College of Arts, Sciences & Education Magazine. 2015-2016

ARTS SCIENCES EDUCATION FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY 2015-2016

Helplessness turns to HOPE

Center for Children and Families revolutionizes treatments for child mental health disorders

INSIDE:

Shark census reaches first 100 reefs | STEM: Hands-on and real-world | Mutant mosquitoes could save lives

People from all across Florida visited FIU in February 2016 to see the First Folio, a first edition of William Shakespeare’s collected works. FIU was the only site in the state to host the exhibit thanks to the efforts of the Department of English, FIU Libraries and the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum.

5

Understanding the adolescent brain

6

Shark census reaches first 100 reefs

10

Education student makes the world her classroom

12

Hatchlings give hope for endangered songbird’s survival

14

Teachers of the year are united in learning

18

Biologist studies mosquitoes in quest to protect humans

21

Stopping the kiss of death

22

On the cover:

26

Dying languages find advocate

28

STEM: Hands-on and real-world

30

Shifting landscapes in the tropics

33

Hold the beef

34

Reinventing interrogations

36

FIU ForEverglades scholars do their part to help save national treasure

38

Gulf oil spill: 6 years later

40

Urban debate ignites passion for learning

42

Higher education for all

43

news.FIU.edu

Helplessness turns to hope

Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016 | 1

Arts, Sciences and Education unite. The College of Arts & Sciences and College of Education have joined forces to create the College of Arts, Sciences & Education (CASE) at FIU. The newly integrated college brings together the university’s top education programs, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) initiatives and education research endeavors. The college houses 10 academic departments and many of the university’s top research centers and institutes. Last year, CASE awarded 3,643 degrees, and its researchers accounted for nearly $42 million in research funding. As part of the integration, the School of Education and Human Development was formed to join the School of Environment, Arts and Society, and the School of Integrated Science and Humanity. The integration was announced by FIU Provost and Executive Vice President Kenneth G. Furton in 2015, who said the new organization will help attract more students, faculty and donors while creating new opportunities for collaboration and research.

2 | Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016

STUDENTS BECOME THE CHANGE-MAKERS OF TOMORROW The past few years have seen tremendous

changes to education. Never before has there

Mike Heithaus Dean

been so much opportunity to bring exciting

William Anderson Vice Dean

to the classroom to ensure our students

Maricel Cigales Associate Dean

pursue their goals. Never before has there

Maureen Donnelly Associate Dean

new technologies and teaching methods

are inspired, educated, and empowered to been such a need for the talent and creativity of universities to help solve the challenges our communities, country and world face.

FIU’s newly formed College of Arts, Sciences & Education (CASE)

ensures we maximize our impact and prepare our students to be

the change-makers our communities need. CASE builds upon the

tremendous successes of the past and has been organized to meet the needs of tomorrow through the work of our three schools.

In the classroom, we have continued FIU’s national leadership in

transforming how students are taught. Through team-teaching and active learning, we have improved student success in many STEM

(science, technology, engineering and math) classes. This past year,

the college also established the first-of-its-kind teaching academy at Ronald Reagan/Doral Senior High School in partnership with MiamiDade County Public Schools, where students learn how to teach children from diverse backgrounds.

We recently launched the Institute of Water and Environment to

Suzanna Rose Associate Dean Jeremy Rowan Assistant Dean Laura Dinehart Interim Executive Director, School of Education and Human Development Evelyn Gaiser Executive Director, School of Environment, Arts and Society Walter Van Hamme Interim Executive Director, School of Integrated Science and Humanity JoAnn C. Adkins Editor, Arts, Sciences & Education Magazine

address water issues and other challenges impacting the environment.

Aileen Solá-Trautmann Art Director

across the world, from tiny songbirds to top predators.

Barbarita Ramos Genesis Sikaffy Graphic Designers

And our Tropical Conservation Institute is working to save species all This year we also expanded efforts focused on cognitive

neuroscience and launched an international initiative to stop the

cycle of violence against women. Our researchers in the Biomolecular Sciences Institute delved into the fight against the Zika virus.

Last year, our researchers accounted for nearly $42 million in external

research funding. The work of our students and faculty provided the

inspiration for nearly $8 million in philanthropic pledges. I couldn’t be happier with our first year in CASE, and look forward to many more

Writers Ayleen Barbel Fattal Evelyn S. Perez Chrystian Tejedor Photographers Carl-Frederick Francois Douglas Garland Ben Guzman Timothy Long Christopher Necuze

amazing accomplishments in the coming year. To solve problems and prepare today’s students to be the global citizens of tomorrow, CASE will continue to innovate and develop the partnerships needed to

make an impact. I hope you will be inspired by the stories featured in this inaugural edition of Arts, Sciences & Education and find a way to get involved!

Michael R. Heithaus

Dean, College of Arts, Sciences & Education

Professor, Department of Biological Sciences Florida International University

College of Arts, Sciences & Education Dean’s Advisory Board Victor C. Balestra, Chair Gonzalo A. Acevedo Mariel Acosta-Garcia Sandy Batchelor Frank V. DuMond Sharon Fine Shawn Harrs Patricia B. Keon Paul D. Landrum Michael R. Mendez John Mills Esther Moreno Dr. Michael N. Rosenberg Dan Tasciotti FIU Board of Trustees Claudia Puig, Chairperson Jorge L. Arrizurieta, Vice Chair Mark B. Rosenberg, Secretary Cesar L. Alvarez Jose J. Armas Leonard Boord Gerald C. Grant, Jr., ’78, ’89 Michael G. Joseph Natasha Lowell Albert R. Maury, ’96, ’02 Justo L. Pozo ’80 Marc D. Sarnoff Faculty Member Kathleen Wilson Chair, FIU Faculty Senate Student Member Alian Collazo President, Student Government MMC Every Donor makes a difference. Contact us to learn how you can help.

Ady Arguelles 305-348-2864 givetocase@fiu.edu

Arts, Sciences & Education is an annual publication produced by the College of Arts, Sciences & Education and the Division of External Relations at Florida International University. 15741_09/16 College of Arts, Sciences & Education Florida International University 11200 SW 8th St., ECS 450 Miami, FL 33199 305-348-2864 casedean@fiu.edu

case.fiu.edu Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016 | 3

Inaugural poet joins U.S. Embassy ceremony in Cuba English alumnus Richard Blanco took to the steps of the United States embassy in Havana as the American flag was raised in Cuba for the first time in more than 54 years. Earning national acclaim in 2013 when President Barack Obama selected Blanco to read an original poem at his second inauguration, Blanco was invited to compose and deliver a new poem for the reopening of the embassy in Cuba. Believing poetry has the ability to create an emotional place of reconciliation, the child of exiles said this experience allowed him to heal a heart that had been split between two countries, two heritages and two loyalties.

Richard Blanco and his quilt of family memories Photo by Joyce Tenneson

Canary Islands telescope expands night sky for astronomers The Jacobus Kapteyn telescope in the Canary Islands has been reactivated under an agreement between the Instituto de Astrofí sica de Canarias and the Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy (SARA), a consortium of 12 universities including FIU. The acquisition gives astronomers at FIU’s Stocker AstroScience Center a remotely operable telescope at one of the best observing sites for astronomy in the world — the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos on the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma.

4 | Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016

b ra

in

Unde rst a

t en

n

he adol t g n e i sc d

FIU researchers embark on national landmark study

By Ayleen Barbel Fattal | abarbel@fiu.edu

A

dolescence is a time of

their teens and into adulthood. As part

extraordinary physical, emotional

of the study, NIH has awarded FIU

Health & Social Work.

“Taking responsibility for finding

and intellectual growth. It is also the

$12.7 million ­­­— the single largest NIH

solutions to the problem of adolescent

developmental stage of highest risk

award ever received by FIU faculty.

drug use, which robs our youth of their

for substance use and other disorders.

In total, 13 grants were awarded

future and costs our country millions in

Because brain development continues

to research universities throughout

lost productivity, we have assembled a

well into the mid 20s, researchers are

the United States as part of the

dream team of researchers,” said FIU

investigating how the changes that

study. Scientists will use advanced

President Mark B. Rosenberg. “This

begin in adolescence influence brain

research methods to track exposure to

project will impact our community and

development and ultimately impact

substances including nicotine, alcohol

the nation for years to come.”

a person’s cognitive, emotional and

and marijuana, as well as academic

academic outcomes.

achievement, cognitive skills, mental

the presence of disruptive behavior

health and brain function.

disorders including attention deficit

To find answers to these unknowns, the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Raul Gonzalez, associate professor of

The researchers will also examine

hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),

launched the Adolescent Brain Cognitive

psychology, psychiatry and immunology,

oppositional defiant disorder and others.

Development (ABCD) Study. The national

and faculty member at the FIU Center

In the first five years of the study, the

landmark study is the largest long-

for Children and Families, will lead a

researchers will recruit hundreds of

term study of the adolescent brain ever

14-member research team from FIU’s

youth from diverse ethnic, cultural and

attempted. It will follow more than 10,000

College of Arts, Sciences & Education

socioeconomic backgrounds in Miami-

children starting at ages 9 or 10 through

and Robert Stempel College of Public

Dade County and surrounding areas. n Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016 | 5

FinPrint is the first-ever global survey to inform shark and ray conservation

By JoAnn C. Adkins | jadkins@fiu.edu

R

esearchers attempting the world’s largest-ever survey of shark populations have reached their

reef habitats worldwide.

In the first year, researchers have

He says at least 30 species of sharks

experienced a few surprises. In some

and rays have been observed so far.

first 100 reefs, collecting exciting

regions of the world, they are seeing

footage along the way.

more sharks and rays than ever

Deploying baited remote underwater

professor of marine sciences at FIU.

expected, leading the researchers to

While some of the early findings are promising, others are concerning.

“In some locations, such as the

video (BRUV) equipment, researchers

start a friendly competition on Twitter

Bahamas and Australia’s Great Barrier

are catching the ocean’s top

— #BRUVbattle — for the most sharks

Reef, sharks and rays are extremely

predators, including sharks and rays,

in a single screengrab. The current

common. These are places where

on camera in their natural habitats.

record holder is the team from the

local shark conservation measures

Nearly a quarter of these predators

United States with 16 sharks caught

seem to be working, or are areas

are threatened with extinction, yet

on camera along New Caledonia in the

largely untouched by shark fisheries,”

the lack of comprehensive and up-

Pacific Ocean.

Chapman said.

to-date data on species abundance

“Our international team has

In other, more heavily fished

and distribution is hindering efforts

deployed more than 5,000 BRUVs and

locations, cameras rolled for hours

to protect these important marine

collected more than 5,000 hours of

with little to no signs of sharks. For

animals. The survey project, dubbed

footage,” said FinPrint lead scientist

one location off the coast of Malaysia,

Global FinPrint, is focusing on coral

Demian Chapman, an associate

the researchers collected more than

6 | Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016

the bait from the BRUV. The crab won.

With core support from philanthropist Paul G. Allen, Global FinPrint is one of several initiatives within the Microsoft co-founder’s portfolio of ocean health programs.

The new data will be consolidated are going to be able to help prioritize areas for conservation and learn how sharks and rays function in coral reef ecosystems. This information will help ensure we are able to effectively manage these amazing animals and their hugely important ecosystems.”

The BRUV technology is enabling 100 videos. Their efforts resulted in

scientists to collect more accurate

a single shark sighting. In Jamaica, a

information because the same

similar number of videos yielded no

technology can be used everywhere.

sharks at all.

“One thing we hope to do with

with thousands of hours of existing video data to form a single dataset for analysis, producing the first global standardized survey of sharks and rays in coral reef environments. The data will be made available through an openaccess database platform created

by Allen’s Vulcan Inc. Researchers, policymakers, governments and others will be able to use the database to inform conservation priorities and to better understand the

Global FinPrint is to learn what

ecological importance of sharks as

than 200 reefs by the end of 2017 and

measures are working for shark and

apex predators.

include about 500 reefs in the final

ray conservation around the world and

analysis at the end of the three-year

try to help spread these approaches

Heithaus, the FinPrint team includes

project. The research already shows

to other places where sharks and rays

Colin Simpfendorfer from James Cook

that existing data on shark and ray

still occur but are not yet formally

University in Australia and Michelle

abundance in some parts of the world

protected,” Chapman said.

Heupel, Aaron MacNeil, and Mark

The researchers plan to reach more

In addition to Chapman and

While informative,

Meekan from the Australian Institute of

the BRUVs have also

Marine Science. They are working with

impressive,” said FIU FinPrint

captured some exciting

individuals, conservation organizations

researcher Mike Heithaus, who also

moments along the

and other partners all across the

is inaccurate.

“The early results are really

serves as the dean of FIU’s College of

reefs including a hammerhead flipping

world. Survey results will be made

Arts, Sciences & Education. “With a

one camera and a battle between a

available in summer 2018. To learn

global network of collaborators, we

feisty crab and a hungry octopus for

more, visit globalfinprint.org n Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016 | 7

Global FinPrint is finding the last remaining strongholds of sharks and rays around the world, giving rise to new conservation strategies and helping in the establishment of effective protected areas.

The project is led by FIU’s Demian Chapman and Mike Heithaus, researchers who have dedicated their careers to the oceans’ largest predators. In fact, FIU has assembled a dream team of researchers from its Marine Sciences Program and the Tropical Conservation Institute that is changing the face of conservation for large marine animals — helping to save species that are critical for the health of the world’s oceans and the planet.

8 | Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016

MIKE HEITHAUS •

Uncovering the consequences of losing sharks, rays and other marine predators from ecosystems

•

Developing and deploying animal-borne cameras on sharks and other marine animals to study behavior

•

Studying predator personalities and their importance in structuring the roles of predators in ecosystems

•

Investigating the nature and importance of shark-turtle and shark-dolphin interactions

•

Understanding how fear of predators structures ecosystems

DEMIAN CHAPMAN •

Investigating changes in the species composition and geographic sources of the shark fin trade in China and Hong Kong

•

Developing of forensics tools to monitor the trade in sharks and rays, and enforce new trade restrictions

•

Determining how shark and ray populations are structured, in order to design effective protected areas

•

Researching the ecological consequences of removing sharks and rays from coral reef ecosystems

YANNIS PAPASTAMATIOU •

Creating daily diaries of shark movements using high-tech accelerometers

•

Detailing the behavior and role of reef sharks in the most pristine areas in the world

•

Tracking movements of hammerhead sharks around the Galapagos Islands

•

Conducting conservation research on the endangered smalltooth sawfish

MARK BOND •

Protecting threatened species by working with governments and partner organizations around the world on training and capacity-building to assist with implementation of shark and ray listings with the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES)

•

Tracking movement and habitat-use of the smalltooth sawfish in the Bahamas

•

Investigating differences in shark and ray assemblages in Fiji

•

Revealing long-term movements of coastal great hammerhead sharks in South Florida and the Bahamas

JEREMY KISZKA •

•

Reducing the impact of fisheries on sharks in developing nations of East

YUYING ZHANG

Africa, Arabian Sea and the Caribbean

•

Studying the roles of large whales, dolphins and sharks in ecosystems

• •

role of sharks •

Predicting the effect of human activities on sharks in coral reef ecosystems

Modeling the ecological Investigating the status of sharks in Chinese fisheries

•

Using drone technology to estimate

Refining methods for studying shark abundance

shark and ray numbers and the impact of tourism in coral Pacific islands

JAMES FOURQUREAN •

Investigating how predators affect seagrasses, a key storer of carbon dioxide (blue carbon)

•

Developing policy solutions to protect blue carbon

KEVIN BOSWELL •

Developing and deploying the latest acoustic technology to investigate the effects of sharks on coral reef fish behavior

Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016 | 9

Making the world her classroom FIU panthers leaving their tracks all around the world #MedjyFIU

Education student immerses herself in the schools of developing countries

By Chrystian Tejedor | ctejedor@fiu.edu

M

edjy Pierre-Louis’ parents didn’t

and Sarah Mathews, professors in

had the experience of working with

receive the best education in

the School of Education and Human

computers, particularly kids in the rural

Haiti, she says, but it provided

Development in the College of Arts,

part of the country,” she said. “Their

Sciences & Education.

eagerness to learn propelled them to

enough opportunity for them to move to South Florida, eventually buy a home and start a family.

“Education is everything,” Pierre-

“From the very beginning she set her sights really high as far as the

succeed. They figured it out.“ Along the way, Pierre-Louis received

contributions she wants to make to

support from FIU’s McNair grant

Louis recalls her father telling her from

society,” said Gardinier, who teaches

a young age. “You can go much further

program, an FIU Global Learning

in the International and Intercultural

than me. Imagine how much further

Education Master’s program. “In that

fellowship and a Purdue University

you can make it with everything.”

way, she’s one of those one-in-a-

Now 19, Pierre-Louis is testing

million people who are inspiring.”

the limits of how far education can

Gardinier worked with Pierre-

take her. She recently returned from

Louis to sharpen her focus on

research trips to Haiti and Jamaica

research methodology and prepare

where she studied how developing

her for difficulties that might present

countries were preparing future

themselves while working in the field.

generations for the 21st century.

To overcome these challenges, Pierre-

“There is a big issue of brain drain

Louis leveraged a curriculum for middle

research grant.

Pierre-Louis didn’t stop with the Caribbean islands. She also interned with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the West African nation of BurkinaFaso, through FIU’s West Africa Water Supply, Sanitation Hygiene Program in the School of Environment, Arts and Society. She also traveled to China

in both countries,” Pierre-Louis said.

and high school students designed by

“Resources are scarce and domestic

the Chicago Grassroots Curriculum

industries are limited, which forces

Taskforce that would improve a child’s

Mandarin at the Beijing Language and

students to leave their countries in

ability to develop critical thinking and

Culture University.

search of better opportunities. Each

leadership skills, as well as being able

country has social constructs such as

to use new technologies.

class and gender roles, which make

It differed greatly from how students

for a semester abroad studying

But her passion resides largely with Haiti. Long-term, Pierre-Louis plans to return to the island nation to continue

climbing the social mobility ladder

in Haiti are taught, where lessons focus

her research. With her parents as

through education even more difficult.”

on rote memorization. That leaves little

her inspiration, she hopes her work

time for critical thinking skills.

will advance opportunities for a new

To bring her research to fruition, she partnered with Meg Gardinier 10 | Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016

“In Haiti, most students never

generation of students. n

My Community in Haiti Project (Pwoje Kominote Pam Nan Ayiti)

These are some of the inventions the MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS made at Catts Pressoir with limited materials and within less than 6 months. #MedjyFIU

This school is called “L’ecole Catts Pressoir.” The director of this school has recently been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for the outstanding work and education he is providing to Haitian students in the Capital. It may not look like an extravagant school, but trust me, great things are going on at this institution. #MedjyFIU

My students working on their research :) #MedjyFIU

These are some of the classrooms at Catts Pressoir. Again, this may seem like a normal classroom to you, but most Haitian schools’ classrooms cannot even compare to the classroom you see here. #MedjyFIU

Sky-view of the Sud region of Haiti. The earthquake really did a number on this region. #MedjyFIU

“So this is the challenge. You’ll meet a lot of people that say, yes, I agree with the need for 21st century education in Haiti. But the question becomes: how do you get there within a 19th century society?”

— Guy Serge Pompilus Director of Professional Development Haitian Ministry of Education #MedjyFIU

During her research, Medjy Pierre-Louis shared memorable parts of her trip to Haiti on social media.

These boys were trouble! but extremely intelligent. #MedjyFIU

“Lycee des jeune filles” Or a girls secondary school. This school actually has all grade levels (hence the small children) #MedjyFIU

Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016 | 11

Songbird Survival fights for

Fewer than 100 male Florida grasshopper sparrows remain in the wild and numbers of the more elusive female are unknown.

12 | Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016

By JoAnn C. Adkins | jadkins@fiu.edu

T

he first captive-bred Florida Grasshopper Sparrow hatched this spring under the care

of researchers with FIU’s Tropical Conservation Institute (TCI).

One of the world’s most endangered birds, the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow exclusively resides in Central Florida. At last count, fewer than 100 males remain in the wild and the number of elusive females is unknown.

In 2015, seven sparrows were put in the care of TCI researchers — the first to ever be reared in a captive setting.

TCI is a collaboration with the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation in Loxahatchee, Fla., where the sparrows are currently residing.

“With wild populations declining, our

The mother bird watches over three Florida Grasshopper Sparrows that hatched May 9 at FIU’s Tropical Conservation Institute. The fourth hatched the following day.

The team had little time to celebrate

Grasshopper Sparrow breeding

first priority is to prevent extinction —

because a few weeks later, flooding

illuminates why captive breeding

which, sadly, was the fate of the Florida

throughout the Central Florida prairie

can be an essential conservation

Grasshopper Sparrow’s close relative,

threatened to wipe out all the nests

tool,” Reillo said. “We can prevent

the Dusky Seaside Sparrow, 30 years

remaining in the wild. U.S. Fish and

ago,” said TCI Director Paul Reillo,

extinctions, buy time to develop

Wildlife Service took emergency action

who is also the founding president of

to secure all the remaining nests,

recovery options, and discover fresh

Rare Species. This first captive clutch

which reside on the ground of the

is exciting and humbling, providing

treeless prairie, and delivered the eggs

an intimate window into the sparrow’s

to TCI researchers. These hatchlings

secretive world.”

are also thriving.

In total, four chicks hatched, which

While the chicks give scientists

solutions to problems. This is a vital part of a comprehensive speciesrecovery program.”

Aside from the biological challenges of breeding such a delicate species in captivity, another challenge is funding.

was a pleasant surprise for Reillo.

hope, Reillo points out much

When it came to nesting, he expected

uncertainty remains for this

several false starts because of the

species on the brink of extinction.

small number of birds residing with TCI.

Conservationists agonized for years

Between three males and four females,

over how to stop the plunge in the tiny

a successful nesting required a pair of

songbird’s population, occurring for

awarded TCI a challenge grant to match

unrelated birds that would get along

reasons still unknown. Currently, those

contributions for its programs. TCI also

well enough to mate and successfully

residing in Loxahatchee are the only

hopes to expand its facilities to help

hatch chicks. The odds were long.

ones living in captivity under the care

ensure the survival of these sparrows

But two birds started showing interest

of researchers — part of U.S. Fish and

and other species. But as Reillo points

in each other in early spring and the

Wildlife Service’s desperate efforts to

out, the financial cost is minor when

female laid her first egg April 26, 2016.

save the species.

compared to the cost of losing an entire

The chicks hatched two weeks later.

“The first captive Florida

Researchers are working to raise $120,000 in annual costs to sustain the captive breeding program for the birds. The Batchelor Foundation has

species to extinction. n Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016 | 13

18 alumni have earned Miami-Dade’s top teaching honor in FIU’s young history

By Chrystian Tejedor | ctejedor@fiu.edu

Roxanna Concepción, left, was a student of Carol Iglesias’ at Royal Palm Elementary.

Today, they share a classroom as teachers there.

14 | Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016

Teachers of the Year Geoffrey Aladro, 2016 MS/History

I

n the first 18 years of their lives,

degree in reading education from

Florida students will spend an

FIU in 1979. One year later, she

average of 2,340 days in school.

was named Miami-Dade’s Teacher

Change is inevitable. They make

of the Year. After 46 years, two

friends and lose friends. They grow

elementary schools and 1,380

into teenagers, graduate from one

students, she retired in 2008. But

school and move on to the next.

Iglesias couldn’t stay away. She

Their one constant is teachers.

has returned to Miami-Dade’s Royal

From the front of the classroom,

Palm Elementary, where she spent

teachers lead children on journeys

much of her career.

of exploration. They help shape

“The key to good teaching is

how children see the world. A

to have enough time to give to

single science class or one English

each child,” she said. “It’s difficult,

lesson can ignite passions. What

yet teachers do an incredible

they teach and how they teach can

job…they go far beyond what’s

lead to discoveries that might solve

expected of them.”

the challenges confronting society today and well into the future.

Since opening its doors in 1972,

Today, she spends her days helping teach lessons with one of her former students, Roxanna

FIU has produced educators. FIU’s

Concepción, who is now a teacher

impact on South Florida schools

at Royal Palm Elementary.

is far-reaching and in Miami-Dade

But not all those who teach

County alone, 35 percent of all

know from the get-go that they

teachers from Miami-Dade County

want to be teachers. Marshall

Public Schools are FIU alumni.

Ruffo enrolled at FIU in 1997,

In fact, most of FIU’s education

earning a bachelor’s degree in

alumni have stayed in South

biological sciences and a minor

Florida, becoming teachers and

in chemistry. He has always had

principals in Broward, Miami-Dade

a love for science and nature.

and Monroe counties.

He is divemaster certified, holds

Many of Miami-Dade County

a Master Captain License from

Public Schools’ teachers of the year

the United States Coast Guard,

hold FIU degrees. From Alberto A.

and spends much of his time

Soriano in 1973 to Geoffrey Aladro

exploring marine ecosystems.

in 2016, FIU alumni bring something

But mixed with his desire to be

special to the classroom. They

a scientist was also the desire to

stand out for their expertise, for

share his passions and foster a

the creativity that helps children

love of science among the next

connect with their assignments,

generation. Today, the 2014 Miami-

and for the relationships that inspire

Dade County Teacher of the Year

future educators.

teaches biology at Cutler Bay

Carol Iglesias earned her master’s

Senior High.

Marshall Ruffo, 2014 BS/Biology

Alexandre Lopes 2013 Miami-Dade County Teacher of the Year and Florida Teacher of the Year Doctoral student in the School of Education and Human Development “I learned to see my students not as students with a disability, but as students who are culturally different.

In part, in some shape or form, I think I began to see disability of a child as part of the individual culture of that child and I think that has made a difference.”

Agustin Grana, 2012 BS/Special Education Cristine O’Hara, 2011 BS/English, MS Urban Education

Jacquelle Sconiers 2009 Miami-Dade County Teacher of the Year BBA, MPA “Once I got into it, I had a love for teaching because I had the opportunity to do a lot of things that encompassed everything I had been working on in life. Teaching at the Juvenile Detention Center is difficult, but I could show students a perspective from an entrepreneur so they could see they had different options in life.”

Lynn Carrier, 2007 BS/Special Education Eva Hernandez, 2004 BS/Elementary Education, MS/TSOL Janis Klein-Young, 2002 BS/Art Education Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016 | 15

Patricia J. Cohen, 2001 BS/Special Education Melanie Green, 1999 BS/Special Education

Shawn DeNight 1998 Miami-Dade County Teacher of the Year and Florida Teacher of the Year BA/Liberal Studies “When students come back to your classroom and tell you what you taught them was important to them — either in the classroom or as a life lesson — that’s the most rewarding moment. There’s nothing like when it’s after school and kids are still in your classroom because they want to follow up or clarify or talk to you.”

Regina M. Nuñez, 1996 MS/Elementary Education Bettye B. Brown Douglas, 1987 Vocational Education Certificate Raymond Dunn, 1983 BA/Music Carol Iglesias, 1980 MS/Reading

“The key to good teaching is to have enough time to give to each child.”

— Carol Iglesias

Ruffo has taught nearly 1,900 students in general science classes, biology and marine

1979 Miami-Dade County Teacher of the Year and Florida Teacher of the Year MS/Music Education Ed.D./Educational Administration “When I was playing with Miami Sound Machine I was also teaching.

In the music videos for ‘Dr. Beat,’ I was dressed like a nurse with a wig and make-up. I felt anxious about how the students would receive it. I made sure to show them the VHS tape before it came out on TV and they were totally cool with it.”

Albert A. Soriano, 1973 BS/English, MS Urban Education 16 | Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016

with autism.

“I fought for kids to have

science. As the demand grows

the opportunity to be exposed

in STEM (science, technology,

to their peers as long as they

engineering and math) fields,

followed the same rules as

Ruffo is helping ignite interest

everyone else,” Carrier said.

among his students.

“They have things to contribute

“It’s not in my nature to settle

as well. They deserved more than

on the standard curriculum,” he

to visit a general classroom twice

said. “My experience has shown

a week where they didn’t even

me that the more your students

have their own desk.”

see that you know the subject

During her 18 years at

matter and that you care, they

Gulfstream Elementary, she

are more willing to buy in. They

enjoyed watching her students

want to know what they’re doing

grow and learn with the help of

benefits them in the real world

their peers. Her special needs

and that it’s not just a book thing.”

students were able to follow

It’s an outdoors thing too.

Victoriano Lopez

inclusion for 4- to 6-year-olds

along with the lessons given

Ruffo organizes kayaking trips

to other students. In total, she

and Everglades adventures so

taught 360 children, a small

his students can explore local

number with huge impact.

wildlife and ecosystems.

Today, she works for Miami-

A teacher who spends

Dade County Public Schools

decades in the classroom can

in its Division of Academic

reach thousands of students in

Support. She trains the coaches

their lifetime. But impact isn’t

who help teachers improve

always measured by the sheer

the performance of students in

volume of those they teach.

struggling schools.

Sometimes, it’s measured by

“Teachers face strict curricular

whom they teach. Lynn Carrier,

and accountability standards.

who graduated from FIU in 1987,

Administrators are challenged to

spent much of her teaching

improve struggling schools, and

career pioneering a system of

districts face ongoing budget

issues,” said Laura Dinehart, interim

Since graduating its first class 43

accomplished and

executive director of the School of

years ago, 18 FIU graduates have gone

exceptional teachers

Education and Human Development.

on to earn Teacher of the Year honors in

who have been trained

“But at FIU, we strive to prepare

Miami-Dade County alone. Thousands

at FIU and are now using

graduates who are persistent in their

more have helped to transform

their outstanding skills

desire to serve students, families

classrooms, improve local schools and

as educators to deliver

and communities. More than ever,

impact the lives of their students.

robust and innovative

we must prepare educators who are

“Miami-Dade County Public Schools

instruction to Miami-

knowledgeable about content, flexible

and Florida International University

Dade’s public school

and dynamic in their pedagogy, and

have forged a successful partnership

students. Our teachers

ready to take on challenges. We have

on many fronts,” said Superintendent

are among the best and

historically prepared educators who

of Schools Alberto M. Carvalho.

brightest educators in the

work ahead of the curve and we have every intention of continuing to do so.”

“Our partnership has yielded instructional excellence through the

nation and we hold all of them in high esteem.” n

2016 Principal of the Year is Making Middle School Awesome Again Manuel Sanchez takes this to heart: Treat people with respect and you can help them achieve. It was a lesson learned from his earliest days as an intern teaching students with emotional and behavioral disabilities.

Today, Sanchez, who holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in special education from FIU, applies that mantra as principal of Miami Lakes Middle, where he was recently named the 2016 Principal of the Year for Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

According to the Center for Public Education, principals are in the unique position to impact student achievement on a large scale. Effective principals can create environments where students are motivated to succeed academically, test scores improve markedly, absenteeism drops and graduation rates rise. Since 2010, four of the last six Miami-Dade principals of the year have been FIU alumni.

For Sanchez, he believes success lies in connecting with his students and his teachers to understand their needs. Sanchez is on a self-styled campaign to #makemiddleschoolawesomeagain.

He has shifted school resources to ensure students have access to extracurricular activities and enrichment opportunities they would actually enjoy. Miami Lakes Middle now has a drama club, an anime club and a fishing club. Students also have access to tutors who offer remedial lessons in key courses or accelerator lessons intended to help students grasp key concepts from algebra, geometry or the sciences before they reach high school.

Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016 | 17

F ra n kenSk eeter P R O F E S S O R GEN ETI CAL LY MOD I FI ES MO SQUITO ES IN QUEST TO PROT EC T H UMANS

By JoAnn C. Adkins | jadkins@fiu.edu

M Matthew DeGennaro exhibits a container of genetically modified Aedes aegypti mosquitoes currently residing in his lab at FIU.

18 | Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016

atthew DeGennaro is determined

there are thousands of species of

to stop the world’s deadliest

mosquitoes, only a small number are

animal. Accounting for as many

known to transmit diseases. As fate

as 725,000 deaths worldwide every

would have it, these carriers happen to

year, mosquitoes transmit a variety of

be the species that prefer the taste of

infectious diseases including malaria,

humans. The Aedes aegypti mosquito

dengue fever, yellow fever, West

is among those, a spreader of yellow

Nile virus and the Zika virus. While

fever, dengue and Zika.

The mosquito on the left is a genetically modified mosquito in DeGennaro’s lab. The mosquito on the right is a wild type of the same species.

DeGennaro spends his days

It was a historic moment for

surrounded by them, trying to better

entomology. For DeGennaro,

understand why they hunt people

a high school dropout with

and how he might stop them from

a Ph.D., it was a defining

biting us.

moment in his career.

The FIU biologist is the first scientist in the world to create

FIRST GENERATION STUDENT

a mutant mosquito — a feat he

DeGennaro was born in the

achieved in 2010 as a researcher at

Bronx and grew up in Rockland

Rockefeller University in New York.

County, N.Y. to middle class

While it sounds like a Marvel movie

parents. His father was

in the making, DeGennaro has no

an elevator mechanic and

intention of unleashing a new type of

his mother worked as an

mosquito on the world. His mutants

administrative secretary. By

serve a greater scientific purpose.

the age of 15, DeGennaro had

They help him better understand what

grown tired of high school

attracts mosquitoes to humans and

and knew he was ready for

why they are repelled by DEET,

something more challenging.

the main ingredient currently used in

So he left and enrolled at

most repellants.

Bard College at Simon’s

“Although DEET is safe and

Rock, a liberal arts college in

effective, we need new tools to

Massachusetts designed for

School of Medicine. Through these

prevent mosquitoes from biting us,”

high school students wanting to start

experiences, DeGennaro realized two

DeGennaro said. “Understanding how

college early.

things about himself — he didn’t want

DEET works will help us develop a

There, he earned an associate’s

to be a doctor and he was pretty good

degree in natural sciences and

at being a scientist. So he enrolled at

enrolled at Bard College in New York

NYU to pursue a Ph.D. with one of the

itself, repels the pests or if DEET

where he double majored in History

founders of developmental genetics,

mixing with human odors is confusing

and Philosophy of Science and

Ruth Lehmann.

mosquitoes to the point they lose their

Gender Studies.

new generation of repellents.”

Scientists don’t know if DEET, by

attraction to people. Since you can’t

He then headed west, working as

Shortly after earning his Ph.D. in 2008, he landed a coveted research

exactly ask a mosquito, DeGennaro

a research scientist at the Oral AIDS

position at The Rockefeller University’s

has gone the scientific route.

Center at the University of California,

Laboratory of Neurogenetics and

San Francisco studying Epstein-

Behavior in New York under the

remove a gene in a living organism,

Barr Virus in HIV patients. Returning

direction of Leslie Vosshall. It

something changes. He has seen it

to New York a few years later, he

was a perfect match. DeGennaro

first-hand. When DeGennaro created

was hired as a research scientist at

was a geneticist looking to study

the first mutant in 2010, he removed

Howard Hughes Medical Institute

neurobiology in an insect system.

a gene related to the mosquito’s

at Columbia University and later at

Vosshall is known internationally as

olfactory receptor, essentially

the Skirball Institute of Biomolecular

the scientist who discovered the

interfering with its sense of smell.

Medicine at New York University

insect olfactory receptors. By the time

The geneticist knows that when you

Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016 | 19

THE Z IKA OUT B RE A K Matthew DeGennaro’s efforts have

DeGennaro arrived in her lab, she had

When he arrived at FIU in 2014,

garnered international attention as

decided to shift her focus from flies

he continued his work with mutants

an outbreak of Zika virus has gripped

to mosquitoes.

and joined the research team in the

much of South America. Brazil, host of

“She asked me if I wanted to

Biomolecular Sciences Institute (BSI)

the 2016 Summer Olympics, has been

create the first mutant mosquito. That

in the School of Integrated Science

hardest hit. An increasing number of

sounded interesting,” DeGennaro said.

and Humanity. In an institute where

cases are also reported in the United

He accepted the challenge.

States, particularly in Florida. Zika has been linked to an increase in cases of babies born with microcephaly, a condition that results in abnormally small heads and underdeveloped brains. In adults, Zika is not fatal but symptoms can include rash, joint pain, pinkeye and fever.

Zika is transmitted through the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is prevalent in warm, humid climates. The World Health Organization estimates the Zika virus will reach every country in the Western Hemisphere before the end of 2016, infecting nearly 4 million people. Last year, more than 1 billion international travelers were logged, according to Carolin Lusby, an assistant professor of tourism, research methods and leadership in FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management.

“With so much people flow, there is always risk for diseases to travel around the world,” Lusby said.

Currently, there is no treatment for Zika and potential vaccines are still in development. This reality makes DeGennaro’s work all the more critical.

The first line, and currently the only line of defense, is preventing an infected mosquito from biting in the first place.

DeGennaro would argue that preventing the bite of a mosquito should be a priority to combat all mosquito-borne diseases. His work is pushing science toward a new generation of repellants and mosquito controls that could usher in a new era of disease prevention.

20 | Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

much of the work focuses on the treatment of diseases, DeGennaro’s research stands out. Instead of finding

Mosquitoes rely on their antennae

cures for patients, he is trying to stop

to track down each meal. Along with

diseases before they ever get

heat and CO2 sensors, these tiny

to people.

projections are equipped with 131

“Mosquito-borne diseases are

odor receptors. These receptors

serious global health problems with

enable mosquitoes to isolate different

high relevance to South Florida,” said

odors in the air and pick-up the

BSI Director Yuk-Ching Tse-Dinh. “Dr.

most desirable scent to them —

DeGennaro’s work may provide novel

unsuspecting humans. That much

approaches for controlling the spread

was known in 2008. But scientists

of these diseases.”

knew little else. To uncover the secrets of the mosquito, DeGennaro and Vosshall turned to the fruit fly.

Research had already determined odor receptors in fruit flies are all linked to a single gene. Without that gene, the flies can’t detect odors in the air. The scientists hypothesized that the mosquito’s odor receptors might rely on a similar gene to properly detect odors. In less than two years, DeGennaro successfully “tweaked” the targeted gene in an Aedes aegypti mosquito, essentially turning it off.

When the researchers exposed

DeGennaro joins FIU researcher Fernando Noriega and others at the university who are exploring the world’s insects, and in particular, the mosquito. DeGennaro’s fast-growing lab includes 12 undergraduate students, three graduate students and a postdoctoral researcher. DeGennaro says if his team can identify which genes lead mosquitoes to people, scientists should be able to refine and improve upon current repellants and mosquito controls. Because of the important role biodiversity plays on the planet, DeGennaro doesn’t

the modified mosquito to human

want to rid the world of mosquitoes.

scent, the mutant had lost interest.

After all, it’s only a select few species

It also became resistant to DEET.

of mosquitoes that are giving the

With that single genetic modification,

thousands of others a bad name. He

DeGennaro successfully influenced

just wants to stop them from zeroing

the mosquito’s behavior. For the

in on people.

next five years, he continued to

“If we can stop mosquitoes from

work with the modified mosquitoes

finding us, we can save 725,000 lives

learning more about what influences

a year,” DeGennaro said. “The key is

their behavior.

understanding mosquito behavior.” nn

Researchers set their sights on Chagas disease-spreading bugs

By Evelyn S. Perez | esuperez@fiu.edu

F

IU researchers are on a mission

reported infections throughout

blood-sucking insect that is not

to control and eliminate Chagas

the United States.

a mosquito nor a fly that transmits

disease, which is spread by Rhodnius prolixus and other kissing bug species.

Not as sweet as it sounds, the

Biologists Fernando G. Noriega and Marcela Nouzova are part of an international research team that

an important parasitic disease affecting humans.”

Kissing bugs are mostly nocturnal

kissing bug earned its name because

sequenced nearly all of Rhodnius

and suck the blood of mammals,

it bites people’s faces, usually around

prolixus’ DNA, completing a

reptiles and birds. They are common

the mouth, and feeds on their blood

comprehensive analysis of its genetic

in Mexico, Central America and South

at night. Not for the faint of heart, the

material. Understanding an organism’s

America, as well as in the U.S. They

insects typically defecate after feeding

genetic makeup helps to understand

are typically found under porches,

and can pass the T. cruzi parasite that

how its genes work together to

under cement, in rocks, wood, brush

causes Chagas disease if the person

direct the growth, development and

piles and other outdoor areas.

accidentally rubs the infected feces

maintenance of the entire organism.

into the bite wound.

“DNA sequencing is a dynamic

To keep kissing bugs away from your home, researchers suggest sealing any

Chagas disease affects about

process that never ends,” Noriega

cracks or gaps around windows and

7 million people worldwide and can

said. “There will always be gaps of

doors, adding screens to windows,

cause premature heart failure and

information that are either filled or

cleaning brush near the home and

gastrointestinal issues. The Centers for

corrected with time. But this is the

placing lights, which may attract the

Disease Control and Prevention has

first, complete DNA sequence of a

bugs, away from the home. n Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016 | 21

HELPLESSNESS

turns to

HOPE

CCF revolutionizes

treatments for child

F

or Kayla and Tim Riera-Gomez,

personality that if we can get through

the troubling phone calls from their

it, he was going to do amazing things

son’s preschool started when he was

for the world,” Kayla said. “Then it

only 3.

progressed. We were receiving calls

Christopher was misbehaving. He

mental health and

yelled at teachers. He threw things.

behavior disorders

He had temper tantrums. His crying

By Ayleen Barbel Fattal | abarbel@fiu.edu and JoAnn C. Adkins | jadkins@fiu.edu

three a day.”

The parents were left wondering

fits lasted as long as an hour. By

how a 4-year-old could get kicked out

the time he was 4, the school was

of preschool. They realized something

threatening suspensions.

more than just willfulness was afflicting

“At first, we thought it was willfulness, this kind of strength-of-

22 | Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016

from the school, sometimes two and

their young son. And they realized he wouldn’t just grow out of it.

Christopher Riera-Gomez left, and his parents Kayla and Tim are enjoying a new family dynamic thanks to a program at FIU’s Center for Children and Families.

The parents were a happy couple

Kayla and Tim talked to Christopher’s

diagnosis, they could not bill the

that enjoyed professional success.

pediatrician. They met with the principal

behavioral aide’s assistance to

Kayla is an attorney and Tim is a

at his school, who offered to work with

insurance. The expense was high,

lobbyist. When Christopher was born,

the family to help Christopher. But they

and they knew it could only serve as a

they thought they were starting a

were still left wondering — why was

temporary solution.

happy new chapter in their life. But

Christopher so mad?

the emotional fallout of Christopher’s

They hired a behavioral aide that

“Your child is the only one with an adult shadow. That doesn’t make them

daily challenges left them tired,

attended preschool every day with

feel any better among their peers,”

confused and feeling helpless. It took

Christopher, but did so without a

Tim said.

a toll on their marriage. Christopher

diagnosis since mental and behavior

It was around that same time,

picked up on the stress, which only led

disorders are typically not diagnosed

Tim heard about FIU’s Center for

to more behavioral issues.

in children that young. Without a

Children and Families (CCF), a Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016 | 23

nationally recognized clinical center

of the intensive Summer Treatment

committed to improving the lives of

Program, where children receive

children and families struggling with

360 hours of treatment in just eight

mental health concerns.

weeks — an equivalent of seven years

Kayla didn’t want to hear it. She

worth of weekly one-hour sessions.

knew little of their programs but

The internationally lauded program

thought the center was for families

has been replicated at many sites

with bigger problems than theirs. Tim

throughout the world.

persisted. He talked to co-workers

Treatment plans are focused on

who had participated in some of the

improving problem-solving, academic

center’s programs. They talked about

performance and social skills. Parents

the positive effects on their children

also attend weekly training sessions

and on them as parents. Kayla finally

to help develop the skills they need

decided to test it out. She attended a

to support their child’s progress

seminar by psychology professor Katie

and improve their child’s behavior

Hart on early interventions for children

at home. For Christopher, he started

with behavioral, social-emotional and

each day with the simple task of

learning challenges. Kayla walked

writing his name. It was part of a daily

into the room on FIU’s campus with

routine, along with classroom learning,

an open mind.

She was hoping for some tips, maybe even

7 ,0 00 families have received help

since CCF opened its doors in 2010

some convincing that they could help. As Hart began

peer interaction and recreation. The

speaking, the stoic mother was

structure is similar for each of the

reduced to a puddle of tears.

age groups, which range from pre-

“It was like Dr. Hart was inside our house,” Kayla said. “She described

is based on evidence-based treatments

everything happening in our house,

developed by the center’s top

every fear we have.”

researchers. The day-to-day activities

It was then that Kayla understood

24 | Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016

seem like traditional summer camp.

what CCF was offering her and

But it’s the nuances of the behavioral

her family. CCF’s psychologists

therapy where change arises.

understood the issues. They have

TOP: CCF Clinic Director Erika Coles and CCF Director William E. Pelham Jr. work with children during the 2016 Summer Treatment Program. MIDDLE: Part of the daily curriculum includes academic lessons.

BOTTOM: Students enjoy art activities as part of behavioral therapy at CCF.

schoolers to teenagers, and the format

Nationwide, 20 percent of children

seen it all before. They have studied

suffer from a mental health disorder.

it. And they continue to study it today.

In Miami-Dade County alone,

In that moment, Kayla went from “this

1 in 4 children live in poverty and

isn’t for us” to “we need your help.”

are two to three times more likely

Kayla and Tim enrolled Christopher in

to develop mental health problems.

the center’s award-winning Summer

Early diagnosis and intervention can

Treatment Program.

make the difference between healthy

CCF was founded and is led by William E. Pelham Jr. — a pioneer in the field of ADHD (attention deficit

development and a life plagued with lingering challenges.

Since its founding in 2010,

hyperactivity disorder) research

the FIU Center for Children and

and treatment. He is the architect

Families has helped nearly 7,000

24 | Arts, Sciences & Education 20152016

families. Ninety percent reside in

The center’s faculty members are

Miami-Dade County. The center’s

also preparing the next generation of

faculty has helped countless more

child mental health providers through

around the world through research

training. As part of a partnership with

breakthroughs and the development

Miami-Dade County Public Schools

of new treatments. In addition to the

and The Children’s Trust, they have

Summer Treatment Program, CCF offers infant and early childhood services, family and couples counseling, parent training, video teleconferencing therapy, schoolbased services, and customized treatment for children.

provided professional development

Behavioral treatment-first approach could save $4.5 billion annually In the United States, the first line of treatment for 90 percent of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is medication. However, FIU

for more than 6,000 teachers and

researchers have determined behavioral

staff in nearly 400 schools.

therapy — when used first — is more

“Our goal at the center is to provide excellence in research, education and service regarding

effective in treating children with ADHD. It is also more cost-effective.

A recent study by FIU researchers

mental health in childhood,” Pelham

led by William E. Pelham Jr., director of

they do. With more than 40 faculty —

said. “Not only serving and involving

FIU’s Center for Children and Families,

including psychologists, psychiatrists,

families in South Florida but also

shows stimulants are most effective as a

linguists, public health experts, and

conducting research that informs

supplemental treatment when needed.

education researchers — CCF is the

the nation and the world about the

largest center in Florida conducting

nature, causes and treatment of

child mental health research. Its

mental health problems in childhood

researchers have secured more than

and adolescence.”

Research remains at the heart of all

$70 million in grant funding and are

For the Riera-Gomez family, their

currently addressing a number of

experience with CCF transformed

questions for children with ADHD,

the dynamic of their family. The

anxiety and substance use. They continue to explore new methods of delivery for proven treatments, including whether parent training can be effectively conducted in families’

tantrums became fewer. Kinder words were used in their house.

Christopher started opening doors for people. Tensions started to settle.

“We showed that the sequence in which you give treatments makes a big difference in outcomes,” Pelham, who also serves as chairman of the FIU Department of Psychology, recently told the New York Times. “The children who started with behavioral modification were doing significantly better than those who began with medication by the end, no matter what treatment combination they ended up with.”

While more effective, behavioral therapy

For Christopher, who a year ago was

is also more cost-effective when used as

being shadowed by a behavioral

the first line of treatment. CCF research

aide in preschool, he is now thriving.

released earlier this year compares the

children at the greatest risk for mental

His parents did not receive a single

costs of different treatment sequences,

health problems. Pelham points out

phone call about his behavior from his

evaluating the cost of medication and the

that while great strides have been

teacher during this past school year.

time invested by parents and doctors.

homes via the internet rather than in a clinic. The researchers continue to seek answers about what factors put

made in understanding the adolescent

“We’re happy. Christopher is

mind and treatments for mental health

happy,” Tim said. “We’re happy

disorders, there is still much to learn.

that he’s happy.” n

Results showed the cost of a behaviorfirst approach is approximately $700 less annually than a medication-first approach.

“Our estimate is that health care costs for ADHD could be reduced by more than $4.5 billion annually in the country if doctors followed the behavioral treatmentfirst approach,” Pelham said. n

Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016 | 25

NOT SPOKEN HERE

Dying languages find advocate in FIU linguist

By Evelyn S. Perez | esuperez@fiu.edu 26 | Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016

E

very two weeks, a language goes extinct. Within a century, the world stands to lose more than half

Phillip M. Carter has authored a book examining the world’s dying languages.

of its 6,000 languages.

Phillip M. Carter is taking a stand against language extinction before

Julie Tetel Andrese

n and Phillip M.

it’s too late. The FIU linguistics

Carter

professor has dedicated his career to understanding and promoting the

LANGUAGES in the WORLD

intellectual, economic and social benefits of being bilingual — and the unique quality in being able to

How His tor y, and Pol iti csCul tur e, Sha pe Lan gua ge

experience the world from two different perspectives that comes with it.

“The truly tragic part is this kind of language loss is not necessary

and globalization has played a role in

because people have the capacity to

the disappearance of an increasing

know and use multiple languages,”

number of local languages in recent

cognition works. Language

said Carter, a professor in the

years. As the world’s economies

diversity reflects and protects

Department of English. “When a

become more interconnected, major

valuable local knowledge.”

language is lost, the speakers lose,

languages including English, Russian

science loses and humanity loses.”

and Mandarin offer paths to prosperity.

some of the world’s most

In East Africa, speakers of diverse

vulnerable languages. In his

in the World: How History, Culture and

languages are switching to Swahili. In

book, Carter points to Hawaiian

Politics Shape Language, a book that

South America, indigenous peoples

as an example. Pūnana Leo, or

examines the world’s shrinking pool of

are replacing their native Quechua

language nests, have successfully

languages. It draws upon linguistics,

or Aymara with Spanish. Pop culture

produced first-language speakers

history, biology and sociology to offer

transports hip-hop music and other

of Hawaiian since the mid-1980s.

a cohesive picture of the relationship

Western creations to Malaysia,

In North Carolina, the immersion-

between language and society. The

Mongolia and beyond, adding to the

based approach to revitalization

book also offers nine detailed profiles

loss of language. Children are not

has connected older speakers of

of languages from diverse families

being educated in languages spoken

Cherokee with preschoolers to improve

to give readers a broad look at the

by a limited number of people. As

the transfer of language between

world’s languages, including Kurdish,

fewer people use local languages, they

generations. According to Carter,

Arabic, Tibetan, Hawaiian, Vietnamese

die out.

there is no silver bullet for revitalizing

Carter recently authored Languages

Efforts are under way to revitalize

dying languages. But, the single most

and Mongolian among others. Carter

“Linguists give many reasons

hopes that by educating others, and

for protecting language diversity,”

productive way is by educating

contributing his royalties from the book

Carter said. “Language diversity is

the young.

to the Endangered Language Fund,

a fundamental part of the human

he will play a part in helping preserve

condition. Because linguistic

of the world, it is not allowed,” Carter

threatened languages.

structures differ from language to

said. “But, education is key. We need

language, linguistic diversity gives

to not just teach the language but

valuable insights into the ways human

teach content in the language.” n

For the past four or five centuries language loss has been happening

“This is not easy, and, in some parts

Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016 | 27

HANDS-ON AND REAL-WORLD

FIU implements model for education innovation at all levels

By Ayleen Barbel Fattal | abarbel@fiu.edu and Chrystian Tejedor | ctejedor@fiu.edu

D

octoral student Remy Dou

active learning classrooms where Dou

Institute is improving attitudes toward

wants to help students develop

conducts his research.

science and helping to close the

an interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

“Seeing value in relationships led

achievement gap. It was recently

me to focus on looking at relationships

included in the White House’s catalog

As the global economy has shifted

in the classroom in my research and

of Bright Spots in Hispanic Education

more toward technical and scientific

the impact of relationships between

for investing in key education priorities

fields, Dou, a former high school

students and instructors,” Dou said.

for Hispanics. The institute functions

biology teacher, wants more students

“It’s a social justice issue for me.

to find and keep those lucrative jobs.

I want students of all backgrounds

implement evidence-based models

Many of the fastest-growing

as a national laboratory to develop and

to have the ability to pursue STEM

for teaching STEM disciplines in

industries require significant know-

careers, where employment is more

multicultural, urban communities.

how in STEM. However, 38 percent of

secure and they can earn higher

students who start with a STEM major

level salaries.”

do not graduate with one, making retention a nationwide concern.

By implementing peer learning

According to the National Math and

“Building networks in the class across peers; creating a sense of belonging, a sense of recognition

Science Initiative, today’s STEM work

that they are part of a community of

force is not as diverse as it could be.

STEM people goes a long way toward

and new technology, FIU’s STEM

Women account for only 23 percent of

changing their perception,” Dou said.

Transformation Institute is helping

all STEM employees. The numbers are

thousands of students who might

worse for blacks and Hispanics, who

focus, the STEM Transformation

otherwise struggle to succeed in

represent just 12 percent of STEM

Institute is also helping to develop

STEM. Currently, six science courses

workers. As the top producer for

the next generation of STEM teachers

are taught in two state-of-the-art

STEM degrees for Hispanics and one

through FIUteach. The program has

active learning classrooms, where

of the top producers of STEM degrees

forged partnerships with local schools

professors shun the traditional lecture

for all minorities, FIU is positioned to

to provide students with hands-on

model and students collaborate

positively impact these statistics.

experience in the classroom. To date,

with one another to tackle scientific challenges hands-on. It’s in these 28 | Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016

Through innovative programs and initiatives, the STEM Transformation

With education being the core

FIUteach has enrolled more than 200 STEM degree-seeking students to

FIUteach is helping to create a new crop of STEM teachers by giving FIU students real classroom experiences while pursuing STEM degrees.

prepare them for possible careers in teaching.

FIUteach students and researchers from the School of Education and Human Development are an integral part of a new pilot program being developed in collaboration with the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science to provide real-world experiences in science learning for Miami-Dade County preschool

FIU IS THE LARGEST PRODUCER OF STEM DEGREES FOR HISPANICS IN THE U.S.

children. Supported by funding from the state of Florida, the partnership is putting focus on the importance of working with families to introduce science to preschoolers.

“FIU is helping to create a pipeline of highly skilled teachers who inspire and challenge students in the STEM fields,” said Laird Kramer, director of FIU’s STEM Transformation Institute.

These efforts and more are helping to drive innovation and provide equal access to top-notch education in order to develop the next generation of STEM professionals locally and nationally. n

Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016 | 29

shifting landscapes in the

tropics Researchers race to save the world’s rarest plant species

By Evelyn S. Perez | esuperez@fiu.edu

T

ropical forests are changing to

temperatures and changing rainfall

it,” Feeley said. “Some people hold

keep up with climate change.

patterns. This survival tactic comes at

the notion the Amazon is an isolated

Trees are gradually moving to where

the expense of neighboring highland

and pristine ecosystem, immune to

temperatures are cooler, rainfall is

trees. Kenneth J. Feeley, a researcher

disturbances. We need to change our

greater, freshwater is available and

in the FIU International Center for

mindset and open our eyes to the fact

conditions are ideal.

Tropical Botany (ICTB), has discovered

that even in the middle of the Amazon

that instead of shifting to different

or the remote Andes Mountains,

no exception. At 4,300 miles long, it

Forests in the Andes Mountains are

locations, highland trees are retracting,

species are at risk.”

is the longest continental mountain

or dying back. His findings reveal a

range in the world and runs through

stark truth: tropical tree species in the

studying the ecology, biogeography

seven countries. The lowland tree

Andes are at risk of extinction.

and conservation of tropical plant and

Feeley has dedicated his career to

species that call the Andes home are

“The effects of climate change

animal communities. His research

moving upslope in response to rising

are everywhere — you can’t escape

on migrating trees is just the latest

30 | Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016

in the growing body of knowledge

more than 100 peer-reviewed

and their habitats, while balancing

amassed by ICTB, a partnership

papers in diverse academic journals,

the demands for plant resources by

between FIU and the National Tropical

including Nature, Science and PNAS.

growing human populations.

Botanical Garden. The center is

Headquartered at The Kampong in

home to researchers with geographic

Coconut Grove, Fla., the center is

invaluable addition to global

expertise extending from South Florida

planning a 10,000-square-foot facility

conservation. With the center’s

to the Caribbean, Central and South

that will include space for research,

support, the biological sciences

America, Africa, the Pacific and Asia.

education, professional training and

professor has come close to

These regions comprise the top global

outreach. On a continuously evolving

determining the number of tree

biodiversity hot spots — areas of

planet, the center’s mission is clear:

species in the tropics — an

exceptional species richness facing

to produce the knowledge and tools

impressive feat considering the

extraordinary threats. In just two years,

needed to conserve and manage

tropics are comprised of some of

ICTB researchers have published

threatened tropical plant species

the most geographically remote and

For Feeley, the center is an

Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016 | 31

ecological processes are altered with cascading consequences for the entire ecosystem. While long-valued for their biodiversity and aesthetics, his study supports the idea rare species are more important than originally believed. The reality that high rates of

Scientific discovery could revolutionize one of world’s most important crops

rare species are expected to be lost in the near future cannot be ignored.

The fact that people depend on plants for food, shelter, fuel, fiber and medicine shouldn’t be ignored

Eric von Wettberg wants to arm Ethiopian and Indian farmers with revolutionary new varieties

either. In addition to material goods, Young chickpea pods

of chickpea. The FIU researcher

all living creatures depend on tropical forests to capture and store harmful carbon dioxide and produce oxygen.

has identified the gene responsible

inaccessible areas. Feeley and an

In a planet already threatened by

for giving white chickpea its

international research team determined

climate change, habitat loss and

seed color and flower color. In

there are at least 40,000 tropical

over-harvesting make matters worse

developing countries, farmers earn

species of trees and as many as

for many tropical plants. As human

more for selling light chickpeas for

53,000 in the Americas, Africa and

populations continue to grow, the

their desired appearance and ease

the Indo-Pacific region. Having an

sustainable use of these plant

of cooking. This can be problematic

accurate assessment is critical for

resources is critical.

because dark chickpeas are often

developing effective management and

more resistant to diseases and

conservation strategies.

growing them yields more seeds.

The genetic finding can help

But just how essential are these

To help accomplish this, Baraloto emphasizes the need for sustainable management practices for logging. In

threatened species that botanists want

a recent study, Baraloto and a team

breeders create varieties of

to protect and conserve? Christopher

of researchers found loggers can help

chickpea that will fare better

Baraloto, director of ICTB, says rare

forests recover their carbon stock

against debilitating diseases, yield

species are irreplaceable when it

in as little as seven years by using

a higher number of seeds on the

comes to ecosystem functionality. He

techniques that ensure only the trees

same amount of land, and fetch a

and a team of international researchers

needed for commercial use are felled.

higher price per seed.

simulated what would happen

With sustainable forest management,

when rare and common species

producing timber to meet human

collaborators plan to partner

are removed from an ecosystem.

demand and maintaining carbon

with international crop breeding

Examining rainforest trees from

storage can be done in tandem.

centers to provide them with the

French Guiana, as well as stream fish

Von Wettberg and his

Plant by plant, researchers in the

information and wild seeds needed

from the Brazilian Amazon and birds

International Center for Tropical Botany

to adapt seeds to local conditions

from the Australian Wet Tropics, they

are racing the clock to discover,

and hand them to farmers.

found when rare species are removed

protect and restore. n

32 | Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016

TH E B EE F RESEARCHERS SAY EAT LESS MEAT, SAVE THE PLANET

By Evelyn S. Perez | esuperez@fiu.edu

water pollution and the loss of wild

personal and environmental health

carnivores and herbivores.

can help change these trends through

Machovina and FIU biologist Kenneth J. Feeley argue in order to decrease land demands and ecological footprint of agriculture, people should reduce the amount of animal products in their diets to less than 10 percent of their total caloric intake. The

market-driven conservation.”

In a study published in Science of the Total Environment, the researchers found meat production in the most biodiverse countries in the world — including those in Asia, Africa

recommended reduction is equivalent

and South America — is increasing

to a daily serving of meat that is

rapidly. Some may require 30 to 50

about the size of a deck of playing

percent more land beyond their current

Brian Machovina spoke about eating healthy to save the environment at TEDxFIU 2014.

cards. That is a tall order when trying

agricultural areas just to meet their

to balance the availability of food for

meat production needs by 2050.

T

need to increase nutritional health.

o conserve the world’s animals, plants and the places they call

people, their desire to eat meat and the “Reducing animal-based product

home, people should eat less meat,

consumption is realistic if we can

according to FIU researcher Brian

offer delicious, convenient, plant-

Machovina. Producing livestock,

based foods that people want to eat,”

including cattle, goats and sheep,

Machovina said.

for human consumption is the single

“The power of the market is what

Yet, growing fruits, vegetables, legumes and soy protein would increase the number of food calories available for people by as much as 70 percent on the agricultural lands currently in use. Cultivating them requires less land area than what is needed to raise

largest driver of deforestation and

drives meat consumption and the

livestock. This could allow an additional

habitat loss worldwide. It accounts

power of the market can equally

4 billion people to be fed, surpassing the

for 75 percent of agricultural land

drive its reduction. Awareness about

estimated global population growth of

and is a leading cause of soil loss,

the damage of meat consumption to

2-3 billion people. n Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016 | 33

REINVENTING INTERROGATIONS ADVANCING FORENSIC SCIENCE THROUGH RESEARCH

By Ayleen Barbel Fattal | abarbel@fiu.edu

G

ood cop. Bad cop. Those are the roles many investigators take while conducting

interrogations in almost every police movie or television show — fiction or not. The goal — to get a confession and close cases quickly.

Currently, there is no formal interrogation training for police. A book titled Criminal Interrogations and Confessions is considered to have set the mold for police interviews in America. Published in 1962 and still in press today, it explains an interrogation should be designed to persuade a suspect to confess even if it’s through intimidation. However, investigators are not trained to adjust their tactics when questioning vulnerable witnesses or even teenage suspects who are more susceptible to giving false confessions.

Cases such as the Central Park Five — five teenagers who falsely confessed and were convicted of the attack and rape of a Central Park jogger in 1989 — and the more recent Brendan Dassey case featured in the Netflix documentary “Making a Murderer,” have sparked a movement to find better ways to conduct interrogations. Police departments across the country are moving away from the good cop, bad cop routine and turning to science and research for solutions. FIU faculty are at the forefront.

34 | Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016

AN EMOTIONAL APPROACH Originally created to help with counterterrorism efforts, the HighValue Detainee Interrogation Group (HIG), formed by President Barack Obama as a joint effort of the FBI, the CIA and the Pentagon, has funded more than 60 behavioral sciences studies to examine the most successful interviewing techniques.

Results from that research are now being used to revolutionize police interrogations.

FIU psychologist Jacqueline R. Evans led one of the HIG studies.

Her findings show an emotional, non-coercive or confrontational approach to intelligence-gathering interrogations is more effective in collecting information from both guilty and innocent participants.

Other HIG studies support these findings. Based on this research, the focus of forensic interrogations is now shifting. As in human intelligence interrogations, the goal of an

A team of researchers, including FIU legal psychologist Nadja Schreiber Compo, is the first to study blind interviewing through observation. The findings were published in the journal Memory, revealing blind interviewers

FORENSIC INSTITUTE LEADS NATION IN NIJ AWARDS

— those with little to no knowledge about the crime — elicit more detailed and accurate information than those who had correct information about the crime prior to the interview.

Nearly 350 participants were randomly assigned the role of either the witness of a crime, informed interviewer or blind interviewer. Blind interviewers were given no information prior to conducting their interviews.

All interviewers were asked to write reports at the end of the simulations.

Results showed blind interviewers

Researchers at FIU’s International Forensic Research Institute (IFRI)

were more likely to begin the

received $1.5 million from the

conversation with a non-suggestive

National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to

question and recalled more details

further research in drug exposure

than the informed interviewers in

detection, forensic chemistry, synthetic

their reports. Witnesses questioned

cannabinoids and DNA analysis.

by blind interviewers reported more

In the area of DNA analysis, chemist

information and more accurate details

Bruce McCord is working toward a

than those questioned by informed

rapid method of screening crime scene

investigative interview now is to get

interviewers. These observations

samples on site. Current DNA typing

reliable and accurate information, not

suggest blind interviewing may be

methods provide biometric information

just a confession.

a viable strategy for conducting

that can lead to a positive identification,

investigative interviews if it leads

but they can take up to 90 minutes to

witnesses to be more forthcoming

process. McCord’s method has the

and interviewers to work harder at

potential to produce genotypes in less

gathering detailed accounts.

than six minutes.

IGNORANCE IS BLISS In the pursuit of accurate and reliable information, interviewers

Schreiber Compo’s research

The combination of five grants and

review all available case evidence prior

on investigative interviewing and

two fellowships totals the most NIJ

to questioning a witness or suspect as

eyewitness memory is ongoing. She

awards given to a single institution in

recommended by current investigative

has trained the Miami-Dade Police

2015. With this support, researchers at

interviewing guidelines. A recent

Department homicide, special victims

IFRI will have the opportunity to advance

study suggests prior case knowledge,

unit and robbery investigators on best

forensic science research and make

however, may actually be detrimental

practices for witness interviewing and

ground-breaking contributions to law

to the outcome of the interview.

identification procedures. n

enforcement and policy. n Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016 | 35

Think scholars F or Edoverglades their part to help

save national treasure

By Evelyn S. Perez | esuperez@fiu.edu

36 | Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016

T

he Florida Everglades is a tropical wetland made up of

and sea level rise, combined with ongoing restoration efforts,

interdependent marsh, swamp, hardwood hammock, pine

will impact the ecosystem and its ability to store carbon.

rockland, mangrove and marine environments. Serving

“The world’s largest wetland restoration effort is taking

as the main source of freshwater for the Biscayne Aquifer

place right now in the Everglades,” Charles said. “It’s a very

— South Florida’s primary water supply — the Everglades

interesting, yet scary time for this amazing ecosystem, and

also offers storm protection, wildlife habitat, recreational

we have the potential to make a difference.”

opportunities, and helps remove harmful carbon dioxide from

From the estuarine mangrove

the atmosphere. To date, development of agricultural and

forests to nearby agricultural and

urban areas has shrunk the Everglades to less than half its

urban communities, environmental

original size. The country’s largest subtropical wilderness —

studies student Mustafa Kimal Sikder

and the surrounding communities that enjoy and depend on it

is on a mission to inform policy. While

— stand to lose much more with the threat of climate change

research has generally focused on the

and sea level rise looming in the horizon. Two FIU graduate

science behind restoration, Sikder is examining the opinions

students are doing their part to help solve the impending

of Floridians on the various benefits they enjoy from the

crisis through research and engagement. They are funded by

Everglades. The U.S. Congress approved the Comprehensive

the Everglades Foundation FIU ForEverglades Scholarships.

Everglades Restoration Plan in 2000, but officials have raised

Adapting to the damaging effects of climate change,

concern over the slow progress in restoring and protecting

plants throughout the world are gradually moving to where

the River of Grass’s water resources. Sikder hopes his work

temperatures are cooler, rainfall is greater, freshwater is

will assist policymakers in introducing or modifying legislation

available or other conditions are ideal.

pertaining to Everglades restoration and better implementing

For now, this tactic is helping them keep

the plan.

up with sea level rise. Ph.D. biology

Today, the Florida Everglades is ever more critical to

student Sean Charles is studying

Florida. It is an invaluable source of water purification and

how mangroves in the Everglades are

climate change mitigation, as well as a sanctuary for the

impacting the ecosystems around

many threatened or endangered plant and animal species

them as they move inland from saltwater to freshwater

that call it home. Despite the damage that has been done, the

communities. His study examines how moving vegetation

Everglades remains a national treasure. n

SouthEast environmental Research Center changes face of FLORIDA conservation In an effort to understand the diets of plant-loving fish,

SERC was established more than 20 years ago in

FIU Ph.D. student Jessica Sanchez and marine sciences

response to a growing regional need for scientific

professor Joel Trexler delved into the world of herbivory

investigations in threatened environments of South

in freshwater ecosystems. They wanted to develop

Florida. The center’s research programs have been

a research framework for other scientists to follow in

instrumental in the management decisions for fragile

studies on the evolution of these diets. Their efforts

resources including Everglades National Park, Biscayne

resulted in a scientific paper that was published in the

National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida Bay,

July 2016 edition of Ecosphere. It was the 800th scientific

the Florida Keys and the Florida Keys National Marine

paper published by research faculty in FIU’s Southeast

Sanctuary. Today, SERC is part of FIU’s Institute of Water

Environmental Research Center (SERC).

and Environment. To learn more, visit serc.FIU.edu.

Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016 | 37

Dredging through slicks Researchers shed light on reality in a post-oil spill Gulf of Mexico

By Evelyn S. Perez | esuperez@fiu.edu

38 | Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016

From left, FIU marine scientists Laura Timm, Kevin Boswell and Heather Bracken-Grissom conduct research on the ecological damages done to the Gulf of Mexico as it continues to recover from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

I

t has been six years since the

Mexico as an ecosystem on a broad

penetrate into the feathers of birds and

Deepwater Horizon oil spill dumped

scale,” Boswell said. “This is an

fur of mammals. Animals can easily

millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf

exciting opportunity to interface two

ingest it and be poisoned. But society

of Mexico. Plants and wildlife were

technologies in a novel way that will

is now learning not all damage to the

harmed and the ecosystems they call

allow us to fill data gaps.”

gulf was caused by the oil itself.

home destroyed. The revenue brought

From the hidden crannies deep

A study led by Gary Rand of the

in by fisheries and tourism was cut. A

inside coral reefs to the depths

Southeast Environmental Research

way of life was tarnished.

of the sea floor, marine sciences

Center found crude oil and weathered

Ph.D. student Laura Timm is diving

oil alone did not cause significant

Environment, Arts and Society are

deep to examine what life is like

adverse effects in moon jellyfish, a

focusing their efforts on uncovering

for crustaceans after the oil spill.

species commonly found there. But

the far-reaching ecological damages

Conducting her research alongside

the crude oil, in the presence of the

done to the Gulf of Mexico as it

marine sciences professor Heather

chemical dispersant Corexit 9500

continues to recover from the oil spill.

Bracken-Grissom, she is examining

used to break-up slicks, caused

Their goal is to inform future ecological

different species of crustaceans,

changes in color of the jellyfish,

assessment efforts to better monitor

including shrimp, to determine

irregularities in their bell shape, tissue

and understand changing conditions.

how the event impacted genetic

degradation and even death. Even

diversity, population connectivity

though the gulf is home to one of the

of 10 researchers from across the state

and communication. Her hope is to

most diverse populations of jellyfish,

selected by the Florida Institute of

develop a timeline of their recovery

these free swimming animals are

Oceanography to help fortify the health

and genetic sequencing protocols for

often overlooked in marine toxicity

of the Gulf of Mexico. The fisheries

future research.

assessments. According to Rand,

Researchers in the School of

Marine scientist Kevin Boswell is one

ecologist is studying coral reef fish

Timm, Bracken-Grissom and Boswell

selecting a variety of animal and

communities impacted by the oil spill.

are part of the Gulf of Mexico Research

plant species native to an ecosystem

Coral reefs form some of the most

Initiative’s DEEPEND Consortium,

for toxicity assessment is critical for

diverse ecosystems on Earth, offering

an international research effort

understanding potential risks to it.

shoreline protection, commercial

dedicated to understanding the Gulf

Cleanup from an oil spill is difficult

fisheries and recreational opportunities.

of Mexico and the impacts of the oil

and it may take weeks, months or even

Seemingly rugged and everlasting,

spill on the Gulf. Their research will

years to fully recover. All too often,

reefs are fragile ecosystems under

play a role in the initiative’s efforts to

people are caught off guard not only

threat from pollution and climate

ensure scientists, first responders and

by the tragedy itself, but also by all the

change. Boswell’s Fisheries Ecology

policymakers are better prepared to

unknowns these events cause. FIU is

and Acoustics Lab is using sonar and

understand, respond to and mitigate

leveraging its depth of expertise within

remotely operated vehicle technologies

damage from future spills.

its faculty to educate researchers and

to provide baseline information on

Oftentimes, communities learn of

responders on oil spill assessment,

the damage spilled oil does to marine

mitigation and recovery. In the long-

environments — it forms slicks that

term, the hope is when disasters strike,

face when the oil spill occurred was

can be difficult to remove and can

scientists will be better prepared to

the lack of knowledge on the Gulf of

contaminate miles of water. The oil can

advance recovery. n

coral reef fish diversity and ecology.

“One of the things that hit us in the

Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016 | 39

Urban debate ignites passion for learning Philosophy alumna helps inspire at-risk students to attend college

By Ayleen Barbel Fattal | abarbel@fiu.edu

D

ebate is an academic sport

She received a full scholarship to the

“The whole goal is to get these kids

that builds reading, research,

University of Texas at Dallas after a

to college and to pursue careers,” Saati

communication and critical

recruiter watched her at a tournament.

recently told The Miami Herald.

thinking skills. Nalisa Saati believes

She later transferred to FIU, was part of

everyone, regardless of social or

the FIU Honors College and graduated

partnerships with local universities,

economic status, should have a chance

cum laude in 2010 with dual bachelor’s

including FIU to host debate

to experience it.

degrees in international business and

competitions and provide mentorship

Competitive debate has long been

The Miami-Dade league has forged

philosophy. Saati is working hard to

and scholarship opportunities that will

available to students at suburban

make sure at-risk students have the

help those students get to college. As

schools, but 20 years ago it

same opportunity she did.

director, Saati is working on growing

disappeared from more cash-strapped

Research shows urban debaters

the program.

urban public schools. Urban debate

are three times more likely to

programs such as the Miami-Dade

graduate than non-debaters. Urban

programs served nearly 9,500 urban

Urban Debate League — where

debaters earn higher test scores

high school and middle school students

Saati is program director — give

on standardized tests in English,

in 22 cities across the United States.

urban students access to the same

reading, science and math than similar

With chapters in Los Angeles, Chicago

academically rigorous debate programs

students who do not debate. They

and New York, Miami-Dade was the

available to their suburban peers.

are also significantly more likely than

largest urban school district without a

non-debaters to test as college-ready

league — until last year. Under Saati’s

of the debate team at Carrollton

in all four of those areas. After high

guidance, the Miami-Dade Urban

School of the Sacred Heart, where

school graduation, 86 percent of urban

Debate League is now in 18 of the

she developed a passion for debate.

debaters attend college.

district’s neediest public schools. n

A Miami native, Saati was a member

40 | Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016

Last year Urban Debate League

Nalisa Saati believes everyone, regardless of social or economic status, should have a chance to experience debate.

Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016 | 41

HIGHER EDUCATION FOR ALL

Panther LIFE offers access for young adults with intellectual disabilities

By Chrystian Tejedor | ctejedor@fiu.edu

education and only 16 percent will find jobs.

That was the impetus for FIU’s

As his skills blossomed and Espinosa was ready to take on more responsibility for his day-to-day activities, Panther

Panther LIFE (Learning Is For Everyone),

LIFE’s immersive Summer Residential

preparing 18-to 22-year-old young

Program was the next step. For four

adults with intellectual disabilities for the

weeks, Espinosa and his peers moved

work force. Housed within the School

into a campus dorm where they made

of Education and Human Development,

their own schedules, cooked their own

Panther LIFE’s enrollment has tripled

meals and washed their own laundry.

to 30 students in just five years,

These everyday chores gave Espinosa

affording even more young adults with

a taste of “the boring life,” but he says it

intellectual disabilities the opportunity

prepared him to live on his own.

to do more with their lives.

Espinosa was among the first

Indeed, one of the main components of the program teaches Panther LIFE

accepted into the program, which allows

students to use South Florida’s mass

young adults like him to attend college

transit system to get to and from home,

classes, live and work on campus,

school and work. Espinosa was able

and develop the skills needed to live

to navigate the bus and rail network to

ike many high school seniors,

independently and establish a career.

reach the Miami Seaquarium, where

Nicholas Espinosa dreamed of

“I wanted to get an education so I

Nicholas Espinosa works at Tropical Smoothie Café as part of Panther LIFE.

L

as an intern, he helped manage social

can pay my own bills one day and learn

media for the attraction’s marketing

But for Espinosa and the estimated

about the outside world,” Espinosa

department. The best part of the job?

75,000 other South Floridians living with

said. “My parents aren’t going to be

Getting close enough to the park’s

cognitive disabilities, the opportunity

here one day and I want to be able to

dolphins where they were able to splash

seemed out of reach. The best they

take care of myself.”

and squirt him with water. It’s the latest

getting a college education.

could hope for was continuing to live

Espinosa has become a regular

step in a path that Espinosa and his

with their parents and maybe find a

at FIU, having learned to use public

parents hope will lead him to a career

part-time minimum wage job.

transportation to shuttle him from

that will play to his skills and talents.

Historically, the odds are stacked

home to campus. He’s taken classes

“We’re lucky,” said Janelle Espinosa,

against high school graduates with

and works at the Rec Center’s Tropical

Nicholas’ mother. “I consider myself

intellectual disabilities in Florida. Only

Smoothie Café under a Panther LIFE

very lucky he’s getting an experience

4 percent will ever enroll in continuing

job-shadowing opportunity.

like this.” n

42 | Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016

For more stories, visit news.FIU.edu.

Architect, physicist create art from brain images The third installment of the Patricia & Phillip Frost Museum of Science Curious Vault Collaboration series was on display at FIU. Titled Neural Networks, the exhibit showcased the collaboration of two FIU faculty — neuroscientist Angie Laird and multimedia artist Felice Grodin, in partnership with design research studio BYO-Lab. The project explored the pathways of the human brain via cognitive neuroimaging — mapping the brain dynamically while it is “working.” Inspired by documents from the archive of scientist, explorer and occultist J. Manson Valentine, Neural Networks took 17 months to complete.

Diversity course moves to Miami Northwestern Senior High

Reading program earns top ranking The Florida Department of Education ranked FIU’s Reading Education master’s program as the No. 1 teacher preparation program in the State of Florida.

The program was the only teacher preparation program to earn maximum scores in the areas of student achievement on statewide assessments; student achievement on statewide assessment by subgroups; teacher annual evaluations; teacher retention; and teacher placement.

When it comes to preparing tomorrow’s teachers, there’s nothing like getting handson practice in Miami’s local schools. That’s why Maria Lovett, a clinical assistant professor in the School of Education and Human Development, moved her course on Teaching Diverse Populations to Miami Northwestern Senior High.

During the summer, Lovett’s students observed, engaged with and learned from Miami Northwestern students who participated in The Algebra Project Summer Institute, founded by historic civil rights advocate Bob Moses and hosted by FIU. Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016 | 43

For more stories, visit news.FIU.edu.

Invasive lizard takes up residence in Bermuda Biology student James Stroud has observed a non-native species of lizard in Bermuda, a potential problem for the island’s critically endangered Bermuda skink. A two-year conservation project studying the island’s lizard populations led to the discovery of the Cuban brown anole, a species once rumored to inhabit the North Atlantic island, but was never verified until now. After surveying all of Bermuda, Stroud found populations of the Cuban lizard at all life stages indicating they are thriving on the island.

Heithaus goes to Washington

Zoologist appointed to advise National Ocean Council Biology professor Philip Stoddard was appointed by the White House to recommend policies to the Cabinetlevel National Ocean Council. The council was created to protect, maintain and restore ocean, coastal and Great Lakes ecosystems; enhance the sustainability of ocean and coastal economies; and preserve maritime heritage.

Stoddard, who also serves as mayor of South Miami, has dedicated his career to understanding the evolution of animal communication systems, ensuring the health of estuaries is critical.

College of Arts, Sciences & Education Dean Mike Heithaus testified before the U.S. House of Representatives’ House Committee on Agriculture on building greater capacity at Hispanicserving institutions. According to Heithaus, Hispanics represent 50 percent of all farm laborers and supervisors, but only 3 percent of those doctoral recipients in the biological, agricultural, environmental and life sciences are Hispanic, leaving too much talent untapped.

Art Education exhibits at the Frost Master’s of Art Education students were given an early graduation present — their very own show at the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum. The nine students who graduated in the fall of 2015 displayed works from their extensively researched master’s theses, where they used paintings and mixedmedia art to convey their message and their grasp of technique. The intensely personal show allowed students including Jesús A. Garcia (left) to express their feelings on topics that ranged from fatherhood to rebirth.

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ASTRONAUTS PREPARE FOR SPACE BY CONDUCTING CORAL REEF RESEARCH When a team of international astronauts splashed down for a 2015 training mission in the Aquarius Reef Base, they advanced

FIU, FEMA partner to build climate change resiliency

coral reef research at the same time with

To build climate change resiliency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) partnered with FIU to provide community leaders with the knowledge and tools to assess and improve their capabilities to prevent, mitigate, respond to and recover from climate impacts including sea level rise, drought, wildfires, storms and other hazards. FEMA and FIU hosted the two-day seminar that brought together public, private and nonprofit sector decision makers from Miami-Dade and Broward counties, setting the stage for building a similar program across the country.

create a real-life scenario for the astronauts

FIU’s Medina Aquarius Program.

NASA partnered with researchers to testing communications between land and reef, which was designed to simulate communications between Earth and space.

The team of European, Japanese and American astronauts collected samples for marine scientist Mauricio Rodriguez-Lanetty and his students. The reef project explored deep water corals, which largely appear to

With only 500 remaining, biologist joins fight to save Wyoming toad

be healthy while their shallow counterparts are suffering.

“Most of the associated environmental insults, including ocean warming, are affecting primarily shallow coral species and therefore, most of the coral cover loss is occurring in shallow depths,” RodriguezLanetty said.

The students are trying to determine whether deep water corals could help repopulate the shallow reefs. Preliminary

GeekiWood showcases non-traditional STEM careers FIU and Geeki Girls Gatherings presented the second annual GeekiWood conference in December.

Event producers, educators, technicians and scientists came together to blend the magic of film and television with real science to engage middle school girls in science, technology, engineering, arts and math. FIU student organizations and researchers showcased their STEMrelated work including how to turn a liquid into a solid with the tap of a finger, creating an electromagnetic field, building robots and more.

results have piqued Rodriguez-Lanetty’s interests enough to continue the research.

During a 2016 NASA training mission, astronauts set up a long-term coral nursery at Aquarius, as part of their space Biology student Luke Linhoff is on a mission to save the endangered Wyoming toad. No longer found naturally in the wild, about 500 remain in captivity in Wyoming. With the toads wearing a tiny tracking device that is held on by a backpack-inspired harness, Linhoff is tracking the endemic toads to study the behavior and location patterns of those that are released into the wild. He has found toads that are eased back into the wild in an outdoor enclosure fare better in the short-term than those released directly into the wild.

simulation training. Working with the Coral Restoration Foundation, FIU researchers hope to produce and grow additional generations of coral colonies for restoration and research in the Florida Keys. n

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LAKE ANNIE

Evelyn Gaiser can hear music in the cold and warmth of Florida’s Lake Annie. More than an aquatic ecologist, Gaiser is also a classically trained vocalist. For her, the artist and the scientist live in sync. So it makes sense that when she compiled 20 years of temperature data collected at Lake Annie, she saw a musical pattern. Taking that data, along with comparable data from lakes in Wisconsin, New Zealand and the United Kingdom made possible by the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network, she converted the temperatures into a musical scale. Lake Annie is an auditory journey of seasons in the life of one of Florida’s oldest and deepest lakes. To learn more about this project and to hear the song, scan the QR code to the left.