Florida scientists take aim at Zika with launch of new center

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Matthew DeGennaro
Four Florida universities are joining forces in the fight to stop Zika. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded $10 million to a new center that brings together scientists from FIU, University of Florida, University of Miami, and University of South Florida. With Florida often being an entry point into the United States […]

Remembering FIU supporter Sanford L. Ziff

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Sanford L. Ziff
The university joins President Mark B. Rosenberg in remembering philanthropist, FIU supporter, and Foundation Board of Directors member Sanford L. Ziff, who passed away at 91 on Friday. President Rosenberg sent the following email to the university community on Jan. 9. Dear members of the university community, It is with a heavy heart and deep appreciation […]

Biologist rounds up lizards on the loose

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FIU biologist James Stroud and kids
Lizards are on the loose in South Florida, and FIU biologist James Stroud needs local middle-schoolers to help him keep track of the reptiles. Stroud is training middle school students to collect information on anole lizards, including species, size, and where they are found. To help the young ecologists, he has created a Field Identification […]

Algae give freshwater clues in the face of sea-level rise

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Viviana Mazzei studies algae in Everglades.
Sea-level rise is a monumental threat, but one FIU biologist is tracking levels using one of the Florida Everglades’ tiniest residents. Viviana Mazzei is examining communities of algae to help resource managers pinpoint which areas need freshwater most. Known as diatoms, these microscopic algae are a great indicator of environmental changes, including increased salinity and […]

Fifth annual TEDxFIU breaks attendance record

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Omar Durrani at FIU TEDx
TEDxFIU celebrated its fifth anniversary this year, christening the new Student Academic Success Center’s lecture hall as its inaugural event. The annual event—produced by the Division of External Relations and sponsored in part by the College of Arts, Sciences & Education—broke its previous attendance record, selling more than 600 tickets. And more than 1,500 people […]

The art of faculty mentoring: Student-professor relationships benefit both parties

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Shonda Witherspoon, Naphtali Rishe, and Shalisha Witherspoon
  As an undergraduate, Shonda Witherspoon ’16 co-published an article in a scientific journal. Her identical twin Shalisha ’16 led the development of a multifaceted software system. The sisters reached these incredible heights thanks to mentoring from Naphtali Rishe. The eminent professor of computer science holds five US patents and directs several acclaimed university and […]

Cold spells chill tropical species

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Mayan cichlid
Two cold spells, two years apart, and in two subtropical regions of the world have given scientists clues as to what happens when an extreme climate event strikes. By tracking conditions before, during, and after a 2008 cold spell in China and a 2010 cold spell in Florida, FIU researchers found chilling effects on plants […]