Month: October 2019

Predicting a Hurricane’s Intensity Can Prove Difficult – But Very Important

Rapid intensification is a serious challenge for the prediction of hurricane intensity. An example is Hurricane Maria in 2017, which intensified to a Category 5 storm within 24 hours and destroyed Puerto Rico. None of the computer models were able to predict it. A more recent example is Hurricane Dorian, which was predicted to become just a tropical storm, before it rapidly intensified into a Category 5 storm and caused extensive damage in the Bahamas.

An Index to Better Estimate Tropical Cyclone Intensity Change in the Western North Pacific, published in the September 2019 issue of American Geophysical Union’s journal Geophysical Research Letters, includes a new operational algorithm that improves prediction of the rapid intensification that may occur in tropical cyclones within 24 hours. The paper is a collaborative effort between researchers from the United States and the Republic of Korea.

Alexander Soloviev, Ph.D., a professor and research scientist at Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography who co-authored the paper, said the new algorithm may be a game changer in the field of hurricane intensity prediction. This new index is expected to contribute to improvements in real‐time intensity forecasts, not only for the western North Pacific but also for other basins including Florida, the North Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico.

“We have  taken into account the phenomenon of the ‘slippery sea surface’ under certain hurricane conditions, which is conducive to rapid storm intensification,” he said.

These results were previously published in the Nature Scientific Reports and the Journal of Geophysical Research and implemented in the new operational index for rapid intensification, which reduced the error of tropical cyclone prediction within 24 hour period by 16%.

“The objective of this study is to improve intensity prediction, especially in a short temporal range of 24 hours,” said Woojeong Lee, Ph.D., from the National Typhoon Center, Jeju, the Republic of Korea, who is the first author of this paper. “We developed a synoptic predictor for intensity change based on the microphysics study of the air-sea interface in hurricane conditions conducted by U.S. scientists from NSU, the University of Miami, the University of Hawaii and the University of Rhode Island.”

While track prediction of tropical cyclones (TCs) has improved steadily over the last three decades, there has been comparatively little advancement in intensity prediction due to the complicated physical mechanisms involved in internal TC dynamics and their interaction with upper ocean and atmospheric circulation.

NSU Baseball Aims for 2020 Impact with Fall Ball on Horizon

NSU’s baseball team is on the verge of opening up Fall Ball ahead of the 2020 baseball season. Under the guidance of 10th-year head coach Greg Brown, the Sharks welcome 16 newcomers to the program, including nine freshmen and seven transfers in addition to 23 Sharks returning to the roster.

Of the Sharks’ newcomers, 11 represent the Sunshine State, while NSU welcomes a pair from Canada, as well as one apiece from Arizona, Washington and New Jersey. The 2019 Fall roster wraps up individual workouts and kicks off team practices on Oct. 1.

FULL RELEASE

NSU Researcher Urges the Consideration of Microbes for Space Colonization

With the recent celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo program’s first landing of humans on the moon, the eyes and hopes of the world again turned skyward.

The romantic notions of exploring and even colonizing space have been re-kindled, with the above and more recent movies such as The Martian and the fictional planting of potatoes. The ambitious spirit is further spurred by private space enterprises such as Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origins, and the idea that we may need a “Planet B”, as our own planet’s natural habitats become more stressed and the human population exponentially increases.

Jose Lopez, Ph.D., a professor at Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, has now joined the movement with a peer reviewed scientific opinion article calling for a rational and systematic approach to future space colonization of Mars or other planets.  He and colleagues Raquel Peixoto and Alexandre Rosado from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro have just published the scientific opinion paper entitled “Space Colonization Beyond Earth with Microbes First” in the journal  FEMS Microbiology Ecology:

https://academic.oup.com/femsec/article/95/10/fiz127/5553461

Lopez is a research scientist and claims microbes would be a better immediate investment to successfully colonize the red planet.

“Life as we know it cannot exist without beneficial microorganisms,” he said. “They are here on our planet and help define symbiotic associations – the living together of multiple organisms to create a greater whole.  To survive on a barren (and as far as all voyages to date tell us) sterile planets, we will have to take beneficial microbes with us. This will take time to prepare, discern and we are not advocating a rush to inoculate, but only after rigorous, systematic research on earth.”

Lopez and colleagues now assert that this rigorous microbial research agenda needs to be implemented for any future successful colonization of Mars. Moreover, microbes should probably supersede current ambitions to send people to Mars or other solar system locales, as they can condition or terraform places we may want to eventually colonize.

In the long run, the effort will save humanity money, can be life-sustaining and boost microbiological understanding

However, to determine the most useful microbes for space requires a lot more research here on earth.

In the publication, the researchers encapsulate this idea into a potential research regime called PIP or “Proactive Inoculation Plan”, which encompasses the screening of potential hardy microbial candidates, toxic or lethal genes, and describing mechanisms for the most productive symbiosis.

“Life on earth started with relatively simple microorganisms which have the capacity to adapt and evolve to extreme conditions, which defined earth’s habitats in the ancient past,” Lopez said. “Cyanobacteria for example provided most of the oxygen we now breath more than two billion years ago. To the find the best microbial candidates, we will have to confer with many microbiologists and carry out research here on our home planet to find the optimal microbial species. “

CAHSS invites you to Dance Awareness Day

The Department of Performing and Visual Arts (DPVA) in NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS), will once again host Dance Awareness Day and invites you to participate! Dance Awareness Day will offer free dance classes with NSU Dance faculty for the community. The event will also feature guest artists and NSU dance majors.

Classes will be offered on Wednesday, October 16, 2019, from 8:30am-2:00pm, in a variety of styles including Modern and Dance Improvisation, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Indo-Caribbean, Tap, and more!

Dance Awareness Day takes place in the Performing and Visual Arts wing in the Don Taft University Center. This is a free event, but space is limited. Registration is from 8:30-9:00 am on the 1st floor of the Performing and Visual Arts Wing on a first come, first served basis.

For more information, please contact Elana Lanczi, M.F.A., faculty in the DPVA at lanczi@nova.edu

Family Therapy Alumna is Faculty at the University of Victoria and visits DFT Students

Samantha Corrington, M.S., 2006 graduate of the master’s program in the Department of Family Therapy (DFT), in NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS), is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the School of Child and Youth Care at the University of Victoria in Victoria, BC, Canada. Corrington recently visited DFT and spent time with students and faculty sharing her career path and professional experiences.

Corrington worked for United Way in South Florida prior to her relocation to Canada. She worked for almost a decade with the Penelakut First Nation before joining the faculty at the University of Victoria. She has published and presented widely and was able to address issues such as licensure in both the US and Canada, her clinical work, faculty experiences, and narrative therapy. DFT students enjoyed her perspectives and engagement.

CAHSS invites you to a Short Play, DNA, in the Black Box Theatre, Oct. 6

The Department of Performing and Visual Arts (DPVA) in NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS), will feature the short play, DNA, on October 4 & 5 at 7:30pm and on October 6 at 2:00pm in the Black Box Theatre in the Don Taft University Center.

NT Education as part of its Connection project commissioned this piece, written by Dennis Kelley. The play was first performed in the Cottesloe Theatre of the National Theatre in 2008. There will be a talk back hosted by Behavioral Strategist, Aimee Sanchez-Zadak Ed.D M.S, immediately following the performance on October 4th. This talk back will help you to connect with the characters in the play by reflecting on one’s own relationships, and who takes responsibility for the actions that take place in them. With the cast and crew, we will further discuss an individual’s own moral compass, inviting the audience to feel the power and accountability of the characters in the play, and their own personal accountability.

Recommended for audiences aged 13+, this is a ticketed event. For tickets and information, please go to https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/1014577

CAHSS invites you to the First Inclusive Conversations, Oct. 2

NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS), is pleased to invite you to the first Inclusive Conversations to be held on Wednesday, October 2, 2019 from 12:00-1:00pm in DeSantis, room #2082. This conversation will include a short introduction on the history of the terms, Latino/a, Hispanic, and Latinx, by Yvette Fuentes, Ph.D. The discussion will then open to include how the people of Latin American or Hispanic origin in the US identify; the advantages and/or disadvantages to using these terms; what role does speaking Spanish or not have in the adoption of one of these terms; and the role the media and pop culture play in their use. Participants will include Elena Bastidas, Ph.D., Jessica Muñiz-Collado, M.F.A., Kandy Lopez-Moreno, M.F.A., and Joanne Urrechago, Ph.D.

For those unable to attend in person, participation is also available via GoToMeeting. Please register for Inclusive Campus Conversations on October 2nd from 12:00-1:00pm at https://attendee.gototraining.com/r/479578786550661633 After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the session. Please join us!

October News and Events at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale

NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale will present Happy!, a new exhibition of contemporary works produced by artists who aim to engage the viewer emotionally. As in life, sorrow and happiness are intertwined in their works. Happy! is organized by NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale and is curated by Bonnie Clearwater, the Museum’s director and chief curator, who states, “Many of these artists acknowledge that making art is an essential means for them to work out their own trauma and frustrations, and they suggest that art can provide viewers with a sense of well-being that will help them cope with life’s challenges.”

The exhibition will be on view at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale from October 27, 2019 – July 5, 2020.  Click here to read more.

Art TALK: FRIENDSWITHYOU

Sunday, October 27, 2 PM

Continue celebrating the opening of Happy! at this talk by FriendsWithYou, the fine art collaborative comprised of

LA-based artists Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III, whose whimsical and immersive installations draw audiences into a magical world where the line between imagination and reality is blurred and whose recent projects include the playful stage characters on the set of Reggaeton superstar JBalvin’s recent tour and floats for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Free with Museum admission. RSVP required.

Free First Thursdays Starry Nights, presented by AutoNation

Thursday, October 3

4 – 8 PM

Free admission

Enjoy NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale’s exhibitions, 2-for-1 drinks in the Museum Café and hands-on art project for all ages.

Bank of America Museums on Us

Saturday, October 5, 11a-5pm AND Sunday, October 6, Noon-5pm
Bank of America cardholders receive Free admission to the Museum.

Creativity Exploration: Knots and Knowledge  

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Noon -1:30 PM

$10 for members; $15 for non-members

Inspired by the sculpture of El-Salahi’s Meditation Tree, participants will create a personal tree sculpture embedding it with imagery of their life journey.

Creativity Exploration workshops promote the benefits of creative exploration and the mind to-body experience. In addition to producing a sense of well-being, sessions expand participants’ perceptions of forms, while increasing brain connectivity through visual and cognitive stimulation. The workshop is led by educator Lark Keeler, a specialist in mindfulness education.

Creativity Exploration is sponsored by the Charles P. Ferro Foundation.

Limited space. Advance reservations required. $10 museum members; $15 non-members.

Second Sunday Film Series: My Hero Brother

Sunday, October 13

1:30 PM Exhibition Tour / 2:30 PM Film Screening

Film: $9 for Museum members and John Knox Village residents; $11 non-members.

Film and exhibition tour:  Free for members and John Knox Village residents; $22 non-members

Join NSU Art Museum and David Posnack JCC for a Sunday afternoon of art and film.  My Hero Brother tells the remarkable and inspiring story of a group of young people with Down Syndrome who embark on a demanding trek through the Himalayas accompanied by their brothers and sisters.

Director- Johnathan Nir / Hebrew / English subtitles/ 78 Minutes

Fort Lauderdale Neighbor Day

Sunday, October 27

All Fort Lauderdale residents receive free admission to the Museum. For more information visit www.nsuartmuseum.org.

FCE&SCJ Staff Members Participate in Morning Physical Training with the Army ROTC Class

NSU’s Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice (FCE&SCJ) team members, Ed.D., Jamie Manburg, M.S., Nicholas Pascucci and M.P.A., Jessica Rodriguez, along with NSU’s Director of Veterans Affairs, Matthew Chenworth, showed the inaugural Army ROTC class their support by participating in morning Physical Training (PT) on Thursday, September 19.

The workout started at 5:45 am on Wolf Field behind the Don Taft University Center and was led by Captain Martin Johnson, Assistant Professor of Military/Office in Charge Field Artillery. The Army ROTC class currently meets for morning PT about three times a week.

FCE&SCJ houses the courses for the military science (ARMY ROTC) elective and is proud to have been part of the implementation process of NSU’s Army ROTC program. The ROTC is a college elective that enables students to succeed in their desired career, whether civilian or military. Students who complete all ROTC requirements may be commissioned as Second Lieutenants and serve in the Active Duty Army, Army Reserves, or the Army National Guard.

During classes, leadership labs, physical training, and field training exercises, students will learn firsthand what it takes to lead others, motivate groups, and conduct missions as an Officer in the Army.

For more information on NSU’s Army ROTC program please contact Nicholas Pascucci at npascucci@nova.edu.

Cash Flow Game – How To Get Out Of The Rat Race, Oct. 16

If you have ever played Monopoly, then you’ll appreciate the differences and the value of picking up where Monopoly ended.  As you will recall, Monopoly consists of using cash to purchase real estate and then buying houses and hotels to collect rent from other players. The winner of the game is the person who ends up with all the properties on the board and collects rent from all the other players. I recall that luck had a lot to do with winning in Monopoly and some nights we played for over 5 – 6 hours.

Getting Out of the Rat Race is different in that instead of getting cash in the beginning of the game, each player selects a character that they are going to role play during the game.  It could be an engineer, a lawyer, a mechanic, a secretary, etc.  Each player then gets a balance sheet and income statement they fill out so they can learn to keep track of their assets, liabilities, income and expenses.  The objective of the game is to build your assets by learning how to invest in different types of investments and reaching the point that your passive income from your investments is greater than your expenses. The first player to accomplish this, wins.

During the game, each player gets a turn to roll the dice and has the opportunity to make investment decisions that will move them closer to getting out of the rat race.  You could invest in stocks, businesses, real estate, gold, etc.  The learning comes when you start to make investment decisions and how every transaction affects your balance sheet and income statement.

Please note that we are starting the club for beginners, so no experience is necessary.  However, once you have learned to get out of the Rat Race, the next stage is learning how to get on the “Fast Track,” which is the next stage of the game that we expect to play in the future. For more information: https://nova.libcal.com/event/5877909

Limited Seating: Please RSVP online or call 954-262-5477

 

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