University of Florida College of Liberal Arts and Sciences News

Academy students get lessons in astronomy

Thu, 05 May 2011 15:58:26 -0400

Keith Joiner has decided to forego a career in football or basketball to become a scientist. The reason: Keith, a fourth-grader at Williams Elementary School and a student at the Saturday Academy, has been inspired by classes in astronomy and space sciences held at the Saturday Academy. [via Gainesville Sun]

University of Florida student from Oldsmar named Udall Scholar

Thu, 05 May 2011 15:57:34 -0400

A University of Florida student was named a Udall Scholar for the 2011-2012 year by the Udall Foundation.

Gather Around the Nanotubes of the Future

Wed, 04 May 2011 17:44:38 -0400

Physics professor Andrew Rinzler was interviewed in an April 28 MSN news story on his research paper in Science on carbon nanotubes and their potential for use in next-generation television screens and computer monitors using organic light-emitting diodes.

How useful are police composite sketches?

Wed, 04 May 2011 17:44:20 -0400

Assistant professor of criminology Lisa E. Hasel was quoted in an April 25 Philadelphia Inquirer story on the effectiveness of the composite sketch in police investigations.

The Many Flavors of the Hindu New Year

Wed, 04 May 2011 17:44:00 -0400

In an op-ed to the Huffington Post, Religion chair Vasudha Narayanan looks at the multiple days and ways in which Hindus around the world celebrate the new year.

UF Names Dunlevie Professors for Honors Program for Next Year

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 11:38:34 -0400

English professor John Cech is one of three distinguished University of Florida faculty members appointed as Elizabeth Wood Dunlevie Honors Term Professors for the 2011-12 academic year. [UF News]

Head of the CLAS: Amy Panikowski

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:40:10 -0400

Even amid the buzz of activity and the press of the crowd at the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Peace Corps, it was hard to miss Amy Panikowski.

UF Linguistics Professor’s New Book Defends Value of a Good Schmooze

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:51:51 -0400

What’s so bad about schmoozing? In modern parlance, schmoozers are synonymous with users: Smooth talkers with something to gain from the conversation. University of Florida linguistics professor Diana Boxer’s new book seeks to redeem “schmoozing,” a word that originally carried no negative connotation, but simply referred to a chat that built goodwill between its participants.

Bookbeat - Realist Constructivism: Rethinking International Relations Theory

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:07:05 -0400

Realism and constructivism, two key contemporary theoretical approaches to the study of international relations, are commonly taught as mutually exclusive ways of understanding the subject. Realist Constructivism explores the common ground between the two, and demonstrates that, rather than being in simple opposition, they have areas of both tension and overlap.

UF Professor Named Leopold Leadership Fellow

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 10:58:11 -0400

A University of Florida professor has been named a 2011 Leopold Leadership Fellow — becoming only the third professor in Florida to achieve the honor.

UF Researcher: Flowering Plant Study 'Catches Evolution in the Act'

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 12:40:08 -0400

A new University of Florida study shows when two flowering plants are crossed to produce a new hybrid, the new species' genes are reset, allowing for greater genetic variation.

University of Florida Celebrates 80 Years of Latin American Studies

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 12:39:58 -0400

The University of Florida celebrates 80 years of teaching, research and service in Latin American studies with a series of public events March 24-26

Bob Graham Center Hosts Renowned Political Philosopher Michael Sandel

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:27:31 -0400

Author and Harvard University professor Michael Sandel brings his unique approach to examining the most hotly contested moral and political issues of our times to the University of Florida’s Bob Graham Center for Public Service March 22.

Thomson-Reuters Recognizes UF Researchers' Contributions to their Field

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:28:30 -0400

Two Department of Chemistry professors were recently listed by Thomson-Reuters as one of top 100 researchers in their respected fields.

8.9 Quake is 5th Largest Big Ones not More Frequent, UF Expert Says

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:29:24 -0400

Geological Sciences Department assistant professor and seismologist Mark Panning was quoted in the Gainesville Sun on March 11 regarding the 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan.

Bookbeat: Orange Revolution and Aftermath: Mobilization, Apathy, and the State in Ukraine

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:06:04 -0500

In 2004, hundreds of thousands of Ukranian protestors mobilized in the streets of Kyiv against authoritarian rulers who had clearly falsified the Fall elections.

Geological Sciences Professor Advises Filmmakers

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:30:35 -0500

Joe Meert may not be a movie star, but what this geologist knows about the history of the Earth was essential in making a new film on that topic that airs this Sunday on the National geographic Channel.

More Hands in the Dirt: UF Offers Year-Long Phage Genomics Course

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:17:30 -0500

Starting this fall, University of Florida undergrads will join almost 1,700 students from 40 colleges and universities discovering organisms hidden under their very feet.

Leading Expert on Citizenship and Political Process to visit UF

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:18:38 -0500

Russell Dalton, one of the nation’s leading experts on citizenship and the political process, will share his expertise Feb. 21 at the University of Florida’s Bob Graham Center for Public Service.

Head of the CLAS: Mark William Meisel

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 14:46:39 -0500

Physics professor Mark William Meisel was awarded an honorary degree of “doctor honoris causa” by Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Slovak Republic.

Bookbeat: Avatar as Nature Religion: Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:16:37 -0500

A special issue of the Journal for the Study of Religion entitled Avatar as Nature Religion was recently published.

Oil in Gulf of Mexico: Biologists Cite Need for Critical Data to Determine Ecological Consequences

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 16:01:05 -0500

Twenty years after biologists attempted to determine the ecological damages to marine life from the Exxon Valdez oil spill, scientists dealing with the BP disaster find themselves with the same problem: the lack of critical data to determine the ecological consequences of human-induced environmental disasters, a University of Florida researcher said.

UF Astronomers, NASA Team Find Six Closely Packed Planets Orbiting Same Star

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 12:41:39 -0500

A NASA team including three University of Florida astronomers has found six new planets in a distant solar system that in some ways resembles our own.

UF Brings Political Experts here to Discuss 2010, 2012 Elections

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 12:42:35 -0500

Professors, strategists, writers and experts in the political field are gathering Friday at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center to discuss the recent midterm election and their expectations for the 2012 races [UF News].

The Alcohol and Drugs History Society Launches Points

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 11:25:20 -0500

The Alcohol and Drugs History Society today unveiled Points, an interdisciplinary blog that examines present-day cultural developments and policy debates through various historical lenses.

Head of the CLAS: T. Capers Jones

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 11:56:43 -0500

Capers Jones is the current President and CEO of Capers Jones & Associates and Chief Scientist Emeritus of Software Productivity Research (SPR), the company he founded in 1984.

Bookbeat: The Culture of Joyce’s Ulysses

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 11:56:07 -0500

Reading James Joyce’s Ulysses with an eye to the cultural references embedded within it, R. Brandon Kershner interrogates modernism's relationship to popular culture and literature.

University of Florida Hosts Event Celebrating Civil Rights Movement Leaders

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 10:59:02 -0500

Back in 1960 when Patricia Stephens Due was still Patricia Stephens, she was a student at Florida A&M University who changed the history of the civil rights movement.

New Study Finds No Sign of ‘First Habitable Exoplanet’

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 12:19:02 -0500

Astronomy professor Eric Ford was quoted in a January 18 Wired article on Gliese 581g, reported in September of 2010 as the first planet found orbiting in the habitable zone of another star.

Conference Series Examines Challenges of Rebuilding Haiti

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:47:41 -0500

A four-part public speaker series on rebuilding Haiti begins Monday at the University of Florida College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The Caleb and Michele Grimes Conference on Liberal Arts and Public Affairs will address how Haiti’s unique historical, geographic, and social features have shaped current crises in the country. [InsideUF]

Business Expense

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:34:44 -0500

The Retail Industry Relies On UF's Annual Security Survey To Track Trends In Shoplifting And Employee Theft

Ayaan Hirsi Ali to Discuss the State of Muslim Women at the Bob Graham Center

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 11:22:13 -0500

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, one of the most forceful and provocative feminist critics challenging Islam today, will discuss her views on the state of Muslim women in the United States and around the world during a visit to the University of Florida’s Bob Graham Center for Public Service on January 20.

Head of the CLAS: Chris Waldron

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 13:51:40 -0500

As Vice President of Gaming Operations for Turner Broadcasting’s Cartoon Network, Chris Waldron oversees the network’s digital game development studio, game production, and overall games strategy.

Bookbeat: Saison en Enfer Yon Sezon Matchyavel

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 12:49:36 -0500

This book offers the reader one of the most tumultuous poems of Arthur Rimbaud, A Season in Hell, in French and Haitian Creole (translated by Benjamin Hebblethwaite), with a 35 page introduction. This literary text refers to the the creative and violent affair between the young Arthur Rimbaud and the poet Paul Verlaine.

Knight Foundation Funds High-Tech Civics Initiatives at UF’s Bob Graham Center

Mon, 03 Jan 2011 12:56:47 -0500

Florida has one of the weakest civic cultures in the nation, ranking 46th among the 50 states, according to the National Conference on Citizenship. The Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida is dedicated to improving the state’s civic health by training a new and more effective generation of public and civic leaders.

Blind Ph.D. Student Always Aimed High

Mon, 03 Jan 2011 12:56:34 -0500

Mona Minkara, now 23 and legally blind, just finished her first semester as a University of Florida graduate student. She's seeking a doctorate in chemistry, a subject that includes equations and other visual material that pose a particular challenge. [Ocala Star Banner]

Happy Solstice! — Or is it?

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 13:26:43 -0500

Religion professor Bron Taylor wrote an editorial for the December 20 Huffington Post on the solstice and its significance in religion and culture.

Declassified Papers Show U.S. Recruited Ex-Nazis

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 17:20:11 -0500

Professor Norman Goda co-authors report on declassified documents that reveals to a greater extent how American counterintelligence recruited and shielded ex-Nazis from prosecution following World War II. [Via New York Times]

CLAS Geography Graduate Receives Presidential Recognition

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 10:09:26 -0500

Pamela Nagler (B.S. Geography), a research physical scientist for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), was recognized Monday, December 13 with a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). Awarded for innovation that advances scientific and engineering frontiers and for scientific leadership, the highest recognition granted by the United States government to early career scientists and engineers.

UF President Names Former Student Body President as Assistant

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 12:08:38 -0500

Jamal Sowell, a former University of Florida student body president and CLAS alumni, has been named executive assistant to UF President Bernie Machen. His appointment is effective Jan. 10, 2011.

UF Expert: Biodiversity Loss Correlates with Increases in Infectious Disease

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 16:11:10 -0500

Habitat destruction and species extinction may lead to an increase in diseases that infect humans and other species, according to a paper in the journal Nature co-authored by a University of Florida ecologist.

National Science Foundation Awards UF $1.5 million for Nanotechnology Center

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 15:43:06 -0500

The National Science Foundation has awarded a $1.5 million grant to a University of Florida chemist to create a center for investigating manufacturing techniques for nanoscale electronics.

In the News: The Ecology of Climate Change

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 11:55:04 -0500

Associate professor of ecology Ted Schuur and his group’s work in higher lattitudes are the feature of a short documentary, The Ecology of Climate Change. The documentary is now playing at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City in the Hall of Biodiversity.

Bookbeat: Our Savage Art: Poetry and the Civil Tongue

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 17:09:37 -0500

The most notorious poet-critic of his generation, William Logan has defined our view of poets good and bad, interesting and banal, for more than three decades. Featured in the New York Times Book Review, the Times Literary Supplement, and the New Criterion, among other journals, Logan's eloquent, passionate prose never fails to provoke readers and poets, reminding us of the value and vitality of the critic's savage art.

Head of the CLAS: Elizabeth Rojas

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:46:29 -0500

Elizabeth Rojas, a senior in Economics and Political Science major, is in elite company. Rojas joined 12 other Fellows as part of the 6th Gubernatorial Fellows class. She is one of just three undergraduates to receive this honor.

Robert Putnam to Discuss Religion, Politics and Community at UF’s Bob Graham Center

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 12:23:30 -0500

Robert D. Putnam, one of the nation’s leading experts on community and civic engagement, will be discussing his new book on the changing composition of religious faith in the United States during a visit to the University of Florida’s Bob Graham Center for Public Service on Nov. 30.

UF Professor Aids in Securing Grants for Local Schools to Provide Training in U.S. History

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 14:08:06 -0500

A University of Florida professor has assisted Marion County schools in being awarded nearly $2.4 million in federal education grants to increase public school teachers’ content knowledge of U.S. history.

Fall 2010 Outstanding Leadership Awards for Undergraduate Male and Female Graduating Seniors

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 11:47:24 -0500

Three graduating seniors from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences were recognized by the 2010 Outstanding Leadership Awards.

In the News: Is Florida Mammoth the Tip of the Iceberg?

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:58:37 -0500

Research by professor emerita of anthropology Barbara Purdy was the focus of a November 12 National Geographic blog article on the remains of a mammoth found in Vero Beach, Florida.

Oral History Program Interviews Florida Opportunity Scholars

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 12:44:12 -0400

The Samuel Proctor Oral History Program (SPOHP) is conducting oral history interviews with University of Florida students, both past and present, who are Florida Opportunity Scholars. SPOHP conducted student-to-student interviews of first-generation college students who were able to attend UF with a scholarship from Florida Opportunity Scholars

Geraldine Robbins: Head of the CLAS

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 11:58:10 -0400

Geraldine Robbins (B.S. in Chemistry, 1983) was only one of 32 teachers selected to be an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator in 2010.

Senator Bill Nelson and Former Governor Bob Graham to Discuss Findings of the Oil Spill Commission

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 15:04:48 -0400

Senator Bill Nelson and former Florida Governor Bob Graham will answer audience questions at the University of Florida’s Bob Graham Center for Public Service during a live, three-way videoconference following the hearing of the National Commission on BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on November 8.

Researchers use Math, Maps to Plot Malaria Elimination Plan

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 15:04:21 -0400

Two University of Florida researchers and their international colleagues have used mathematical models and maps to estimate the feasibility of eliminating malaria from countries that have the deadliest form of the disease.

Grant to Help Astronomy Department Search Skies for Habitable Planets

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 15:04:02 -0400

At a time when astronomers are searching for Earth-like planets, the University of Florida has received a grant for $500,000 to lead the pack.

UF Research Gives Clues about Carbon Dioxide Patterns at End of Ice Age

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:23:58 -0400

New University of Florida research puts to rest the mystery of where old carbon was stored during the last glacial period. It turns out it ended up in the icy waters of the Southern Ocean near Antarctica.

UF Trustee Endows Professorship to Improve Health Care

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:24:22 -0400

A gift of $2 million from Dr. Steven and Rebecca Scott will endow a professorship in the University of Florida’s department of chemistry to help UF scientists develop advancements that will improve health care for all people.

College Students Often Feel Call to Certain Careers Years before Graduating

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:24:40 -0400

Far from being undecided about what direction to take in life, many students just starting in college already know their career callings, a new University of Florida study finds.

UF Astronomers, Engineers to offer Activities in Expo at National Mall

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:24:54 -0400

The University of Florida’s departments of astronomy, and mechanical and aerospace engineering, are combining disciplines to participate in the inaugural USA Science and Engineering Expo at the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Florida Times-Union: Few Ideological Stances by Sink

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:14:16 -0400

Political Science professor Daniel Smith was quoted in an October 24 Florida Times-Union article on the Florida gubernatorial campaign of Alex Sink.

Florida Times-Union: Secrecy envelops Scott campaign

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:13:43 -0400

Political Science professor Daniel Smith was quoted in an October 24 Florida Times-Union article on the 2010 Florida gubernatorial race.

It's Difficult to Escape Deluge of Negative Campaign Ads

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:13:00 -0400

Political Science professor Daniel Smith was quoted in an October 23 Gainesville Sun article on the negative campaign ads that have characterized the end of the 2010 Florida election cycle.

UF to Help Sequence Genome of Flowering Plants’ Ancient Living Relative

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:11:24 -0400

UF to Help Sequence Genome of Flowering Plants’ Ancient Living RelativeUniversity of Florida researchers are part of a nationwide team preparing to open a door into better understanding plant evolution by sequencing the genome of the single living sister species to all other flowering plants.

UF Research Provides New Understanding of Bizarre Extinct Mammal

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:01:03 -0400

University of Florida researchers presenting new fossil evidence of an exceptionally well-preserved 55-million-year-old North American mammal have found it shares a common ancestor with rodents and primates, including human

UF Astronomers Win $8 Million to Build Unique New Instrument

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:41:21 -0400

A multinational team led by University of Florida astronomers has won an $8 million grant to build a major new astronomical instrument for the largest optical telescope in the world in Spain’s Canary Islands.

UF Study: Emotional Effects of Heavy Combat can be Lifelong for Veterans

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:40:52 -0400

The trauma from hard combat can devastate veterans until old age, even as it influences others to be wiser, gentler and more accepting in their twilight years, a new University of Florida study finds.

UF Astronomers to Present Program, Activities in East Gainesville

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:40:25 -0400

As part of an ongoing effort to reach out to the community, the University of Florida MAS Outreach Initiative in the Department of Astronomy is hosting “Stars Shine on East Gainesville,” a celebration of art, science and culture, at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Martin Luther King Center, 1028 N.E. 14th St. The event is free and open to the public.

Samuel Proctor Oral History Program Participates in Civil Rights Movement and Oral History in the Mississippi Delta Panel

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:40:02 -0400

The Samuel Proctor Oral History Program, in partnership with Delta State University and the Sunflower County, Mississippi Civil Rights Organization, organized the 2nd Annual Civil Rights Movement and Oral History panel on September 22nd at the Capps Archives and Museum Building at Delta State University.

Ants take on Goliath role in Protecting Trees in the Savanna from Elephants

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:39:37 -0400

Ants are not out of their weight class when defending trees from the appetite of nature’s heavyweight, the African elephant, a new University of Florida study finds.

With New Technique, UF Astronomers find Potassium in Giant Planet’s Atmosphere

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:39:16 -0400

Any driver who’s seen deer silhouetted by the headlights of an oncoming car knows that vital information can be conveyed by the outlines of objects.

UF Study Shows Carnivore Species Shrank During Global Warming Event

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:38:51 -0400

A new University of Florida study indicates extinct carnivorous mammals shrank in size during a global warming event that occurred 55 million years ago.

Women Stay in Fringes of Most Popular Comic Strips, Study Finds

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:29:26 -0400

The portrayal of women in comic strips is no laughing matter, according to a new University of Florida study, which finds that females are rarely the jokester and often not even part of the humorous exchange.

Over-the-Counter Painkiller May Help Ease Emotional Slights, UF Study Finds

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:29:02 -0400

Maybe that disgruntled JetBlue flight attendant should have popped a couple of Tylenols.

UF Spotlight: Clive Wynne

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:28:35 -0400

Dog lovers know the feeling. Their pets seem human. The way they lick a tear-stained face or gaze adoringly, sometimes even more so than friends or, um, spouses. But that's a misperception, says animal behaviorist, author and contrarian Clive Wynne. People may behave like animals, but dogs, he says, are just good at being dogs.

News from Geological Sciences

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:28:01 -0400

News from the summer of 2010 from the Department of Geological Sciences.

UF professor helps sick kids make ‘Gator memories’

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:25:33 -0400

Mathematics professor Tim Jacobbe founded Caleb’s Pitch, which helps Florida children with life-threatening or debilitating conditions create “Gator memories.” [Gainesville Sun]

U.S. Sea Turtle Populations Difficult to Estimate or Protect Without More Data

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:11:05 -0400

The population sizes of six species of sea turtles listed as either endangered or threatened in the United States cannot be accurately determined based on currently available information, says a new report from the National Research Council

UF archaeologist finds remains near Silver Glen Springs

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:30:16 -0400

An archaeologist from the University of Florida on Monday found human remains estimated to be hundreds of years old.

UF professor honored with grads

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:29:40 -0400

University of Florida professor Vasudha Narayanan says putting together a good college course is like balancing flavors in a meal.

Black Holes: Peering Into the Heart of Darkness

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:44:36 -0400

Astronomy professor Steve Eikenberry was the subject of a story and video profile for Science Nation on the National Science Foundation websit on his research on black holes.

Threats Bring 'a Dark Year for Sea Turtles'

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:45:01 -0400

Biology professor and director of the Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research Karen Bjorndal was quoted in a July 21 Ocala Star-Banner story on investigating and assessing the causes of deaths of sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Resurrection of Charlie Crist

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:13:39 -0400

Political Science professor Daniel Smith was quoted in a July 19 Newsweek article on the changing political fortunes of Florida governor Charlie Crist.

Turtle Rescue Efforts Are Guided By Hope And Guesswork, Not Data

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:14:57 -0400

Biology professor and director of the Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research Karen Bjorndal was interviewd by the Huffington Post for a July 16 story on quoted in a July 15 Science story on a report that outlines the difficulties Government agencies have in accurately counting the populations of endangered and threatened sea turtles in the United States. Bjorndal was chair of the committee that prepared the report for the National Academy of Sciences.

Headcount of Sea Turtles Proves Elusive

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:15:17 -0400

Biology professor Karen Bjorndal was quoted in a July 15 Science story on the difficulties Government agencies have in accurately counting the populations of endangered and threatened sea turtles in the United States, and how this impacts rescue efforts stemming from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

UF expert doubts constitutional drilling ban will make it to voters

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:42:55 -0400

Political Science professor Daniel Smith was interviewed by the Ocala Star-Banner for a July 10 article on Florida Governor Charlie Crist’s call for a special session on offshore drilling as a response to the April 20 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Political Science lecturer Mike Haridopolos was also quoted in the article.

UF Forms Task Force to Coordinate Efforts Related to Oil Spill

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:41:13 -0400

The University of Florida has created an oil spill task force with 29 faculty members to coordinate research and response efforts related to the April 20 spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Busy Summer Ahead for Whitney Trainees

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:40:50 -0400

In early June, undergraduates from across the country arrived at the University of Florida’s Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience to participate in the Laboratory’s Research Experience for Undergraduates training program.

UF Astronomers Pioneer New Planet-Observing Technique

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:40:15 -0400

Using the world’s largest optical telescope, a team of University of Florida astronomers has pioneered a new method of observing planets outside our solar system. The method suggests that large Earth-based telescopes could play a leading role in rapidly accelerating research on “extrasolar” planets.

National Humanities Center Chooses UF Professor for Fellowship

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:34:13 -0400

Leah Rosenberg, associate professor of English at the University of Florida, has been selected as a National Humanities Center Fellow for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Potential veto may court Democrats

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:18:18 -0400

Political Science professor Daniel Smith was quoted in an June 8 Tampa Tribune article on Governor Crist and his potential veto of a controversial abortion bill.

Converting Bohemia | Bookbeat | June 2010 | University of Florida College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 12:29:28 -0400

Prior to the Thirty Years’ War, almost all of Bohemia’s population lay outside the Catholic fold, yet by the beginning of the eighteenth century the kingdom was clearly under Rome’s influence.

Chiles' Entry Into Race for Governor Stirs Up Fla. Politics

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 12:24:07 -0400

Political Science professor Daniel Smith was quoted in an June 3 Lakeland Ledger story on the recently announced gubernatorial campaign pf Lawton "Bud" Chiles III, the son of the late Gov. Lawton Chiles.

UF professor makes long career of writing short stories

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:18:58 -0400

Mary Robison has made a long career of writing short stories. The University of Florida professor published her first short story in The New Yorker in 1977. Her first collection, "Days," was released two years later and eventually three more followed — "An Amateur's Guide to the Night," "Believe Them" and "Tell Me: 30 Stories."

Geologist: Florida Ridges’ Mystery Marine Fossils tied to Rising Land, not Seas

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:57:21 -0400

Sea level has not been as high as the distinctive ridges that run down the length of Florida for millions of years. Yet recently deposited marine fossils abound in the ridges’ sands.

National Science Fellowships Announced

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:57:20 -0400

Ten out of twenty-four University of Florida students that received National Science Fellowships for 2010 are from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

UF professors helped research 'don't ask, don't tell' policy

Wed, 26 May 2010 17:26:41 -0400

Research by Psychology professor Bonnie Moradi was referenced in a May 26 Gainesville Sun article on changes to the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding gays and lesbians from openly serving in the military.

Senior Lecturer in Department of History wins Rembert W. Patrick Book Award

Wed, 26 May 2010 13:36:12 -0400

Dr. Steven Noll, Senior Lecturer in the Department of History and Dave Tegeder, Associate Professor of History at Santa Fe College, have been awarded the Florida Historical Society’s 2010 Rembert Patrick Award for their book, Ditch of Dreams: The Cross-Florida Barge Canal and the Struggle for Florida's Future.

Lowly Termite, not the Lion or Elephant, may be the Star of Africa’s Savanna

Wed, 26 May 2010 12:43:04 -0400

The majestic animals most closely associated with the African savanna — fierce lions, massive elephants, towering giraffes – may be relatively minor players when it comes to shaping the ecosystem.

Department of Geological Sciences Assists Kennedy Space Center with Climate Change Risks

Wed, 26 May 2010 12:42:46 -0400

Dr. John Jaeger, Dr. Peter Adams, PhD candidate Rich MacKenzie and geology undergraduate Bianca Maibauer just returned from a workshop held this week in Cocoa Beach to help the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) prepare to manage risks associated with climate change.

Oral History Program Remembers Memorial Day through the Words of Veterans

Fri, 21 May 2010 13:32:44 -0400

On Memorial Day one can pause to remember the soldiers who fought and died for America by reading or listening to the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program’s (SPOHP) oral histories of soldiers, sailors, and marines from World War II, Vietnam, and the Korean and Iraq wars.

UF Research Initiative on African American History Contributes to Award-Winning Book

Wed, 19 May 2010 14:55:50 -0400

Old South, New South, Down South?: Florida and the Modern Civil Rights Movement (West Virginia Press) has been awarded the 2010 Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Book Award by the Florida Historical Society.

Center for African Studies Students Receive Record Number of Fulbright-Hays Research Abroad Awards

Wed, 19 May 2010 14:07:15 -0400

Five doctoral students in the Center for African Studies have received Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad grants this year, more than any previous student class in the Center.

Newborn Infants Learn while Asleep; Study may Lead to Later Disability Tests

Wed, 19 May 2010 10:20:46 -0400

Sleeping newborns are better learners than thought, says a University of Florida researcher about a study that is the first of its type. The study could lead to identifying those at risk for developmental disorders such as autism and dyslexia.

Political Science Professor's Legal Brief used in Oral Arguments before the United States Supreme Court

Fri, 14 May 2010 15:12:52 -0400

A legal brief prepared by Daniel A.Smith, Associate Professor of political science, has been referenced in oral arguments to the United State Supreme Court.

University of Florida Astronomer calls on Congress to Support Investments in Research and Development

Fri, 14 May 2010 10:57:48 -0400

Reba Bandyopadhyay, Assistant Scientist in astronomy, traveled to Washington, DC, to express thanks and appreciation to Congress for recent appropriations actions in the 2010 fiscal year spending bill in support of science, engineering, and technology research and development.

UF Professor Wins Short Story Prize in New York

Thu, 13 May 2010 14:25:53 -0400

University of Florida English professor Mary Robison has been awarded the 2009 Rea Award for the Short Story.

Workshop at UF to Address Threat of Insect-Based Terrorism

Thu, 13 May 2010 12:37:46 -0400

A workshop at the University of Florida May 20-22 will look at the possibility of an unusual but potentially massive form of insect-based terrorism that could be launched in Florida.

Orange Commissioner Bill Segal didn't fully Disclose his Ties to Developer

Tue, 11 May 2010 12:19:59 -0400

Political science professor Beth Rosenson was quoted in a May 8 Orlando Sentinel article on Orange County Commissioner Bill Segal's failure to fully disclose his business ties to a longtime Central Florida developer.

They're rich, they're running — can they win?

Wed, 05 May 2010 11:45:57 -0400

Political Science professor Daniel Smith was quoted in an May 1 Miami Herald story on two new candidates for the the Florida senatorial seat.

Centrist Florida governor falls through the cracks of a deeply divided GOP

Wed, 05 May 2010 11:24:42 -0400

Political Science professor Daniel Smith was quoted in an April 30 Globe and Mail story on the senatorial campaign of Florida governor Charlie Crist.

UF Professor Emeritus Elected to National Academy of Sciences

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 16:32:38 -0400

H. Russell Bernard, professor emeritus of anthropology at the University of Florida, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences.

UF Center Concerned about Oil's Effects on Sea Turtles

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:50:48 -0400

Karen Bjorndal, director of the Archie Carr Center of Sea Turtle Research at the University of Florida, said she is extremely worried about the impact the oil spill will have on the sea turtle population, from the foraging areas to beaches where they nest. [Gainesville Sun]

A Republican May Test Odds as an Outsider

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:01:09 -0400

Political Science professor Daniel Smith was quoted in an April 21 New York Times story on the possibility Florida governor Charlie Crist would run for the United States Senate as an Independent.

Survey: West Palm police pay among highest in Florida

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:04:33 -0400

Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Criminology and Law Fred Shenkman was quoted in a Palm Beach Post News story on April 21 about the salaries of law enforcement.

UF Graduate Student wins National Civics Award

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:12:47 -0400

Anthropology doctoral student Edward Gonzalez-Tennant has become the first winner of the new Eleanor Roosevelt Global Citizenship Award presented by the Center for a Public Anthropology.

Head of the CLAS: Frederick Gregory

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 12:05:26 -0400

Professor Frederick Gregory’s life’s work is chronicling the history of science so his philosophical stance might surprise you.

Professor: "Not Crist's Year to Run as a Republican"

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:14:51 -0400

Political Science professor Daniel Smith was interviewed by radio station MOKV on April 19 on whether Florida governor Charlie Crist would run for the United States Senate as a Republican or as an Independent.

Ambassador Program Draws Student Support

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:07:35 -0400

Students visiting the Academic Advising Center will be greeted by a new sight: peers acting as guides to the advisement process.

UF VP Paula Fussell and Graduate Students Recognized during Women’s History Month

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:49:54 -0400

Four CLAS graduate students were among seven that received awards during the 13th annual Women’s History Month Celebration at the UF Presidents Home on March 25.

English Alum Wins Prestigious Poetry Prize

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:09:21 -0400

Matthew Ladd, 2006 alumnus of MFA@FLA in poetry, has won the 2009 Anthony Hecht Prize for The Book of Emblems, his first book of poetry.

Francis E. "Jack" Putz: Yaupon tea has a bad name

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:10:02 -0400

If you’re a tea drinker, then it’s time to determine the genders of the yaupon bushes in your neighborhood. Like many of you, I prefer to brew our tea solely from females even if recent research at UF failed to detect many differences in the chemical constituents of male and female leaves.

Why Do We Still Have Mining Disasters?

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:01:52 -0400

History professor Sean Patrick Adams was quoted in a April 7 New York Times op-ed in which scholars from around the country were asked to give insight on the mining industry in the United States. Adams is the author of Old Dominion, Industrial Commonwealth: Coal, Politics and Economy in Antebellum America.

Three CLAS Students Named Goldwater Scholars for Next School Year

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:16:43 -0400

Three University of Florida students were named Goldwater Scholars for the 2010-2011 year by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation.

UF Honors Program Names Dunlevie Professors for Next Year

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:16:25 -0400

Two distinguished University of Florida faculty members have been appointed as Elizabeth Wood Dunlevie Honors Term Professors for the 2010-11 academic year.

Activists Among Us: the Gainesville Women's Movement Across Generations

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:07:53 -0400

Sponsored by the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program, the panel discussion will bring together local activists from the 1950s through the present to discuss the ongoing struggle for social justice, gender equality, and human rights.

FBI: Eco-Terrorism Remains No. 1 Domestic Terror Threat

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 11:42:15 -0400

Religion professor Bron Taylor was quoted in a March 31 Fox News article on the Earth Liberation Front, a domestic militant environmentalist group.

International Astronomy Conference Comes to UF

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 10:57:34 -0400

Astronomers from around the world are coming to the University of Florida this week to discuss the origins of stars, planets, and galaxies.

'Tuscan Sun' Author Frances Mayes, a UF Grad, Comes to Town

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:33:59 -0400

It will be 20 years this July since author and UF alumna Frances Mayes dropped her life savings into a house in Italy and began writing a series of books based on her experiences in the Tuscan countryside.

UF Physics Professors Break Energy Record

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:33:06 -0400

A new, unexplored area of science just opened up, and UF plans to reap the benefits.

UF Physicists Join Others to Witness Atom Smasher Attempt

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:34:32 -0400

University of Florida physicists will join colleagues around the world today in observing a massive atom smasher attempt to reach world-record energy levels.

Author of ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’ to Visit University

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 11:45:37 -0400

University of Florida alumna Frances Mayes, the professor and writer best known for her 1996 memoir Under the Tuscan Sun, will speak at 7:30 p.m. March 31 in the Pugh Hall Ocora.

Southern Conference on Slavic Studies comes to UF

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 11:45:08 -0400

The University of Florida hosts the 48th annual Southern Conference on Slavic Studies March 25-27.

Five More UF Buildings Receive LEED Certification for High Sustainability

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:05:58 -0400

Pugh Hall was one of five buildings and additions that recently received certification from the United States Green Building council for being environmentally friendly.

Driving on Daytona Beach: a dangerous policy

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:00:58 -0400

Religion professor Bron Taylor talks about beach driving policies in Florida in an op ed to the Tampa Bay Tribune.

Retired UF historian receives first state Lifetime Literary Achievement Award

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:41:15 -0400

For more than 40 years, historian Michael Gannon has chronicled the storied past of his adopted Sunshine State, from its Spanish colonial roots through its wartime sacrifices to its critical role in the exploration of space.

CLAS Professor and Adviser Recognized with 2010 University Awards

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:07:04 -0400

Vasudha Narayanan, Distinguished Professor and Department of Religion chair was named the Teacher-Scholar of the Year for the University of Florida.

Doctoral Dissertation Advising / Mentoring Awards

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:06:39 -0400

Congratulations to James Shepperd and Carolyn Tucker for being selected 2009-2010 CLAS Doctoral Dissertation Advising award winners.

Making Florida History His Own

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:31:58 -0400

Michael Gannon has been named the first recipient of the Florida Literary Lifetime Achievement Award. A towering figure in his long career at the University of Florida, Gannon has earned praise for the breadth and depth of his writing. [Tampa Bay Tribune]

Snark week: Alan Grayson takes on Sarah Palin

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:37:34 -0400

Political Science professor Daniel Smith was quoted in a March 18 story by Christian Science Monitor on the political ripostes of Representative Alan Grayson and former Alaskan governor Sarah Palin.

Chemistry Professor Selected as Sloan Research Fellow

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:27:29 -0400

Chemistry professor Adam S. Veige was selected as a 2010 Sloan Research Fellow, the only researcher to be so honored in Florida.

NYU's "Camus Now" Highlights Author's Impact 50 Years After His Death-April 8-10

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:22:20 -0400

The event will include two keynote addresses (both in French): the University of Florida’s Raymond Gay-Crosier, considered the world’s foremost Camus scholar; and Jean Daniel, founder of the French newsweekly Le Nouvel Observateur and friend of Camus.

War of the Worldviews: Why Avatar Lost

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:47:25 -0500

Avatar had audiences rooting for nature, against the destruction of marauding tanks — but the Oscar went to the film that offered a soldier's-eye view. Op-ed by Bron Taylor, Professor of Religion.

Scientists Urge Full-Scale Excavation of 'Vero Man' Archaeological Site

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:43:08 -0500

For four scientists from Florida and Colorado, there is no question about the need for a full-scale excavation into the city’s Ice Age archaeology, they said Thursday.

Hiaasen Says Florida's Zaniness Gives him lots to Write About

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:27:23 -0500

Award-winning journalist and University of Florida alumnus Carl Hiaasen discussed his experiences as an investigative journalist and columnist for The Miami Herald and answered questions from the audience Tuesday evening March 2, 2010 at UF's Bob Graham Center for Public Service.

Dark Green Religion - The Journey Home Interview with Bron Taylor

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:12:02 -0500

Religion professor Bron Taylor was interviewed by the Santa Fe Public Radio show The Journey Home with Diego Mulligan on March 2 about his book Dark Green Religion.

Chile Earthquake, Hawaii Tsunami: Why This Happens

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:55:29 -0500

Geology professor Ray Russo in a February 27 Christian Science Monitor article on the Chilean earthquake and the resultant tsunami warning in Hawaii.

UF Professor's Book is Gold Medal Winner

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:44:20 -0500

A University of Florida professor is being honored for his biography of Everglades advocate Marjory Stoneman Douglas.

Longtime Keeper of UF's Black History Celebrating Last Day at the University

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:35:37 -0500

One of the University of Florida's longtime keepers of black history celebrates her last day at the University of Florida today.

Panelists at UF Bemoan Demise of Bipartisanship

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:58:25 -0500

Bipartisanship in Florida is on the verge of extinction and one reason is gerrymandered districts that allow extremist politics to flourish, according to panelists Wednesday night in Pugh Hall on the University of Florida campus.

DNA Sequencing Unlocks Relationships among Flowering Plants

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:52:37 -0500

The origins of flowering plants from peas to oak trees are now in clearer focus thanks to the efforts of University of Florida researchers.

Bookbeat: Imagination and Innovation, The Story of Weston Woods

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:15:13 -0500

In this lush nonfiction volume — rich with archival photographs, animation cells, historical references, and first-person accounts — readers get a personal, behind-the-scenes look at the man and creative empire who presents the work of leading picture book creators to young people and librarians via the medium of film.

Michael Gannon: Head of the CLAS

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:36:24 -0500

Staff at the Ocala headquarters of the Marion County Public Library had never seen anything quite like it. On an April Sunday for an adult lecture program – the History of Florida in 40 Minutes by retired University of Florida historian Michael Gannon – about 300 people filed into the building.

Coital Conservatism Ended before Birth Control Pill Arrived, says Researcher

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:00:10 -0500

The pill did not give birth to the sexual revolution despite the widespread belief in its libidinously liberating effects that persists to this day, says a University of Florida professor.

State leaders say 'heat is on' to create jobs

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:11:20 -0500

Political Science professor Daniel Smith was quoted in a February 21 Tampa Tribune article on the Florida Legislature's attempts to stimulate job growth in the state economy.

Voodoo religion's role in helping Haiti's quake victims

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:21:33 -0500

Anthropology professor Gerald Murray was interviewed in a February 21 BBC article on the role that voodoo might play in the recovery of Haiti.

Come see UF's Speech and Debate Team in action

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:06:32 -0500

“Communication is everything,” said Kellie W. Roberts, interim director for the William and Grace Dial Center for Written and Oral Communication at UF, which is co-hosting the weekend debate tournament along with Clemson University.

“You can learn all about technology and the ins and outs of your field, but if you can't communicate about it, you can't go very high,” Roberts added. “The students competing have an edge because they have speaking skills that can be immediately applied to their jobs. No one has to teach them that.”

Why Is Eco-Spirituality Undergoing a Revival Now?

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:18:43 -0500

Editorial by Bron Taylor, Religion professor [via Science and Religion Today]

Amazon Geoglyphs

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:33:48 -0500

Anthropology professor Michael Heckenberger was interviewd by the radio program PRI's The World on the Acre geoglyphs, ancient earth works created by an early Amazonian civilization.

Lost Garden Cities: Pre-Columbian Life in the Amazon

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:33:15 -0500

Anthropology professor Michael Heckenberger's research on pre-Columbian cities of the Amazon was the subject of a recent Scientific American article.

Devastation in Haiti: Labor Shortage

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:19:25 -0500

UF Anthropology professor Gerald Murray is interviewed in this Newsweek article about Haitian restaveks, child servants used for domestic chores.

Stellar neighbor could support Earth-like planet

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:17:55 -0500

The research of UF astronomy professor Jian Ge is referenced in this article on the possibility of Eath-like planets in the Alpha Centauri star system.

UF Researchers: Ancient Crocodile Relative Likely Food Source for Titanoboa

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:02:44 -0500

A 60-million-year-old relative of crocodiles described this week by University of Florida researchers in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology was likely a food source for Titanoboa, the largest snake the world has ever known.

Local woman met Salinger

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:43:32 -0500

English professor Andrew Gordon was interviewed in a Gainesville Sun article on the passing of reclusive author J.D. Salinger.

Experts Weigh in on Supreme Court Ruling that Government Can't Limit Corporations' Political Spending

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:49:57 -0500

Political Science professor Daniel Smith was quoted in a Treasure Coast Palm article on the recent Supreme Court ruling on the ability of corporations to spend on political campaigns.

Head of the CLAS: Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:19:35 -0500

Religion professor Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons has been awarded a Quiet Courage Award for her lifetime commitment and interest in civil rights and women's issues.

New Study Suggests Theory for Insect Colonies as ‘Superorganisms’

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:34:08 -0500

A team of researchers including scientists from the University of Florida has shown insect colonies follow some of the same biological “rules” as individuals, a finding that suggests insect societies operate like a single “superorganism” in terms of their physiology and life cycle.

UF to Hold Conference on Conservation and Development, Latin America and Africa

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:13:00 -0500

The University of Florida will host an international conference, “Bridging Conservation and Development in Latin America and Africa: Changing Contexts, Changing Strategies,” from January 28 to 30.

Toward a Natural Religion

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:55:21 -0500

One hundred-fifty years ago, on Nov. 24, 1859, Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species, shattering traditional explanations for the diversity of life on Earth. Scientific understanding will never be the same. Neither will religion.

CLAS Announces Award Winners in Teaching and Advising

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:15:18 -0500

The University of Florida recognizes its outstanding teachers and advisors from throughout the campus by awarding Teaching/Advising Awards, which are available to all colleges offering undergraduate instruction.

Psychology Grant Proposals Recommended for Funding by the Department of Defense

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:14:33 -0500

Two grant proposals from Psychology faculty have been recommended for funding under the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Research Program’s Autism Research Program.

Marshall Nirenberg, Biologist Who Untangled Genetic Code, Dies at 82

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:28:13 -0500

Nobel-Prize winning biologist and CLAS graduate Marshall W. Nirenberg died Friday at his home in Manhattan.

Languages, Literature, and Culture Lecturer to Join Delegation to China

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:49:07 -0500

Senior Lecturer of Chinese Elinore Fresh will be traveling to China as a member of a delegation from January 13 to January 20.

Two CLAS Faculty Awarded Fulbright Scholar Grants

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:31:49 -0500

Three University of Florida faculty - two from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences - have received Fulbright Scholar grants to teach or conduct research overseas this year.

Four-Part Lecture Series Examines Identity-Tracking Technologies

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:31:38 -0500

A four-part lecture series on the evolving technologies of identity begins Jan. 13 at the University of Florida and continues through the spring semester.

Diverse Magazine Honors African American Studies and Women’s Studies Professor

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:31:10 -0500

Stephanie Evans, an associate professor of African American studies and women’s studies at the University of Florida, has been chosen as one of 12 “Emerging Scholars” by Diverse magazine.

From Crickets to Whales, Animal Calls have Something in Common

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:32:45 -0500

Scientists who compare insect chirps with ape calls may look like they are mixing aphids and orangutans, but researchers have found common denominators in the calls of hundreds of species of insects, birds, fish, frogs, lizards and mammals that can be predicted with simple mathematical models.

Dawn Cusick: Head of the CLAS

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:39:17 -0500

Merging her two interests, science and publishing, one UF CLAS graduate has started her own company.

Saving Languages

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:38:25 -0500

The number of languages spoken around the world has been decreasing at an alarming rate, prompting concern from both academics and the United Nations. Not only does the disappearance of a language reduce the diversity of our social fabric, but we loose the knowledge, history, and literature of entire cultures.

NASA Awards University of Florida $870,000 Grant to Study Land Use Cover Change

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:37:55 -0500

University of Florida researchers have received a NASA Land Use Land Cover Change Program grant totaling $870,000. The grant will fund an interdisciplinary project that will analyze relationships among climate variability, climate change, land use and land cover change. Using remote sensing applications and socio-economic surveys, the project aims to create models that could enhance planning for sustainable resource use and help the people in these areas adapt to climate change.

Scientists Unlock Clues for Tailoring Corn Plant for Food, Energy Needs

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:30:37 -0500

Scientists have long known that the offspring of two inbred strains tend to be superior to both their parents. Now, a team of researchers including a University of Florida geneticist has discovered clues to why that might be the case for one of the most important crops in the world: corn.

Scientists use Cell Phone Records to Predict Spread of Malaria

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:38:37 -0500

University of Florida researchers at work on a malaria elimination study in Africa have become the first to predict the spread of the disease using cell phone records.

UF Researcher Helps Reveal Ancient Origins of Modern Opossum

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:39:03 -0500

A University of Florida researcher has co-authored a study tracing the evolution of the modern opossum back to the extinction of the dinosaurs and finding evidence to support North America as the center of origin for all living marsupials.

Keep industry out of old jetport site

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:20:45 -0500

History professor Jack E. Davis shares his views on the Miami Jetport in the Miami Herald op-ed pieces published November 12, 2009.

Histories are being rescued a second time

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:19:53 -0500

Associate professor of history and director of the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program Paul Ortiz was quoted in a USA Today story on the race to preserve and Native American oral histories and transfer them from degrading tape archives to digital formats.

UF Professor Wins Award after Long Career Teaching History of Science

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:04:35 -0500

The History of Science Society has awarded the 2009 Joseph H. Hazen Education Prize for excellence in education to Frederick Gregory, professor of history of science at the University of Florida.

Bookbeat: Brazil, Lyric, and the Americas

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:12:10 -0500

In this highly original volume, Charles Perrone explores how recent Brazilian lyric engages with its counterparts throughout the Western Hemisphere in an increasingly globalized world. This pioneering, tour-de-force study focuses on the years from 1985 to the present and examines poetic output--from song and visual poetry to discursive verse--across a range of media.

Askew Institute Director to Chair Federation of State Humanities Councils

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:04:21 -0500

David Colburn, provost emeritus at the University of Florida and executive director of the Askew Institute on Politics and Society, was elected chairman of the board of directors of the Federation of State Humanities Councils at the organization’s annual business meeting earlier this month.

50th Anniversary of Civil Rights Sit-ins to be Discussed at UF

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:04:52 -0500

The upcoming 50th anniversary of the sit-ins that energized the civil rights movement in the South will be discussed on December 8 at the University of Florida.

UF Celebrates 50 Years of Sea Turtle Research, Conservation

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:18:29 -0500

Sea turtles have been roaming the world's oceans for more than 100 million years. They have survived natural predators, climatic changes and dinosaur extinction, and now they are being threatened by human invasion. [Gainesville Sun article]

UF Researcher Gets Inside the Mind of Man's Best Friend

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:20:26 -0500

Here at Camp Marlin Doggy Daycare, University of Florida psychologist Clive Wynne and three graduate students are testing canine intelligence. [St. Petersburg Times article]

Will Hasty: UF students commemorate wall's fall

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:19:18 -0500

On Nov. 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall ceased to be the focal point of the political and ideological division of the world. When travel restrictions were removed and East Germans flooded into West Berlin by the tens of thousands in the following days and weeks, the Cold War was effectively at an end. [Gainesville Sun article]

Bookbeat: Literature and the Brain

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:35:53 -0500

Literature and the Brain goes straight to the human core of literature when it explains the different ways our brains convert stories, poems, plays, and films into pleasure.

Head of the CLAS: Carol Murphy

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:40:59 -0500

Carol Murphy, director of the France-Florida Research Institute and a professor of French in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, will receive the title Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur, or knight of the legion, for her work in facilitating academic and research collaboration between France and the United States.

Bookbeat: Everyday Ethics and Social Change: The Education of Desire

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:00:15 -0400

Americans increasingly cite moral values as a factor in how they vote, but when we define morality simply in terms of a voter's position on gay marriage and abortion, we lose sight of the ethical decisions that guide our everyday lives.

UF Study Recasts Political ‘God Gap’ Theory with Details of a Religious Left

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:12:03 -0400

Christians who value communal forms of worship over doctrine have emerged as a politically liberal alternative to the religious right, a new University of Florida study finds.

Department of Energy Awards $1.275 Million Grant to University of Florida Physicists

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:26:46 -0400

University of Florida researchers in Physics and the Quantum Theory Project have received a new $1.275 million research grant from the Department of Energy to predict the properties of “warm dense matter” by theory, modeling, and computer simulation.

Head of the CLAS: Rudolf Kalman

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:48:34 -0400

President Barack Obama honored a former University of Florida professor Wednesday at the White House with the National Medal of Science.

Bookbeat: Languages of Urban Africa

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:49:16 -0400

‘McLaughlin’s edited volume, at long last, provides us an opportunity to comprehend the multilingual complexity of Africa’s growing urban communities.’

Plant Fossils give First Real Picture of Earliest Neotropical Rainforests

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:47:57 -0400

A team of researchers including a University of Florida paleontologist has used a rich cache of plant fossils discovered in Colombia to provide the first reliable evidence of how Neotropical rainforests looked 58 million years ago.

UF Anthropology Professor Inducted into American Academy

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:47:06 -0400

Maxine L. Margolis, professor emerita of anthropology at the University of Florida and adjunct senior research scholar at the Institute of Latin American Studies at Columbia University, was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences on Saturday.

CLAS Students Lead in Fulbright Scholarships for Academic Year

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:47:35 -0400

For the 2009-2010 academic year, eight UF students were chosen to receive Fulbright U.S. Student Scholarships. Of the eight UF students chosen, five of them were CLAS students.

Professor Brings Mayan Culture to the Heart of the Gator Nation

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:21:39 -0400

Each year, a group of about 25 students study at one of the oldest universities in Mexico through the UF in Merida program during summer B, late June through early August. However, the relationship goes much farther than just a study abroad program.

Scientists Join Forces to Explain HIV Spread in Central and East Africa

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:31:36 -0400

Scientists studying biology and geography may seem worlds apart, but together they have answered a question that has defied explanation about the spread of the HIV-1 epidemic in Africa.

Sea Level Stargazing: Astronomers Make Key Sighting with Florida Telescope

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:31:01 -0400

This summer, University of Florida astronomers inaugurated the world’s largest optical telescope on a nearly 8,000-foot mountaintop 3,480 miles away. But it was a far more modest observatory, located just above sea level in rural Levy County and just down the road from the UF campus, that proved key to a new discovery about what one astronomer termed “one of the weirdest” planets outside our solar system.

Head of the CLAS: Robert Venditti

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:41:34 -0400

UF CLAS graduate, Robert Venditti, 35, is the author of a critically-acclaimed graphic novel that has been adapted into a major motion picture starring Bruce Willis.

The Strange Tale of Wesley and Florence Garrison

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:11:53 -0400

History professor and Assistant Director of the Bob Graham Center for Public Service Michael Bowen was interviewed by the Florida Historical Quarterly Podcast about his article The Strange Tale of Wesley and Florence Garrison: Racial Crosscurrents of the Postwar Florida Republican Party.

Muslims fear runaway girl's case will fuel religious hatred

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:12:40 -0400

Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons, assistant professor of religion at the University of Florida, is interviewed in this article about the concept of 'honor killings'.

Socio-cultural, Genetic Data Work Together To Reveal Health Disparities

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:40:03 -0400

When it comes to health disparities between different groups, how society sees people in terms of race might play a greater role than genetics, according to a new University of Florida study.

UF scientists develop camera to study black holes

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:32:33 -0400

Black holes can't be seen with the human eye, but the UF Department of Astronomy is looking anyway.

UF-built instrument poised to find many black holes

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:32:03 -0400

University of Florida astronomers are using a new instrument to peer into the center of the galaxy.

Study of Isolated Snakes could Help Shed Light on Venom Composition

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:31:30 -0400

While studying a way to more safely and effectively collect snake venom, University of Florida researchers have noticed the venom delivered by an isolated population of Florida cottonmouth snakes may be changing in response to their diet.

Gravitational Wave Observatory Listens for Echoes of Universe’s Birth

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:27:09 -0400

An investigation by a major scientific group headed by a University of Florida professor has advanced understanding of the early evolution of the universe.

UF Professor wins Award for Quantum Mechanic Computing Research

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:27:53 -0400

The American Chemical Society named UF Professor Kenneth M. Merz recipient of their prestigious Award for Computers in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research.

Anthropology Researcher named a 2009-2010 Science & Technology Policy Fellow

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:28:29 -0400

A University professor has received an AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowship and will be working at the National Institute of Health’s Office of Biotechnology Activities.

Back to the Delta: SPOHP’s Ongoing Documentation of the Civil Rights Movement

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:29:00 -0400

In August the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program at UF returned to the Mississippi Delta to continue research on the Civil Rights Movement with veteran Civil Rights activists and leading scholars of the Mississippi Freedom Movement.

UF to Instruct History On Location to Local Teachers

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:26:29 -0400

Thanks to a new federal grant, Polk County high school teachers will be taught a new perspective on history by University of Florida history professor Sean Adams.

Chemistry Joins Forces with UF’s Clinical Translational Science
Institute (CTSI)

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:41:30 -0400

The University of Florida has won the National Institutes of Health's Clinical and Translational Science Award, one of only 60 institutions to be named to the consortium and the only one in the state of Florida – the Department of Chemistry is playing a key part.

UF Officials Help Inaugurate World’s Largest Telescope

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:32:51 -0400

Telescopes are tools for observation. But on Friday, one was the star.

Political Science Junior to lead Florida College Democrats (Gainesville Sun)

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:25:56 -0400

University of Florida junior Ben Cavataro's hard work as a Democrat is paying off.

Bookbeat: Life Between Two Deaths: 1989–2001: U.S. Culture in the Long Nineties

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:27:05 -0400

Through virtuoso readings of significant works of American film,
television, and fiction, Phillip E. Wegner demonstrates that the period between the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 and the bombing of the World Trade Center in September 2001 fostered a unique consciousness and represented a moment of immense historical possibilities now at risk of being forgotten in the midst of the “war on terror.”

Restructuring of Dean's Office Announced: CLAS Welcomes Three New Associate Deans

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:00:09 -0400

The University of Florida College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has announced some top-level administrative changes.

Head of the CLAS: Jill Ciment and Mary Robison

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:57:00 -0400

When Oprah Winfrey reads a book, millions follow – and this summer, they’ll be reading the works of two University of Florida English professors.

Florida Vs. the Superbugs

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:55:58 -0400

MRSA killed Alonzo Smith, an 18-year-old football player from Liberty High School in Kissimmee last September. Smith follows a long line of football players who have been sickened after infection with MRSA, a highly resistant superbug.

Astronomers, Royalty, Rock Stars to Inaugurate World’s Largest Telescope

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:35:50 -0400

Four hundred years after Galileo first turned his handmade telescope toward the heavens, the world’s largest, most technologically advanced telescope is set to make its formal debut.

A Prehistoric Popeye Effect? For the Dinosaur, Food Meant Bulk

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:23:18 -0400

A University of Florida biologist thinks he knows how dinosaurs got so big. And it turns out, Popeye and Pachycephalosaurus may have a thing or two in common.

Scientists: Salamanders, Regenerative Wonders, Heal like Mammals, People

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:34:58 -0400

The salamander is a superhero of regeneration, able to replace lost limbs, damaged lungs, sliced spinal cord — even bits of lopped-off brain. But it turns out that remarkable ability isn’t so mysterious after all — suggesting that researchers could learn how to replicate it in people.

Native Holly can Provide Caffeinated, Antioxidant-Rich Beverage, UF Experts Say

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:34:20 -0400

Coffee and tea drinkers, take note — a University of Florida study says a beverage made from a native holly tree might be just the thing to give you a caffeinated kick-start, plus a dose of antioxidants.

Denis Caswell Wins University Superior Accomplishment Award

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:16:15 -0400

Denise Caswell, office assistant in the Botany and Zoology Departments, was recognized by the University of Florida with a university-level Superior Accomplishment Awards.

Bookbeat: Albert Camus, Œuvres Complètes

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:16:16 -0400

The publication of vols. III and IV of Albert Camus’s complete works constitutes the completion of a twelve-year project for Professor Emeritus Raymond Gay-Crosier.

UF Astronomy Team Among First to Use Massive New Telescope

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:21:30 -0400

A team of University of Florida astronomers is among the first in the world to make scientific-quality observations of the heavens using the newly completed Gran Telescopio Canarias, the world’s largest optical telescope.

Bookbeat: Guide and Reference to the Amphibians, Snakes, Turtles, and Lizards of Western North America (North of Mexico) and Hawaii

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:40:19 -0400

More than 500 species and subspecies of amphibians and reptiles can be found in the western United States. This set of three field guides offers a complete survey of the frogs, toads, salamanders, snakes, turtles, and lizards that reside west of the Rocky Mountains (north of Mexico) and in Hawaii.

Former Head of Florida Humanities Council to Direct Graham Center

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:12:14 -0400

The president of a Florida foundation and former foreign service officer has been named the first director of the Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida. Ann Henderson will take the reins from interim Director Tony Rosenbaum on July 1.

UF Study Finds Ancient Mammals Shifted Diets as Climate Changed

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:07:08 -0400

A new University of Florida study shows mammals change their dietary niches based on climate-driven environmental changes, contradicting a common assumption that species maintain their niches despite global warming.

State Department Gives UF Grant to Explore U.S. Foreign Policy

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:06:36 -0400

Eighteen academics from around the world are coming to the University of Florida to better understand and appreciate the intricacies of U.S. foreign policy.

Biologists: Greening Arctic not Likely to Offset Permafrost Carbon Release

Wed, 27 May 2009 17:22:10 -0400

As the frozen soil in the Arctic thaws, bacteria will break down organic matter, releasing long-stored carbon into the warming atmosphere.

Around the College - April 2009

Fri, 08 May 2009 16:25:56 -0400

News about awards and events from around the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

In The News - April 2009

Fri, 08 May 2009 16:25:12 -0400

The latest headlines garnered by CLAS faculty and students in the national media through April 2009.

V. Betty Smocovitis Selected as 16th Distinguished Alumni Professor

Fri, 08 May 2009 15:16:31 -0400

Betty Smocovitis has been selected as a Distinguished Alumni Professor for, among other criteria, her immeasurable positive impact on students.

2009-2010 Academic Year UFRF and CLAS Term Professors Named

Fri, 08 May 2009 15:15:56 -0400

Seventeen professors have been named UFRF and CLAS Term professors for the 2009-2010 academic year.

CLAS Professor Named Outstanding Research Mentor

Fri, 08 May 2009 15:15:51 -0400

Psychologist Robin West has been named an Outstanding Research Mentor by the Institute for Learning in Retirement.

Abdourahmane Idrissa: Head of the CLAS

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:40:33 -0400

Abdourahmane Idrissa, who will be receiving his Ph.D. from UF’s Political Science Department this Spring, is one of the six international fellows to have been selected for the second cohort of the Global Leadership Fellowship program (GLF). Idrissa recently defended his dissertation on competing Islamic and secular notions of governmentality in the West African country of Niger, under the direction of UF professor Leonardo Villalón.

UF Anthropology Professor Chosen as American Academy Fellow

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:18:04 -0400

Maxine L. Margolis, professor emerita of anthropology at the University of Florida, has been named a fellow in the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.

UF Geography Professor’s Expertise Results in Distinctive Honors

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:17:34 -0400

Geography Professor Grant Thrall may not be a real estate agent, but he’s an expert in “location, location, location.”

Three UF Undergraduates Named Goldwater Scholars

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:17:03 -0400

Three University of Florida students were named Goldwater Scholars for the 2009-2010 year by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation.

UF Student Chosen one of Two Truman Scholars from Florida Universities

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:16:12 -0400

University of Florida junior Adam Amir is one of only two students attending Florida universities to be named a Truman Scholar for 2009.

Bookbeat: Possibility

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:16:33 -0400

Possibility offers a new analysis of the metaphysical concepts of possibility and necessity, one that does not rely on any sort of "possible worlds."

UF Scientist Tapped by Howard Hughes Medical Institute to Pursue ‘Best Ideas'

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:25:56 -0400

A University of Florida scientist whose interest in embryonic development and evolution led him to discover the molecular building blocks that shape appendages ranging from feet to flippers was named a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Early Career Scientist today (Thursday, March 26), a distinction given to only 50 researchers in the United States.

Faculty Members Named as Fellows to Center for Advanced Judaic Studies

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:25:20 -0400

Two faculty members in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, Michal Ben-Horin and Galili Shahar, have been named 2009–2010 Fellows at the University of Pennsylvania Center for Advanced Judaic Studies. The fellowship program’s theme for 2009–2010 is Secularism and its Discontents: Rethinking an Organizing Principle of Modern Jewish Life.

UF Receives Gates Foundation Grant to Help Fight Malaria Worldwide

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:45:29 -0400

In wealthy countries, the war against malaria was won nearly half a century ago, but the disease continues to afflict communities in the developing world. Now the University of Florida is doing what it can to help fight malaria.

In The News - February 2009

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:56:57 -0500

The latest headlines garnered by CLAS faculty and students in the national media through February 2009.

Around the College - February 2009

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:56:19 -0500

News about awards and events from around the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Study Predicts when Invasive Species can Travel More Readily by Air

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:51:29 -0500

Global airlines be forewarned: June 2010 could be a busy month for invasive plants, insects and animals seeking free rides to distant lands.

Shedding Light on the Origins of the Milky Way

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:04:20 -0500

High in the foothills of the Chilean Andes, a revolutionary new telescope promises to exponentially grow our understanding of the universe, both in the far reaches of space and in our own backyard. And UF is in on the ground floor.

Film, Panel Discussion at UF to Examine Darfur

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:04:52 -0500

Since 2003, between 200,000 and 400,000 people in Darfur, Sudan, have been killed and another 2.5 million have been displaced from their destroyed villages to face hunger, thirst, illness, rape and death.

Bookbeat - Beyond Douglass: New Perspectives on Early African-American Literature

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:54:03 -0500

The starting point for Beyond Douglass is an institutional paralysis in the study of early African-American literature.

In Memory: Arthur Broyles

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 09:28:58 -0500

Arthur A. Broyles, Professor Emeritus at the University Of Florida Department Of Physics, passed quietly away on Friday, January 23, 2009. He was 85 years old.

World’s Largest Snake Shows Tropics were Hotter in the Past

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 11:12:52 -0500

The largest snake the world has ever known — as long as a school bus and as heavy as a small car — ruled tropical ecosystems only 6 million years after the demise of the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex, according to a new discovery published in the journal Nature.

Bookbeat - Locating Race: Global Sites of Post-Colonial Citizenship

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 11:12:24 -0500

Locating Race provides a powerful critique of theories and fictions of globalization that privilege migration, transnationalism, and flows.

Scientists: Earthquakes, El Niños Fatal to Earliest Civilization in Americas

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 11:11:50 -0500

First came the earthquakes, then the torrential rains. But the relentless march of sand across once fertile fields and bays, a process set in motion by the quakes and flooding, is probably what did in America’s earliest civilization.

CLAS Announces Award Winners in Teaching, Advising, and Dissertations

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 11:11:25 -0500

CLAS Announces Award Winners in Teaching, Advising, and Dissertations

Around the College - January 2009

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 11:11:02 -0500

News about awards and events from around the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

In the News - January 2009

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 11:10:27 -0500

The latest headlines garnered by CLAS faculty and students in the national media through January 2008.

To Climate-Change Worries, add one more: Extended Mercury Threat

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:49:27 -0500

Mercury pollution has already spurred public health officials to advise eating less fish, but it could become a more pressing concern in a warmer world.

Wei Pan: Head of the CLAS

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:49:01 -0500

Dr. Wei Pan, a long time collaborator with the National High Magnetic Field’s High B/T facility in the Microkelvin Laboratory at UF and frequent visitor to the Department of Physics has been
named as a winner of the Presidential Early Career Award.

Around the College: December 2008

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:48:17 -0500

News about awards and events from around the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

In The News: December 2008

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:47:36 -0500

The latest headlines garnered by CLAS faculty and students in the national media through December 2008.

Head of the CLAS: Barbara Zsembik

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:55:50 -0500

Associate Professor of Sociology Barbara Zsembik has received the 2008 William R. Jones Outstanding Mentor Award, awarded by the McKnight Doctoral Fellowship program.

Bookbeat: A Taste of Europe

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:55:07 -0500

A Taste of Europe: Celebrating Five Years of the Center for European Studies Cookbook contains 56 recipes from 32 European countries.

Rooted Plants Move Mysteriously down Greenways, Scientists Say

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:31:45 -0500

The wild pea pod is big and heavy, with seemingly little prayer of escaping the shade of its parent plant.

Preserve Healthy Cabbage Palms

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:31:10 -0500

If you look out your window right now, chances are you’ll spot a Sabal palmetto, the scientific name of the cabbage palm, the state tree of Florida and South Carolina. Now imagine the landscape without these icons of the tropics.

Around the College: November 2008

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:30:35 -0500

News about awards and events from around the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

In the News: November 2008

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:29:59 -0500

The latest headlines garnered by CLAS faculty and students in the national media through November 2008.

Bookbeat: Voice Disorders

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:38:52 -0500

Written by leading specialists in voice, this book captures the science and art of clinical voice.

Scientists Build ‘Roach Motel’ for Nasty Bugs of the Bacterial Variety

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:32:06 -0500

The vacancy sign is on, but the lowlifes who check in never check out.

Zoologists: Sea Snakes Seek out Freshwater to Slake Thirst

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:32:22 -0500

Sea snakes may slither in saltwater, but they sip the sweet stuff.

Bookbeat: Blue-Green Coalitions: Fighting for Safe Workplaces and Healthy Communities

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:32:19 -0500

What do unions and environmental groups have to gain by working together and how do they overcome their differences? In Blue-Green Coalitions, Brian Mayer answers these questions by focusing on the role that health-related issues have played in creating a common ground between the two groups. By recognizing that the same toxics that cause workplace hazards escape into surrounding communities and the environment, workers and environmentalists are able to collaborate for the protection of all.

Serendipitous Observations Reveal Rare Event in Life of Distant Quasar

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:46:18 -0400

A bit of serendipity has given astronomers a surprise view of a never-before-observed event in the birth of a galaxy.

Bookbeat: An Everglades Providence: Marjory Stoneman Douglas and the American Environmental Century

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:45:31 -0400

No one did more than Marjory Stoneman Douglas to transform the Everglades from the country's most maligned swamp into its most beloved wetland.

Wearing Candidate Garb won’t keep Voters away from Polls in Florida

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:44:55 -0400

While poll workers in some states will turn away voters who wear political shirts, hats or buttons, wearing your political pride while voting in Florida won’t violate any anti-solicitation laws, a UF political science professor said.

Bookbeat: Twentieth-Century Humanist Critics: From Spitzer to Frye

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:55:16 -0400

The Twentieth-Century Humanist Critics revisits the work and place of eight scholars roughly contemporary with Anglo-American New Criticism: Leo Spitzer, Ernst Robert Curtius, Erich Auerbach, Albert Béguin, Jean Rousset, C.S. Lewis, F.O. Matthiessen, and Northrop Frye.

Girls who Start Puberty Early are Less Able to Cope with Stress

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:14:29 -0400

Girls who enter puberty early may be less able to cope with being bullied or rejected by other students than their female classmates who mature later, a new University of Florida study finds.

Created in Part by UF, World’s Largest Computing Grid to Launch Today

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:29:42 -0400

The world’s largest computing grid, pioneered in part by University of Florida researchers, will be launched today to crunch the mammoth amounts of data expected to be produced by the Large Hadron Collider particle accelerator in Europe.

Head of the CLAS: Milagros Pena

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:04:24 -0400

Milagros Peña, Director of the Center for Women’s Studies and Gender Research and professor of sociology, was awarded a Distinguished Book award from the Latino/a section of the American Sociological Association (ASA), the premier organization in the field. Peña's book, Latina Activists across Borders: Women's Grassroots Organizing in Mexico and Texas, was published in 2007 by Duke University Press.

Legislators’ Nod to Citizen Initiatives may be Tied to Re-Election Hopes

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:23:14 -0400

Citizen-initiated measures, such as gay rights and physician-assisted suicide, are not a uniquely Western U.S. phenomenon as traditionally thought.

In Memoriam: Dr. Felix M. Berardo

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:22:48 -0400

Dr. Felix M. Berardo, Professor Emeritus and former Chair of the Department of Sociology at the University of Florida succumbed to a long battle with a glioblastoma brain tumor on September 18 at his home in Gainesville, Florida.

Wolves Show Scientists are Barking Up the Wrong Tree

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:41:21 -0400

The common notion is that dogs evolved a special sensitivity to their human masters during domestication.

William Woodruff, UF Professor, Author Dies at 92

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:40:36 -0400

William Woodruff, author, historian and emeritus Graduate Research Professor at the University of Florida, died Tuesday in Gainesville.

Bookbeat: Dictionary of Herpetology

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:39:23 -0400

Following the historical precedent of Peters (1964), the new updated Dictionary of Herpetology provides a comprehensive, single-volume dictionary, with selected cross-referenced entries to clarify the many technical terms and concepts that pertain to herpetology.

Study Uncovers Facts about Artists’ Modeling in Revealing Interviews

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:39:20 -0400

Women who appear nude as artists’ models are more concerned about losing their pose than removing their clothes, a new University of Florida study finds.

In the News - August 2008

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:39:18 -0400

The latest headlines garnered by CLAS faculty and students in the national media.

Shoring the Foundations of the Roof of the World

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:39:15 -0400

Ed Kellerman’s commitment to public service is infectious. How else can you explain his ability to bring a punk band and a retired U.S. Senator together for a common cause?

Mel Tillis Visits Graduate Students

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:39:10 -0400

Country music singer and songwriter Mel Tillis visited the University of Florida Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders on September 8.

UF Physicists to Take Part in World’s Most Ambitious Science Experiment

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:51:25 -0400

When the world’s largest particle accelerator goes live later this week, University of Florida physicists will join thousands of scientists working to crack the last major mysteries of the physical universe.

Russia, Georgia, and the West: A New Cold War?

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:52:47 -0400

Following the brief Russian-Georgian war over South Ossetia, tensions between Russia and the West are at their highest since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Bad Sign for Global Warming: Thawing Permafrost holds Vast Carbon Pool

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:54:10 -0400

Permafrost blanketing the northern hemisphere contains more than twice the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, making it a potentially mammoth contributor to global climate change depending on how quickly it thaws.

New Research Challenges Long-Held Assumptions of Flightless Bird Evolution

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:53:43 -0400

Large flightless birds of the southern continents – African ostriches, Australian emus and cassowaries, South American rheas and the New Zealand kiwi – do not share a common flightless ancestor as once believed.

Around the College

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:54:50 -0400

Awards and events from around the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for August 2008.

Head of the CLAS: Kristen D. Downs

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:58:32 -0400

CLAS graduate Kristen Downs has been awarded the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation (JKCF) Graduate Scholarship, one of the most prestigious and generous scholarships in the nation.

Building a Bridge of Communication

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:25:44 -0400

Modern communication is so complex that it has been described as a wall of noise. Paul Ortiz aims to cut through that noise.

UF’s Graham Center Brings National Political Leaders to Speak Sept. 5

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:25:02 -0400

Two men who led national campaigns for the Republican and Democratic parties will meet Sept. 5 at the University of Florida to share insights into running a presidential campaign.

Head of the CLAS: Mike Gunter

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:45:01 -0400

Mike Gunter saw the disappointment in some children’s eyes at the end of the school year. A volunteer football coach at Westwood Middle School, Gunter discovered that these children were worried where their next meal would come from.

New Research Reveals why Chili Peppers are Hot

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:50:53 -0400

Despite the popularity of spicy cuisine among Homo sapiens, the hotness in chili peppers has always been something of an evolutionary mystery.

Bookbeat: A Fish in the Moonlight

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:21:08 -0400

The storyteller has a fascinating place in our world. The storyteller personalizes history, extends fable, and imparts folk wisdom.

Around the College: July 2008

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:00:00 -0400

The latest awards and accomplishments of faculty, staff and students around the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

In The News: August 2008

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:00:00 -0400

The latest headlines garnered by CLAS faculty and students in the national media.

UF Recognized for Collection of Children's Literature

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0400

The Collectors Weekly, a Web site for collectors and antique enthusiasts, recently selected the University of Florida's Baldwin Library of Historical Children's Literature Web site for its Hall of Fame.

UF Professor Wins International Award for Pioneering Research in Quantum Chemistry

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0400

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences professor So Hirata has been selected to receive the 2008 Annual Medal of the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science.

Physicists Tweak Quantum Force, Reducing Barrier to Tiny Devices

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Cymbals don't clash of their own accord - in our world, anyway.

Geologists Push Back Date Basins Formed, Supporting Frozen Earth Theory

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Even in geology, it's not often a date gets revised by 500 million years.

New Study Points to Agriculture in Frog Sexual Abnormalities

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0400

A farm irrigation canal would seem a healthier place for toads than a ditch by a supermarket parking lot.

In The News: July 2008

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0400

The latest headlines garnered by CLAS faculty and students in the national media.

Bookbeat: Here and Now - History, Nationalism, and Realism in Modern Hebrew

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0400

The emergence of Zionism in the late nineteenth century and the evolution of Zionist society in Palestine were profoundly influenced by the Hebrew literature of the day.

Head of the CLAS: Paul D'Anieri

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0400

His last name is pronounced Da-NYER-ee, but he won't mind if you botch it. "My family doesn't even agree on how to pronounce it," said Paul J. D'Anieri, the new dean of UF's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Major Evolutionary Study Rewrites Bird 'Tree of Life'

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0400

The flamingo looks like it should be closely related to the stork or crane, but its closest relative may actually be the diminutive, modest grebe.

UF History Professor wins International Book Prize

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Juliana Barr, University of Florida assistant professor of history, was recently awarded one of the top international book awards for female historians.

Head of the CLAS: Elizabeth Gill

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Communication Sciences and Disorders graduate student Elizaebth Gill is traveling to East Africa this summer to conduct research on the attitudes of rural Kenyans and Ugandans toward communication problems and speech-language therapy.

Bookbeat: The Healthy Jew

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0400

The Healthy Jew traces the culturally revealing story of how Moses, the rabbis, and other Jewish thinkers came to be understood as medical authorities in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Bookbeat: Nahmanides in Medieval Catalonia

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0400

In this detailed study, Nina Caputo examines conceptions of history and messianic redemption in the writings of the Catalonian rabbi and brilliant Talmudic scholar Nahmanides (1195-1270).

UF Professor Wins Prestigious Award

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0400

For the second time in two years, a professor with ties to Cedar Key and the University of Florida has won the Volvo Environment Prize (Gainesville Sun).

Head of the CLAS: David Grove

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Anthropologist David C. Grove has been named the 2008 winner of the American Anthropological Association's Alfred Vincent Kidder Award for Eminence in the Field of American Archaeology.

Governor Crist Announces New Gubernatorial Fellows

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Two CLAS students and three CLAS alumnae are among the members of the fourth class of the Gubernatorial Fellowship Program.

Around the College: June 2008

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0400

The latest awards and accomplishments of faculty, staff and students around the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

In The News: June 2008

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0400

The latest headlines garnered by CLAS faculty and students in the national media.

UF Receives Department of State Grant to Explore U.S. Foreign Policy

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Eighteen academics from around the world are coming to Gainesville to gain a deeper understanding of how U.S. foreign policy is created and enacted.

Visiting the South's 'Stroke Buckle' Increases Risk of Stroke Death

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0400

It might not only be the state of your health but also the state you visit that increases the chances of dying from a stroke, a new University of Florida study finds.

Greening Gators: UF Offers New Minor in Sustainability Studies

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0400

To strengthen its commitment to the environment, the University of Florida has established a new undergraduate minor in sustainability studies.

Scientists Edge Closer to Unlocking Secrets of Mysterious Crab Pulsar

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Like a celestial top, the spinning neutron star known as the Crab Pulsar is slowing, a phenomenon that astronomers have yet to fully understand.

Bookbeat: Men on a Mission: Valuing Youth Work in Our Communities

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Men on a Mission provides the first comprehensive study of men who work and volunteer with kids in a variety of public settings.

Men on a Mission Help Youth Thrive Despite Negative Stereotypes

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Desperately needed as youth mentors, some men are answering the call despite negative publicity about male transgressions that can keep them at arm's length from children and teenagers, says a University of Florida researcher and author of a new book.

Undergrad Named Finalist in National History Scholars Program

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Paige Scofield, a history undergraduate and native of Boca Raton, was recently named a 2008 Gilder Lehrman History Scholar Finalist.

Head of the CLAS: Hananie Albert

Mon, 19 May 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Triple major Hananie Albert earns an eminent Beinecke Scholarship, in part, for research on her native Haiti.

Bookbeat: Know Thyself: Delphi Seminars - Opening up to Relational Teaching

Mon, 19 May 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Delphi seminars gave birth to a new way to teach literature, but they offer a method of teaching that one can easily use for teaching psychology, psychoanalysis, or anything, really.

Research from UF Undergraduates Onboard Phoenix Mars Lander Will Reveal Planet's True Colors

Tue, 27 May 2008 12:00:00 -0400

When NASA's Phoenix lander lander touched down on the surface of Mars on May 25, it carried special tools to give scientists their best look at the Red Planet's true colors.

Bookbeat: Does Your Baby Have Autism?

Tue, 27 May 2008 12:00:00 -0400

For many years, the diagnosis of autism has centered on a child's social interaction--from poor eye contact to lack of language skills. Although the autism community agrees that early intervention is key to effective treatment, the telltale signs of this disorder usually don't reveal themselves until the age of two or three. But what if it were possible to detect the potential for autism within the first year of life?

Around the College: May 2008

Tue, 20 May 2008 12:00:00 -0400

The latest awards and accomplishments of faculty, staff and students around the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

After Mutual Challenge, English Professor and Son Each to Publish a Book

Mon, 19 May 2008 12:00:00 -0400

A couple of years ago, University of Florida English professor Sidney Homan was walking through Central Park with his son Danny, an aspiring novelist studying for his master's degree in creative writing at Texas State University.

CLAS Faculty Advance the Cutting Edge of Research

Mon, 19 May 2008 12:00:00 -0400

The University of Florida Research Foundation has named six CLAS faculty members UFRF Professors for 2008-2011.

Head of the CLAS: Peter Ter

Mon, 19 May 2008 12:00:00 -0400

One of Sudan's lost boys, Peter Ter was removed from his home by the bloody civil war that has raged in Sudan for the last 20 years and which continues to this day in Darfur.

In The News: May 2008

Mon, 19 May 2008 12:00:00 -0400

The latest headlines garnered by CLAS faculty and students in the national media.

Globalized Classrooms

Mon, 19 May 2008 12:00:00 -0400

CLAS faculty awarded grants from UF International Center to enhance the university's curriculum.

English Alumna Named Ambassador to Panama

Fri, 16 May 2008 12:00:00 -0400

UF English alumna Barbara J. Stephenson has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the U.S. to the Republic of Panama, following the nomination of President George W. Bush.

Bookbeat: Singing Krishna

Fri, 16 May 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Singing Krishna introduces Paramanand, one of north India's greatest medieval poet-saints, whose poetry has been sung from the sixteenth century to the present in ritual service to the Hindu deity Krishna.

Holocaust Studies at the University of Florida Gets Funding to Recruit Top Scholar

Thu, 08 May 2008 12:00:00 -0400

The Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Florida is seeking to elevate the prominence of its Holocaust research program, and a couple from south Florida feel that attracting a national authority on the subject is one way to do that.

Princes of the Universe

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Brian May, lead guitarist for the rock group Queen, is flying from London to Gainesville to help UF's astronomers pay tribute to a renowned Spanish astronomer who will receive an honorary doctorate during Saturday's commencement events.

Maternal Respect Stronger Among African-American and Latina Girls

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Young African-American and Latina girls treat their mothers with greater deference than do whites but their mothers take it harder when tempers flare, according to a new University of Florida study.

2007-2008 UF Doctoral Mentoring Award Winner

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0400

My philosophy and strategies of graduate mentoring are closely tied to my understanding of human development and the intersection of work and family life, two areas that I've studied throughout my career.

UF Offers Summer Camps for Kids with Dyslexia

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Angela McQueen couldn't take the frustration much longer. She had tried everything she knew to help her only child, Genevieve Owens.

CLAS Graduate Programs Land in the Top Ten of all Public and Private Universities in the U.S.

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0400

U.S. News and World Report has released its 2009 Best Graduate School rankings and three degree programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences - audiology, analytical chemistry, and statistics - have been named to the Top Ten of all public and private schools in the nation.

History Preserved: Kathryn Chicone Ustler Hall Recognized as Florida Treasure

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Kathryn Chicone Ustler Hall, home to the Center for Women's Studies and Gender Research at the University of Florida, has been recognized by the Florida Heritage Foundation and the Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation as a Preservation Project of Regional Impact.

CLAS Employees Recognized

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0400

On April 18, CLAS honored its employees for their commitment and years of service to the university.

Bookbeat: Dostoevsky's Greatest Characters

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Addressed to all readers of Dostoevsky, as well as to teachers, students, and specialists, this lucidly-written study approaches the underground man, Raskolnikov, and Ivan and Alyosha Karamazov as imagined human beings whose feelings, behaviors, and ideas are expressions of their personalities and experience.

CLAS in the News: March 2008

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0400

All the headlines garnered in the national media by faculty from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in December 2007.

Head of the CLAS: Maureen Hartney

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Political science and history major graduates as top cadet in U.S. Air Force.

D'Anieri Named Dean of CLAS

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Paul D'Anieri of the University of Kansas will take the helm of the university's largest college July 1.

The Search for Gravity Waves

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Scientists from the University of Florida are once again playing a leading role in the search for gravitational waves in the universe.

A Great Day for McKnights

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Five CLAS Students Receive McKnight Doctoral Fellowships to Pursue Careers in Academia.

Three UF Students win Prestigious Goldwater Scholarships

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0400

For the third year in a row, three University of Florida students have won scholarships from the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education.

Around the College: April 2008

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0400

The latest awards and accomplishments of faculty, staff and students around the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Graham Center Presents Media and the Presidency

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0400

The Graham Center for Public Service will present "Media and the Presidency," as part of the Graham Presidential Lecture Series: The Path to the White House on April 17 at 7 p.m. in Pugh Hall's Ocora.

Bookbeat: Cities and Cinema

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Films about cities abound. They provide fantasies for those who recognize their city and those for whom the city is a faraway dream or nightmare. How does cinema rework city planners' hopes and city dwellers' fears of modern urbanism?

UF Professor Uses Art to Highlight Tie Between Cultural and Biological Diversity

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Conservationists often promote pristine wilderness as a warehouse of biological diversity, but new research findings by a University of Florida anthropologist show higher biological diversity actually exists in areas where there is more human cultural diversity.

Scientists: New Technique Identifies Molecular 'Biomarkers' for Disease

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0400

University of Florida chemists are the first to use a new tool to identify the molecular signatures of serious diseases - without any previous knowledge of what these microscopic signatures or 'biomarkers' should look like.

Head of the CLAS: Debra Walker King

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Debra Walker King, University of Florida associate provost for faculty development and Department of English faculty member, has been selected by the American Council on Education as one of 36 fellows for the 2008-09 academic year.

Bookbeat: Stroke

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Political outrage rustles the high grasses of these ingenious, boisterous poems, alternately set in the lush ecologies of the Florida panhandle and the Aegean coast.

CLAS Announces 2008 University Scholars

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0400

More than 50 students have been selected from across the college to participate in their first major research venture.

Pulitzer-Prize Winner David M. Oshinsky to Speak at UF April 2

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Historian David M. Oshinsky, who captured the 2006 Pulitzer Prize in History for his book Polio: An American Story, will give the Gus Burns Memorial Lecture at the University of Florida on April 2, 6:30 p.m., in the Pugh Hall auditorium.

Madeleine Albright to Speak at UF March 26

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Just in time for Women's History Month, the Bob Graham Center for Public Service is bringing to campus the first woman to become U.S. Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, on March 26 at 11 a.m. in the Pugh Hall Ocora.

Head of the CLAS: George Christou

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0400

George Christou, the Drago Professor of Chemistry, has been named the recipient of the 2008 Florida Award in Chemistry from the Florida Section of the American Chemical Society.

Bookbeat: Verniana: Jules Verne Studies / Etudes Jules Verne

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0400

Verniana: Jules Verne Studies / Etudes Jules Verne was released on February 8, the 180th anniversary of Verne's birth.

Physicists: After 30 Years of Study, Rare Particle Confirms Prediction

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0400

High-energy physicists devoted to recreating the conditions at the beginning of the universe have for the first time observed a new way to produce those basic particles of atoms, protons and neutrons.

Excess Worrying can Harm Parents' Relationships with Grown Children

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0500

The amount of worry shared by parents and their grownup children can feel like a warm comforter or wet blanket, a new University of Florida study finds.

CLAS in the News: March 2008

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0500

All the headlines garnered in the national media by faculty from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in March 2008.

Around the College: March 2008

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0500

News about awards and events from around the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Bookbeat: Outsider Within: Reworking Anthropology in the Global Age

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Outsider Within presents an approach to critically reconstructing the anthropology discipline to better encompass issues of gender and race.

Head of the CLAS: Allan Burns

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0500

The Board of Directors of the Society for Applied Anthropology has elected Professor Allan F. Burns as president of the international association.

Head of the CLAS: Stephanie Evans

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Stephanie Evans will be honored at the American Educational Research Association's annual meeting in New York on March 24 as one of the top 10 reviewers of the American Educational Research Journal/Social and Institutional Analysis for 2007.

Bookbeat: African Americans and the Culture of Pain

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0500

In this study Debra Walker King considers fragments of experience recorded in oral histories and newspapers as well as those produced in twentieth-century novels, films, and television that reveal how the black body in pain functions as a rhetorical device and as political strategy.

First Global Malaria Map in Decades Shows Reduced Risk

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0500

About 35 percent of the world's population is at risk of contracting deadly malaria, but many people are at a lower risk than previously thought, raising hope that the disease could be seriously reduced or eliminated in parts of the world.

Grand Opening Set for Bob Graham Center for Public Service

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0500

The Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida celebrates its opening with a week of activities March 3-6.

Head of the CLAS: David McClister

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0500

The University of Florida has awarded the nation's first Ph.D. in classical studies pursued online.

Humans Inhabited New World's Doorstep for 20,000 Years

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0500

The human journey from Asia to the New World was interrupted by a 20,000-year layover in Beringia, a once-habitable region that today lies submerged under the icy waters of the Bering Strait.

CLAS Professors Named Fulbright Scholars

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Four of the college's professors will spend part of 2007-2008 representing the U.S. and the University of Florida abroad.

Pugh Hall Dedication

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0500

In the heart of the University of Florida, nestled between 98-year-old Newell and 72-year-old Dauer Halls, there's a new kid on the block energizing the historic district of campus.

Head of the CLAS: Paul Ortiz

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Award-winning author and oral historian Paul Ortiz has been named director of the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program. He replaces retired history professor Julian Pleasants, who served as program director for 12 years.

Bookbeat: Cholera and Nation: Doctoring the Social Body in Victorian England

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Drawing from sermons, novels, newspaper editorials, poetry, medical texts, and the writings of social activists, Cholera and Nation explores how the coming of the cholera epidemics during a period of intense political reform in Britain set the terms by which the social body would be defined.

Around the College: February 2008

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0500

News about awards and events from around the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

CLAS in the News: February 2008

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0500

All the headlines garnered in the national media by faculty from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in February 2008.

Remembering G. Paul Moore

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500

The University of Florida's community of audiologists and speech-language pathologists have lost a legend in the passing of Distinguished Professor Emeritus G. Paul Moore.

Head of the CLAS: Brandi Hill

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Brandi Hill will graduate this spring with a B.A. degree in criminology and a minor in African Studies. Though her studies have focused on adults, she admits that she finds herself repeatedly drawn to children.

Zoologists: Lusty Voles, Mindless of Danger, Mate Like Rabbits

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Forgetful Casanovas are lucky in love.

Scientists: Environmental Protection, Development Not Always at Odds

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Mangroves in coastal Thailand are the main protection against deadly flooding from tsunamis, so it might seem wise to protect them at all costs.

Bookbeat: Righteous Warrior: Jesse Helms and the Rise of Modern Conservatism

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500

William Link tells the life story of Jesse Helms and, subsequently, the story of a conservative revolution that finally captivated America at the end of the twentieth century.

The American Right: Political Scholar to Lecture on Conservatism January 23

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Looking for a way to participate in Super Tuesday? Political expert Donald Critchlow will present "Civic Engagement and Modern Conservatives" on Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. in the Pugh Hall Ocora Room on the University of Florida campus.

CLAS Honors Top Teachers and Advisors

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences announces 11 teaching and advising award honorees for 2007-2008.

Head of the CLAS: Joanna Lis

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Joanna Lis, a junior political science major with a dual minor in European studies and East-Central European studies, was thinking about the historical variability of languages when she shot an award-winning photo in Poland last summer.

Gauntlet Thrown: Medieval Knights Invade Campus January 23

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500

En guard, gators! Knights from Kissimmee's Medieval Times will take over UF's Plaza of the Americas on January 23 in a display of medieval arms and armor at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The chivalric spectacle is free and open to the public.

Head of the CLAS: Lacey Logsdon

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500

While attending a student debate in June 2006, Lacey Logsdon listened as political science major Adam Recvlohe, a Yuchi and Mvskoke who heads the indigenous student group 500 Nations, discussed the need for a course of study at the University of Florida centered on the history and culture of American Indians.

Africa's Biggest Mammals Key to Ant-Plant Teamwork

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Throughout the tropics, ants and Acacia trees live together in intricate interdependent relationships that have long fascinated scientists.

UF-Led Search for New Planets Part of Ambitious New Sky Survey

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500

A University of Florida-led sky survey that may double the number of known planets outside the solar system is part of a major new survey program announced today at the American Astronomical Society's annual meeting in Austin, Texas.

Bookbeat: Archaeology of Anxiety

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Galina Rylkova examines why the Silver Age is so prominent in of Russian literary consciousness.

Around the College: January 2007

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500

News about awards and events from around the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Head of the CLAS: Gene Dunnam

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500

As the University of Florida kicks of its spring semester, there is one professor who won't be returning from winter break this year. After nearly 50 years of service, Physics Professor Gene Dunnam has retired.

Seeing Stars at the Gator Jamboree

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Thousands of sports fans received an education on the University of Florida's world-renowned astronomy program before the Florida Gators faced off against the Michigan Wolverines at the Capital One Bowl on New Year's Day.

CLAS in the News: December 2007

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500

All the headlines garnered in the national media by faculty from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in December 2007.

To Curious Aliens, Earth Would Stand Out as Living Planet

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:00:00 -0500

With powerful instruments scouring the heavens, astronomers have found more than 240 planets in the past two decades, none likely to support Earth-like life.

UF Researcher: Unions Must Recruit Blacks in Order to Regain Influence

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:00:00 -0500

America's faltering labor movement will not survive unless unions do more to embrace blacks and other minority workers, says a University of Florida researcher and author of a new book.

Two CLAS Faculty Named HHMI Distinguished Mentors

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:00:00 -0500

Miklos Bona, associate professor of mathematics, and Robin West, professor of psychology, have been named Howard Hughes Medical Institute Distinguished Mentors in honor of their excellence in guiding undergraduate life science researchers.

Head of the CLAS: Andrew Rinzler

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:00:00 -0500

Associate Professor of Physics Andrew Rinzler has been awarded a patent for "Transparent Electrodes from Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes."

Bookbeat: The Indian Clerk

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:00:00 -0500

On a January morning in 1913, G. H. Hardy-eccentric, charismatic and, at thirty-seven, already considered the greatest British mathematician of his age-receives in the mail a mysterious envelope covered with Indian stamps. Inside he finds a rambling letter from a self-professed mathematical genius who claims to be on the brink of solving the most important unsolved mathematical problem of all time.

Bookbeat: Black Women in the Ivory Tower

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:00:00 -0500

Black Women in the Ivory Tower, published in February 2007 by Assistant Professor of African American Studies and Women's Studies Stephanie Evans, continues to grow in popularity and prestige.

Head of the CLAS: Faye Harrison

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 12:00:00 -0500

Faye Harrison, a professor of anthropology and director of the African American Studies program, received the 2007 Presidential Award from the American Anthropological Association at its annual meeting held in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 28-Dec. 2. She served as program chair of the conference, for which she selected the theme, "Difference, (In)Equality and Justice."

Bob Graham Center for Public Service Receives $1.5M From Graham Family Fund

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 12:00:00 -0500

A major gift to the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida will give the university greater opportunities to produce future public policymakers in Florida and on the national scene.

Bookbeat: Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 12:00:00 -0500

The second issue of the new Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture has just been released by the International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture, led by UF religion professor Bron Taylor.

Head of the CLAS: So Hirata

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:00:00 -0500

So Hirata, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and member of the Quantum Theory Project, has been awarded the HP Outstanding Junior Faculty Award by Hewlett-Packard and the American Chemical Society's Division of Computers in Chemistry.

Simple Reason Helps Males Evolve More Quickly

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:00:00 -0500

The observation that males evolve more quickly than females has been around since 19th century biologist Charles Darwin noted the majesty of a peacock's tail feather in comparison with the plainness of the peahen's.

Flowering Plants Evolved Very Quickly into Five Groups

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:00:00 -0500

University of Florida and University of Texas at Austin scientists have shed light on what Charles Darwin called the "abominable mystery" of early plant evolution.

Bookbeat: Nationalism and the Formation of Caribbean Literature

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:00:00 -0500

This book tells the story of how intellectuals in the English-speaking Caribbean first created a distinctly Caribbean and national literature.

Pasta Monster Gets Academic Attention

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 12:00:00 -0500

When some of the world's leading religious scholars gather in San Diego this weekend, pasta will be on the intellectual menu. They'll be talking about a satirical pseudo-deity called the Flying Spaghetti Monster, whose growing pop culture fame gets laughs but also raises serious questions about the essence of religion.

Head of the CLAS: Manuel Vasquez

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 12:00:00 -0500

Professor of Religion Manuel Vasquez sat down with Bill Moyers to discuss immigration in America. The conversation will air on Bill Moyers Journal on PBS on Nov. 16 at 9 p.m.

Karen Kinemuchi: Head of the CLAS

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 12:00:00 -0400

Karen Kinemuchi is going to be very busy for the next few years. She will be studying the stars in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, and sharing her research with two different countries.

Bookbeat: Legendary Rome

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 12:00:00 -0500

Legendary Rome is the first book to offer a comparative treatment of the reinvention of Rome's origins in the poetry of Vergil, Tibullus and Propertius. It also examines the impact that the changing topography of Rome, as orchestrated by the emperor Augustus, had on those poets' renditions of Rome's legendary past.

Globalizing the University

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 12:00:00 -0500

CLAS Announces Winners of International Educator of the Year Award.

Anti-Immigration Steps Encourage Foreigners to Stay in U.S.

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 12:00:00 -0500

Restrictions to keep illegal immigrants from entering the United States are having the perverse effect of encouraging those who are already here to stay by any means necessary, a new University of Florida study finds.

Around the College: November 2007

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 12:00:00 -0400

News about awards and events from around the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

CLAS in the News: November 2007

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 12:00:00 -0400

CLAS faculty quoted in local and national media.

Head of the CLAS: Christine Sapienza

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 12:00:00 -0500

When asked what I do, sometimes I wish my reply could be that I were an astrophysicist or electrical engineer. I am a speech-language pathologist - a profession that few people understand.

Bookbeat: Empire of Dreams

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 12:00:00 -0500

Empire of Dreams is the first definitive look at all of the science fiction (SF), fantasy, and horror films directed by Steven Spielberg, one of the most popular and influential filmmakers in the world today.

Head of the CLAS: Stephanie Argyros

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:00:00 -0400

Her desire to help make a difference in others' lives, mixed with her fascination of the human mind, brought Stephanie Argyros into the world of speech-language pathology.

Bookbeat: Natural Science in Western History

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:00:00 -0400

Natural Science in Western History provides an up-to-date and comprehensive survey of western science from ancient times through the Enlightenment to the present.

Study: Men More Traditional than Women About Marriage, Children

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:00:00 -0400

Women view childlessness much more favorably than men do, likely because parenting places greater demands on mothers, especially those juggling work and family responsibilities, a new University of Florida study finds.

Bookbeat: Rome and the Literature of Gardens

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:00:00 -0400

Rome and the Literature of Gardens explores the garden as a powerful focus of transformation and transgression in the De Re Rustica of Columella, the Satires of Horace, the Annals of Tacitus, and the Confessions of Saint Augustine.

UF Researcher: Soccer Emerges as Significant Political Force in Israel

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:00:00 -0400

The Arab-Israeli conflict softens considerably between the goals of a soccer field, according to a University of Florida researcher.

Bookbeat - Medium Cool: Music Videos from Soundies to Cellphones

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:00:00 -0400

Music videos are available on more channels, in more formats, and in more countries than ever before. While MTV-the network that introduced music video to most viewers-is moving away from music video programming, other media developments signal the longevity and dynamism of the form.

No Debate About It: Kellie Roberts is Recognized for Outstanding Service to Students

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:00:00 -0400

Kellie Roberts, Interim Director of the Dial Center for Written and Oral Communication, has been awarded the Morton Wolfson Faculty Award for her outstanding service to University of Florida students.

What Every American Needs to Know About Religion: Lecture November 7

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 12:00:00 -0400

College students might remember Stephen Prothero from his appearance on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," while religion scholars know him best for his contributions to academia, including the New York Times bestseller "Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know - and Doesn't." The Boston University religion professor and media pundit will discuss the need for religious intelligence in American society on Nov. 7, 7 p.m., in the University Auditorium. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Bookbeat: Public Policy

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:00:00 -0400

Political Science Professor David Hedge provides a historical context to the development of public policy theory.

Researchers: No Faking it, Crocodile Tears are Real

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:00:00 -0400

When someone feigns sadness they "cry crocodile tears," a phrase that comes from an old myth that the animals cry while eating.

Temperature Rising: Physicist Arthur Hebard to be honored by the American Physical Society for High Temperature Discovery

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 12:00:00 -0400

Distinguished Professor of Physics Arthur Hebard, together with professors Jun Akimitsu of Aoyama-Gakuin University and Robert Haddon of the University of California-Riverside, has been named the 2008 recipient of the American Physical Society's James C. McGroddy Prize for New Materials for the discovery of high temperature superconductivity in non-oxide systems.

University of Florida Undergraduates Get Biological

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 12:00:00 -0400

A new biology major at the University of Florida is poised to become the most popular pursued at the state's largest university.

Graham Center Presents First Public Lecture Series

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 12:00:00 -0400

The Bob Graham Center for Public Service has organized a lecture series on civic engagement this year as the first in what is to become a host of public events the Gainesville community can look forward to from the new University of Florida center.

Biologists Close in on Mystery of Sea Turtles' Lost Years

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 12:00:00 -0400

Biologists have found a major clue in a 50-year-old mystery about what happens to green sea turtles after they crawl out of their sandy nests and vanish into the surf, only to reappear several years later relatively close to shore.

Head of the CLAS: Eric Keys

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 12:00:00 -0400

Geographer Eric Keys is headed to Mexico to study the recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Dean.

Bookbeat: Shopping for God

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 12:00:00 -0400

Not so long ago religion was a personal matter that was seldom discussed in public. No longer. Today religion is everywhere, from books to movies to television to the internet-to say nothing about politics. Now religion is marketed and advertised like any other product or service. How did this happen? And what does it mean for religion and for our culture?

UF Becomes First University in U.S. to Establish EU-Funded Jean Monnet Centre

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:00:00 -0400

The University of Florida has become the first American institution to receive funding from the European Union to establish a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on campus.

UF Opens New Speech and Hearing Clinic, Offers Free Hearing Screenings

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 12:00:00 -0400

The University of Florida Speech and Hearing Clinic is pleased to announce the opening of a new off-campus facility at 1405 NW 13th St. The full service audiology clinic offers diagnostics and rehabilitation, including the selection and fitting of hearing aids and assistive listening devices.

David Leavitt Discusses The Indian Clerk

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 12:00:00 -0400

Creative writing professor David Leavitt discusses new novel in Newsweek.

Welcome Back to CLAS

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 12:00:00 -0400

The College welcomes its faculty and students back to campus for the start of the fall semester.

UF Offers New Minor in American Indian and Indigenous Studies

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 12:00:00 -0400

Minor offers education about Native American history and culture.

Civics 101

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 12:00:00 -0400

The Graham Center hosts a teacher development workshop to enhance social studies curriculums.

CLAS Alumnus Named NASA's Chief Engineer

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 12:00:00 -0400

Michael Ryschkewitsch, who earned a B.S. in physics from UF in 1973, is now responsible for the technical readiness of all NASA programs.

Stories of the Dead

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 12:00:00 -0400

The forensic mysteries investigated by Anthony Falsetti and the C.A. Pound Human Identification Laboratory are the subject of a new television show.