From Florida

The National Institutes of Health announced this fall a new program to expand the use of artificial intelligence in biomedical and behavioral research. In this episode, Azra Bihorac and Barbara Evans discuss the program and the University of Florida's involvement. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, James Sullivan and Emma Richards. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To thrive economically and be globally competitive, the U.S. needs to add many more workers who understand and have expertise in artificial intelligence. In this episode, David Reed, inaugural director of the Artificial Intelligence Academic Initiative Center explains how the University of Florida is taking a comprehensive approach to meet that need. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, James Sullivan and Emma Richards. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Micro-credentials have emerged as an ideal way to become proficient in a specific knowledge area. In this episode, Regina Rodriguez, provost fellow for professional education, explains UF's approach to micro-credentials, particularly in the realm of AI. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, James Sullivan and Emma Richards. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To thrive economically and be globally competitive, the U.S. needs to add many more workers who understand and have expertise in artificial intelligence. In this episode, David Reed, inaugural director of the Artificial Intelligence Academic Initiative Center explains how the University of Florida is taking a comprehensive approach to meet that need. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, James Sullivan and Emma Richards. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Social prescribing allows care providers to connect patients to a broad range of social, physical and cultural services in their communities that may help boost their health and wellbeing. In this episode, Jill Sonke of the Center for Arts in Medicine at UF and Christopher Bailey, arts and health lead at the World Health Organization talk about this approach to good health. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, Emma Richards and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Studies show that if a child is unable to read on level by third grade, there's a possibility they'll struggle throughout the rest of their school years – and may be on track to not finish high school. In this episode, Shaunté Duggins talks about Florida's New Worlds Reading Initiative, based at the Lastinger Center for Learning at UF, and how it hopes to change that trajectory – one free book at a time. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, Emma Richards and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The migratory Monarch butterfly is under threat. It's been placed on the endangered species list by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, which is the world's leading authority on the status of biological diversity. In this episode, Jaret Daniels, curator at the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity at the Florida Museum of Natural History, discusses UF's focus on butterfly conservation and research. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, Emma Richards and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Florida made history this summer with the installation of a statue of Mary McLeod Bethune in the National Statuary Hall collection, making her the first Black woman selected to represent a state at the U.S. Capitol. UF History Professor Paul Ortiz and Yolanda Cash Jackson, a member of the statue committee and a UF alumna, talk about Mary's many accomplishments and her selection. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, Emma Richards and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With 425 members, the Gator Marching Band is one of the biggest in the nation. Jay Watkins, associate director of bands, shares what it takes to get members ready for a new season of setting the tempo for Gator Nation and what fans should watch for this year. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, Emma Richards, James L. Sullivan and Lorenzo Phrasavath. Opening: original recording of “The Orange and Blue” by the Gator Marching Band; other audio recorded during an Aug. 22 band practice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The University of Florida has achieved $1 billion in research spending, a historic milestone that puts UF in a select group of about 15 public universities with expenditures of this magnitude. In this episode of From Florida, Vice President for Research David Norton explains what that means for UF, for Gainesville and for the state. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, Emma Richards and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Honorable Sethuraman Panchanathan, director of the National Science Foundation, visited the University of Florida on Friday, May 27, to learn more about UF’s research initiatives and share his vision for accelerating scientific advancements to benefit all. In this episode of From Florida, the director shares that overview with guest host Dr. David Norton, vice president for research at UF. Produced by Brooke Adams, Brenda Such, Andrew Feigum, John Varley, Ami Blasberg and Isaiah Fetterman. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Environmental journalist Cynthia Barnett was at the forefront of climate reporting and has seen the field grow exponentially in recent years. A critically acclaimed author and regular op-ed contributor, she now teaches future journalists and lectures widely. In this episode, she explains why doomsday reporting is not the answer. Instead, she recommends a balance of wonder and warning, and options for what can be done. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coleen Sailsman and Sarisha Boodoo are among 12 students who participated in the first Environmental Leaders Fellowship program, hosted by the Thompson Earth Systems Institute. They spent spring semester gaining skills that will make them better advocates for our planet. In this episode, Coleen and Sarisha share what they learned about community engagement and environmental advocacy. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Joel Buchanan Archive of African American Oral History includes 1,000 interviews with elders in Florida, Mississippi, Georgia and elsewhere about their experiences in the Civil Rights Movement, establishing churches, schools, businesses and their communities. Paul Ortiz, who directs the archive, and Sarah Moeller, a computational linguist, describe what’s in the archive and how they are using artificial intelligence to make the stories more accessible. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A consortium of nine universities in Florida, led by two professors at the University of Florida, is in the early stages of investigating medical marijuana. In this episode, Professor Almut Winterstein describes the consortium, its major research efforts and the opportunities and challenges in understanding how marijuana works as a medical treatment. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charles Carmakal is a UF alum and senior vice president and chief technology officer at Mandiant, a cybersecurity firm that works with government entities, corporations and law enforcement agencies around the world. On this episode of From Florida, Carmakal shares what organizations and individuals should do to protect themselves against cyberattacks. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carl Van Ness has worked as an archivist at the George A. Smathers Libraries for nearly 40 years – and that’s given him a lot of time to read letters from the past, set the historical record straight when needed and uncover interesting facts about the University of Florida. In this episode of From Florida, you’ll hear about myths Carl has busted and listen as he describes some of his favorite items in the archives. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a child, Amy Williams gazed at the skies and had the same thought many of us do: Is there life out there? Now, as an astrobiologist at the University of Florida, Williams and her students are actively working on NASA’s Curiosity and Perseverance missions to find out if ancient life forms ever existed on Mars. In this episode of From Florida, Williams describes the research taking place that hopes to answer that question. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The bald eagle wasn’t the hands-down choice to be our national emblem but today it is widely acknowledged as a perfect symbol of American patriotism. Pulitzer-Prize winning author Jack Davis, an environmental historian, has a new book out about the bird, its surprising past and its resilience – which leads Davis to call it an “environmental success story” we can learn from. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aimee Clesi has long known that she wanted to be a lawyer. But an internship at the Jacksonville state attorney’s office solidified her focus on wrongful conviction, especially as it relates to the death penalty. It also led to her selection as the University of Florida’s most recent Rhodes scholar. Aimee talks more about her plans to study at Oxford University and joins UF external scholarship and fellowship coordinator Kelly Medley in offering advice for other students pursuing scholarship opportunities. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thousands of high school seniors who applied to the University of Florida as part of the Class of 2026 will learn if they’ve been admitted on Friday, Feb. 25. It’s an exciting time for students, their parents and for all of us. We can’t wait to welcome the newest Gators! Mary Parker, the university’s chief enrollment strategist, explains in this episode of From Florida what will happen on Friday, what comes next and offers her perspective on enrollment trends around the country. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year, the theme of Black History Month is Black health and wellness, which makes it an ideal time to learn more about the work of Dr. Josephine Allen and Dr. Erika Moore, both materials science engineers at the University of Florida. In this episode of From Florida, they explain why genetic diversity is important to medical research. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The University of Florida decided seven years ago it wanted to create an online bachelor’s degree program that mirrored the quality and experience of its on-campus programs. Dr. Evangeline Cummings, assistant provost and director of UF Online, explains what UF did to reach that goal and, most important, to serve the needs of all kinds of students. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a nationwide shortage of nurses and it has been exacerbated by the pandemic, which has caused burnout, turnover and frustration for many nurses. Interest in nursing as a career remains strong, however. UF’s College of Nursing has a long history of developing innovative programs aimed at meeting the need for health care services, as Dean Anna McDaniel and Clinical Director Denise Schentrup explain. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mickey MacKie, an assistant professor of geological sciences and a glaciologist, joined UF this summer. She has set up the Gator Glaciology Lab, where she and a team of undergraduate students are using machine learning tools to study conditions under glaciers to better understand movement and melting, which has implications for sea level rise. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, Cynthia Roldan and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Researchers with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences are at the leading edge of using artificial intelligence to improve agricultural practices and production. Scott Angle explains the innovations happening at UF that will help Florida and other southeastern states take an increasing role in the nation’s food production. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Students and teachers throughout Florida are learning more about scientists and their work through UF’s Scientist in Every Florida School program. Bruce MacFadden, director of the Thompson Earth Systems Institute, oversees the program and in this episode, he shares how the program got started and the difference it hopes to make. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, Cynthia Roldan and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The University of Florida is home to one of the world’s fastest supercomputers. It’s called HiPerGator and in this episode of From Florida, Erik Deumens explains how its speed and capacity is making a difference in what researchers are able to do. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, Emily Cardinali and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Disruptions in the supply chain have impacted consumers’ ability to get a wide range of products, from couches to milk. Asoo Vakharia, the McClatchy professor and director of the Supply Chain Management Center in UF’s Warrington College of Business, explains what’s happening, what consumers can do and what companies should do in this episode of From Florida. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, Emily Cardinali and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s parents are the first to raise children alongside social media and this generation of children is the first to grow up constantly “shared” online. Stacey Steinberg, a professor at the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law is an expert on “sharenting” and the intersection of parents’ and children’s rights in the online world. In this episode, Steinberg shares her thoughts on how these rights can collide and roles of parents, tech companies and government in keeping children safe online. She also offers parents tips on what to consider as they and their children navigate social media. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, Emily Cardinali and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Porches are designed for social connection and for observing the world around us. In this episode of From Florida, hear what Charlie Hailey, a professor in UF’s School of Architecture, learned in his meditation on porches – a space where writers find inspiration, presidents seek solace and which present us all with a perfect perch to observe life and nature. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, Emily Cardinali and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Mo Wang of the Warrington College of Business is in the early stages of a research project looking at how to design trustworthy, transparent and fair AI-assisted hiring systems – work funded by a grant of nearly $1 million from the National Science Foundation and Amazon. Wang talks about the project, why it is needed and what the team hopes to achieve in this episode of From Florida. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, Emily Cardinali and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Note: Cuba is a subject that evokes a wide variety of viewpoints and emotions, especially in Florida and especially among Cuban-Americans. Today’s “From Florida” episode examines one expert’s views and observations on current events in Cuba, particularly within the context of its relationship with the U.S. Lillian Guerra, a professor of Cuban and Caribbean History at the University of Florida, is a go-to source for national media on Cuba – from its history and its politics to the ongoing protests in the country. In this episode of From Florida, Professor Guerra, whose scholarship includes five history books about Cuba, shares her insights about the latest protests, who is behind them and the path forward as she sees it. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, Emily Cardinali and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Forrest Masters was an undergraduate student at UF when a professor asked if he wanted to join a research team that chased tropical cyclones. He has been tracking storms ever since. In addition to conducting research during major storms, Forrest oversees UF’s advanced wind tunnel – a National Science Foundation user facility that attracts researchers from across the U.S. In this episode of From Florida, Forrest shares what it is like to conduct research in the middle of a hurricane and how his research may help contribute to more resilient communities. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, Emily Cardinali and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thanks to the GI Bill, thousands of military veterans have been able to pursue an education at the University of Florida. It is just one way the nation and UF shows gratitude for our military veterans’ service. And it also helps to broaden the experience for non-veteran students. In this episode of From Florida, Roselind Brown of the Collegiate Veterans Success Center highlights UF’s history of working with veterans, while Savanna Turner, who served in the U.S. Coast Guard, talks about the opportunities and challenges veterans face on a college campus. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, Emily Cardinali and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cryptocurrency is a mystery to many of us. In this episode of From Florida, Mark Jamison provides a straightforward explanation of cryptocurrency’s origins, how it works, why it’s attractive to some investors, what regulators are looking at and implications of cryptocurrency for the average person. He also talks about the one big question no one has yet answered: Who is or was Satoshi Nakamoto? Jamison is the director and Gerald Gunter Professor of the Public Utility Research Center and director of the Digital Markets Initiative at the University of Florida's Warrington College of Business. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, Emily Cardinali and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bats! Bats are the only mammals that power their own flight and the University of Florida has hundreds of thousands of them living in the world’s largest occupied bat houses. In this episode, From Florida host Nicci Brown talks with Verity Mathis, mammal collections manager at the Florida Museum of Natural History about the history of bats at UF, species found in our colony, the role bats play in the ecosystem and other fascinating facts about bats. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, Emily Cardinali and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For UF’s Student Life division, helping the university’s more than 55,000 students connect and thrive over the past 18 months was a challenge as the pandemic and social issues escalated the common pressures of the college years. Student Life Vice President D’Andra Mull shares how UF adapted and expanded services to connect students to campus services and to each other. She also discusses the innovations that worked so well they are being continued. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, Patricia Vernon and James L. Sullivan. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At his inauguration in 2015, President Kent Fuchs set an ambitious goal for the University of Florida: Become one of the nation’s Top 5 universities. Mission accomplished! President Fuchs shares why he didn’t hesitate to set that goal, what has made the university’s rise possible and what’s next – including his thoughts on a day of celebration.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 700 teams of students from across the country are participating in the Florida Hacks with IBM event, which runs through November. Their challenge? Find solutions to some of the most difficult environmental issues, from protecting waterways to developing sustainable fisheries. Sanethia Thomas, an assistant instructional professor in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, is overseeing the hackathon and shares how the event is teaching students more than how to code. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, Patricia Vernon and James L. Sullivan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As trusted influencers, artists and culture-bearers communicate information in ways that make it both understandable and memorable. That’s why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention turned to Jill Sonke, director of the Center for Arts in Medicine at the University of Florida, for help crafting a plan to bring public health and arts and culture organizations together to empower vaccine confidence. In this episode of From Florida, host Nicci Brown spoke with Sonke about her work as senior advisor to the CDC’s Vaccine Confidence and Demand Team. Produced by Brooke Adams, Patricia Vernon and James L. Sullivan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 6 million people in the U.S. are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease and that number is expected to grow exponentially in coming decades. It’s a devastating illness, with far-reaching emotional, physical and financial impacts on individuals, caregivers and their families. At the University of Florida, researchers are searching for answers to what causes Alzheimer’s, how to diagnose it early and prevent or slow its development and for the most effective treatments. Host Nicci Brown talks about that work with Todd Golde, director of the Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute; Malú Gámez Tansey, co-director of the Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, and Adam Woods, associate director the Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, about their Alzheimer’s disease research.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to From Florida, a podcast where you’ll learn how minds are connecting, great ideas are colliding and groundbreaking innovations become a reality because of the University of Florida.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.