lectures and has taught numerous courses, including biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, and chemical biology. Read more. | |
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New Faculty Spotlight: Irem Korucu, Ph.D.
Irem Korucu, Ph.D. recently joined the Schmidt College of Science as an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology. Learn more about Korucu’s research that examines the development of executive function and self-regulation skills in early childhood and how contextual factors, such as the quality of early social contexts, contribute to or hinder children’s development, learning, and well-being across the lifespan. Read more.
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Alumna Spotlight: Leticia Sabio '24
The Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association granted Schmidt College of Science alumna Leticia Sabio ‘24 the organization’s Student Planner of the Year award during its annual conference. Sabio outperformed other students from across the state and was recognized for her work as a Graduate Research Assistant on the Watershed Master Plan, funded by the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Read more.
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New Faculty Spotlight: Natalia Malina, Ph.D.
The Schmidt College of Science is excited to welcome Natalia Malina, Ph.D., an assistant professor in Environmental Chemistry, who is studying the fate of organic contaminants in aquatic environments that pose risks to human and ecosystem health. Her research advances our understanding of how parent compounds, introduced into the environment by human activities, transform into daughter compounds through microbial activity or sunlight exposure. Read more.
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Video: What is a Carbon Footprint?
A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, that are released into the atmosphere by your activities. This includes things like driving a car, using electricity, and even the food you eat. It measures how much you contribute to climate change.
This video was developed by FAU’s The Invading Sea. Watch video.
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WLRN's 'Bright Lit Place' Live at Florida Atlantic
Join award-winning WLRN environment reporter Jenny Staletovich and other experts for a special live podcast episode of “Bright Lit Place” and an in-depth discussion about the restoration of the Everglades on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. This event is free to the community, register to reserve your spot now! Learn more.
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Science Social and Student Research Competition
Join the inaugural Science Social on Thursday, Oct. 17, which is designed to help new undergraduate students engage with the college to learn about degree programs, research opportunities, meet with advisors, and more. Learn more. Don't forget to enter the Dr. Eric Shaw Excellence in Science Undergraduate Research Poster Competition, which includes cash awards to the top poster presentations. Deadline to apply is Friday, Oct. 4. Apply to compete.
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2024 Pumpkin Drop and Physics Carnival
The Schmidt College of Science will host its ever-popular annual Pumpkin Drop and Physics Carnival on Friday, Oct. 25. At 10:00 a.m., physics faculty will pitch pumpkins off the roof of the SE-43 building to demonstrate how science can be fun—and messy! Fantastic physics festivities will immediately follow at 10:30 a.m. Learn more.
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WLW Environment and Student Success Scholarships
Two scholarships are currently available for undergraduate students:
WLW-ECOS Student Success Scholarship
Fall 2024 deadline to apply: Oct. 31, 2024
WLW-ECOS Semester by the Sea Scholarship
Spring 2025 deadline to apply: Nov. 15, 2024 Learn more.
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Annual Florida Atlantic Graduate College Open House
October 3: Attendees will have the opportunity to explore over 100 of FAU's nationally ranked graduate programs, interact with distinguished faculty and admissions representatives, learn about funding opportunities and services for graduate students, and more. Learn more.
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Fall 2024 Pre-Health Workshop Series
August 28-November 6: The Schmidt College of Science has created a series of special workshops to assist students who are navigating their journeys toward health care professions. Learn more.
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2024 Art of Science and Photography Contest
Last call! The deadline for Florida Atlantic faculty, staff, students, and postdocs to enter submissions for the sixth annual Art of Science Photography and Video Contest is Friday, October 4. Learn more.
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Florida Atlantic Wave Competition
Application deadline: Oct. 16: Apply to receive seed funding for your innovative idea. Open to graduate and undergraduate students, participants will develop their projects for a chance to win the $2,000 Dr. Eric H. Shaw FAU Wave Excellence in Innovation Award. Learn more.
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Pre-Health Professions Summit
October 17-19: The summit will focus on practitioners running their own practice, in charge of a major facility or hospital. Students will have a unique opportunity to explore careers and network in multiple specialties throughout the field of medicine within the three days. Learn more.
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College of Science Scholarships Now Available
Deadline to apply: Oct. 20.
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Call for Nominations: Schmidt College of Science Excellence Awards
To recognize the achievements of faculty and staff, the Schmidt College of Science is currently accepting nominations through Monday, November 11. Learn more.
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MCAT Live Online Test Prep Course
August 27-December 10: The Live Online course offers instructor-created video lessons and problem sets contained in CANVAS, supported by live video-conference sessions, and includes six full-length computerized practice exams. Learn more.
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2025 Jumpstart Postdoctoral Program
This program not only offers the opportunity to spark new collaborations, but also provides a platform to support early career scientists. The application deadline is Friday, January 3, 2025. Learn more.
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Science Internship Course
Students interested in obtaining 1-3 academic credits for a science-based internship can schedule an appointment with Science Career Coach Kelly Nielsen to learn more at nielsenk@fau.edu. This course is offered by the Schmidt College of Science, in partnership with the Career Center. Learn more.
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Join Florida Atlantic's School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability (ECOS) | |
Florida Atlantic's School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability (ECOS) invites all FAU faculty, postdocs, and graduate students to become affiliate members of the school. Engage in transformational interdisciplinary research, teaching, and community engagement initiatives that bring forth the collective environmental capabilities of the university. Learn more. | |
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New ECOS Director Search
The Schmidt College of Science is searching for a new director of the Florida Atlantic School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability (ECOS) who is a proven collaborative, dynamic, and nationally recognized leader in environmental science. Learn more.
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Applications Open for the WLW ECOS Professor in Residence
The school of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability (ECOS) at Florida Atlantic University is seeking to recruit a collaborative, dynamic, and nationally recognized leader in environmental science to serve as the WLW ECOS Professor in Residence. Learn more.
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Newsweek: Cutting Children Off From Friends Can Make Bad Behaviors Worse
Newsweek featured coverage of a new study led by Brett Laursen, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at Florida Atlantic University, that showed parents who prohibit friendships, particularly mothers, can worsen the child's behavior rather than improve it, as it may harm their social standing and lead to greater adjustment difficulties. Read more.
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Partner With the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science as We Race Toward Excellence! | |
Pictured: The Schmidt College of Science's Infant Cognition Laboratory. | |
At the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, we have an unprecedented obligation and opportunity to provide our students and community with the highest caliber of research, scientific invention, and education in the country. | | | | |
