Tag: Halmos College of Arts and Sciences

Halmos Professor Integral to BASIL Undergraduate Research

There is a significant body of research demonstrating the importance of undergraduate research experiences in biochemistry education.  To address the need for opportunities, the BASIL CURE project was created and is used by many universities across the country.  The Biochemistry Authentic Scientific Inquiry Lab (BASIL) Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) is a flexible curriculum consisting of both computational and wet-lab modules.  BASIL CUREs are recognized for their potential to increase access to research in undergraduate STEM and are being integrated into the undergraduate curriculum.

An integral member of the project is the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences Associate Professor of Chemistry Arthur Sikora, Ph.D. Specializing in biochemistry, Sikora focuses on the structure and function of proteins.  In the past he developed and facilitated a workshop on the BASIL computational modules at the Biennial Conference for Chemical Education (BCCE).  Currently, Sikora designs and implements BASIL CURE assessment workshops.

Funding for this project comes from a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant under the Improving undergraduate STEM education directive. This five-year, $2 million collaborative project will explore barriers to CURE course adoption. The goal is to make STEM education more research focused and allow every student an opportunity to do research regardless of their ability to find or maintain independent study with a faculty member while increasing the diversity of the STEM workforce.

Posted 02/13/22

HCAS Student’s Photo Chosen by National Wildlife Federation

Picture of a white ibis standing on the branch of a pine tree. Photo taken by Lexi Smith and sold by the National Wildlife Federation.

Aside from working diligently as a student in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences’ Environmental Science Program, Lexi Smith enjoys spending her time photographing the great outdoors.  Recently, one of her pictures was chosen to be part of a National Wildlife Federation collection supporting the planting of trees for wildlife.

The selected image depicts a white ibis standing on the branch of a pine tree and is part of the Trees for Wildlife™ boxed set.  For every set sold, the National Wildlife Federation has promised to partner with nonprofit organizations, schools, and local governments to plant native trees that rebuild areas which sustain wildlife.

The National Wildlife Federation is the largest conservation organization in America and works across the country to support wildlife and uphold conservation values.  Since 1936, the association has been working to increase fish and wildlife populations while helping them thrive in an ever-changing world.

Lexi Smith is part of the Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences BS of Environmental Science Class of 2022.  More of her photos can be found on Instagram @lexismith_photography

Posted 02/13/22

Halmos College Invites You to Au Café on March 24

The Department of Humanities and Politics (DHP) in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center (HCAS) is delighted to host Au Café on Thursday, March 24, 2022. This coffee and conversation hour provides a relaxed environment for French students and speakers to practice their language skills. Speakers of all levels are welcome to Au Cafe!

Au Café will take place on campus on the patio of the Student Services Building  from 12:30pm-1:30pm.. For further information, please contact Yvette Fuentes, Ph.D., faculty in the Department of Humanities and Politics at yf60@nova.edu

Posted 02/11/22

Halmos College Invites You to El Cafecito on March 8

The Department of Humanities and Politics (DHP) in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center (HCAS) is delighted to host El Cafecito on Tuesday, March 8. This coffee and conversation hour provides a relaxed environment for Spanish students and speakers to practice their language skills. Speakers of all levels are welcome to El Cafecito!

El Cafecito will take place on campus from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on the patio of the Student Services Building. For further information, please contact Yvette Fuentes, Ph.D., faculty in the Department of Humanities and Politics at yf60@nova.edu

Posted 02/11/22

Halmos College Joins in Illuminating Earth’s Biodiversity

Following the pioneering footsteps of biodiversity giants EO Wilson and Thomas Lovejoy, the Earth BioGenome Project (EBP) was launched to create a “network of networks” with sights on sequencing the genomes of a majority of the earth’s living organisms. The overall goal of the venture is to read the complete genomes of about 1.8 million species of macro-organisms on the planet, encompassing all of the known species of mammals, reptiles, fishes, insects, trees flowers, mushrooms, and single-celled protists. The plan requires a hierarchical approach and known classification, identifying organisms that include Phyla, Classes, Families to finally reach the known species of living organisms represented by samples that people can collect and archive. Agreement on uniform sequencing standards and other consortia, such as the quality of sequence data, is important before addition to the EBP list. All these points have now been expounded, compilated, and published in a new set of papers in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) this week.

Halmos College of Arts and Sciences Department of Biological Sciences faculty member Jose (Joe) Lopez, Ph.D., plunged into this large-scale genome endeavor in 2013, with his co-founding of the Global Invertebrate Genomics Alliance (GIGA). Partially inspired by the earlier Genome10K project started by NSU HCAS professor, Stephen J. O’Brien, Ph.D., the GIGA community of scientists focuses solely on aquatic animals without spines (“invertebrates”) and recently became a non-profit entity. Lopez represents GIGA in the EBP network and is a member of the working group and co-author on three of the new PNAS papers. Lopez is also helping contribute up to 50 invertebrate species samples, including soft corals from local Broward coral reefs, for genome sequencing through the related Aquatic Symbiosis Genome (ASG) project in conjunction with the Darwin Tree of Life (DToL) program at the Wellcome Sanger Institute in the UK.  Lopez works closely with Mark Blaxter, Ph.D. Program leader for the DToL program and lead author on the PNAS paper “Why sequence all eukaryotes?”

“It has been an honor to serve with a distinguished group of scientists dedicated to the genome sciences,” says Lopez.  “The EBP poses clearly ambitious and non-trivial goals. But we have to start somewhere, and often basic science has to be done before we move to more specialized applications. Because the genomes of the planet’s organisms are all different (leading to biodiversity) due to evolution, they can provide answers to speciation/extinction, conservation, better health and how organisms interact symbiotically. The genomes also hold the potential for discovery of treatments for human disease. The sequencing effort is already bringing diverse scientists from different institutions and countries together toward a common goal and should be supported widely. Obtaining funding, such as convincing NSF to support the mega projects, presents a steep hill to climb. But we do need to take up the challenge, or else other countries will leap-frog ahead of us.”

Posted 01/30/22

Theatre Alumna Lands Internship at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

 

B.A. in Theatre alumna Kaeleigh Sturgeon

B.A. in Theatre alumna Kaeleigh Sturgeon is taking her talents to the most magical place on Earth with her role working in attractions for Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. As an intern for the Disney College Program, Sturgeon works as an attractions hostess and cast member for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Hollywood Studios’ newest attraction.

“The skills I built as a theatre major, including public speaking, memorization, creative problem solving and initiative, have greatly prepared me for my safety-critical and guest-facing role at Disney,” said Sturgeon, a recent graduate of the B.A. in Theatre program in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences. “Additionally, working as an ensemble in the many shows I had the privilege to be a part of in my time at NSU has helped me better work as a team with my fellow cast members.”

Sturgeon, who also minored in marketing, graphic design and strategic communication, started her internship with Walt Disney World this fall.

Learn more about the B.A. in Theatre program and its concentrations here.

Posted 01/30/22

Alpha, Alpha, Zeta Invites Applications for Membership

Alpha, Alpha Zeta, the NSU Chapter of Alpha Mu Gamma, National Collegiate Foreign Language Honor Society, housed in the Department of Humanities and Politics in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center is inviting applications for membership. Alpha, Alpha, Zeta was established in 2019.

Alpha Mu Gamma was founded in 1931, and is the oldest and largest national collegiate foreign language honor society in the US. AMG is dedicated to promoting languages studies, cultural events, and community outreach. There are many scholarships offered through and provides opportunities for networking.

We invite all students to apply. You do not need to be a language major or minor to qualify. The requirements for full student membership include:

  • Two semesters of college completed
  • Two grades of “A” (i.e., A, A-) in two college level courses (each at least 3 semester units) of the same foreign language or American Sign Language (ASL). Please note that candidates, who are natives of a non-English speaking country, may offer two final course grades of “A” in college level English or English as a Second Language (ESL).
  • Overall GPA of 3.0 (B average)
  • One-time National dues of $30. One-time NSU chapter dues of $25.

Students who meet the requirements and wish to apply, should fill out the application found on the AMG webpage https://www.amgnational.org/membership.html and email with an unofficial copy of transcript to Dr. Yvette Fuentes (yf60@nova.edu), Faculty Advisor.

Once your application has been reviewed and approved, you will receive instructions on how to submit your $55 membership dues.

Deadline for application submission is Monday, March 7, 2022.

Posted 01/30/22

NSU Mathematics Hosts Differential Equations Expert, Feb. 10

Qin Sheng, Ph.D.

The Halmos College of Arts and Sciences Department of Mathematics will host guest speaker Qin Sheng, Ph.D., as part of their Mathematics Colloquium Series.  Sheng will be discussing the role of splitting methods for solving differential equations.  The review will cover the historical roots and derivation of modern splitting methods, its use in solving a semi-linear Kawarada partial differential equation, and the concept of global error.

Sheng is a professor at the Baylor University Department of Mathematics.  He has been interested in splitting and adaptive numerical methods for solving linear and nonlinear partial differential equations and is also known for the Sheng-Suzuki theorem in numerical analysis.  A prolific researcher, Sheng has published more than 110 refereed journal articles as well as six joint research monographs and has been an Editor-in-Chief of the SCI journal, International Journal of Computer Mathematics, published by Taylor and Francis.

“From Derivation to Error Analysis of Splitting Methods – A Contemporary Review”, will take place on Thursday, Feb. 10 from 12:30 – 1:20 p.m. on Zoom.  The entire NSU community, including students at all levels of mathematics, is invited and encouraged to attend.

Posted 01/30/22

Deadline for Crossroads Conference Abstracts Extended to Feb. 11

The deadline for abstracts for the 4th Annual Crossroads Humanities Student Conference has been extended to Friday, February 11.   Undergraduate and graduate students from all programs of study are invited to present and attend; registration for NSU students is free.  The conference will be held at the NSU Davie campus on Saturday, March 26, 2022; virtual access will be available.  The theme of the conference is “Rebirth, Renewal, Reboot” exploring the nature of human resiliency and how the humanities provides paths to creativity and newness, rebuilding and finding light in darkness. Abstract proposals of 150 words or fewer should be submitted to humanities@nova.edu. Contact Dr. Marlisa Santos, Director of the Center for the Humanities, at santosm@nova.edu with any questions.

Returning from trauma, tragedy, and loss is a difficult, but also an empowering enterprise.  Historically, humanity has needed to rise from the ashes of war, disease, genocide, and social and political unrest and violence.  Individuals cope on a daily basis with the effects of sexual assault, domestic abuse, and personal battles with death and despair.  In the resolving stages of a global pandemic and continuing struggles of LGBTQ and BIPOC communities, it seems appropriate to consider the nature of human resiliency and what tools we use to begin anew.  How do the humanities help us to process these losses and trauma, and to regenerate, to find new hope and growth?  In addition to solace and comfort, in what ways do the arts, literature, history, film, religion, and philosophy provide paths to creativity and newness, rebuilding and finding light in darkness?  How can the humanities help us design and build more socially and culturally responsible technologies to help communities redress trauma, division, and violence?

Possible topics include, but not limited to:

  • Digital humanities
  • Trauma studies
  • Medical humanities
  • World mythology and folklore
  • Software studies
  • Religious ritual/belief
  • Environmental humanities/climate change
  • Social reform
  • Racial justice
  • Utopias/Dystopias
  • Memoir/autobiography/documentary
  • Renaissance and reform(ation)

Posted 01/26/22

Learn the Keys to Successful Research Collaborations, Feb. 7

We invite you to attend this interactive event featuring two successful research groups sharing their collaboration stories. This “Keys to Successful Research Collaborations” event will occur on Monday, February 7, from noon to 1:30 p.m. via Zoom.

It will feature presentations and Q&A with NSU faculty members Nancy Klimas, M.D., who established a multi-disciplinary research and clinical program that is taking a systems biology approach to understanding complex medical illnesses; and Gary Cravens, M.D., M.S., whose diverse research efforts led to collaboration with Louis Nemzer, Ph.D., B.A., and colleagues to evaluate seizure prediction in epilepsy patients.

Questions? Contact GRANTLAB@nova.edu

Posted 01/18/22

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