With spooky season in full swing, the College of Sciences (COS) is thrilled to share our Halloween edition of our newly named newsletter with you! Formerly known as IMPACT, our monthly S.P.A.C.E newsletter highlights creative work, research, other successes, and programs across COS. Thank you to all those who submitted possible newsletter titles—you helped inspire the new name.  

In this not-too-scary October edition, you will learn about the bats that live on our beautiful campus, the creatures in our bug closet, the research conducted by a graduate student on snakes to protect Florida’s ecosystem, and much more! 

Are you interested in studying abroad to immerse yourself in new cultures and experiences while continuing your education? Join one of the information sessions with UCF Global and faculty members to learn about the classes that will be taught abroad this summer! 

This summer, four courses will be offered by the Nicholson of Communication and Media in San Jose, Costa Rica and Barcelona, Spain. The virtual sessions will provide you with all the information and resources to help you start your study abroad journey.

Session dates and times: 

November 6, 2024, 1 to 2:30 p.m. | Join virtual session here. 

November 8, 2024, 1 to 2:30 p.m. | Join virtual session here. 

Outreach Coordinator Jamie Ling and Collection Manager Sandor Kelly for The Department of Biology’s “Bug Closet” were interviewed for an upcoming feature in WUCF-TV’s “Florida Road Trip” program. 

Can you guess which bugs are in these behind-the-scenes photos in the Bug Closet?  

The COS Staff Council leaders (from left to right: Christina Alecse, Nikitta Campbell, Erika Remley, and Donna Phillips; Iolanda Guseman is not pictured) pose in the Center for Microgravity Research Lab during UCF Homecoming Week showing their space-themed attire.

The Physics department in the College of Sciences contributes to SpaceU through cutting-edge research in planetary and space sciences.

With support from Senior Instructor Rick Brunson, Raine Keenan, a senior studying journalism in the Nicholson School of Communication and Media, joined the Northern Light Productions team to produce a documentary about the story of UCF alumnus, Dylan Lyons, who was tragically murdered while covering a story of a local homicide in 2023.  

“It’s great to have the opportunity to obtain this experience and be a part of creating something so important,” says Keenan. 

Alec DeCecco plans to continue his research understanding impacts of criegee intermediates on a changing climate with DOE award. DeCecco says that his time at UCF has had a significant impact on his research.   

“There are a lot of people at UCF who will support you and keep you on the track that you want to be on,” DeCecco says. I'm incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I’m hoping to get the chance to perform experiments that will complement the work I am doing here at UCF.”

When FOX Sports’ Big Noon Kickoff came to UCF for the first time to watch the Knights take on the University of Colorado Rams, “Hitting the Field,” a Nicholson School of Communications (NSCM) student run sports broadcasting, was a part of its Pre-Game show. Tyler Brownrigg, a senior studying media production and management and a member of “Hitting the Field,” shares his experience gaining a behind-the-scenes experience. 

“The experience of this entire event was something out of a movie to me,” Brownrigg says. “I think the more important takeaway from this is that it further legitimizes the work of UCF sports over the last few years. It’s such a cool thing to be a part of as both a student and a fan.”  

Jenna Palmisano, a doctoral Biology student, has spent her higher educational journey studying reptiles, such as snakes, and the dangers that pose disruption to their natural impact on the environment.

She was awarded multiple research grants to expand her research on parasites affecting pygmy rattlesnakes and Florida ecosystems. 

Palmisano says the population of pygmy rattlesnakes play a large role in the lives of other species in state and infectious diseases, such as the lung parasite, and can have ramifications that affect more than just the snakes themselves.  

“Pygmy rattlesnakes are strikingly beautiful ambush predators facing significant challenges from emerging infectious diseases,” she says.  

Understanding the nature of chiral molecules is crucial to biological and pharmaceutical research because the mirror image pairs — known as enantiomers — can each have different effects in the body or in chemical reactions. 

“We aim to contribute towards the development of inexpensive and sensitive chiral drug identification methods for chemical, biological and medical research, the fabrication of novel devices exhibiting superior light-matter interaction and the demonstration of a real product with commercial viability,” Chanda says.

UCF is home to thousands of bats, who for years have taken up residence in a storm drain near the UCF Arboretum’s green house. 

“A lot of the habitats these bats would reside in are being greatly reduced, and they like to roost over water and to be in caves, so that’s why they are attracted to this open pipe,” Bohlen says.

“We like to celebrate them, especially around Halloween. It’s a way of just supporting some of the native species that would exist in this area in our urban infrastructure.”  

Frank Logiudice, a Senior Instructor in the Department of Biology and pre-vet advisor, has made an impact working with UCF students over the past 30 years. In this feature article, he shares about his unexpected path, his passion for teaching, and the importance of the veterinary profession.

The Charge | Written by: Justice Covert 

A space rock about the size of a bus will be orbiting Earth for the next two months, but does NASA consider it a priority? 

Dr. Joshua Colwell, Pegasus Professor and Associate Dean for the College of Sciences, said he found out about the mini moon through researching topics to discuss on his astronomy podcast "Walkabout the Galaxy." 

"These are pieces of the solar system that can tell us something about the history, origin and evolution of the solar system," Colwell said. "It's a curiosity that these objects can come in and sort of temporarily be captured into orbit around the Earth." 

The Charge | Written by: Sydney Ford 

This club is to enhance students' academic experience at UCF, introduce them to chemistry in a professional setting and provide them with tools to start preparing themselves for life after graduation, the organization's website said. 

“The opportunities we have to get out there in the Orlando community and meet other people is very interesting, through volunteering I've met so many interesting people in the chemistry field but in other fields as well,” Torres says. 

The Charge | Written by: Charlotte Van Heden 

Ahead of the Nov. 5 presidential election, Thursday's What We Talk About When We Talk About Politics event at the University Writing Center helped around 25 students navigate respectful political debates with two speakers and a Q&A. 

Dr. Aubrey Jewett, assistant director of UCF’s School of Politics, Security and International Affairs, was the first speaker and began by saying that no politician says anything without reason. 

“They’re speaking because they're trying to get your vote,” Jewett said. “One way or another, they have a purpose.” 

Voi 

“Ahead of the launch of the next Artemis mission, NASA continues to test the technology they are developing. One of the instruments they tested was the Moon Environment Monitoring Station (LEMS).” 

Tallahassee Democrat 

“Jewett, coauthor of “Politics in Florida,” an account of more than a century of Florida politics and government, said 90% of incumbents typically win reelection bids, but most politicians live in fear of being among the fewer than 10% who lose.” 

The Hollywood Reporter 

“UCF’s “Social Media as Mass Communication” is an online elective course for communication majors in the Nicholson School of Communication and Media. A major focus of the course requires building and improving upon their own LinkedIn profiles, a platform that has seen an explosion in B2B influencer marketing. The class also requires a team-based project that includes a SWOT analysis (weighing its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats), and creating a target persona and video for a nonprofit organization.” 

Perth Now 

“A notorious pest could cause up to six deaths, lead to 116,000 medical visits and cost households $118m a year if allowed to spread uncontrolled across one Aussie state, a bombshell report has found.”