https://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/Recent posts from Arts & Sciencesen-usThu, 12 Nov 2026 04:33:19 -05:00http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rssOmniUpdate (OU Publish)https://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/leading-by-example-the-wgs-diversity-group-and-anti-racism-series.aspxThe USF Department of Women’s and Gender Studies (WGS) stands in opposition to racism and supports anti-racist work in their teaching, research, and service.Rocky D. BullWed, 01 Sep 2021 00:00:00 LEADING BY EXAMPLE: THE WGS DIVERSITY GROUP AND ANTI-RACISM SERIESThe USF Department of Women’s and Gender Studies (WGS) stands in opposition to racism and supports anti-racist work in their teaching, research, and service.Anti-racism imagehttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/leading-by-example-the-wgs-diversity-group-and-anti-racism-series.aspxhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/new-book-details-religious-mobilization-by-political-parties.aspxLuis Felipe Mantilla, Associate Professor with the School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus, recently published his book How Political Parties Mobilize Religion: Lessons from Mexico and Turkey.Rocky D. BullWed, 01 Sep 2021 00:00:00 NEW BOOK DETAILS RELIGIOUS MOBILIZATION BY POLITICAL PARTIESLuis Felipe Mantilla, Associate Professor with the School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus, recently published his book How Political Parties Mobilize Religion: Lessons from Mexico and Turkey. How Political Parties Mobilize Religion: Lessons from Mexico and Turkey Coverhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/new-book-details-religious-mobilization-by-political-parties.aspxhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/new-book-highlights-presidential-communication-and-resulting-public-impact.aspxThe Ubiquitous Presidency: Presidential Communication and Digital Democracy in Tumultuous Times is the latest addition to the Digital Politics series from Oxford University Press.Rocky D. BullWed, 01 Sep 2021 00:00:00 NEW BOOK HIGHLIGHTS PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION AND RESULTING PUBLIC IMPACTThe Ubiquitous Presidency: Presidential Communication and Digital Democracy in Tumultuous Times is the latest addition to the Digital Politics series from Oxford University Press.The Ubiquitous Presidency: Presidential Communication and Digital Democracy Coverhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/new-book-highlights-presidential-communication-and-resulting-public-impact.aspxhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/new-grants-could-transform-scientists-understanding-of-dna.aspxTwo charitable foundations have announced their support of research at the Georgia Institute of Technology that could change the basic understanding of DNA, potentially leading to new treatments for degenerative diseases.Jerry GrilloWed, 01 Sep 2021 00:00:00 NEW GRANTS COULD TRANSFORM SCIENTISTS' UNDERSTANDING OF DNATwo charitable foundations have announced their support of research at the Georgia Institute of Technology that could change the basic understanding of DNA, potentially leading to new treatments for degenerative diseases.Francesca Storici and Natasha Jonoskahttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/new-grants-could-transform-scientists-understanding-of-dna.aspxhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/novel-program-identifies-food-insecure-residents-with-help-from-usf-center-for-advancement-of-food-security.aspxFood insecurity refers to the lack of access to nutritionally adequate food which can result in hunger as well as in an increased likelihood of chronic diet-related diseases (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease).Gabrielle Lehigh, Jacquelyn Heuer, Nancy Romero-Daza & David HimmelgreenWed, 01 Sep 2021 00:00:00 NOVEL PROGRAM IDENTIFIES FOOD INSECURE RESIDENTS WITH HELP FROM USF CENTER FOR ADVANCEMENT OF FOOD SECURITY & HEALTHY COMMUNITIESFood insecurity refers to the lack of access to nutritionally adequate food which can result in hunger as well as in an increased likelihood of chronic diet-related diseases (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease).people receiving bowls of souphttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/novel-program-identifies-food-insecure-residents-with-help-from-usf-center-for-advancement-of-food-security.aspxhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/small-island-global-impact-the-growth-of-irish-studies-at-usf.aspxIreland is a country that is deceptively small on the map in relation to its substantial global impact. In the medieval period, it was a cradle of European intellectualism, sending premier scholars to courts all over the globe.Rocky D. BullWed, 01 Sep 2021 00:00:00 SMALL ISLAND, GLOBAL IMPACT: THE GROWTH OF IRISH STUDIES AT USFIreland is a country that is deceptively small on the map in relation to its substantial global impact. In the medieval period, it was a cradle of European intellectualism, sending premier scholars to courts all over the globe.young scholars at the libraryhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/small-island-global-impact-the-growth-of-irish-studies-at-usf.aspxhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/usf-anthropologists-facilitate-covid-19-vaccinations-for-tampas-refugee-and-immigrant-populations.aspxAfter years of research with refugee and immigrant communities, USF anthropologists are now pivoting their efforts to ensure that Tampa’s hard-to-reach populations have access to free COVID-19 vaccinations.Rocky D. BullWed, 01 Sep 2021 00:00:00 USF ANTHROPOLOGISTS FACILITATE COVID-19 VACCINATIONS FOR TAMPA’S REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT POPULATIONSAfter years of research with refugee and immigrant communities, USF anthropologists are now pivoting their efforts to ensure that Tampa’s hard-to-reach populations have access to free COVID-19 vaccinations.young girl receiving vaccinehttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/usf-anthropologists-facilitate-covid-19-vaccinations-for-tampas-refugee-and-immigrant-populations.aspxhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/usf-professor-invited-to-join-un-and-unesco-advisory-group-on-genocide-education-in-africa.aspxIn 1994, more than 800,000 people were killed in Rwanda by ethnic Hutu extremists, a group targeting members of the minority Tutsi community and other political opponents, regardless of their ethnic origin.Rocky D. BullWed, 01 Sep 2021 00:00:00 USF PROFESSOR INVITED TO JOIN UN AND UNESCO ADVISORY GROUP ON GENOCIDE EDUCATION IN AFRICAIn 1994, more than 800,000 people were killed in Rwanda by ethnic Hutu extremists, a group targeting members of the minority Tutsi community and other political opponents, regardless of their ethnic origin.children carry gas cans and buckets atop their heads through fieldhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/usf-professor-invited-to-join-un-and-unesco-advisory-group-on-genocide-education-in-africa.aspxhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/usf-professor-tapped-to-curate-hip-hop-collections-for-the-smithsonian.aspxDr. Aisha Durham, an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication, currently serves as an advisor for the National Museum of African American History and as recently selected to curate the first multimedia hip hop collection to chronicle the development of the culture for the Smithsonian Institute.Rocky D. BullWed, 01 Sep 2021 00:00:00 USF PROFESSOR TAPPED TO CURATE HIP-HOP COLLECTIONS FOR THE SMITHSONIANDr. Aisha Durham, an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication, currently serves as an advisor for the National Museum of African American History and as recently selected to curate the first multimedia hip hop collection to chronicle the development of the culture for the Smithsonian Institute.Dr. Aisha Durhamhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/usf-professor-tapped-to-curate-hip-hop-collections-for-the-smithsonian.aspxhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/back-translation-saves-lives-usf-team-translates-critical-vaccine-information.aspxAs researchers, we often think of back-translation, or translation checking as a burden, but back-translation can actually save lives! The multilingual (Swahili, Kinyarwanda, French, English) team at the University of South Florida (USF) has been working with Refugees from the Congo Wars (RFCWs) in the United States for six years.Rocky D. BullFri, 16 Apr 2021 00:00:00 Back translation saves lives: USF team translates critical vaccine informationAs researchers, we often think of back-translation, or translation checking as a burden, but back-translation can actually save lives! The multilingual (Swahili, Kinyarwanda, French, English) team at the University of South Florida (USF) has been working with Refugees from the Congo Wars (RFCWs) in the United States for six years.smiling child receiving vaccinationhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/back-translation-saves-lives-usf-team-translates-critical-vaccine-information.aspxhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/celebrating-the-importance-of-science-education-at-usf.aspxDarwin Days at the University of South Florida (USF) is an extensive, interactive, and interdisciplinary science education outreach event hosted each year to encourage understanding of evolution.Rocky D. BullFri, 16 Apr 2021 00:00:00 CELEBRATING THE IMPORTANCE OF SCIENCE EDUCATION AT USFDarwin Days at the University of South Florida (USF) is an extensive, interactive, and interdisciplinary science education outreach event hosted each year to encourage understanding of evolution.University of South Florida: A Preeminent Research Universityhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/celebrating-the-importance-of-science-education-at-usf.aspxCommunity Engagementhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/community-engaged-research-connects-survey-participants-to-crucial-social-services.aspxSince 2017, Puerto Ricans have faced numerous natural hazards and ensuing social disasters, leading many to migrate to the continental United States where they confronted the current global pandemic.Rocky D. BullFri, 16 Apr 2021 00:00:00 COMMUNITY ENGAGED RESEARCH CONNECTS SURVEY PARTICIPANTS TO CRUCIAL SOCIAL SERVICESSince 2017, Puerto Ricans have faced numerous natural hazards and ensuing social disasters, leading many to migrate to the continental United States where they confronted the current global pandemic.Dr. Alessandra Rosa, Rebecca Blackwell, and Maritza Novoa-Hadleyhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/community-engaged-research-connects-survey-participants-to-crucial-social-services.aspxhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/connecting-through-technology-can-virtual-reality-encourage-empathy.aspxThe pandemic has reminded us of the importance of community to our humanity. Connecting and relating to others is a necessity for our well-being as individuals and as groups.By Jamie Sommer, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, USFFri, 16 Apr 2021 00:00:00 CONNECTING THROUGH TECHNOLOGY: CAN VIRTUAL REALITY ENCOURAGE EMPATHY?The pandemic has reminded us of the importance of community to our humanity. Connecting and relating to others is a necessity for our well-being as individuals and as groups.woman sitting on sofa wearing VR maskhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/connecting-through-technology-can-virtual-reality-encourage-empathy.aspxhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/dna-adductomics-a-breakthrough-tool-in-identifying-cancer-risk.aspxDNA is the “machine code” of our cells – it tells the cell how to function, and therefore is responsible for our bodies working properly. However, if DNA is damaged, the code may change, and the instructions to the cells altered, making them behave abnormally.By Dr. Marcus S. Cooke, Professor, Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, USFFri, 16 Apr 2021 00:00:00 DNA ADDUCTOMICS: A BREAKTHROUGH TOOL IN IDENTIFYING CANCER RISKDNA is the “machine code” of our cells – it tells the cell how to function, and therefore is responsible for our bodies working properly. However, if DNA is damaged, the code may change, and the instructions to the cells altered, making them behave abnormally.scientists viewing x-ray filmhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/dna-adductomics-a-breakthrough-tool-in-identifying-cancer-risk.aspxhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/family-study-center-receives-federal-grant-to-support-vulnerable-families.aspxA collaborative team led by psychology professor James McHale, director of the Family Study Center on the USF St. Petersburg campus, has been awarded a $3.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to research and strengthen relationships between family members to create safe and supportive households.Rocky D. BullFri, 16 Apr 2021 00:00:00 FAMILY STUDY CENTER RECEIVES $3.7 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT TO SUPPORT VULNERABLE FAMILIESA collaborative team led by psychology professor James McHale, director of the Family Study Center on the USF St. Petersburg campus, has been awarded a $3.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to research and strengthen relationships between family members to create safe and supportive households.mom holding her small child outdoorshttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/family-study-center-receives-federal-grant-to-support-vulnerable-families.aspxhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/geological-society-of-america-induction.aspxSarah Sheffield, a Paleobiologist andAssociate Professor in the School of Geosciences at the University of South Florida, was recentlyinducted as a 2020 fellow into the very prestigious Geological Society of America (GSA)Rocky D. BullFri, 16 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA INDUCTIONSarah Sheffield, a Paleobiologist andAssociate Professor in the School of Geosciences at the University of South Florida, was recentlyinducted as a 2020 fellow into the very prestigious Geological Society of America (GSA)University of South Florida: A Preeminent Research Universityhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/geological-society-of-america-induction.aspxhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/new-cyclone-severity-scale-aims-to-better-inform-the-public.aspxFor decades, meteorologists and governments have warned communities in coastal areas of an imminent tropical cyclone using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale categorizes a tropical cyclone based on its maximum wind speed, and is used in defining evacuation strategies and humanitarian response.Rocky D. BullFri, 16 Apr 2021 00:00:00 NEW CYCLONE SEVERITY SCALE AIMS TO BETTER INFORM THE PUBLICFor decades, meteorologists and governments have warned communities in coastal areas of an imminent tropical cyclone using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale categorizes a tropical cyclone based on its maximum wind speed, and is used in defining evacuation strategies and humanitarian response.hurricane satellite viewhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/new-cyclone-severity-scale-aims-to-better-inform-the-public.aspxhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/refugee-women-research-in-times-of-crisis.aspxA few years ago, in Portugal, a team comprised of myself and colleagues from Lisbon University Institute initiated an action research project entitled "Trajectories of Refugee: Gender, Intersectionality and Public Policies in Portugal”, to assess the experiences of refugee women in the aftermath of the so-called refugee crisis, so our research team enthusiastically got on board with trying to fill that gap.By Beatriz Padilla, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Director of ISLAC, USFFri, 16 Apr 2021 00:00:00 REFUGEE WOMEN: RESEARCH IN TIMES OF CRISISA few years ago, in Portugal, a team comprised of myself and colleagues from Lisbon University Institute initiated an action research project entitled "Trajectories of Refugee: Gender, Intersectionality and Public Policies in Portugal”, to assess the experiences of refugee women in the aftermath of the so-called refugee crisis, so our research team enthusiastically got on board with trying to fill that gap.senior woman in hijab carrying infanthttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/refugee-women-research-in-times-of-crisis.aspxhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/st-pete-campus-english-professor-publishes-book-on-scholarly-life-of-the-classroom.aspxThomas Hallock, Professor of English at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus, recently published his book titled "Road Course in Early American Literature: Travel and Teaching from Atzlán to Amherst".Rocky D. BullFri, 16 Apr 2021 00:00:00 ST. PETE CAMPUS ENGLISH PROFESSOR PUBLISHES BOOK ON SCHOLARLY LIFE OF THE CLASSROOMThomas Hallock, Professor of English at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus, recently published his book titled "Road Course in Early American Literature: Travel and Teaching from Atzlán to Amherst".Thomas Hallockhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/st-pete-campus-english-professor-publishes-book-on-scholarly-life-of-the-classroom.aspxhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/the-status-of-air-quality-in-the-united-states-during-the-covid-19-pandemic.aspxAbout a year ago, in March 2020, companies and organizations around the world shut down or significantly limited production of goods and services as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown measures that followed. In doing this, fewer cars were on the road and high-emission operations decreased.Rocky D. BullFri, 16 Apr 2021 00:00:00 THE STATUS OF AIR QUALITY IN THE UNITED STATES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMICAbout a year ago, in March 2020, companies and organizations around the world shut down or significantly limited production of goods and services as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown measures that followed. In doing this, fewer cars were on the road and high-emission operations decreased.open road with blue skyhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/the-status-of-air-quality-in-the-united-states-during-the-covid-19-pandemic.aspxhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/two-decades-of-mathematical-research-in-algebras-culminates-in-research-paper.aspxHemant Pendharkar, Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics at the University of South Florida, recently co-authored a research article with Dr. Don Hadwin, Professor of Mathematics & Statistics at the University of New Hampshire, entitled "Central Sequences in Subhomogeneous Unital C* Algebras", published by Cambridge University Press.Rocky D. BullFri, 16 Apr 2021 00:00:00 TWO DECADES OF MATHEMATICAL RESEARCH IN ALGEBRAS CULMINATES IN RESEARCH PAPERHemant Pendharkar, Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics at the University of South Florida, recently co-authored a research article with Dr. Don Hadwin, Professor of Mathematics & Statistics at the University of New Hampshire, entitled "Central Sequences in Subhomogeneous Unital C* Algebras", published by Cambridge University Press.University of South Florida: A Preeminent Research Universityhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/two-decades-of-mathematical-research-in-algebras-culminates-in-research-paper.aspxhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/undergraduate-humanities-research-conference-goes-digital-for-2021.aspxAt the end of January 2021, 52 University of South Florida (USF) undergraduate students from 13 different majors, ranging from religious studies to biomedical sciences, gathered online to present their original research projects on a huge variety of humanities topics.Rocky D. BullFri, 16 Apr 2021 00:00:00 UNDERGRADUATE HUMANITIES RESEARCH CONFERENCE GOES DIGITAL FOR 2021At the end of January 2021, 52 University of South Florida (USF) undergraduate students from 13 different majors, ranging from religious studies to biomedical sciences, gathered online to present their original research projects on a huge variety of humanities topics.undergraduate humanities research council video callhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/undergraduate-humanities-research-conference-goes-digital-for-2021.aspxCommunity Engagementhttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/usf-english-professor-awarded-prestigious-windham-campbell-prize.aspxAssistant Professor Natalie Scenters-Zapico was recently awarded the prestigious Windham Campbell Literature Prize at Yale University. The prize recognizes her two collections of poetry,The Verging Cities(2016) andLima :: Limon(2019). It also comes with an unrestricted grant of $165,000.Rocky D. BullFri, 16 Apr 2021 00:00:00 USF ENGLISH PROFESSOR AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS WINDHAM CAMPBELL PRIZEAssistant Professor Natalie Scenters-Zapico was recently awarded the prestigious Windham Campbell Literature Prize at Yale University. The prize recognizes her two collections of poetry,The Verging Cities(2016) andLima :: Limon(2019). It also comes with an unrestricted grant of $165,000.Natalie Scenters-Zapicohttps://www.usf.edu/arts-sciences/news/2021/usf-english-professor-awarded-prestigious-windham-campbell-prize.aspx