Category: Academics

At the beginning of February, local ABC affiliate Local 10 News featured a story on bacteria on shopping cart handles. From Davie to Coral Gables and Liberty City to Westchester, Local 10 News investigative reporter Jeff Weinsier went to 10 different locations around South Florida.

Using a special kit, the results showed seven of the 10 samples had high levels of bacteria.

Three of those seven were off the charts, with bacteria counts that were in the billions. Halmos faculty member Robert Smith, Ph.D. was interviewed for the story.  “They picked up a bacteria called Pseudomonas. It can also cause infections.” said Smith. Smith emphasizes that the best way to prevent the spread of infection due to bacteria is to wash your hands.

Smith’s lab focuses on understanding cooperation  and antibiotic resistance in bacteria using a multidisciplinary approach involving quantitative biology and mathematical modeling.

Know students that are Interested in studying abroad this summer or upcoming fall? Student can submit their application by March 1, 2020 at www.nova.edu/sharksabroad.

For any questions regarding the application, contact us at sharksabroad@nova.edu or schedule an appointment with a Sharks Abroad Peer Advisor at https://calendly.com/sharksabroad/.

On Friday, February 7, Halmos College Biology major Rishabh Kasarla presented his talk entitled, “Walk Away with the Key to Unlock a Super Memory”. Kasarla, a memory athlete, demonstrated how to unlock the power of memory and enable one’s ability to study effectively.

The presentation took place at NSU’s Scientific Literature Society. The group was established in 2010 with Halmos College faculty member Venkatesh Shanbhag, Ph.D. as its faculty advisor.  At the weekly gathering, members discuss topics from research which appeared in recent peer-reviewed publications.  The information is presented by a member of the group which is then critically evaluated by the attendees.  The group aims at helping each other in learning about critical evaluation of published data and help each other in presentation skills. Additionally, members discuss strategies of effective interviewing.  This semester, the group meets on Fridays at noon in Parker 127D. Rishabh Kasarla is the current president (rk841@mynsu.nova.edu) of Scientific Literature Society.

Two College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) faculty served as guest co-editors of a special section of the September 2019 issue of the Journal of Faculty Development. The special section, “Faculty Development for First-Year Experience, Part II,” included a co-authored article by Kevin Dvorak, Ph.D., CAHSS Professor and Executive Director of the NSU Writing and Communication Center, along with Molly Scanlon Ph.D., CAHSS Associate Professor, and Judith Slapak-Barski, Ed.D., Instructional Technology and Design Specialist at the Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography

Scanlon and Dvorak cowrote, “The Importance of Faculty Development Programs for Teaching First-Year Seminar Courses” in the first part of the special section issue of the Journal of Faculty Development May 2019.

 Their article, “Common Practices for First-Year Experience Faculty Development,” focuses on First-Year Experience (FYE) faculty development and recognizes “the best practices for FYE faculty development that can help FYW practitioners strengthen programs or build new sustainable models for success” (53).  Each of the eight practices are explained and reflect the experiences of FYE administrators and faculty. These practices included build a cultivate faculty buy-in, leverage technology, understand the student population, among others, that assist to further develop and improve existing FYE programs.

To access “The Importance of Faculty Development Programs for Teaching First-Year Seminar Courses”

To access “Common Practices for First-Year Experience Faculty Development”

 

 

 

Hui Fang Huang “Angie” Su, Ed.D., and master’s students, Bhagi Phuyel, Chloe Johnson, Dylan Mandolini, and Shanyn Fleming  from NSU’s Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice (FCE&SCJ), had their article, Strategy to Estimate Size, published in the journal Dimensions in Mathematics.  The students are all mathematics teachers and instructors in k-12 schools and colleges in the US.  Their contributions to this article include their personal teaching experiences and mathematical knowledge.

The article is about using innovative strategies to obtain the measurement of a fictitious park and calculate its total area. The purpose is to introduce geometric concepts through investigative activities to engage students in learning. This article ties real-world “objects”, such as the national park, to geometric shapes and calculations used with a scale to help determine the total area of the park.

Dr. Su is a Professor of Mathematics Education at FCE&SCJ.  Her passion for teaching includes mentoring and encouraging students at all levels to extend their knowledge beyond their current abilities.

Working on a thesis, dissertation, or major writing project this semester? Take advantage of the WCC Weekly Write-Ins , a (drop in) weekly writing group where faculty, graduate, and professional students from all disciplines come together for dedicated time to focus on writing dissertation, research, grants, or other projects.

When: Monday evenings from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. EST
Where: In person in Alvin Sherman Library 430

For more information, email wcc@nova.edu 

Visit https://nova.mywconline.com/ to schedule your writing and communication center appointment today!

On January 14, seven girls from PACE came to NSU to participate in NSU-AAUW’s ESTEAM Project for Girls. During their visit, they worked with MBA in Marketing alumna Bridgett Guerrero on how they can create a simple video game using computer coding. They also had the opportunity to try out virtual reality goggles. Ms. Guerrero is a partner and regional manager of Logiscool in Davie, Florida.

During lunch, the girls heard from a panel of current Halmos College students about the college experience. These students included Jessica Hallett, Brianna Thompson, Annette Mathew and Samruddhi Ayachit. After this lunch panel, the students went to the Alvin Sherman Library. There librarians Sarena Hicks and Sarah Devine facilitated a scavenger hunt to show the students about resources available throughout the library.

After their tour, the students visited the Craig and Barbara Weiner Holocaust Reflection and Resource Center. This center offers Nova Southeastern University students and the general public a place to learn about, and to contemplate, the horrendous acts that result from intolerance and hate. The PACE girls were very moved by what they learned.

Their next visit is scheduled for Feb. 18. Please contact Julie Torruellas Garcia, Director of the E-STEAM Project for Girls, at jg1511@nova.edu, if you would like to get involved.