Tag: Halmos College of Arts and Sciences

Woods Hole Report Recognizes Halmos College as a World Leader in Deep-Sea Research

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) has embarked on a large-scale, comprehensive research project designed to transform our understanding of the “twilight zone” of the open ocean (dimly light pelagic waters between 200-1000 m deep), lay the groundwork for informed decision-making by regulatory organizations responsible for the high seas (areas beyond national jurisdiction), and capture the public’s imagination to enhance ocean stewardship. The project comprises scientific discovery, technological innovation, and enhanced engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including scientific collaborators, the general public, and policy-makers worldwide.

In their 2020 report, they listed Halmos College’s Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences as one of the world’s leading contributors toward better understanding of the twilight zone worldwide. The Halmos faculty involved in NSU’s twilight zone research are Drs. Tracey Sutton, Tamara Frank, Joe Lopez and Mahmood Shivji. Dr. Sutton is currently leading two collaborative deep-sea research projects comprising research scientists from NSU, NOAA, the Naval Research Lab, Florida Atlantic University, the University of South Florida, Florida International University, Texas A&M, Cornell University, and the San Antonio Zoo Department of Conservation.

“Though the deep-pelagic environment (open waters greater than 700 feet deep) in the Gulf of Mexico is by far its largest habitat, (about 91% of the Gulf’s volume), but we have only recently come to understand its inhabitants and the astounding biodiversity there,” said Sutton. “The marine life in this habitat is vital for the overall health of the Gulf, so it is imperative we understand its dynamics in order to protect this fauna for decades to come.”

Funding for Halmos’ twilight zone research has been provided by the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative,  and most recently,  the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies (RESTORE) Act, which authorized NOAA to establish and administer a Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring, and Technology Program. The mission of the NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program is to increase understanding of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem, including its fisheries, and to support its restoration and sustainability through research, observation, monitoring, and technology development. Halmos scientists were one of only five research groups funded nationally by RESTORE to study long-term ecosystem trends in the Gulf.

Sea Turtles Able To Nest In Peace As COVID-19 Empties Broward Beaches

Orders to stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic mean people aren’t allowed on the beaches in Broward County. Derek Burkholder, Ph.D., Halmos College Research Scientist and director of the Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program, explains there’s an upside to that for marine life:

“One of the things that we’re experiencing with having our beaches closed to the public, is that it does kind of open up opportunities for our sea turtles,” Burkholder said.

Three different types of sea turtles come to lay their eggs on Broward beaches: leatherbacks come first. There are about a dozen nests so far, Burkholder said. Any day now the loggerheads should start laying their eggs — they make up the most nests in Broward. Later in the season, green sea turtles will make some nest, too. Loggerheads that come ashore in Broward County usually leave about 50 percent of the time, Burkholder said.

“For whatever reason, maybe they don’t like the conditions, maybe there’s not enough sand or maybe there’s too bright a light, or somebody running down the beach with a camera taking their picture … something might spook them back into the water without laying a nest. That’s what we call a ‘false crawl,’ he said. “For me it’ll be interesting to see what the loggerheads do and if we get a higher nest ratio to the false crawls, without a lot of people out there … If you don’t have quite as much trash on the beach, if you don’t have as many beach chairs on the beach and things like that they’re running into, then we might see more favorable conditions for these animals.”

Even though the beaches are closed to the public, the Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program will continue to monitor the 24 miles of beach every day.

CAHSS invites you to “Love in a time of Pandemic” a virtual workshop, April 10

NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS), invites you to a virtual workshop entitled, “Love in a Time of Pandemic,” on Friday, April 10 2020, from 12:00-2:00 p.m. Lori and Rashawn Brewster, L.M.F.T. will facilitate the workshop. Both are graduates of the master’s program in the Department of Family Therapy (DFT). They are the co-founders and co-directors of Elevating Relationships, LLC in Plantation.

The interactive workshop will focus on becoming a family therapist. Please see the flyer for registration information. For more information, please contact Anne Rambo, Ph.D. at rambo@nova.edu.

CAHSS Faculty Publishes Article in the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis

Douglas Flemons, Ph.D.

Douglas Flemons, Ph.D. professor in the Department of Family Therapy in NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS), has published an article in the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, Volume 62 (2020). The article is entitled, “Toward a Relational Theory of Hypnosis.” Flemons draws on the ideas of Gregory Bateson, Daniel Siegel, and others, and articulates a relational characterization of mind and self as a vantage from which to reexamine common assumptions about hypnosis and to reconsider several questions still animating the field.

Flemons is the Co-Director of the NSU Office of Suicide and Violence Prevention. His research and teaching interests include suicide assessment, hypnosis and therapy, writing, and psychotherapy.

Halmos Faculty Invited to Digital Leadership Forum

This past winter, Pearson’s publications hosted the 2020 Digital Leadership Forum in Orlando, Florida. The Digital Leadership Forum is an opportunity for educational professionals to meet, interact, learn, and share insights and strategies with Pearson and each other. The goal of this two-day program is to explore how technology can support and even transform your teaching efforts, while enhancing students’ experiences and success.

Halmos biology faculty member Santanu De, Ph.D. was invited to attend and participated as part of a team of faculty invitees from institutions across the US in the breakout sessions and focus groups specializing in anatomy and physiology (A&P). There Dr. De learned and shared ideas about using media and technology for A&P lecture and lab courses to engage students and help them master course content.

CAHSS Faculty Serves as Moderator and Panelist at ASPA Conference and Alum is a Coordinator

Judith McKay, J.D., Ph.D., faculty in the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies in NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS), served as moderator and panelist at the 14th Annual Best Practices Conference of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)-South Florida Chapter, held in Miramar. The theme of the conference was “Public Service and the Pursuit of Social Equity.”

The panel, entitled “Social Equity Roundtable,” discussed the role of social equity in organizations and communities. In addition to McKay, the other panelists were Siegfried Weiss, J.D., Dr.iur. professor at St. Thomas University, and Keisha Grey, Ed,D., Strategy Manager, Children’s Services Council of Broward County. Sharon McIntyre, Ph.D., graduate of the doctoral program in Conflict Resolution was a conference coordinator.

CAHSS Music Alum and Students Performed at Hurricane Dorian Benefit

Jamie Smith, B.A., music graduate of NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS), wrote and performed his original piece, “Stand Up Again”, a tribute to those whose lives were lost or impacted due to the devastating damages of Hurricane Dorian. Smith, a Bahamian vocalist and NSU PANSGA, organized a Bahamas benefit concert to raise much-needed funds. Smith headlined the event and music students Jessica Elalouf and Cassie Ortiz performed with their rock band, Exigent. Smith continues to perform his new song and other original work throughout the Bahamas.

NSU Researcher Part of Team to Document Fish Migration in the Deep-Sea

If you are looking for some science news that isn’t COVID0-19 related, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) has got you covered!

Scientists have, for the first time, documented seasonal migrations of fishes across the deep seafloor, revealing an important insight that will further scientific understanding of the nature of our planet.

The study, published in the Journal of Animal Ecology and led by NSU and the University of Glasgow – analyzed more than seven years of deep-sea photographic data from West Africa. It linked seasonal patterns in surface-ocean productivity with observed behavioral patterns of fishes at 1,500 meters.

You can read the full press release ONLINE. Also enclosed are high-res photos to use with the story. For the photo of the fishes, here are the identifications of each:

(a – b) Grenadiers; (c – d) Halosaurs; (e – f) Eels; (g – h) Cusk Eels; (i) Brotulids; (j) Tripod fish; (k) Snail fish; (l) Morid cod; (m) Portuguese dogfish; (n) Eelpout

We all could use a little break from COVID-19 news, and this scientific discovery may just be the ticket!

Halmos College Research Group Announces Publication of a Special Issue of Frontiers in Marine Science

The DEEPEND Consortium is excited to announce the publication of a special issue of Frontiers in Marine Science, focusing on the results of their research over the past 5 years. The special issue will be titled: “Deep-Pelagic Ecosystem Dynamics in a Highly Impacted Water Column: The Gulf of Mexico After Deepwater Horizon.” It begins with a description of DEEPEND, including the overall aims, approaches, and rationale for studying the patterns and processes of the oceanic Gulf of Mexico as related to the Deepwater Horizon disaster, followed by a detailed methodology paper, data from which the bulk of DEEPEND studies were derived.

Overarching topics in this 16-paper special edition include:

  • Pelagic community abundance and distribution (encompassing microbial biota, pelagic crustaceans, cephalopods, and fishes),
  • Time-series analysis (encompassing petrogenic contamination, assemblage structure, and population genetics),
  • Environmental drivers,
  • Taxonomy (new species discoveries), and
  • Trophic interactions.

These research papers also encompass cross-cutting themes of biodiversity, connectivity, behavior, diel vertical migration, carbon flux, the biological pump, anthropogenic impact, and the epipelagic zone as nursery habitat for both shallow- and deep-living taxa.

Halmos has two members on the issue’s editorial staff, Dr. Tracey Sutton (Lead Editor) and Dr. Joe Lopez (Contributing Editor). To learn more about DEEPEND’s Special Edition in Frontiers of Marine Science and to view the published articles, visit: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/10575/deep-pelagic-ecosystem-dynamics-in-a-highly-impacted-water-column-the-gulf-of-mexico-after-deepwater.

Halmos Researchers Battle Coral Disease with Human Drug

What started as a coral disease outbreak near Miami in 2014 has since spread throughout most of the Florida Reef Tract as well as to some other parts of the Caribbean. The disease has been termed “Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease.” Experts are working to determine the pathogen that causes the disease, but it is known to spread through the water, and most scientists involved in the collaborative efforts suspect it is bacterial because of how it responds to antibiotics.

Research collaborations among numerous agencies and institutions are following multiple pathways. These include genetic studies to identify the pathogen and to assess how corals respond physiologically, laboratory studies on transmission and progression rates, development of pharmaceutical products for treatment, and considerations for creating healthier environments for corals to heal. “I think there’s a lot of similarities between how we should be treating coral diseases and how we should be treating human diseases,” Halmos Research Scientist Karen Neely, Ph.D. said.

In a race to save the remaining corals, researchers have been treating already-infected coral colonies with a paste combined with amoxicillin. A Spectrum News crew accompanied the group during a day of field work at Looe Key Reef, one of the most coral dense regions in the Florida Keys. The video can be viewed online at https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2020/02/27/researchers-try-to-slow-disease-destroying-atlantic-reef.

“Most of the time, scientists and marine biologists spend a lot of time documenting declines of ecosystems. We’re actually some of the few that are lucky enough to be able to get out here and try to do something about it,” Neely said.

At Looe Key Reef, the scientists have saved over 800 corals. Additional work at eight other sites has brought the team’s tally of treated corals to over 1500. Other efforts by teams in Biscayne National Park and Southeast Florida bring the total to over 2000. Neely is unsure how the reefs would have fared if not for their intervention efforts. “We were out here a couple of weeks ago, and as we looked around, we realized everything here was either dead or had been treated by us,” she said.

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