Category: Academics

This spring, Halmos Biology faculty member Jose Lopez, Ph.D. conducted two outreach programs on marine genomics. Entitled, “Applying Genomics to Better Understand Marine Symbiosis: From Anglerfish to Sponges”, these lectures included a discussion of DEEPEND  consortium and symbiology results.  Essentially, a comparison and contrast was made between the two very different types of symbioses (the living together of >1 organism, typically a host and microbe). Through DEEPEND, our results characterized bioluminescent bacteria which provide light to anglerfish in the continually dark zones of the meso- and bathypelagic depths of the Gulf of Mexico. For more shallow regions such as endangered coral reefs, resident sponges filter bacteriaplankton in their habitat which can become mixed with their co-adapted microbial symbionts. The first talk took place as part of the Smithsonian Lecture Series. The talk was given at the Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit at the St. Lucie County Aquarium in Ft Pierce.

The second lecture took place at New River Middle School in Fort Lauderdale. There he presented to 50 middle schoolers. His host was a former mentee, and now teacher – Ms. Reneice Robinson.  Robinson worked as an intern in an NSF sponsored Research Training for Pre-teachers (before they get their degrees), which allowed her to gain practical experience that she could bring to the classroom.

This spring, Halmos College Environmental Science Major Erin Cowan was awarded the NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship. Cowan is a member of the Farquhar Honors College and the Razor’s Research program.

Given to only 120 undergraduates a year, Cowan is conducting research with Halmos faculty member David Kerstetter, Ph.D. on live fish in the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center building.

The Hollings Scholarship Program provides successful undergraduate applicants with awards that include academic assistance (up to $9,500 per year) for two years of full-time study and a 10-week, full-time paid ($700/week) internship at a NOAA facility during the summer. The internship between the first and second years of the award provides the scholars with hands-on, practical experience in NOAA-related science, research, technology, policy, management, and education activities. Awards also include travel funds to attend a mandatory NOAA Scholarship Program orientation and the annual Science & Education Symposium, scientific conferences where students present their research, and a housing subsidy for scholars who do not reside at home during the summer internship.

The Tutoring and Testing Center (TTC) is providing online services to support undergraduate students in their coursework through a partnership with Tutor.com. Beginning on March 23, Sharks can access support 24/7 from professional tutors online via the TTC’s Canvas page.

Students can gain access to services by completing the intake request form at https://opinio.nova.edu:443/opinio/s?s=18635. Once a student is registered, specific instructions will be sent via email. Students can also contact our office at 954-262-8350 for more information.

The students can still utilize their club/organization funds and see the resources offered at https://nova.edu/studentfeeacct.  Please reach out to studente@nova.edu with any questions.

The Student Activity Fee Accounts Office can assist student organizations with:

• Request for Funds
  • Payments to Vendors
  • Reimbursements to students, faculty, and staff
• Online Fundraisers
• Contractual Agreements
• Student Government Association Allocations/Sweeps
• Pcard Purchases through our online appointment reservation system
• Check Deposits
• Travel Requests/Registration
• Account Management
• Account Reconciliation

The Undergraduate Academic Advising Center (UAAC) is committed to serving our students.  All academic advising services for undergraduate students are being provided remotely via phone and Zoom. Academic advisors are available as usual during normal business hours and appointments can be scheduled via GradesFirst or over the phone.

For all scheduled appointments, you must be in front of a computer with Internet access.

• Phone appointments: Please call the main number (954-262-7990) at your appointment time
• Zoom appointments: Please check your NSU email for the invitation link before your appointment time
• Walk-in advising sessions are also being conducted remotely during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. EST). Please call the main number (954-262-7990) to be added to the walk-in queue.

For more information, contact ugadvising@nova.edu

As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the way many businesses operate, one industry has been faced with raising new standards.  That industry is the diving industry.  With thousands of dive shops, dive resorts and dive vessels in the world, each one is now having to face whether their rental scuba equipment is being properly disinfected when issuing to multiple divers.  And the diving industry turned to the NSU Academic Diving Program (NSUAPD) for its legendary equipment disinfecting protocols.

“When the Coronavirus started to impact dive centers and resorts, we were asked by several groups in the dive industry to share what our disinfecting protocols were,” states Tec Clark, Associate Director for Aquatics and Scuba Diving.  “That’s because the NSUADP has equipment disinfecting protocols that are incredibly unique in the industry.  We have used these protocols since our inception, all with the desire to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our NSU community of divers and scuba students.”

In 2012 NSU President Dr. George Hanbury appointed diving industry expert Tec Clark to create the NSU Academic Diving Program. Today, the NSUADP is the Professional Association of Diving Instructors’ (PADI) third largest Educational Institution issuing over 350 certifications annually.

Clark continues, “The problem with the majority of scuba equipment rentals in the industry, is that they are fresh-water rinsed, then issued to another diver.  That’s not good enough because this is life-support equipment that engages with our respiratory tracts.  In fact, there are four mouthpieces on a regular set of scuba diving equipment.  And with a program as big as ours we ensure that no student could ever get sick from using our gear.”

As the requests from key players in the diving industry rolled in, Clark created a video to highlight the products and protocols used by the NSUADP.  The video entitled Disinfecting Rental Scuba Gear has been applauded by the dive industry and many are adopting the methods used by the NSUADP.

 

The NSU Academic Diving Program is one of the nation’s largest university dive training programs.  The NSUADP teaches courses from Snorkeling through Scuba Instructor at NSU’s Fort Lauderdale campus.  Founded in 2012, the NSUADP is a PADI Educational Institution and a DAN Training Facility.  Courses are available both recreationally and for academic credit.  For more information contact tclark@nova.edu.

 

Teacher Selfcare: A Joyful Ode to Good Health through Cambridge Scholars is a book written for teachers to promote self-care. Published by a host of Nova Southeastern University faculty members, which include Sarah Ransdell, Ph.D., Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences, Elliot Sklar, Ph.D., Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences, Jia Borror, Ed.D., Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice, Marilyn Gordon, Ed.D., Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, along with alumna Gillian Sealy, Ph.D., and NSU yoga instructor, Caitlin Morris.  The book encourages educators to use “life hacks” in order to improve self-care by harnessing yoga and meditation, eating nutritious foods, understanding media depictions, and developing personally and professionally. Educators of all levels and subjects can employ these tips, collected from the authors’ own lives and research, to develop into the most joyful and healthy people possible.

For more information on the please visit: https://www.cambridgescholars.com/teacher-self-care