As the Summer 2026 semester begins, we welcome our Knights back for a new semester of discovery, growth and opportunity. We hope this summer brings fresh momentum and meaningful experiences both inside and outside the classroom. 

This edition of the College of Sciences (COS) newsletter highlights award-winning student and alumni journalists, research offering new insights into the evolution of governance, alumni making an impact on the next generation of scientists and more. Together, these stories showcase the innovation, dedication and impact that continue to define COS.

From statewide investigations to deeply personal human-interest stories, students and alumni from the Nicholson School of Communication and Media (NSCM) are proving that meaningful journalism begins with curiosity, persistence and a passion for storytelling.

This year, multiple Knights were recognized at the Florida News Awards, earning awards alongside professionals across the industry in the state. Their award-winning work highlighted the range of stories UCF educated journalists are telling — from education access and community reporting to compassionate end-of-life care.

After finding his way into teaching through a College of Community Innovation and Education initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Will Furiosi ’13 ’14MAT has created a juggernaut research program at Oviedo High School. 

Furiosi took over the program in 2017 and grew it from four students to 46, with alums who have gone on to top research institutions including Harvard, MIT, Columbia, Stanford, and of course, UCF.

A newly published study in Science Advances is taking a broader look at how societies have organized power across history, combining archaeological and historical evidence to better understand governance over time. 

Coauthor Sarah “Stacy” Barber, professor and associate chair for UCF’s Department of Anthropology, says the project was driven in part by the growing availability of archaeological data and a need to think more expansively about human history.

Detecting disease in a blood sample. Monitoring contaminants in drinking water. Identifying biological threats before they can spread. DNA biosensors play a critical role in each of these, but many rely on a slow process that can miss fleeting signals or delay results. 

At UCF, researchers are developing a new approach inspired by squids, octopuses and other cephalopods, one that doesn’t wait for targets to arrive, but actively reaches out to capture them.

Scientists at UCF have discovered how certain bacteria can produce molecules chemically similar to those used in explosives, revealing a previously unknown pathway for building complex, nitrogen-rich compounds. 

The study, led by UCF associate professor of chemistry Jonathan Caranto, identifies hydrazinoacetic acid as a key building block in the production of N-nitroglycine, a rare compound that offers new insight into how living systems carry out sophisticated chemical processes. These processes could be used to create safer and more efficient chemical reactions across manufacturing, healthcare and more.

As an HR Partner III with the College of Sciences Human Resources Business Center, Kurt plays an important role in supporting departments’ staff across the college. His work spans recruitment, compensation, organizational planning and employee support, all with the goal of helping departments operate effectively while ensuring employees feel supported. 

For Kurt, the most rewarding part of the job is building relationships and serving as a resource for others. While human resources is often associated with policies and procedures, he sees the field as being centered on people. Whether helping a department navigate staffing needs, supporting supervisors through challenges or improving internal processes behind the scenes, he enjoys finding solutions that create a meaningful impact. 

Since joining COS, Kurt has embraced opportunities to connect with colleagues and become part of the college community. Participating in activities such as the office door decorating contest, searching for hidden ducks around the office and joining the bake off helped him feel welcomed while also giving him the chance to meet new people and build connections across the college. 

Outside of work, he enjoys crocheting, playing volleyball and video games. These hobbies allow him to relax, stay creative and recharge outside of the workday. 

Kurt says he is grateful to be part of the COS team and appreciates the welcoming and supportive environment. He looks forward to continuing to learn, grow and contribute wherever he can.

The Charge | Written by: Jayden Hermitt 

UCF's Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy centers its focus on educating game design talent and is carving out its place as one of the premier game design programs in the world. Based at UCF’s downtown campus, FIEA is a 16-month graduate program that focuses on game production, art and programming.  

FIEA has made a name for itself as one of the top game design programs in the world. From 2020 to 2022 and in 2024, the Princeton Review ranked FIEA as the No. 1 graduate game development program in the world. In 2026, the Princeton Review ranked FIEA as the No. 2-ranked program of its kind.

The Charge | Written by: Allison Smith 

NASA's Artemis program has inspired all parts of SpaceU within and outside STEM fields, with UCF launching an online space graduate degree and the integration of space tourism in Rosen College of Hospitality and Tourism courses. 

UCF is also partnering with NASA’s Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (PRISM) program to launch Lunar-VISE. The PRISM program was launched in the beginning stages of the Artemis missions as a part of NASA’s initiative to expand the lunar economy and to promote investigation of the lunar surface, according to NASA’s website. 

Dr. Kerri Donaldson Hanna, principal investigator of Lunar-VISE, said the program's goal is to study the lunar surface to gain a better understanding of how the moon was formed.  

“We'll land on a volcanic feature on the surface of the moon, and we'll have 10 Earth days to study that volcanic feature from the surface of the moon,” Donaldson Hanna said. “That's the big thing on the horizon.”

USA Today 

Ben Noel, a former EA executive, is now the executive director of the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy at the University of Central Florida, which has seen many graduates go on to work for EA. Noel was vice president and studio chief operating officer of EA studios in Austin, Texas, and Orlando. 

During Noel's time at EA, the company developed "Ultima Online," a popular role-playing video game developed to allow many people to play online at the same time ― World of Warcraft, while not an EA title, is also that style of game.

Audubon 

Audubon Florida’s Conservation Leadership Initiative (CLI) grants 25 undergraduate students annually the chance to match with a local Audubon leader for mentorship and work on a conservation project of their choosing. Each cohort kicks off at the annual Audubon Florida Assembly, providing students the unique opportunity to network with conservation leaders while learning about the organization and its mission.  

Robin Marquez was also part of the 2021-2022 CLI cohort, mentored by Phyllis Hall from Seminole Audubon. Robin is currently the assistant curator for the University of Central Florida’s Bug Closet Collection of Arthropods, where he documents biodiversity, completes field work, and does outreach.

Fox News 

Florida students are uncovering remnants of the past in a place many associate with the future: Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. 

University of Central Florida students and faculty are currently excavating the DeSoto site at Cape Canaveral, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The site dates back to the Malabar II Period, which lasted from roughly 900 to 1565 A.D. It consists of black earth midden deposits — meaning it sits atop layers of ancient refuse. 

"There are few places in the world highlighting the role of the past in the present than somewhere like Cape Canaveral, where the future of space flight literally sits atop and among Native American landscapes," Barber said.

Orlando Magazine 

Jennifer Cook has built a career around a simple but powerful belief: stories matter. As executive director and assistant vice president of WUCF PBS and WUCF Jazz, Cook leads one of Central Florida’s most trusted public media organizations, shaping how communities see themselves and each other. 

With more than two decades of experience in media, communications and engagement, Cook has become a driving force behind initiatives that inform, educate and connect audiences across a nine-county region.

Orlando Magazine 

For nearly three decades, Dr. Linda Walters has stood at the intersection of science, service and storytelling, shaping both ecosystems and the next generation of environmental stewards. As a Pegasus Professor of Biology at the University of Central Florida, Walters has spent 29 years teaching, researching and leading one of the nation’s longest-running community-based coastal restoration programs. 

Her work centers on improving estuaries and coastal environments, with a particular focus on the Indian River Lagoon. Through her Coastal and Estuarine Ecology Lab, known as CEELAB, Walters and her students tackle issues ranging from marine heat waves and invasive species to microplastics and shoreline stabilization.

Radio Ink 

These days, recruiting and retaining sales talent in radio requires more than a competitive commission structure. It requires a story worth telling. Fortunately, for the leaders of Hispanic radio, that story runs deeper than most, all thanks to community. 

“One thing we’ve done is partner with the University of Central Florida and connect with their radio and TV broadcasting program,” says Medallas de Cortez Director of Sales. “UCF sends us students in the program to get hands-on training and experience. Getting in front of young aspiring talent is a key tentpole for radio’s future.”

The Consortium for Medical Marijuana Clinical Outcomes Research is now accepting abstracts and session proposal submissions for the sixth annual Cannabis Clinical Outcomes Research Conference (CCORC) on November 5-6, 2026, in Orlando, Florida.

Learn more here: https://ccorc.mmjoutcomes.org/

Share your research, achievements, and unique stories (or those of a student, colleague, or fellow alum) with the COS Marketing team. Our team will review each submission and explore opportunities to feature your news. Be sure to include any relevant links, files, and photos to help us tell your story.

sciences.ucf.edu | cosmarketing@ucf.edu