Tag: Halmos College of Arts and Sciences

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

Halmos Faculty Chosen as Inaugural Guest Lecturer

Mary Hope Schwoebel, P.D., faculty in the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies (DCRS) in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS), was the inaugural guest lecturer in an international online Peace and Conflict Certificate course. It was hosted by Saira Bano Orakzal, Ph.D., Freie University, Berlin.

Schwoebel’s teaching and research interests include peacebuilding and state building, peacebuilding and development, gender and conflict, culture and conflict, and facilitation.

Posted 01/19/22

Alpha Alpha chapter of Alpha Mu Gamma Honors Inductees

NSU’s Alpha Alpha chapter of Alpha Mu Gamma: National Collegiate Foreign Language Honor Society held its fall 2021 induction ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 16 from 5 to 6 p.m. The chapter is housed in the Department of Humanities and Politics in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center.

The following students were inducted:

  • Amaya Allen, Spanish
  • Deirdre Casey, ASL
  • Kelli Green, French and Spanish
  • Kathryn Macias, French
  • Rosa Martinez, Spanish
  • Samantha Sigler, Spanish

Holding flameless candles, the inductees were brought into the room by Erika Medina, chapter secretary, who served as marshall for the event. Emma Heineman, chapter president, received the inductees following AMG ritual and everyone sat down. Yvette Fuentes, Ph.D., faculty adviser gave a short welcome address. Following her address, Medina, gave a brief history of Alpha Mu Gamma and its symbols. The initiation ceremony was then led by Heineman, and following the pledges, students read “The Golden Bough” poem. Certificates, pins, and graduation cords were distributed by Fuentes and Medina. After some closing remarks by Fuentes, a group picture was taken and a small reception was held for inductees and members.

The NSU chapter of AMG was chartered in fall 2019 but because of COVID-19, the first and second induction ceremonies were held virtually. This year’s induction ceremony was a joyous occasion for AMG members and their faculty adviser.

For more information about the chapter, please contact the faculty adviser, Yvette Fuentes, Ph.D. at yf60@nova.edu

Posted 12/12/21

Halmos Faculty Presents with Doctoral Student, Alumna

McKay

Judith McKay, J.D., Ph.D., director of the doctoral program and faculty in the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies (DCRS) in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS), presented at the 2021 Association for Conflict Resolution Annual Conference. McKay invited DCRS doctoral student Courtney Connor, J.D., and DCRS alumna Michelle Cromwell, Ph.D., to be co-presenters. The conference was held virtually from September 29 to October 1, 2021. The conference theme was “Reflective Engagement: Learning from our Past. Transforming our Future.”  The presentation was titled “Building a Socially Just Community: Community Dialogues, Planning, and Partnerships.”

Connor

McKay is the faculty adviser to the Social Justice Roundtable and works with students in the community through Community Resolution Services (CRS), a practicum and volunteer site for DCRS. CRS hosts Story Café, We Love our Families series, The Women’s Roundtable, and is involved in offering workshops for the county’s Crisis Intervention Teams, and other events for community groups and organizations. She is also the Co-director of the NSU Council for Dialogue and Democracy (CDD).

McKay’s scholarly interests include conflict coaching, strategic community planning, and violence prevention and intervention in family, neighborhood, and organizational conflicts.  For more information about Community Resolution Services and the CDD please contact McKay at mckayj@nova.edu.

Cromwell

Courtney Connor, J.D., is a doctoral student in DCRS and is the Safety Specialist for Baptist Medical Center Beaches in Jacksonville Beach. In this current position, she had to obtain two additional certifications: Certified Healthcare Emergency Professional (CHEP) and Certified Healthcare Safety Professional (CHSP).

Michelle Cromwell, Ph.D., is an M.S. and Ph.D. graduate of DCRS. In 2019 she was named the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the State University of N.Y. at Plattsburgh. Cromwell was a 2018 NSU Distinguished Alumna and has been a guest speaker for the Social Justice Roundtable.

Posted 12/12/21

Razor’s Edge Student Honored at Biomedical Conference

Grace Waldron

Grace Waldron, a senior majoring in Biology with a minor in Research Studies as a Razor’s Edge Research Scholar in the Darwin cohort, was one of 42 awardees in the Cancer Biology category out of 138 presenters at the 2021 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS).

Waldron’s passion for cancer research strengthened when she was accepted into the independent study program at the Rumbaugh-Goodwin Institute for Cancer Research at NSU in the Fall of 2020. Since that time, she has been able to conduct and participate in research involving treatments for lung and breast cancer, including an upcoming contribution in a manuscript publication regarding current breast cancer research. Her primary mentor is Appu Rathinavelu, Ph.D., and her lab mentor is Umamaheswari Natarajan, Ph.D. In addition to presenting at the 2021 ABRCMS, Waldron has participated in the 2021 Life Science Symposium at Florida International University, and the 2021 NSU Undergraduate Symposium.

Waldron is thankful for the opportunities the Rumbaugh-Goodwin Institute for Cancer Research and all the research associates have provided her with. She plans to attend graduate school pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Cancer Biology.

Posted 12/12/21

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