Tag: Halmos College of Arts and Sciences

Hip Hop Panel and Workshop Planned for Feb. 7

The B.A. in Dance and B.A. in Art + Design programs in the Halmos College of Arts and Science’s Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts present “Hip Hop Revolution,” a panel discussion and dance workshop on 50 years of hip hop and its influence on art and culture on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at the Performance Theatre in the Don Taft University Center.

Featured panelists include dancer/choreographer and Associate Professor Elana Lanczi, visual artist and Associate Professor Kandy Lopez-Moreno and multidisciplinary artist/dancer and Adjunct Professor Alonzo Octavias Williams.

There will be light refreshments from 5 to 5:30 p.m., with the panel discussion following and a hip hop dance workshop from 6:15 to 7 p.m.

For more information, contact Elana Lanczi at lanczi@nova.edu

Posted 02/04/24

Halmos Faculty Present at ACR Conference

McKay

Judith McKay, J.D., Ph.D., faculty in the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies (DCRS) and Charles Zelden, Ph.D., faculty in the Department of Humanities and Politics (DHP), presented at the 2023 Association for Conflict Resolution Annual Conference held in Arlington, Virginia and virtually.

The theme of the conference was “Conflict Resolution: Collaboration the New Normal?” Their presentation was titled, Dialogues in Local Democracy: Creating Connected and Socially Just Communities.  Zelden and McKay are the co-directors of the Council for Dialogue and Democracy housed in HCAS. The Dialogues in Local Democracy project was funded by Florida Humanities and NSU.

Zelden

McKay’s areas of teaching and research interests include strategic community planning, conflict coaching, violence prevention and intervention, and organizational conflict.

Zelen’s areas of teaching and research interests include American legal history, civil rights, voting rights, election law, and constitutional history.

 

Posted 01/14/24

Halmos Faculty’s Book Assesses Seafloor Biodiversity

Jose V. Lopez, Ph.D.

Assessing the biological diversity that lives on the seabed across more than 70% of the planet’s surface, also known as the “benthos,” provides a challenge and task that will endure well into the future. Jose V. Lopez, Ph.D., and professor in the Department of Biological Sciences in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS) decided to take up the call by writing a comprehensive reference book called Assessments and Conservation of Biological Diversity from Coral Reefs to the Deep Sea: Uncovering Buried Treasures and the Value of the Benthos(Academic Press Publishers). This decision was based on his past collective research experiences and resulted in the publication 2023.

The benthos encompasses all the organisms at the seafloor. Although daunting, Lopez was assisted by the realization that many communities of benthic organisms remain a black box.  Many benthic descriptions and conservation activities understandably occur and concentrate near coastlines, which allow easier and less expensive access for researchers.  For example, many studies appropriately focus on shallow coral reefs because they are considered to hold the lion’s share of biodiversity or species (estimated at ~25%) on the planet.  This may be true, and many researchers and decades of study have yielded fascinating facts about reefs, such as the phenomenon of singled celled green algae and stony coral hosts living in an obligatesymbiosis (distinct organisms united to compose a whole organism) as the crucial basis for the ecosystem’s structure.  Nonetheless, the very deep ocean benthic zones that lie below 800 to 4000m (bathyal zone) and 4000 to 6500 (abyssal zone), represent the largest surface habitats on the planet and have been understudied.  These zones have extreme living conditions (4oC average temperature and high hydrostatic pressures). However, deep sea expeditions require much planning and can be expensive.  In the book, Lopez describes how more often remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) or sonar must be applied to obtain useful views of the deep seabed.

These understudied seabed habitats will undoubtedly yield many biological surprises –   what may live there and how they survive. The new Assessments… book connects various topics (genomics and cryptic taxa) related to biodiversity via data, review articles, anecdotes, public policy and even art.  For example, besides sporadic mining operations, or the search for sunken treasures (or wrecks such as the RMS Titanic), the deep seabed has not been accurately mapped.   This may change over the next few decades. Overall, Lopez recounts that “we know the surface of the moon better than we do what lies on the bottom of the ocean, even though the latter is closer”.  His laboratory research on the microbial communities of marine sediments and reading the whole genomes of benthic invertebrates attempts to add to the scientific knowledge of the benthos. For information about the book, see https://shop.elsevier.com/books/assessments-and-conservation-of-biological-diversity-from-coral-reefs-to-the-deep-sea/lopez/978-0-12-824112-7 

Posted 01/14/24

Halmos Hosts Spanish Film Festival on Jan. 16-Feb. 11

The Department of Humanities and Politics (DHP) in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS) is pleased to announce that the first film of their upcoming Spanish//Latin American/Latino Film Series will be In the Heights (USA, 2021, director Jon M. Chu) on Tuesday, Jan. 16, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Mailman Auditorium. The film is in English and Spanish with English subtitles. Following the film, the audience will engage in a discussion led by Yair Solan, Ph.D., assistant professor of literature and film in the Department of Humanities and Politics. Light refreshments will be provided.

Below are the dates, film titles, and locations. We expect to have talkbacks after the films hosted by DHP faculty.

  • In the Heights(USA, 2021): Tuesday, Jan 16, 6-8:30 p.m. in the Mailman Auditorium
  • The Future Perfect (Argentina, 2016): Tuesday, Jan. 23, 6-8 p.m. in the Mailman Auditorium
  • Everybody Leaves(Cuba-Colombia, 2015): Thursday, Feb. 1, 6-8 p.m. in the Mailman Auditorium
  • Memories of My Father (Colombia 2020): Sunday, Feb. 4, 2-4:30 p.m. in the Alvin Sherman Library Room 4009
  • Parallel Mothers (Spain, 2021): Sunday, Feb. 11, a2-4 p.m. in the Alvin Sherman Library Room 4009

Co-sponsors of the Film Festival on campus include the Alvin Sherman Library, the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, NSU’s Alpha Alpha Zeta Chapter of Alpha Mu Gamma, the Spanish Club, and Fin Films. The Spanish Film Club series was made possible with the support of Pragda, SPAIN arts & culture, and the Secretary of State for Culture of Spain.  The series is free and open to all in the NSU community and everyone in the South Florida area.

Any questions should be directed to Yair Solan, Ph.D. at ysolan@nova.edu or Yvette Fuentes, Ph.D., at yf60@nova.edu.

Posted 01/12/24

NSU Receives Approval by Top University Accrediting Body

Dr. Belle Wheelan, President of SACSCOC with NSU President and CEO George L. Hanbury II

Nova Southeastern University received notification from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) that our Fifth-Year Interim Report has been successfully accepted with no additional reporting requested.

SACSCOC is the body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. It serves as the common denominator of shared values and practices primarily among the diverse institutions in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Latin America and certain other international sites approved by the SACSCOC Board of Trustees that award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral degrees.

The Commission also accepts applications for membership from domestic institutions in the other 39 states, as well as international institutions of higher education around the world.

Congratulations to all for this recognition of NSU as a preeminent university of quality and distinction!

Posted 12/05/23

Halmos Faculty, Student Participate in International Conference

What is “cold, clammy and wet all over?” Answer: most marine invertebrates.  Apart from corals, which build reefs, many marine invertebrates are often overlooked because they are not so “warm and fuzzy” like their charismatic, terrestrial counterparts.  As a group, invertebrates number in the thousands.  Although generally classified by not having backbones (vertebrate spines), most invertebrates still have complex body parts, including neurons and sensory systems. Indeed, several invertebrate species appear to be highly intelligent – e.g.  octopus and cuttlefish show the capacity to learn and appear to have sophisticated neural structures.

To illuminate more about the life and hereditary material (genomes) of these vital marine animals, the non-profit organization GIGA (for the Global invertebrate Genomics Alliance) was formed in 2013.  HCAS professor Jose V. Lopez, Ph.D., along with many academic colleagues from around world, co-founded the organization.  Lopez said, “a primary goal of GIGA is to promote invertebrate research and also expand training and education in the complex fields of bioinformatics and genomics.” Lopez served as a panel chair and gave a presentation titled, “Characterizing Whole Genomes from Photosymbiotic Organisms and Sponges: Updates from the Aquatic Symbiosis Genome (ASG) Project.”

In this context, the fifth GIGA conference was held in Cartagena, Colombia Oct 31 – Nov 3, 2023, held true to many of the core goals of the society.  The conference was held at the scenic oceanside Intercontinental Hotel along with an optional dive excursion to the nearby Rosario Islands, possessing extensive coral reefs.  By obtaining sponsorships from various quarters such as the Moore Foundation, the American Genetics Association, the UK’s Sanger Institute, and PacBio Inc, GIGA provided travel sponsorships to at least a dozen Global South students from Colombia, Brazil, Chile, and Peru. Students and early career researchers had several opportunities to present their research through lightning talks and a poster session. For example, NSU Department of Biological Sciences MS student Rachel Bacaner working in Dr. Lopez’s laboratory presented a poster on Caribbean octocoral Antillogorgia americana cell cultures.  Major themes of the sessions included marine symbiosis (coral and algae) and characterizing biodiversity at the molecular level and professional development.

Over 65 students, faculty and researchers composed the GIGA V attendees representing eight different countries. The list of talks spanned detailed descriptions of individual species genomes from giant clams to golden mussels, technical talks on how to best analyze volumes of Big Sequence Data and the effects of climate change.  Attendees also heard unique talks describing JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) within the genomics sciences and the future of scientific publishing in the era of open access and artificial intelligence by Laurie Goodman (Giga Science).  Determining the whole genome sequences of non-model organisms, such as many invertebrates, contributes to their conservation and a better understanding of their evolution and ecosystem health.

For more information please see: http://www.gigacos.org/index.php/meetings/giga_v/

Posted 12/10/23

Halmos Students Compete in Annual Mathematical Contest

From left, Triet Do, Diana Dancea, Cristina Perez and Heidi Hellenbrand

Students in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS) participated in the 84th Annual William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition.

This is the second year we have competed in this event, the preeminent mathematics competition for undergraduate college students in the United States and Canada.  As it does each year, the competition consists of two 3-hour sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

During each session, participants work individually on 6 challenging mathematical problems.  The exam is colloquially known as the world’s most challenging math exam. While the exam has a maximum score of 120 points, in many years the median score among the more than 3000 competitors (all of whom excel in advanced mathematics) is between 0 and 3.  The exam is done individually, but a university’s highest three scores get combined to make up a team score. Awards are handed out to both individuals and teams.  The exam is underwritten and overseen by the Mathematical Association of America.

Our Putnam Exam team practiced hard for the past year under the mentorship of Associate Professor of Mathematics and Statistics, Radleigh Santos, Ph.D. Santos taught MATH 3990 Competitive Mathematics Seminar, a one credit course students could take to prepare for the exam.

Posted 12/10/23

Halmos Dept. of Humanities and Politics Wins Cupcake Challenge

Congratulations to the Department of Humanities and Politics (DHP) in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS) for their second consecutive win of the Cupcake Challenge!

With 78% participation, they helped HCAS become the leader in the NSU Give Back Tuesday. The Dean’s Office came in second place and the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts came in third. Honorable Mentions went to the Department of Marine and Environmental Science and the Department of Mathematics.

Posted 12/10/23

Halmos Faculty, Student and Alum Present at Conference in Virginia

Katherine Sosa, Ph.D.; Neil Katz, Ph.D.; Terry Savage, Ph.D.; and Annette Taylor Spence

Neil Katz, Ph.D., and Terry Savage, Ph.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), and DCRS alum Katherine Sosa, Ph.D., and doctoral student Annette Taylor-Spence, presented at the 2023 Association for Conflict Resolution Annual Conference held in Arlington, Virginia and virtually. The theme of the conference was “Conflict Resolution: Collaboration the New Normal?” Their presentation was titled, “Experiential Workshop Design: A Portal to Self-Awareness and Effectiveness in Group Life.”

Katz’ areas of teaching and research interests include negotiation theory and practice, group dynamics, and organizational conflict.

Savage’s areas of teaching and research interests include restorative and transitional justice, human rights, and peacebuilding.

Posted 12/10/23

FY2025 PRG and QOL Grant Cycles Now Open

The FY 2025 President’s Research Grant (PRG), formerly the Presidents Faculty Research Development Grant (PFRDG), and Quality of Life (QOL) grant cycles are now open! This year the application process will take place on Cayuse Sponsored Projects, NSU’s new grant management system. Applications are due via Cayuse no later than January 22, 2024, 5:00 p.m.. More information, as well as application instructions, can be found on the PRG and QOL websites, linked below. Through these programs, eligible faculty may apply for internal grants of up to $15,000 in support of a variety of research and scholarly activities. PRG and QOL are tremendous opportunities to obtain support for research and scholarship at NSU, and to build faculty research capacity that can be leveraged toward external funding pursuits.

For more information about how to apply and program guidelines, visit the PRG program website here and the QOL website here. For questions, please contact PRG@nova.edu or QOL@nova.edu.

Posted 12/10/23

1 … 3 4 5 6 7 … 51