Category: SharkBytes

Pregnant Shark Migration Tracked from Space

This spring, Forbes Magazine published an article on an amazing international collaboration.

For the first time, researchers have been able to record in near real-time the migration of a pregnant scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) from the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador to Isla del Coco in Costa Rica, located over 435 miles (700 kilometers) away.

This collaboration: the Charles Darwin Foundation’s shark ecology project, the Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNPD), Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Research Center, and Guy Harvey Research Institute at Nova Southeastern University (USA) have teamed up to study the migrations and population genetics of the world’s largest scalloped hammerhead shark aggregation.

Scalloped hammerhead sharks are a globally endangered species. It inhabits different habitats throughout its life cycle, making information about their movement and use of habitat disjointed at best. Enter a special hammerhead shark: Cassiopeia. Measuring about 8.2 feet (2.5 meters) long, this pregnant female was tagged in February of this year during an expedition to Darwin Island.

Satellite tracking data revealed that after swimming north of Darwin Island for about 10 days, Cassiopeia started swimming eat until she reached Isla del Coco. The trek Cassiopeia made between the two islands means she covered around 390 nautical miles (700 km) in just under 14 days, travelling an approximate of 28 nm (50 km) per day. While previous studies have documented inter-island movements of hammerheads using passive acoustic tags, the tags weren’t able to capture the precise pathways the sharks would take. With satellite tags, scientists were able to see exactly the route she went.

HCAS biology faculty member Mahmood Shivji, Ph.D., director of the Guy Harvey Research Institute and Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Research Center stated, “The data being collected in this study will be key for establishing a flexible management system that provides this protection at precisely the right places and times.”

https://www.forbes.com/sites/melissacristinamarquez/2021/05/04/migration-of-a-pregnant-hammerhead-shark-documented-from-space/?sh=1b7e8fba5256

 

Families Dive Deep Into Germs at Alvin Sherman Library

This winter term, HCAS biology faculty member Julie Torruellas Garcia, Ph.D. gave a presentation for the Alvin Sherman Library entitled, “Germs: Good Guys or Bad Guys” as part of their Family Deep Dives series. She taught kids and their families about different types of germs, where they can be found, how to protect themselves from bad germs and the benefits of good germs.

The Deep Dive Series allows families learn and explore together. They can get the inside story and Q&A time with experts in science, history, community services, and more. Recommended for ages 6 and up.

Industry Partnership Provides Masks for NSU Dental Clinics

In October, NSU dental clinics faced a shortage of face masks at a time when normal supply chains were not available due to the ongoing pandemic. Fortunately, due to its vast network among the public and private sectors, NSU’s College of Dental Medicine (CDM) engaged NSU Fellows Society member Henry Schein, Inc., the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help make KN95 mask donations available to the school.

The donation of 142,000 masks from ADEA and FEMA was coordinated in partnership with, and delivered by, Henry Schein. As a result, CDM was able to conduct fit tests with all students, faculty, and staff to assure the masks fit and were sealed properly to provide protection against potentially contaminated air. Proper safety equipment was essential for the university’s dental clinics to maintain operations and provide much needed care to patients and the community.

“The CDM is honored to have Henry Schein as a loyal partner and appreciates the tremendous sponsorship through the years supporting the academic mission and our students at the college,” said CDM Dean Steven I. Kaltman, D.M.D., M.D., FACS. “Henry Schein’s continued commitment to excellence and social responsibility is applauded by NSU-CDM.”

“We are pleased to help leverage our key industry partners to help mitigate CDM’s supply shortage, and protect the health, safety, and well-being of students, faculty, and patients,” said Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman and CEO of Henry Schein, Inc. “The donation would not have been possible without ADEA, FEMA, and other organizations that help us throughout the year to ensure we, together, ‘help health happen.’”

In total, close to three million masks were donated to dental schools and allied dental education programs across the country through the efforts of Henry Schein, ADEA, and FEMA.

Alumna Thanks NSU for Helping Her Find the Right Career Path

Safiyah Muhammad

This May, Safiyah Muhammad graduated with her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Graduating from NSU’s Halmos Colleges of Arts and Sciences in 2016 with a chemistry major, Muhammad’s Ph.D. thesis was entitled, “Cobalt Catalyst for Parahydrogen Induced Hyperpolarization of Olefins.” She has accepted a job at Dow.

Safiyah says her time here at NSU was foundational.

“I am truly grateful that I had the opportunity to attend Nova Southeastern University; the Trustee Scholarship that I received allowed me to complete my coursework without any financial stress. It was during my time at NSU that I attended my first chemistry course and fell in love with it. The structure of the classes at NSU really allowed me to fully immerse myself in the material I was studying and to get to know the faculty,” she said. “Without the amazing mentoring of the faculty members, I never would have switched my major from marine biology to chemistry, nor would I have known about the opportunities that are available to chemists after completion of their degree. I owe a great deal of my success to my time at NSU and will forever be proud to call NSU my Alma Mater. Fins up!”

NSU Student and University School Teacher Named 2021 STUEY Alumnus of the Year

 

On April 13, 2021, the Student Life Association at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) hosted its 23rd annual Student Life Achievement Awards, otherwise known as the STUEY’s. This event intertwines the accolades of students, staff and alumni at NSU who are best known for their academic excellence, research, diversity, innovation, service and opportunities.

This year, the 2021 STUEY Alumnus of the Year was awarded to Wilford Miranda, a 2019 alumnus of NSU. Wilford is currently an NSU University School teacher and Master of Science Education student at NSU. He is extremely dedicated to education and making a difference in the lives of his students – a feature he believes set him apart from other nominees.

Miranda has notably started several new initiatives at University School with guidance from his mentor, Luke Williams, and continues to launch new ways to engage students, such as kickstarting NSU’s first-ever HOSA – Future Health Professionals (HOSA) chapter and creating a new curriculum called “Tiny Earth,” alongside NSU professor Dr. Aarti Raja.

Miranda led the creation of the HOSA at University School to support the career development of students interested in health studies.

“I have been participating non-stop in HOSA conferences since middle school and used this experience to bring HOSA to University School. As a first year HOSA chapter at NSU University School, we aimed to uphold our reputation to dominate in competitions. Along with my outstanding student officers, we mentored and coached our members to have a competitive edge at the regional, state, and international levels. After taking up the scoreboards in regionals, we went to compete at States where we went against 150 other high school HOSA chapters and we got the most international qualifiers (top three winners).”

To further the collaboration of education amongst students and educators, Miranda launched the “Tiny Earth” curriculum.

“Tiny Earth is a network of instructors and students who focus on identifying antibiotics from soil bacteria. This year, we successfully carried out the Tiny Earth curriculum with three class periods and currently, we are working to expand to five class periods. Our research together has earned us a few awards such as winning first place at the regional science fair competition and winning first place at the state HOSA research poster competition,” said Miranda.

Miranda utilized his experience as a student and teacher to showcase his skills as a nominee for alumnus of the year. Through his notable work as a teacher and researcher, Miranda made his mark by emphasizing a “One NSU” motto and combining his strengths from NSU and the NSU University School.

“The professors at NSU have undoubtedly amplified my teaching expertise through their wisdom and advice,” added Miranda, “By working collaboratively with Dr. Raja, NSU Undergraduates, and NSU University School students, we were able to advance our mission statements while providing top-of-the-line experiential learning experiences for our students.”

Miranda will be entering his second year as a master’s student this fall and is planning on graduating with his degree in Science Education by May 2022. Following his master’s degree, he also looks forward to enrolling in one of NSU’s Ed.D. programs.

Miranda intends to follow his “One NSU” mission in the future by collaborating with NSU and the NSU University School through his work, research and studies.

Visit Twitter for updates on HOSA/Tiny Earth at U-School at https://twitter.com/WilfordMiranda4. For more information about NSU’s University school go to https://www.facebook.com/UniversitySchoolofNSU.

Memorial Tree Honors Biochemistry Professor

Class of 2023 board officers Aneil Tawakalzada, Harsh Patel, Heather Silverstein, Aakangsha Jain, Ruth Antony, Alexandra Gabro, and Ted Frederic pose in front of the memorial oak tree.

In April, students from NSU’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (KPCOM) honored the memory of longtime NSU biochemistry professor Ronald E. Block, Ph.D., M.S., who passed away on March 26, by purchasing and planting an oak tree in front of the Terry Building. The tree planting was livestreamed on social media so KPCOM students could view the event in a COVID-safe manner.

“Dr. Block was a compassionate, brilliant individual who dedicated his life to the KPCOM students,” said second-year student and class of 2023 president Aneil Tawakalzada. “We are grateful for the opportunity to honor his legacy in this meaningful way.”

In addition to the tree-planting ceremony, the students hosted a separate Zoom event all KPCOM students and faculty members could participate in. The event included one minute of silence to honor Block and also provided opportunities for the students and faculty members to share their personal experiences about the popular professor.

“It was an incredible feeling to have our KPCOM community come together to give back to someone who influenced and inspired us all,” said second-year student Harsh Patel, who was instrumental in leading the tree-planting initiative.

 

HCAS Professor is Elected to the Board of Directors of Stonewall National Museum and Archives

James Doan, Ph.D.

James Doan, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Humanities and Politics in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS), was elected to a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the Stonewall National Museum and Archives, the largest museum of its kind in the world, dedicated to LGBTQ history and culture.

Doan indicated that he is thrilled to be a new member of the Stonewall National Museum and Archives Board of Directors. He further said, “this new position integrates with my teaching and work at NSU.”

Doan’s teaching and research interests include Irish literature and language, folklore and mythology, family history and genealogy, and English language and British literature. He is actively involved in the theatre community in South Florida, having written and directed plays for the Actors Community Theatre (ACT) in Davie. Doan also co-founded the South Florida Irish Theatre with a mission to develop Irish American Theatre in the region.

 

“Fun Food Fridays” Experiential Plant-Based Cooking

The Department of Nutrition in the KPCOM would like to share some highlights from a new elective undergraduate course offered for the first time in the Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition program in the winter 2021. BSHN 3400 Plant-based Nutrition introduced the nutritional and health benefits of plant-based eating to human health. Through a hybrid, blend-flex model, students engaged with an innovative curriculum using a contemporary textbook, YouTube videos, debate, interviews, documentaries, and community events. After mid-terms, with sufficient background nutrition knowledge, the entire class agreed to turn one class meeting each week into “Fun Food Fridays.” Students opted into the live virtual cook-along or prepared a video of them giving a vegetarian cooking demonstration.

During the Friday class time, students would lead a cooking demonstration via Zoom and highlight beneficial nutrients and any substitutions that they had made to make it “plant-based.” They also gave suggestions for future changes that they might make.  Some of the items prepared were Chana Masala, Lentils with Quinoa and Tofu, Oatmeal Cookies made with a “flax egg,” Almond Butter Energy Bites, and Drunken Noodles. Of course, the best part was the taste testing. Below are two photos that I took of the recipes I made as the students taught the class.

Above is Chana Masala on the left and Lentils with Quinoa, and Tofu on the right.

Some students chose to make a TikTok video creating Chickpea Cookies, or a PowerPoint presentation presented by student Kendall Hutchinson detailing each step in creating Dark Chocolate Avocado Truffles. Here is her picture showing start to finish. Begin on the bottom left corner with the final product on the top right.

A quote from one student, Lia Leone:

“One of my most favorite courses taken in the nutrition program is the plant-based course. Being able to learn about nutritious foods, how to prepare them, and enjoy these delicious recipes with classmates was a treat! I left this course with a full list of nutrient dense recipes that I shared with my friends and family! This course encouraged me to try new things as well as enlighten others on the benefits of incorporating plants into the diet. I’ve learned you can definitely win someone over with a tasty treat!”

Certainly, the addition of food and the live cooking activity made learning memorable and fun. The end of the course concluded with topics such as animal welfare, farming, the environment, and sustainability. For more information about this course or the Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition, which also offers a minor, please contact Dr. Ioana Scripa at iscripa@nova.edu.

Osteopathic Duo Named Champions of Humanistic Care

Elaine M. Wallace, D.O., M.S., M.S., M.S., M.S., dean of NSU’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Sandi Scott-Holman, D.O., assistant professor of family medicine and director of NSU’s Student Medical Center, were recognized as Champions of Humanistic Care by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation.

More than 200 physicians, nurses, and health care team members were selected by their health care institutions to receive this recognition for exhibiting compassion and courage during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Champions of Humanistic Care honorees will be recognized at the Gold Foundation’s virtual gala on June 10.

“Nurses, doctors, and care teams have shouldered an incredible burden for more than a year now, caring in uncertain and harrowing conditions, when their own safety was at times at risk, and when the normal support systems were dismantled,” said Richard I. Levin, M.D., president and CEO of the Gold Foundation. “They have stood in for family members who could not be in the room, they have adapted again and again, and through it all, they have brought their own humanity to bear in caring for patients. It is our honor to recognize their critical contribution of humanism in health care during this ongoing crisis.”

HCAS Communication Major and Faculty Member Present at Florida Scholastic Press Association Annual Conference

On Friday, April 23, Megan Fitzgerald, Ph.D., associate professor and program director for the B.A. in Communication program, and Flor Mireles, senior communication major and copy editor of NSU’s student-run newspaper, The Current, presented at the Florida Scholastic Press Association’s annual conference. 

The theme of this year’s virtual conference was “Outside the Box.” Their presentation, “Let’s Get Social: Building Your Newspaper’s Social Media Presence,” focused on the importance of building a social media presence for school newspapers. In an ever increasing digital world, even traditional print newspapers can benefit from social media when used effectively. Their presentation discussed best practices, including developing a brand, audience engagement and creating a style guide. Over 35 journalism students, educators and advisors attended the Zoom session.

For more information about the communication major and its journalism concentration, offered through the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts, visit https://hcas.nova.edu/academics/undergraduate/majors/communication.html

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