Florida Atlantic University Receives Significant Gift to Support the Next Generation of Environmental Stewards | |
The School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability (ECOS), Florida Atlantic University’s collaborative hub for programs focused on environmental sustainability, received a significant gift focused on supporting student success from Wayne and Lucretia Weiner. It establishes 22 scholarships, 20 paid internships, 10 research stipends, programmatic support for Florida Atlantic’s Semester by the Sea Program, a Professor-in-Residence program, three faculty mentors and two staff advisor positions. This transformative gift enhances ECOS and creates opportunities for students dedicated to the environment and a more sustainable South Florida. Read more. | |
“The next generation of environmental scientists, leaders, and problem solvers must come from a diverse range of disciplines to solve the complex issues of tomorrow, and the tremendous support provided by Lucretia and Wayne’s gift reflects the cross-disciplinary ethos of ECOS,” said Valery Forbes, Ph.D., dean of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. “This gift creates scholarships that will greatly expand educational opportunities for students and advance our research and community engagement, creating tangible momentum for this important new school." | | |
Wild Birds' Gut Microbiome Linked With Ornamentation, Body Condition | Using a common backyard bird, the Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), a new study provides the first-ever description of how a wild bird’s microbiome relates to its ornamentation and body condition. Results of the study, published in the journal Oikos, reveal that a cardinal’s gut microbiome diversity can be predicted by its body condition, and the quality of its ornamentation – red plumage and beak. Read more. | |
“Our findings confirm the hypothesis that a wild bird’s health is tied to its microbiome, and that the ‘sexiness’ of a male’s ornaments can signal his health,” said Rindy Anderson, Ph.D., senior author and an associate professor in Florida Atlantic's Department of Biological Sciences. | | |
Raising Awareness: Educating the Community About King Tides | |
Flooding from King Tides in the past several years has given many residents a glimpse of what Florida’s future could look like as sea levels continue to rise. Not only do King Tides affect peoples’ lives and livelihoods, but they also put pressure on critical infrastructure. To compound the issue, climate change will affect sea-level rise and cause King Tide events to become more frequent and more severe. Experts from Florida Atlantic's Center for Environmental Studies (CES) are leading the way in building community resilience and aim to educate the greater public about the impacts of climate change and King Tides. Read more. | |
“While storm surges are different than King Tides, they can lead to even higher water levels and more severe coastal flooding when coupled with high tide events,” said Rebecca Clark, Schmidt College of Science Center for Environmental Studies (CES) Graduate Research Assistant and Geosciences Ph.D. candidate. “As the climate warms, storm intensity and frequency will increase, causing the potential for higher impacts to King Tides in the future.” | | |
Florida Atlantic's Center for Environmental Studies Celebrates 30 Years | On Dec. 3, Schmidt College of Science faculty and staff, along with supporters, celebrated Florida Atlantic's Center for Environmental Studies’ (CES) 30th anniversary with a beach restoration project at Red Reef Park in Boca Raton. The group removed invasive species, planted biodiverse, native plants in the coastal strand, and picked up litter in the dunes and along the beach. Thank you to CES partners, The Institute for Regional Conservation and the City of Boca Raton Office of Sustainability, for their support with this event. View Photos. | |
Program of Strategic Emphasis Waivers Available for STEM Undergraduates | |
Undergraduate students enrolled in one of 11 science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) degree programs at Florida Atlantic University may be eligible for tuition waivers. The eligible degree programs in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science include the B.A. and B.S. mathematics programs, where students may qualify for tuition waivers under Florida’s Programs of Strategic Emphasis initiative. Read more. | |
"This waiver program will help increase access and participation among promising STEM students,” stated Yuan Wang, Ph.D., professor and chair, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Schmidt College of Science. “It will also allow them to focus on developing the relevant skills required in their fields, as well as spark excitement, innovation, and discovery in these future leaders.” | | |
Alumna Mikki McComb-Kobza, Ph.D. '09, Shares the Wonder of Nature, Science, and Conservation | |
Although there aren’t any sharks in Colorado where alumna Mikki McComb-Kobza, Ph.D. ’09, now resides, that doesn’t stop her from sharing her elasmo-enthusiasm through the nonprofit organization she helped co-found, Ocean First Institute, which is dedicated to marine research, conservation, and education. As the CEO and Chief Scientist of the Institute, she leverages her position to reach extensive audiences and inspire action around the globe. McComb-Kobza’s research has been broadcast by the BBC, National Geographic Society, Discovery Channel Shark Week, and CBC National Radio Canada. Read More. | |
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Undergraduate Student Spotlight: Jon Declan
Senior biology major Jon Declan discovered the fascinating world of entomology at Florida Atlantic. He’s a founding member of FAU’s Microbiome Innovation Cluster, and his research on disease vectors and agricultural health is paving the way for a healthier future. Read More.
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Assistant Professor of Physics Named Visiting Scholar at UC Santa Barbara
Assistant Professor of Physics Yichen Hu, Ph.D., has been named as a visiting scholar at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP), at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Hu is looking forward to starting his two-year appointment which begins in 2025, at one of the world's leading institutes for fundamental research in physics. Read more.
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Video: The Future of Storm Damage Assessment
Discover how Tiffany Roberts Briggs, Ph.D., chair and associate professor in the Department of Geosciences, in collaboration with Diana Mitsova, Ph.D., chair and professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, are developing quicker and safer solutions to enhance response, recovery, and resilience for hurricane-impacted communities.
This video was developed by Florida Atlantic’s Division of Research. Watch video.
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Spring 2025 WLW-ECOS Student Success Scholarship
The $7,500 scholarship provides awards to undergraduate students in their junior and senior year with financial need, who have a demonstrated interest in environmental science. Deadline to apply: Friday, February 7, 2025. Learn more.
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Advising Virtual Walk-In Week
From Monday, January 6 to Friday, January 10, advisors from the Schmidt College of Science will be available between 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to answers questions about spring schedules, spring graduation, or questions from spring transfer students. Learn more.
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HBOI Ocean Lecture Series
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute has released the schedule for its spring 2025 free community lecture series. The series kicks-off on Wednesday, January 8 and runs every Wednesday through the end of March. Learn more.
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CMBB Biotech Hackathon
Beat the Clock: Innovating for a Longer, Healthier Life: Jan. 31 to Feb. 1 in the Boca Raton Student Union. Connect with other like-minded students and professionals, learn new skills that help grow your confidence, and have fun enjoying a weekend of tech and innovation. Learn more and RSVP.
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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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Forbes Features Groundbreaking Study by Schmidt College of Science Researchers
A first-of-its-kind study by Rindy Anderson, Ph.D., senior author and an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, and Morgan Slevin, first author and a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Biological Sciences, provides new insights into how gut microbiomes influence traits related to fitness in wild birds, that could have key implications for promoting healthier ecosystems and wildlife populations. Read more. Photo credit: Jen Goellnitz.
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Partner With the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science as We Race Toward Excellence! | |
Pictured: The FAU Department of Geosciences Coastal Studies Lab. | |
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. | | | | |
