Tag: Halmos College of Arts and Sciences

NSU Juneteenth Event Features Breakfast Book-Reading, June 19

Learn more and find out at the NSU Belonging, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (BEDI) Advisory Council’s “Juneteenth with a Breakfast + Book Reading” discussion on Monday, June 19, at the Alvin Sherman Library from 9 to 11 a.m. Join us in-person or via Zoom in reading, On Juneteenth, by Annette Gordon-Reed.

The “Breakfast + Book Reading” of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annette Gordon-Reed’s 2021 book “On Juneteenth.” To discover more about the history of Juneteenth and African American cultural traditions and access the book in print, eBook, or as an e-audiobook, click here to access the BEDI library guide compiled by the Alvin Sherman Library.

For this event, we are excited to have a panel discussion facilitated and moderated by Ransford Edwards, Ph.D., associate professor of political science from the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, William Hawks, Ed.D., assistant professor of management from the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship, and Tamara Lumsden from Campus Life.

The event will take place at the Adolfo and Marisela Cotilla Gallery on the second floor of the Alvin Sherman Library on NSU’s Fort Lauderdale/Davie Campus. For those attending online, here is the Zoom link to participate, and we request that you fill out the registration form.

The first ten registrants will receive a free copy of the book, so register now! Find out more or quickly scan the QR code in the attached flyer. Please share this information to encourage participation in this celebratory event.

Please also visit the BEDI Advisory Council website for information about upcoming commemorative and BEDI-related events.

Posted 06/01/23

Conflict Resolution Studies Hosted Women’s Roundtable

Community Resolution Services (CRS), housed in the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies (DCRS) in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS) hosted The Women’s Roundtable. The Women’s Roundtable features alumni and current students who discuss their career paths and share tips for success in their fields.

The featured speakers included Michaella Babrich, Family, Dependency, Appellate Mediator; Alicia Booker, Principal Ombuds for Baylor College of Medicine; Heizel Prince, Associate Director for Labor Relations, Stockton University; and Scottie Visser, Sr. Manager of Ethics for The Boeing Company. The moderator was Charlotte Santana.

CRS is a practicum and volunteer site providing workshops and training to the NSU and local community. For more information about CRS, please contact Judith McKay, J.D., Ph.D., faculty in DCRS at mckayj@nova.edu.

Posted 06/04/23

Halmos Professor Presents Paper at International Conference

Amanda Furiasse, Ph.D.

Amanda Furiasse, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Humanities & Politics, presented “Looping Back to Nature: AI, Machine Learning, and the

Resurgence of Nature Religions” at the Implicit Religion Conference hosted by Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln, UK.

The presentation offered critical insight into the design and application of more culturally and ecologically responsible machine learning and artificial intelligence models. By examining the ways in which technology mimics natural systems, the presentation shed light on the potential pitfalls and ethical considerations that arise when developing AI systems and highlighted the need for a more ethically conscious and responsible approach to AI that contributes to a more harmonious and balanced relationship between technology and the natural world.

According to Furiasse, “Presenting at the conference afforded me the opportunity to share my research with scholars from around the globe and prepare my research for publication. Engaging in discussions and exchanging ideas with fellow researchers has enabled me to refine my research and develop a more nuanced perspective on the potential contributions of religion to the development of ecologically conscious AI models.”

Posted 06/04/23

Halmos Faculty Co-Authors Article with Nursing Faculty, Students

Santanu De, Ph.D.

Santanu De, Ph.D., faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences and Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS), co-authored an article with colleagues from the College of Nursing, based on an interdisciplinary collaboration with faculty and students from the College of Nursing. The article entitled, “Immersive Learning and Participatory Engagement Connecting in the Online Classroom through Virtual Reality.” It was published in the International Journal of Distance Technologies (IJDET).

The project involved designing a structured Virtual Classroom and showing its effectiveness in contributing significantly to learning and engagement among undergraduate and graduate students of healthcare sciences, especially during unprecedented challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cavanaugh, G., Condry, H. M., Afable, C. F., Morris, M., De, S., Madison, H. E., Marshall, J., Victor, C. P., & Weiner, M. (2023). Immersive Learning and Participatory Engagement: Connecting in the Online Classroom Through Virtual Reality. International Journal of Distance Education Technologies (IJDET), 21(1), 1-19. http://doi.org/10.4018/IJDET.317364

Posted 05/21/23

Halmos Faculty Presents at International Studies Association Conference

Cheryl Duckworth, Ph.D.

Cheryl Duckworth, Ph.D., faculty and director of the M.S. program and Graduate Certificates in the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies, in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS), presented recent research on the role of schools in preventing violent extremism.  She presented on March 17th at the International Studies Association’s annual conference held in Montreal. The theme of the conference was “Real Struggles, High Stakes: Cooperation, Contention, and Creativity.”

Duckworth is the faculty facilitator for the Peace and Conflict Education Working Group in DCRS. She teaches qualitative research methods, foundations of conflict resolution, History, Memory and Conflict Resolution, and peace education.

Posted 05/21/23

Halmos Interdisciplinary Collaboration Produces Research Article

Santanu De, Ph.D.

The Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS), engaged in an interdisciplinary STEM research collaboration between Arthur Sikora, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry and Physics, and Santanu De, Ph.D., Department of Biological Sciences, along with multiple student-mentees. This collaboration resulted in an original research article published in April, 2023 by the Florida Distance Learning Association (FDLA) Journal.  The project was based on the Biochemistry Authentic Scientific Inquiry Lab (BASIL) model for a Course-based Undergraduate Student Experience (CURE):

Kapil, Ambika; Gonzalez Isoba, Luis C.; Pathak, Niraj; Sikora, Arthur; and De, Santanu (2023) “Analysis of Attitudinal Student Learning Benefits from a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) Adapted for Online Format”, FDLA Journal: Vol. 7, Article 2. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/fdla-journal/vol7/iss1/2

Posted 05/08/23

Halmos M.S. Biological Sciences Students Visit Cadaver Lab

Students in the M.S. Biological Sciences program and in the Health Studies Concentration in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic research Center (HCAS) visited the NSU MD cadaver lab along with their faculty, Reza Razeghifard, Ph.D.

Students in the program aspire to various fields in health care ranging from optometry to medicine. Being able to tour the lab was a meaningful experience for them as they near completion of their program. Members of the graduating class will be attending a variety of professional school programs including NSU’s College of Dental Medicine.

One of the alumni of the program, Adrian Monteagudo, is currently an adjunct faculty member for NSU and works in the Lab. This program is one of three concentrations offered by the Masters in Biological Sciences.

Posted 05/08/23

NSU Team Presents at Seattle Molecular Biology Conference

A team of 13 NSU delegates representing the  Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS) Chemistry, and Marine Biology majors, and the College of Psychology Neuroscience Major traveled together to present their research as part of the NSU Chapter of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) https://www.asbmb.org/ at the Discover Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2023 Conference. They joined thousands of presenters from around the world https://discoverbmb.asbmb.org/in Seattle, Washington from March 24-28, 2023. Six posters describing protein modeling research projects and innovations in course based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) were presented at a variety of poster sessions. HCAS Biology Major, Pujita Julakanti received the ASBMB Society Travel Award. Eight members of the team received the PANSGA Professional Development Grant and 3 received the Biology Student Award. Projects were funded by the National Science Foundation Improving Undergraduate STEM Education Initiative through the Connecting Researchers Students and Teachers (CREST) Program. The team also presented the Master of Science in Biological Sciences Health Studies, Research, and Bioinformatics Concentrations at graduate program fairs held by the ASBMB https://hcas.nova.edu/degrees/masters/biological-sciences.html

The projects presented by the team were the following:

  • Akhil Godbole, Pranav Neravetla, Nikhila Paleati, Emily Schmitt Lavin and Arthur Sikora: Comparing Effectiveness of Two Antibodies (Aducanumab and Gantenerumab) on Reducing Amyloid-Beta Plaques.
  • Pranav Madadi, Juhi Dalal, Shreya Averineni, Arthur K. Sikora, and Emily F. Schmitt Lavin: Modeling binding of the BACE1 inhibitor aminoquinoline (68K) for the possible treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).
  • Serena Sha, Sophie Welch, Ashley Guillen-Tapia, Emily Schmitt Lavin, and Arthur Sikora: Modeling the binding of ω-conotoxin to an N-type voltage-gated calcium channel.
  • Bhavya Soni, Pritika Vemulapalli, Emily Schmitt Lavin and Arthur Sikora: Exploring structural differences between antagonistic peptides for the development of orally bioavailable PCSK9 inhibitors.
  • Lyla Abbas, Jordan Nichole Carreras, Pujita Julakanti, Sanjana Likki, Ryan Luib, Isadora Rocha De Abreu, Emily Schmitt Lavin and Arthur Sikora: Facilitating the collaborative scientific process through an interdisciplinary undergraduate protein modeling course.
  • Arthur K. Sikora: Quantification of Learning Advances in a Science CURE: Providing Leaning Objective to Corroborate and Validate the Advantages of Experiential Education.

Posted 05/08/23

Student Studies Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Okeechobee

Paisley Samuel

Lake Okeechobee (or Lake O) can be considered “Florida’s Inland Sea,”, as it is  the largest lake in the southeastern United States and is located at the center of Florida’s Everglades ecosystem. Before heavy development in the 19th century, Lake O provided freshwater to the Everglades ecosystem to its south. Now the lake has been permanently altered by a series of major drainage projects which allow canals to drain the water to sustain large South Florida urban communities and agriculture.

Unfortunately, because of the increasing development, nutrient pollution and degrading water quality, cyanobacterial based harmful algal blooms (or cyanoHABs) have now become a common occurrence in Lake Okeechobee. In recent decades, these bloom events have increased in both abundance and prevalence.  However, unequivocal causes for the blooms have not yet been identified.

Four years ago, the molecular microbiology and genomics (MMG) laboratory at the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center (GHOC) and the Department of Biological Sciences (DoBS) in Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS)  was commissioned to investigate the microbial community structure of HABs through a grant from the Army Corp of Engineers, Aquatic Nuisance Species Research Program (ANSRP). Working with the colleagues at the Florida Gulf Coast and the US Geological Society, the MMG has now generated millions of DNA sequence reads of the freshwater bacterial communities from 19 sites around Lake O.

“The samples were taken during active blooms and also more quiescent periods for comparison over the last three years,” says Paisley Samuel, a marine science master’s student.

She will soon graduate from Halmos and the MMG laboratory, as well present a portion of her thesis research in a talk titled  “Effects of Cyanobacteria Harmful Algal Blooms on the Microbial Community within Lake Okeechobee, FL” to a professional audience at this year’s Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration (GEER) meeting in Coral Springs (https://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/geer/).  Her attendance at the meeting was generously sponsored by the South Florida and Caribbean Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (SFC CESU) which “was established in 2000 under the leadership of the Department of the Interior and has led to the partnership of nine federal agencies and 21 academic institutions and non-government organizations.”

“Ms. Samuel has done a masterful job at generating the data in the laboratory and then carefully learning various computational methods to analyze the large volumes of digital sequence data. This has now produced a coherent and interesting story about microbial community dynamics that could affect cyanoHABs on the lake”, says Dr. Jose (Joe) Lopez, a professor and director the MMG Laboratory.

Posted 04/23/23

Lab Finds Differences between Port and Reef Sediments

Port Everglades

Marine ports can be very busy places. From the vantage point of NSU’s Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (GHOC), one can easily observe and be part of the boat traffic going in and out of Port Everglades Inlet (PEI). This includes small and large recreational vehicles, Coast Guard patrols, sleek and modern looking yachts, huge tankers, and cargo vessels, loaded with oil or other commodities, and of course cruise ships ferrying passengers to good times in the Caribbean.

All this activity contributes to PEI being one of the busiest ports in the SE United States, which started almost a century ago in 1928.  The human activities also set the port physically apart from nearby natural habitats, which our laboratory has corroborated by profiling the marine sediments from both port and nearby coral reef sites. Molecular microbiology analyses provide some stark contrasts.   “Although most of the sites are within a few kilometers from each other, and are connected by daily tidal flows, the port and reef microbial communities showed distinct characteristics which were statistically significant.”, says Jose (Joe) Lopez, Ph.D., a professor with a laboratory at the GHOC and the Department of Biological Sciences in Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS).

The study was analyzed and co-written by Lopez and affiliate NSU faculty, Lauren Krausfeldt, Ph.D., and published in the open access online journal PeerJ.  With the help of dedicated NSU students, like Catherine Bilodeau and Hyo Lee, and project initiation by former FL Dept of Environmental Protection manager, Shelby Casali, molecular microbiological methods, now routine in the field, were applied to uncover the details of which microbes live in nearshore or port sediments.  The universal gene used to identify bacteria, is called 16S rRNA, which has been previously used to characterize other samples ranging widely from shark and human teeth, octopus skin, sponge and anglerfish tissue in the GHOC molecular microbiology laboratory run by Lopez.

In the Port Everglades study, NSU researchers found that some photosynthetic cyanobacterial group abundances decreased in the reef sediments in 2021, which could indicate changing irradiance reaching sensitive corals and other symbiotic hosts that depend on sunlight.

The new PeerJ study on marine sediments has potential ramifications on local coral reef health, because routine dredging and other human activities can stir up port sediments that ultimately disperse and settle on nearby coral reef habitats.  This data, along with previous microbial research in the Lopez laboratory describing water quality provides useful baselines that can be used by local environmental managers.

Posted 04/23/23

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