Tag: Halmos College of Arts and Sciences

NSU’s Stage 2 Production Co. hosts 24-hour theatre production ‘The Mayfly’ online

“The Mayfly,” a 24-hour theatre production hosted by NSU’s Stage 2 Production Co., moved online this year. Stage 2 students and members of the NSU community presented four original 10-minute plays written, directed and rehearsed in just 24 hours. The event was broadcast live over Zoom on Saturday, Oct. 24, and brought in almost 100 attendees from all over the world.

Stage 2 is a student-run production company offered through NSU’s B.A. in Theatre program in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts within the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center. Students have the opportunity to work closely with faculty to plan a performance schedule for the year and assume the roles of performers, producers, directors, designers, business team members and stage managers. Stage 2 invites any members of the NSU community to participate and engage in theatre events on campus.

Learn more about Stage 2 here.

Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts features guest artist exhibition ‘The Garden’ in Gallery 217

 

NSU’s Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts (DCMA) within the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center is featuring guest artist Amanda Madrigal and her exhibition “The Garden” in Gallery 217 in the Don Taft University Center. The exhibit was collaboratively curated by students enrolled in ARTS 3040: Museum Studies and Gallery Practices, guest artist Amanda Madrigal and guest curator and adjunct faculty member Taryn Moller Nicoll, who also serves as chief curator of The Frank Gallery.

The exhibit features sculptures and mixed media elements created out of repurposed materials from local Miami thrift stores and businesses whose operations shut down due to the economic difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic. Madrigal’s vision gives new meaning to the materials that make up her pieces, and “The Garden” communicates reconnection with nature through the construction of a new normal, reflective of our current global reality.

DCMA practiced a socially distanced installation and is using technology to provide safe access to the exhibit. The virtual opening on Sept. 23 featured Madrigal discussing her work live from the gallery and participating in a Q&A via Zoom. A virtual video tour of the gallery was produced by M.A. in Composition, Rhetoric, and Digital Media student Mike Lynn, and a 360 virtual tour was created by DCMA Associate Professor of Writing Eric Mason.

For more information about the exhibition, click here.

 

HCAS Announces President’s Distinguished Professor Awards of Excellence

Andrea Nevins, Ph.D., Interim Dean of the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS) has announced the selections for the President’s Distinguished Professor Awards of Excellence for the college. Considering the merger of the former College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and the Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, two faculty were selected. Kate Waites, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Humanities and Politics (DHP) was selected from the former CAHSS. Aurelian Tartar, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Biological Sciences (DBS) was selected from the former Halmos.

Of this honor, Waites said, “I was stunned and delighted to learn that I was being awarded the Distinguished Professor of the 2019-20, and deeply grateful to our department chair, Dr. David Kilroy, for his nomination. I am also most appreciative of my students who inspire me and ask me not to be complacent, and to always be better. This is such an honor, honestly, especially given the fact that I work alongside so many talented and worthy colleagues. It is especially gratifying because this award comes in my third, and final decade of teaching at NSU. I won the award twice before. The first time was in 1991, in the early years of my career and the college’s formation, and again in 2007, in my second decade of teaching. I feel most fortunate to be awarded this honor a third time in my final decade of teaching.

As faculty members, we are constantly challenged to do and be better—in the classroom by our students, and in our diverse and vibrant university community by the call to service. We are also driven by our curiosity, and our desire to continue to learn and grow as scholars and make contributions to our respective fields. In that sense, we are, ourselves, perennial students who serve as role models for those who enter our classrooms. Lucky us. Lucky me. This award is the cherry on top of a richly rewarding cake.”

DHP chair, David Kilroy, Ph.D. said of Waites, “Dr. Waites contributes to the intellectual and creative rigor of the NSU community and surrounding areas in immediate ways by participating in public series, such as the NSU Faculty Symposium and Ted Talk-x at NSU, and on-campus performances such as those produced by the South Florida Irish Theater. She stands for human rights, over the years having committed herself to opening conversations at NSU, as the founder and director for the Women’s Resource Institute (1995-98) and architect for the Gender Studies Minor in the Department of Literature and Modern Languages.

Tartar indicated that, “I am honored to receive this award and would like to thank my colleagues for their support.” His department chair, Emily Schmitt Lavin, Ph.D., said of Tartar,

“Through his collaborations, Dr. Tartar has been successful at bringing in significant extramural funding (~$900,000) from federal agencies (US Dept. of Agriculture, US Dept. of Education and US Dept. of Defense) to support his and his students’ research in the field of genomics. Specifically, these funds have helped support more than 10 undergraduate students working in his lab over the past five years as well as three master’s thesis students. Undergraduate students were able to be published on his peer-reviewed research as either lead or co-authors in journals including, Applied and Environmental Microbiology (2014) and BMC Microbiology (2016). All three of the master’s students in his lab had their research published in peer reviewed journals including Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing (2015), Scientific Reports (2014), and Journal of Circadian Rhythms (2016).”

HCAS congratulates these two outstanding professors and extends deep appreciation for their contributions to the college, the university, and to their respective fields.

HCAS hosts Women’s Roundtable featuring Three Conflict Resolution Doctoral Graduates

Community Resolution Services in the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies in the Halmos College of Arts and Humanities and Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Institute (HCAS) hosted a Women’s Roundtable via Zoom on November 6, 2020. The event featured three doctoral graduates and four partners from the national law firm Wicker Smith. The event provided strategies and tips for career success, including networking, breaking the glass ceiling, and getting started on your career path.

The three alumni included Kathleen Harmon, Ph.D., founder and president of Harmon/York Associates, consultants to the construction industry, Randy Rutledge, Ph.D., the Founder and Managing Director of Rutledge & Associates, LLC, and Gwendolyn Smith, Ph.D., Chairperson at Green Growth Suriname Foundation.

Community Resolution Services is a practicum and volunteer site for students to engage the NSU and local community in workshops, training, and dialogues, featuring storytelling and other events. For more information, please contact Judith McKay, J.D., Ph.D. at mckayj@nova.edu

Halmos College Faculty Member Awarded Patent in Korea

Abdelkrim Bourouihiya, Ph.D.

This fall, Halmos College associate professor of mathematics Abdelkrim Bourouihiya, Ph.D. received a patent in Korea for his invention entitled, “Data Adaptive Compression and Data Encryption using Kronecker Products”. It was granted two US Patents in 2018 and 2019, a Japanese Patent in 2019, and a North Korean Patent in 2020.

Currently, there are two main methods for compressing digital data files to minimize storage, handling and transmission speed. In lossy compression, certain (especially redundant) information is permanently deleted to reduce the file; upon decompression, only the retained information remains. Lossy compression is often used for audio/video/image files (e.g., JPEG files) where some loss of the original information is not detected by most users. In contrast, in lossless compression, all data in the file is retained after compression and subsequent decompression. This approach is often used for text or spreadsheet files where losing any data may be problematic, however, transmission velocity is hindered due to the large files sizes.

Bourouihiya developed a novel method of encoding data that can be used with either approach to enhance compression/decompression, thereby reducing size of digital files and increasing transmission speed without sacrificing the amount of data stored. Some digital files processed by this method had a compression ratio approximately two to four times higher than JPEG files but with minimal loss of data. The method also allows for parallel processing which greatly reduces compression/decompression time. By using this approach, data is stored using less memory, processed in a shorter time, and complete recovery is achieved. Further, the data can be encrypted and subsequently decrypted at the decompression stage, ensuring data security.

2020 Trick to the Treat

On Wednesday, October 28, Halmos College and the Center for Academic and Professional Success (CAPS) collaborated to bring NSU students the 9th annual Trick to the Treat of an Internship or Research Experience. Throughout the event, students had the opportunity to hear from various presenters on research, medical, and other science-related internship/research opportunities.

Using virtual round table discussions, students visited such topics as biology practicums, medical scribe experience, and the impact of COVID-19 on global education and research in STEM and the fields of health care. Research topics included “Expression & Localization of the 14-3-3 Protein Family within Mammals”, “Effects of Porphyromonas gingivalis derived sphingolipids on osteoclastogenesis”, “Evaluating student learning outcomes for research-based courses”, “Development of “Sharkavir”: A New Hypothetical Inhibitor for HIV-1 Protease, and “Survival and Development of Zebra Longwing, Heliconius charithonia, on native and non-native Passion vines, Passiflora sp., in South Florida”.

Interested in an event like this? Please contact CAPS at 954-262-7201.

Halmos Mathematics Colloquium Series Hosts Seminar on Harmonic Oscillator

On Wednesday, November 18 at 12 noon, the Halmos College Department of Mathematics will host another event in its colloquium series. The zoom lecture is entitled “Classic/Quantum Harmonic Oscillator” and will be presented by our very own Killian J. Hitsman, Ph.D.

A Harmonic Oscillator is an integral part of periodic motion in Classical and Quantum Theory. For systems with small fluctuations near stable points of equilibrium, the Harmonic Oscillator serves as a good approximation for measuring eigenstates and wave amplitudes of the particle(s). Aside from the classical version, this presentation will include the Lie Algebra of commutation relations as well as the ladder operators (Discrete and Continuous) as it pertains to a Quantum Harmonic Oscillator. After that, one of its’ contributions to scalar fields in Quantum Field Theory, namely the Casimir Force, will be discussed. Whether it is a system of one oscillator or a system of decoupled oscillators, this concept could be applied to the fields of Quantum Field Theory and Mathematical Physics.

For questions, please contact Donna Saporito at 954-262-8339 or dsaporito@nova.edu.

Meeting information:

Date: November 18, 2020

Time: 12:00- 12:50 p.m.

Zoom:

Meeting ID: 811 500 7759

Passcode: 681149

Friends of Our Florida Reefs Partners with NSU to Install a New Living Florida’s Coral Reef Exhibit at the Marine Environmental Education Center

To better educate the public about the wonders, beauty, and threats to Florida’s coastal water ecosystems, several notable organizations are partnering to add the first of three large exhibit tanks by the popular “Captain” Sea Turtle Pool at the Marine Environmental Education Center (MEEC). Focusing on Florida’s Coral Reef, the first 300+ gallon tank is anticipated to be up and running by early 2021. This coral reef exhibit will feature live native corals, fish, and invertebrates. Two additional exhibit tanks are planned to focus on the critical importance of mangroves and sea grasses.

“This project fits right in with the mission of the MEEC,” said Derek Burkholder, Ph.D., Halmos College research scientist and director of the MEEC. “Educating the public about our marine environments is vital and by bringing attention to the plight of our coral reefs, we’re adding a new dimension to our outreach efforts.”

Initial funding was spearheaded by the regional nonprofit organization, Friends of Our Florida Reefs (FOFR – www.floridareef.org). Generous donors have already committed $7,500 to FOFR to kick start a challenge match campaign for the exhibit. By the end of 2020, FOFR hopes to contribute at least $15,000 depending upon additional public donations towards the budget for the living coral reef tank and detailed informational signage.

The MEEC was opened with the desire to educate and delight locals and tourists alike through our educational green sea turtle, Captain, and the splendor of the coastal environment in South Florida. The MEEC was fostered from a partnership between Broward County Parks and Recreation and Nova Southeastern University. The facility is located on the historic grounds of the Carpenter House at Hollywood North Beach Park in Hollywood, Florida.

Communication Major Rebrands Social Media Presence for PRSA Greater Fort Lauderdale Chapter

B.A. in Communication major Chanel Gilcrease was recently recruited by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA FTL) to rebrand its social media presence. Gilcrease was selected as a Summer 2020 intern by the organization and had the opportunity to work on various strategic communications projects, including the revamp of the chapter’s social media presence and its brand identity across its social channels.

“Chanel is a creative dynamo!” said Jennifer Hudson, APR, president of PRSA FTL. “I was so impressed with the way she helped us re-imagine our social media platforms. She asked all the right questions, then used that input and her own research to develop our posting policy, a style guide that beautifully incorporates the PRSA national brand, and a social media strategy she’s actually helping us implement. We are very fortunate to have had such a rising star supporting us!”

Prior to interning with PRSA FTL, Gilcrease served as a communications intern for NSU’s Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts within the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center. In this role, she also gained experience with social media management, marketing, content creation and branding.

“I think the biggest takeaway from these internships was the importance of making connections,” Gilcrease said. “The reason I was offered these internships is because I made a good impression on someone either through conversation or my work, usually both. I wasn’t thinking of what a person could do for me when I made those connections either. I was being genuine or doing good work because that’s how I am. So I’ll keep doing that and I’m sure it’ll get me far.”

Gilcrease recently launched her own marketing company called Instrstellr.co, which specializes in social media management and brand identity development.

“Chanel is a standout student who has a very bright future in strategic communications,” said Whitney Lehmann, Ph.D., APR, assistant professor of communication for the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts and faculty adviser for NSU’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).

To learn more about internship opportunities offered through the B.A. in Communication program, visit https://cahss.nova.edu/departments/wc/student-opportunities.html

Learn more about PRSA FTL by following the chapter @PRSAFTL on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

 

HCAS Faculty is Guest Columnist in the Orlando Sentinel on School Openings

Cheryl Duckworth, Ph.D.

Cheryl Duckworth, Ph.D., faculty in the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies (DCRS) in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Institute (HCAS) was a Guest Columnist in the Orlando Sentinel. Duckworth’s commentary was entitled, “Logistics of reopening schools should make teachers and students uneasy.”  In her column, Duckworth makes the significant distinction between tactics and logistics, quoting General Robert S. Barrow, USMC, “Amateurs talk about tactics, but professionals study logistics.”

Duckworth teaches qualitative research methods, foundations of conflict resolution, History, Memory and Conflict Resolution, and peace education. She is a trustee on the Board for the Alliance for International Education and the faculty facilitator for the Peace and Conflict Education Working Group.

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