Tag: Halmos College of Arts and Sciences

Halmos Student and Faculty Publish Sea Grass Article in Conjunction with USGS

This spring, Halmos Graduate student Erin M. Smith, with principle investigator (PI) Amy Hirons, Ph.D., co-PIs Dimitrios Giarikos, Ph.D. and Andre Daniels published an article entitled, “Heavy Metal Accumulation in Seagrasses in Southeastern Florida” in the Journal of Marine Biology and Oceanography.

Seagrass beds are among the most ecologically important systems in the marine environment. Seagrass environments also serve as critical habitat at some point in the life cycle of many species targeted for recreational and commercial fishing, as well as a major food source in the coastal ecosystem, with over 154 marine species known to feed on living seagrass. This provides a pathway for contaminants in the seagrasses to enter the marine food web. This study assessed the heavy metal concentrations in the three main seagrass species found in southeastern Florida seagrass beds.

The results show that the seagrasses in southeastern Florida waters do contain various concentrations of heavy metals. Higher concentrations of heavy metals were found during the wet season, while Zinc in seagrasses was at significantly higher concentrations during the dry season. The research detected that heavy metals were highest in leaves with attached epiphytes. Epiphytes in marine systems are species of algae, bacteria, fungi, sponges, and any other sessile organism that grows on the surface of a plant, typically seagrasses or algae. These epiphytes on southeastern Florida seagrasses contribute to heavy metals.

Seagrass beds provide important habitat for a wide range of marine species. Especially important in south Florida is the impact these beds have on sea turtles and manatees.

Hirons and Giarikos are faculty with Halmos College. Daniels is with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) which is located in the NSU Center for Collaborative Research on the Fort Lauderdale/Davie campus.

Halmos Faculty Publishes Nature Article: Evolving Postdocs Important to Academics

Postdoctoral scholars comprise an invaluable component of global research communities, yet their support and training systems are poorly aligned with today’s job market. These issues are widely discussed in academia and in lengthy reports and op-eds; still, there is glaring lack of succinct, data-driven publications that provide clear and feasible corrective steps.

To address this deficiency, a team of 13 current and former Michigan State University (MSU) postdoctoral researchers co-authored the paper entitled “Academic ecosystems must evolve to support a sustainable postdoc workforce”. It was published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution and outlines strategic reforms to better support the world’s growing postdoctoral workforce.

“The project sprang from several informal meetings among the study co-authors during overlapping postdoctoral appointments,” said Eben Gering, Ph.D. a former MSU postdoctoral researcher who is now an assistant professor in Halmos College and senior author of the paper. “From there, it continued to gain momentum as interest grew around the issue.”

Following intensive analyses of relevant literature, data and personal experiences, the group identified five overarching goals:

  • Align career development with job markets
  • Sustain wellness and work-life balance
  • Enhance mentoring
  • Develop administrative support
  • Increase broader support.

To achieve these goals, the group recommended progressive changes that target levels of organization ranging from principle investigators to broader communities that fund and support postdoctoral positions.

About half of the paper’s co-authors have moved on to diverse jobs around the globe. According to the team, the publication’s fruition illustrates two important points.

First, all stakeholders in postdoctoral success (including postdocs themselves) can advocate for reform to enhance the quality and productivity of shared workplaces.

Second, the authors note, progressive aspects of their home institutions ultimately facilitated their success in a collaborative research and writing process.

In addition to facilitating a high-profile publication, the supportive climate appears to have fostered an enduring network of interdisciplinary scholars. The team recently met again on Zoom to toast the final acceptance of the manuscript.

MEEC Celebrates Earth Day With Sustainability Live-Stream Event, April 22

On Wednesday, April 22 at 1:00 p.m. the Marine Environmental Education Center (MEEC) will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Earth Day with a live stream broadcast on Facebook. Created on April 22, 1970, the purpose of Earth Day is to celebrate the planet’s environment and raise public awareness about pollution. Join us for a webinar about sustainability and how we can become better stewards for our planet!

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.

The site features our very own green turtle, as well as an interactive Interpretive Center with displays on topics from sea turtle conservation to marine debris. As well as offering live-streaming events on Facebook during this CONVID-19 period, they have a YouTube channel where children of all ages can learn about the marine environment of South Florida.

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.

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