UF in the Community

Office of Community Relations

UF Government and Community Relations

Monday, October 5, 2020

Across the University of Florida, our 16 colleges, numerous institutes and health care facilities embrace our shared mission of outreach and service to improve and enrich our community, nation and the world. UF in the Community spotlights the impact of UF in our region.

Although UF has students and employees throughout the state, North Central Florida is home to much of our faculty and staff and to our 50,000+ students. Like all area residents, we want a vibrant, safe, healthy and equitable place in which to live and thrive. Here are some of the ways in which we are enhancing our shared community.

UF Health researchers design smartwatch app to assist with COVID prevention

Many Americans are simply touching their faces too often during the novel coronavirus pandemic, public health officials have observed, potentially increasing their exposure to the pathogen. But just try to stop.

Face touching is like breathing. We do it without really thinking about it. One pre-pandemic study found that people touch their face an average of 23 times an hour. Even though a finger or hand can pick up the virus on a surface and infect someone while they rub their eyes, mouth or nose, it can seem nearly impossible to avoid such an instinctive act.

But what if a smartwatch beeped or vibrated every time your hand touched your face?

UF Monitors wastewater for COVID

At testing sites around the University of Florida, students, staff and faculty get swabbed to check for potential COVID-19 infections. Beneath their feet, another testing system churns away, searching for the virus in UF’s wastewater.

A wastewater sampling device on the UF campus.

Join us (virtually) at the October UF Eye Opener Discovery Breakfast

featuring

Dr. Scott Angle

Vice President, Agriculture and Natural Resources

UF Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences

Wednesday, Oct. 14

8 a.m. ET

UF Warrington College of Business: Initial impact of COVID-19 on Commercial Real Estate Operations

See Study

UF Sid Martin Biotech Business Incubator – Winner of eight international and national awards – Celebrates 25 years

As one of the first biotech business incubators in the United States, UF Innovate | Sid Martin Biotech has paved the way to success for many startup companies. Sid Martin celebrates its 25th anniversary today and continues to have a timeless impact.

For more about UF Innovate:

http://innovate.research.ufl.edu

Stricklin Tabbed Athletic Director of the Year

The 2020 Athletic Director of the Year is the University of Florida's Scott Stricklin. The honor was given at the annual Sports Business Award show, which was held virtually Wednesday evening.

Stricklin was one of five finalists for the award, along with Boise State's Curt Apsey, Texas Tech's Kirby Hocutt, Oregon's Rob Mullens and Baylor's Mack Rhoades. The 2020 nominees and winners are being recognized for the period of March 1, 2019 through February 28, 2020.

University Athletic Association: Virtual gameday events

The "Virtual" Gameday from the Swamp will include a stream of the popular 1st & 10 Pregame Show presented by Wells Fargo, as well as gameday traditions such as the Honorary Mr. Two Bits and as we prepare to enter the fourth quarter, of course, Won't Back Down and We Are The Boys.