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.​

featuring W. Kent Fuchs, President,

University of Florida.

Event will be held Wednesday, September 8, 2021 at 7:30 AM at the UF Hilton Conference Center, Century Ballroom.

As COVID-19 ravaged India and Indonesia this spring and summer, supplemental oxygen supplies became critically scarce. With that shortage in mind, a team at UF Health’s Center for Safety, Simulation and Advanced Learning Technologies conceived a novel way to prolong the life of oxygen cylinders by reducing oxygen waste. The simple, manual technique involves intermittently interrupting the oxygen flow from the cylinder during exhalation so that oxygen flows only during inhalation.

When EMS arrived at the scene of Matthew “Matt” Benavidez’s motorcycle crash, authorities pronounced him dead. On Nov. 7, 2020, an SUV ran a flashing yellow light on University Avenue in Gainesville and slammed into the right side of Matt’s motorcycle. His contorted and mangled body lay across the asphalt. A fractured skull. Three brain bleeds. Collapsed lungs. Broken ribs. A broken neck. A broken nose. A broken jaw. A broken ankle. A broken sternum. A bruised heart. 

And then — a faint pulse. 

UF researchers are developing a new artificial intelligence tool that will help clinicians identify patients at high risk for opioid use disorder and overdose. The tool will use data from patients’ electronic medical records to guide clinicians in safely and effectively prescribing opioid medications. The project is supported by a five-year, $3.2 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and aims to reduce the unprecedented rise in opioid overdose and opioid use disorder in the United States.

Consumer sentiment in Florida increased for the second consecutive month and reached its highest level in 2021. Notably, the U.S. economy exceeded its pre-pandemic peak in the second quarter of 2021. While data is not yet available, a similar result is anticipated for Florida’s economy. The recent trends in consumer confidence indicate increased consumer spending boosting Florida’s economy,” said Hector Sandoval, director of the Economic Analysis Program at UF’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research.

The Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida recently selected Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects | Partners to design an estimated 20,000-square-foot addition scheduled for completion in 2024. As the Harn concludes its 30th anniversary year and launches a strategic plan for the next 5 years, the new wing will provide a multi-purpose space for activities that will further fulfill the Harn Museum’s mission to inspire, educate and enrich people’s lives through art.

Hurricanes are something Florida residents have to deal with, and they can be overwhelming and scary. Additionally, not preparing ahead of time can add even more stress and take an unexpected toll on your finances. There are ways to reduce this strain and stress. Below are eight financial preparedness tips that can help you prepare this 2021 hurricane season.

Florida weeds run aplenty, especially in the summer. Getting rid of weeds starts with proper identification, and UF/IFAS experts developed an online tool that organizes weeds by flower color for fast identification. The tool helps identify 130 of the most common weeds found in Florida and helps users identify weeds in their landscape and develop a plan of attack with management recommendations. For more information on weed control, Ask IFAS or contact your local UF/IFAS Extension office.