As the Spring 2026 semester comes to a close, we wish all our Knights the very best during finals week. Your hard work, resilience and dedication have carried you this far—now it’s time to cross the finish line strong. With summer just around the corner, we hope you take time to rest, recharge and reflect on all you’ve accomplished.

The College of Sciences (COS) highlights the kind of impact that defines our community. From groundbreaking Alzheimer’s research advancing our understanding of early detection to the recent AlumKnight Awards honoring graduates who are shaping industries and strengthening communities, the momentum is undeniable. Our researchers are also contributing to AntScan, a global effort to document ant biodiversity, demonstrating how even the smallest discoveries can have far-reaching significance.

Together, these stories reflect the meaningful work happening across COS and the people who continue to drive it forward.

The 2026 Big Data Analytics Symposium, hosted by the College of Sciences’ School of Data, Mathematical, and Statistical Sciences (SDMSS), brought together students, faculty, alumni, community members and industry professionals for a full day of discussion on the growing role of data in real-world decision-making.   

Held in the Pegasus Grand Ballroom, the event welcomed hundreds of attendees and highlighted how data analytics is shaping industries ranging from transportation systems, aviation safety and workforce development.  

Four outstanding undergraduate students are redefining the boundaries of STEM through their high-impact research — and in doing so, placing the university among the nation’s top producers of Goldwater Scholars.

The prestigious Goldwater Scholarship identifies and supports the nation’s best student researchers in the fields of engineering, mathematics and natural sciences.

Keanu Brayman, a mechanical engineering student, has refined his dream to work in space exploration with the support of faculty and mentors — including Associate Professors Adrienne Dove (physics) and Tarek Elgohary (mechanical and aerospace engineering), and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Engineer Christopher Proctor — as well as through programs like the Burnett Honors College.

At the 2026 Distinguished AlumKnight Awards, the College of Sciences celebrated alumni whose careers demonstrate how knowledge, leadership and service can create lasting change and impact in the Central Florida Community and beyond.

The event honored graduates who are not only leaders in their fields, but also contributors to the communities and systems their work influences. 

Beyond the awards, the evening served as a celebration of community, as alumni gathered alongside family members, colleagues and mentors who have supported their journeys.

UCF researchers have uncovered evidence that some movement-related symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease may originate outside the brain, which could change how the disease is diagnosed and treated in the future.

While Alzheimer’s disease is widely associated with memory loss and dementia, clinicians have long observed that some patients show changes in balance, gait (manner of walking) or movement years before cognitive symptoms appear. These early motor changes raise questions about whether parts of the disease begin outside the brain.

Through a tech-powered approach, UCF researchers found that the diseased motor neurons — even without involvement from the brain — disrupted the neuromuscular junction, which is central to daily movement.

Florida is turning to UCF experts to find better ways to prevent domestic violence and give survivors a stronger voice in the services they need.

Through a $257,384 two-year grant from the Florida Partnership to End Domestic Violence, faculty from UCF’s Violence Against Women research cluster are conducting a statewide domestic violence needs assessment. Their findings will help policymakers and local agencies develop better strategies to fund and support domestic violence prevention programs that empower survivors.

The UCF Human Factors and Cognitive Psychology Program hosted the inaugural Richard Gilson Innovation in Multimodal Information Processing (MIP) Distinguished Lecture Series, a donor-sponsored event named in honor of UCF Professor Emeritus Richard Gilson.

The series highlights innovations in technologies and research that explore how the brain integrates information across multiple senses and how these insights inform fields such as artificial intelligence and design to improve the interpretation of complex information.

The first lecture featured University of Oxford professor Charles Spence, who explored how the human brain integrates sensory information and how those connections are shaping research, design and real-world experience.

Since the rise of genome sequencing, the field of biology has gained an exponential amount of data and understanding of the building blocks of living organisms. However, documenting phenotypic, or observable, characteristics of organisms has lagged behind due to challenges with technology.

To advance knowledge in this area, UCF Assistant Professor of Biology Jeffrey Sosa-Calvo, collaborated with international researchers through Antscan, a global initiative that has led to the creation of a freely available, morphological database of over 2,000 ant specimens representing nearly 800 species.

Students in the Nicholson School of Communication and Media (NSCM) film program gained an inside look at the realities of filmmaking with Tatjana Krstevski, head of the Department of Cinematography at New York University’s (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Studies.

Invited by visiting NSCM film instructor Dragan Vildovic, a longtime friend and fellow filmmaker, Krstevski met with students for a master class to share both technical insight and hard-earned lessons from her journey behind the camera. Her visit was a full-day event that included a screening of Asleep in My Palm, for which she served as cinematographer, as well as a master lecture on color in cinematography.

Balancing academics, service and professional growth, Sumaia Naga is making the most of every opportunity at UCF. A psychology major on the clinical track and pre-med pathway, she brings both focus and enthusiasm to her studies while playing a key role in the College of Sciences Dean’s Office.

As a front desk receptionist, Sumaia helps keep daily operations running smoothly. From answering phones and assisting students and staff to coordinating meeting setups and supporting office needs, her work ensures the office remains welcoming and efficient for all Knights.

What stands out most, she says, is the people. The strong sense of community has led to lasting friendships and a supportive environment that she hopes never changes.

That camaraderie is reflected in memorable moments, including creating a “Home Alone” themed display for the winter door decorating contest. Experiences like these highlight the creativity and collaboration that define the front desk team.

Professionally, one of the most impactful opportunities has been shadowing COS Dean Joshua Colwell with colleagues, offering insight into campus leadership and strengthening her academic motivation.

Outside of work, she is active in Hearts for the Homeless, a UCF Registered Student Organization and part of an international organization addressing health disparities. Through health screenings and donation drives, she helps make a difference in the community.

Reflecting on her journey, Sumaia describes her time at UCF as transformative. Grateful for both her education and role within the Dean’s Office, she encourages others to take full advantage of the opportunities available—emphasizing that even small steps can lead to meaningful change.

The Charge | Written by: Orion Boone

The Artemis II astronauts completed the first human voyage to the moon in over 50 years, exciting UCF students and faculty alike.

Artemis II launched on April 1 at 6:35 p.m. from Kennedy Space Center, around 30 miles away from UCF. The crew splashed down off the coast of San Diego, arriving safely from their almost 10-day voyage around the far side of the moon.

Her Campus | Written by: Adia Harbert

Junior Shivani Vakharia, a political science and industrial-organizational psychology major, and junior Dwayne Jones, a broadcast journalism major, waited in the Student Union to hear whether they would become the next student government president and vice president. Moments before the announcement, Vakharia turned to Jones, searching for comfort and reassurance. They had only seconds to take in their victory after being named the university’s next leaders.

Now, the two have accomplished one of the highest honors at the University of Central Florida. The transition has been a whirlwind; however, preparations for next year have already begun, and certain policies already have “boots on the ground” when it comes to fulfilling what was promised during their campaign.

Quantum Insider

Quantum technology is advancing rapidly, but solving one fundamental challenge could speed up development even further: getting systems from different modalities to communicate effectively with each other. Assistant Professor Jing Xu’s Experimental Quantum magnetics Laboratory (EQMag Lab) at the University of Central Florida focuses on quantum magnonics, specifically how magnetic excitations – known as magnons – behave inside quantum devices. Research in the lab blends fundamental physics with hands-on engineering – could it hold the key to getting quantum systems talking?

WFMZ

The New York Times reports Americans over 70 control $53 trillion in wealth and cybercrime against elders is skyrocketing! The Federal Trade Commission reports older adults lost 2.4 billion dollars to scams last year, a sharp increase from just a few years ago. Now, a new study is taking a closer look at what really makes someone vulnerable and why even people who think they’re scam-proof may not be.

“We're studying some of the ways that we could detect if someone has a particular vulnerability in the social emotional space,” said Nichole Lighthall, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology University of Central Florida.

Mashable 

When 10-year-old Kaela Polkinghorn asked NASA to make Pluto a planet again, she never expected the agency's top official to respond.

The fourth grader from Tampa, Florida, fell for Pluto during a field trip last week to the Museum of Science & Innovation, known as MOSI. In its giant dome theater, she watched a film that showed eight planets huddled cozily around the sun. But Pluto was not included in the group hug, crying from way in the back.

NASA cannot overturn the International Astronomical Union's decision on its own. But what the agency chooses to say about Pluto still matters, said Philip Metzger, a planetary physicist at the University of Central Florida, who has published two papers on the debate.

Central Florida Public Media 

During the Artemis II lunar flyby on Monday, the astronauts onboard took thousands of photos and made geological observations of around 35 targets on the far side of the moon. The astronauts were the first to see the far side of the moon from that perspective, and the data they collected will help planetary scientists here on Earth.

At the University of Central Florida, planetary scientist Addie Dove is preparing to send an instrument to the lunar surface as early as 2028. Lunar-VISE aims to understand Gruithuisen Domes – a puzzling geological structure on the moon and a structure that the mission observed. Scientists have no idea how it was formed. Lunar-VISE could unlock that mystery.

Dove and her team plan to use images from the Artemis II flyby to maximize the data they can collect.

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