From Florida

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.