College of Arts & Sciences 2013-2014

Think Differently Reimagined technology goes on display at inaugural eMerge Americas, including student Kelley Peters’ tiny explosives detection chip.

Page 16

16 On The Cover: Think Differently Researchers create solutions through reimagined technology

4

The Rising Tide Within: From coastlines to Everglades, researchers tackle sea level rise School of Environment, Arts and Society

6

Conquering New Frontiers in Astrophysics School of Integrated Science and Humanity

8

Diplomacy in the Here and Now School of International and Public Affairs

10 Gifts and Partnerships 12 Current Initiatives 20 The Next Class 22 Alumni Features 24 International Voices 26 news.fiu.edu

Academic Health Center 5 opened its doors in October 2014.

The building houses the Department of Earth and Environment, the Extreme Events Institute and offices for the Center for Children and Families.

Message from the Dean It is truly an honor to serve as the interim dean

of the College of Arts & Sciences at FIU, and I look forward to great things ahead of us this year!

I’d first like to congratulate Dr. Ken Furton

who was named provost of FIU earlier this year.

During his tenure as dean, he revolutionized our college into thematic schools that have

stimulated interdisciplinary work, forged important partnerships, helped our students thrive both in

and out of the classroom, and created solutions

centers for our community. I am excited to build upon that legacy.

Arts & Sciences had a fantastic year in 2013-

2014! We awarded more than 4,600 degrees,

and our researchers accounted for more than

$60 million in funding! The outstanding efforts of

our faculty and students provided the inspiration to raise more than $12 million in philanthropic

support. I thank all of the donors who helped us!

In the School of Environment, Arts and Society,

operations of the Medina Aquarius Program took

off. Our students conducted cutting-edge research and we helped bring the ocean world into the

lives of millions of people worldwide. The School

One of the challenges – and opportunities –

we face in the coming year is ensuring that

we improve on the Performance Metrics that are critical to the funding FIU receives. As

the university’s largest college, teaching the

majority of students at the lower division, Arts &

Sciences plays a pivotal role in meeting the goals of improving the 6-year graduation rate, and increasing second-year retention.

Enhancing student success is a top priority

for the college and we are using every tool we

can, from hiring new faculty to transforming how we teach! I would like to highlight the dedicated work our faculty is doing by designing classes

that actively engage students through a variety of classroom techniques including flipped

classrooms, employing Learning Assistants, PeerLed Team Learning, and the Mastery Math Lab. The work that our faculty is doing has elevated FIU on a national scale! Being on the forefront

of evidence-based instruction in our data-driven

world will continue to pay incredible dividends for our students.

From the launch of our Stocker AstroScience

of International and Public Affairs’ Model United

Center here on campus to the search for the

in North America, achieving the highest ranking

Guinea, I invite you to read more in the following

Nations team excelled once again, ranking 5th

among public universities. The Center for Children and Families in the School of Integrated Science and Humanity expanded its hugely impactful research and treatment programs for ADHD,

autism, anxiety, and other behavior disorders,

treating more than 3,000 children and their families

through clinical services, community programs and clinical research trials.

Lost Tribes of Israel a world away in Papua New pages about the research, recent student

successes and the opportunities presented by the amazing work being done by our College of Arts & Sciences.

Sincerely,

Michael R. Heithaus

Interim Dean, College of Arts & Sciences

Professor, Department of Biological Sciences Florida International University

Arts & Sciences 2013-2014 | 1

Arts & Sciences Mike Heithaus Interim Dean William Anderson Associate Dean Gisela Casines Associate Dean Maricel Cigales Associate Dean Maureen Donnelly Associate Dean Michael Maunder Associate Dean Jeremy Rowan Assistant Dean Evelyn Gaiser Executive Director, School of Environment, Arts and Society Suzanna Rose Executive Director, School of Integrated Science and Humanity John F. Stack, Jr. Executive Director, School of International and Public Affairs JoAnn C. Adkins Editor, Arts & Sciences Magazine

College of Arts & Sciences Dean’s Advisory Committee Victor C. Balestra, Chair Mariel E. Acosta-Garcia Sandy Batchelor Frank DuMond Patricia B. Keon Paul D. Landrum Joe Zammit Lucia John Mills Esther Moreno

FIU Board of Trustees Albert R. Maury, ’96, ’02, Chairperson Michael M. Adler, Vice Chair Mark B. Rosenberg, Secretary Sukrit Agrawal, ’89 Cesar L. Alvarez Jose J. Armas Jorge L. Arrizurieta Robert T. Barlick, Jr. Marcelo Claure Mayi de la Vega, ’81 Gerald C. Grant, Jr., ’78, ’89 Claudia Puig Faculty Member Kathleen Wilson Chair, FIU Faculty Senate Student Member Alexis Calatayud President, Student Government MMC

Aileen Solá-Trautmann Art Director Barbarita Ramos Graphic Designer Writers Ayleen Barbel Fattal Nicole Montero Deborah O’Neil Evelyn S. Perez Photographers Douglas Garland Douglas Hungerford Timothy Long Christopher Necuze Kristen Rubio

Arts & Sciences is an annual publication produced by the College of Arts & Sciences and Division of External Relations at Florida International University. Please send comments, requests for copies, or requests for permission to reprint material to jadkins@fiu.edu.

College of Arts & Sciences Florida International University 11200 SW 8th St., ECS 450 Miami, FL 33199 305-348-2864 casdean@fiu.edu

cas.fiu.edu 2 | Arts & Sciences 2013-2014

Furton becomes FIU provost Kenneth G. Furton was appointed provost and executive vice president of Florida International University by President Mark B. Rosenberg in 2014.

Furton, who served as the dean of the College of Arts & Sciences since 2007, succeeds Provost Douglas Wartzok, who stepped down in June.

Mike Heithaus, who had served as executive director of the School of Environment, Arts and Society, was named interim dean of Arts & Sciences.

While serving as dean, Furton led the growth of Arts & Sciences to more than 25,000 students, 4,000 of whom graduate each year. Under his leadership, the college was reorganized into three mission-based interdisciplinary schools. In addition, Furton helped to raise more than $40 million in philanthropic gifts and oversaw an increase in research grants from $27 million to $60 million annually.

Prior to assuming his duties as dean, Furton served as a member of the Faculty Senate, chairman of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and associate dean of budget, facilities and research.

An internationally recognized scholar in forensic chemistry, Furton has authored more than 700 publications and presentations, and has been awarded more than $10 million for his research in the past two decades.

While his academic career has largely prepared Furton for his new role, his job as a parent of twins — Courtney and Robert — may provide unique insight for the new provost. Both are sophomores at FIU.

Anderson, Cigales join Dean’s Office William Anderson has been named associate dean of faculty for the College of Arts & Sciences and Maricel Cigales has been named associate dean of undergraduate studies.

Anderson replaces Meredith Newman who was recently named vice provost for faculty in the FIU Office of the Provost.

In his new role, Anderson oversees programs that support Arts & Sciences faculty. The former chair of the Department of Earth and Environment, Anderson is also an associate professor of earth sciences and has research appointments with the Southeast Environmental Research Center and the Marine Sciences Program.

Anderson has also served as the director of the Stable Isotope Laboratory since his arrival at FIU in 2000. A biogeochemist by trade, Anderson’s areas of specialty include stable isotope biogeochemistry, global change/earth system science, and paleoclimatology.

Cigales, who joined the faculty in 2008, will replace Gisela Casines who is stepping down as associate dean. Cigales oversees curriculum, new degree proposals, secondary education programs and other administration functions within the dean’s office. A professor of psychology, Cigales also serves as a director of the Behavior Analysis Program Continuing Education Series, and the co-director of the Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention Program in FIU’s Center for Children and Families. She is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis and the Florida Association for Behavior Analysis. Casines, an alumna of FIU, is returning to fulltime faculty status with plans to retire in 2016.

Above: Furton with his twins Courtney and Robert. Both are sophomores at FIU.

Across the Globe

the lost MAGAZIN FALL 2013

By DEBORAH O’NEIL | donei001@fiu.edu The ancestors came by canoe from the

none more precious than the artifact that

Holy Land of Yabisaba. We know it as

sealed his lasting fame: Africa’s lost Ark

Jerusalem. There were two boats, long

of the Covenant.

and sturdy, hand carved from ancient

Parfitt’s research is, in many ways, a

trees. The red one carried the Segala

never-ending search for truth in science

clan and the yellow, the Paiya clan.

and myth, history and oracles, the sacred

The travelers spoke the language of

and the profane. That quest took Parfitt

Israel. They paddled in search of the

to Papua New Guinea for the third time

far-off islands of Papua New Guinea,

in March 2013 to further unravel the

guided by the wisdom of an oracle

mystery of the Gogodala’s evolving

called the Fire Source. The islands

identity. A team of FIU students and

themselves, seven in all, had floated

FIU Magazine went with him.

nearly 8,000 miles from the Middle

It didn’t take long for Tudor Parfitt to

Professo the Lost r tracks of Israel Tribes

12

New technolo gy monitors Mia mi’s

14

bridges

Scientists bre ak the blood-brain barrier

were

42

New football coach working to rebuild

everywhere, the

East, destined to become home to the

realize that this trip would be different

blue and white, the yarmulkes. The tribes

tribe those clans formed, God’s chosen

from his first two visits to the island.

people cried out “Shalom!” in sing-

...

people, the Gogodala. A Lost Tribe of Israel in the lush wilderness of a South Pacific Eden.

This is the story the Gogodala tell of

The day of Parfitt’s arrival, hundreds

song voices. Each member of the FIU delegation was wreathed with a garland

of Gogodala sat waiting in the melting

of colorful yarns as they approached

afternoon heat as the military plane

the temple.

touched down in a treeless field. Tribal

Amid the swirl, Parfitt’s eyes fixed on

their origins and this is the story that

leaders had declared the day a holiday.

a huge sign arching over the pathway. It

animates their vision of the future.

Schools and businesses in Balimo closed

read: WELCOME TO GOGODALA TRIBE

so everyone could attend the official

DNA DECLARATION PROGRAM.

Now, they believe God is calling them home. Home to Israel.

But they do not believe they can make it home alone. They yearn for scientific validation of the stories passed down

welcome ceremony. Gogodala from other

A decade ago, Parfitt conducted DNA

islands traveled for days to reach Balimo

tests at the Gogodala’s request. They had

in time.

wanted him to prove they are Jewish. The

Parfitt was prepared to be feted. On

results were completely neutral, at the

through the generations. It is this desire,

his last visit, a local couple had proudly

most, inconclusive. He’d expected the

this urgent need, that drew them to Tudor

introduced him to their first-born son.

tribal elders to be angry. However, they

Parfitt, an FIU religious studies professor

They’d named him Tudor.

seemed undeterred.

who has been called “the British Indiana

Now, tribal elders, the mayor and

Inconclusive, after all, is not a “No.”

Jones.” For three decades, Parfitt has

a host of religious leaders were there

studied the global Israelite movement,

to greet him. The flags of Papua New

time, everyone was there to hear

becoming the world’s leading authority on

Guinea and Israel flapped in the sun.

his answer.

the Lost Tribes. He has communed with

Women sang and children danced. They

mediums and disappeared into isolated

tossed flower petals along a grassy path

villages. He is a searcher for cities of

leading to an open-air temple draped in

legend, and a discoverer of missing relics,

flowers. Signs and symbols of Judaism

Now, they were asking again, and this

To read the complete story from FIU Magazine, visit news.fiu.edu/magazine or scan this QR code.

Arts & Sciences 2013-2014 | 3

E VOLUME

28

The Rising Tide Within From coastlines to the Everglades, researchers in the School of Environment, Arts and Society tackle sea level rise

By EVELYN S. PEREZ | esuperez@fiu.edu Under the streets of Miami Beach,

Beyond the Shoreline

is already affecting South Florida residents

seeping up through the limestone,

When King Tide arrived in October

through a shrinking and tainted aquifer.

water creeps into storm drains and

of 2014, all eyes were on Miami Beach

Some communities, such as Hallandale

pours into the streets. It happens once

and a new pump system that helped

Beach, can attest to the problem as

a year when the sun and moon align in

to keep the water off the streets — this

underground wells have been closed due

such a way that gravity pulls at Earth’s

time. But the manner in which the water

to saltwater, forcing communities to buy

water. The phenomenon is known as

traditionally invades is a stark reminder

water from other sources.

King Tide. It is the highest of high tides,

that when it comes to sea level rise, there

and every year, it puts Miami Beach at

is more to be concerned about than

between sea level rise and the water

risk of major flooding. FIU researchers

just the shoreline. The hidden danger is

pouring out of their faucets,” said Evelyn

were on-site during the latest King Tide

largely the water within. In South Florida’s

Gaiser, a wetland ecologist and interim

event to collect and assess data. The

case, that means the Everglades.

executive director of the School of

efforts are part of a university-wide

“The greater South Florida ecosystem

“Few people might make the connection

Environment, Arts and Society. “We simply

initiative to study, better understand

is predicated on the balance of

don’t have freshwater moving in at the

and develop solutions for sea level

freshwater and saltwater,” said Todd

rate we need it, but Everglades restoration

rise. Plans are under way to create an

Crowl, researcher within the institute and

provides a solution for that.”

institute dedicated to the interdisciplinary

director of FIU’s Southeast Environmental

work being done at FIU, which includes

Research Center. “When that ecosystem

collaboration among researchers from

hits its tipping point and an imbalance

Arts & Sciences, Architecture and the

occurs, that’s when this whole

Restoration Plan was approved as part of

Arts, Business, Law, Public Health and

thing collapses.”

the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Water

Social Work, Engineering, Hospitality

A natural region of subtropical

The River of Grass In 2000, the Comprehensive Everglades

Resources Development Act. The 30-year

and Tourism Management, as well as

wetlands, the Everglades is a complex

plan provides a framework to restore and

Journalism and Mass Communication.

system that features sawgrass marshes,

protect the water resources of Central

South Florida ranks as the world’s most

cypress swamps, mangroves and marine

and South Florida. Every two years, the

vulnerable urban region in terms of assets

environments. The Everglades is also

National Research Council issues a report

exposed to the effects of sea level rise.

the main source of freshwater for the

evaluating the progress of the plan. In the

FIU’s research is dedicated to developing

Biscayne Aquifer, South Florida’s primary

2014 report, the authors raised concerns

and implementing solutions for the major

water supply. Beneath the river of grass,

about slow progress, noting sea level rise

environmental and economic challenges

rising sea levels are pushing saltwater

is causing new concerns for the already

created by the rising seas.

inward into the Everglades. This intrusion

troubled Everglades.

4 | Arts & Sciences 2013-2014

5 Questions: Todd Crowl Director, Southeast Environmental Research Center School of Environment, Arts and Society

“Climate change and sea level rise

prediction about rate and height is near.

are reasons to accelerate restoration to

“Our results show that by 2020 to 2030,

enhance the ecosystem’s ability to adapt

we could have some statistical certainty

to future changes,” authors of the

of what the sea level rise situation will

report wrote.

look like in 2100,” Price said. “That

Much of FIU’s work in the Everglades

means we’ll know what to expect and

is based on research conducted within

have 70 years to plan. In a subject that

its Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term

has so much uncertainty, this gives us the

Ecological Research program, which

gift of long-term planning.”

studies how hydrology, climate and

Even with long-term predictions on

human activities interact with ecosystem

the horizon, immediate action is still

and population dynamics in the

required as sea level rise is the reality

Everglades. With 9 million residents in the

today. Communication and collaboration

greater South Florida region, long-term

among scientists, policy makers and

data will be the key to long-term solutions.

community members are crucial in FIU’s efforts to not only study climate change

Certainty in Uncertain Times One of the greatest uncertainties with

but also to help define how South Florida responds to the rising seas. Hydrologist

sea level is just how high and how fast

Henry Briceño spends much of his time

the seas will rise. Without that knowledge,

in the community sharing what he and his

it’s difficult to plan for how South Florida

students are working on and engaging

should adapt. Conservative projections

policy makers in the issues they uncover.

suggest sea levels could rise by almost a

“It’s really not enough what we do in

foot by 2100, but some scientists believe

the lab and field. What we discover has to

that number will be closer to three feet.

transcend the decision-makers,” Briceño

Earth and Environment Professor René

said. “We have to take this crisis and

Price, along with a team of international

turn it into an opportunity. South Florida

researchers, recently completed a study,

has the opportunity to become a leader

based on historical data that identifies

worldwide to tackle sea level rise. We

the timings at which accelerations might

have a way out. We can adapt. Humanity

first be recognized. While she can’t say

can deal with this and can prevail.” n

for sure today, Price knows a data-driven

What does your current research focus on?

I am an aquatic ecologist with an interest in understanding large ecosystems within a human context. For example, my long-term research project in Puerto Rico has focused on how tropical river systems function in the context of naturally occurring hurricanes and droughts as well as human-built dams and roads.

How did you become interested in your field of study?

I had dual majors in biology and philosophy as an undergraduate. I liked thinking about ‘how we can know anything,’ the logic of hypothesis-building and testing, and then got a summer job working with biologists on lakes and rivers. Those two fields resulted in my life-long pursuit of understanding how large rivers, lakes and wetlands operate and how we need to study them.

What is the greatest threat for our environment today?

The answer to that is scale dependent.

Globally, it is without doubt the availability of fresh drinking water. There are already more than 40,000 large dams around the world. The majority of our freshwater is already stored and used. As the climate changes and we see more droughts, the amount of freshwater will not be equal to the quantity necessary to support the human population. In South Florida, increases in hurricanes, rising sea level, increased human development and the likelihood of increasing drought frequency and intensity all point to a severe set of challenges acting in concert that will threaten our current and future economy and quality of life.

What is something that might surprise people about you?

When I am not reading philosophy and philosophy of science books, I am out riding my Harley.

What book are you currently reading?

There is never only one. Currently I am reading The Philosophy of Biology, Progress Towards Restoring the Everglades, The River of Lakes which is about the St. John’s River in Florida and David Baldacci’s True Blue.

Arts & Sciences 2013-2014 | 5

Physics student Daniella Roberts is among the first to attend classes in the Stocker AstroScience Center.

Stocker Has Landed The School of Integrated Science and Humanity conquers new frontiers in astrophysics

By AYLEEN BARBEL FATTAL | abarbel@fiu.edu of the universe’s matter is dark and invisible.

Chile and the Canary Islands, the Stocker

What is out there?

AstroScience Center features a control room

How big is the universe?

that is inspired as much by Hollywood as

Are we alone?

NASA. Its design might remind fans of the

The excitement in these questions, and

bridge on the popular TV series Star Trek: The

the fact they have gone unanswered for centuries, is what drives FIU’s astrophysicists.

Dr. Carl Stocker, fifth from left, cuts the ribbon to open the Stocker AstroScience Center.

Since Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon

as well as partner telescopes in New Mexico,

Yet, the fundamental questions remain.

Next Generation.

It should come as no surprise that Webb

And now, for the first time in FIU’s history,

is a fan of Star Trek. But that’s not where his

these researchers have a permanent home

fascination with space began. His passion

for observing beyond Earth’s sky. In the fall of

is rooted in a childhood memory of seeing

2013, FIU opened the Stocker AstroScience

Saturn for the first time. Then, he was using

Center, a fully equipped, modern observatory

a cheap telescope he bought at Kmart with

and research center.

money he earned mowing lawns. Today,

The facility, which has been a 20-year

in addition to the international array of

45 years ago, our view of the universe has

endeavor for Professor James Webb, was

telescopes at his fingertips, the main viewer

dramatically changed.

made possible by a gift from Dr. Carl Stocker,

in Stocker is a 24-inch telescope capable of

a retired educator. The four-story building

observing the moon, asteroids, comets and,

discovered orbiting distant stars. Black holes

features classrooms and research labs, along

yes, Saturn. Actually, its reach can take the

are now known to be present at the center of

with its signature silver dome housing the

astronomer’s eyes much farther.

most galaxies, including the Milky Way. Most

main telescope. To operate that telescope,

More than 1,000 planets have been

6 | Arts & Sciences 2013-2014

In a field where the areas of study

5 Questions: James R. Webb Professor, Department of Physics | School of Integrated Science and Humanity

What does your current research focus on?

My research involves observing distant extragalactic objects called quasars with the SARA telescopes and NASA satellites. These objects are thought to be black holes billions of times more massive than the sun in the centers of young galaxies. We have devised a new model to explain the light fluctuations we observe. I involve graduate students, undergraduates and high school students in my lab work.

How did you become interested in your field of study?

I seem to have always been interested in astronomy. I grew up in central Indiana in a factory town watching Star Trek, Lost in Space, and of course Carl Sagan’s COSMOS series and reading encyclopedias. I bought a telescope with lawn mowing money and for the first time saw Saturn’s rings.

I was hooked.

What is the greatest challenge facing astronomy and astrophysics today?

Money to fund research, to build equipment, and to travel and communicate with our colleagues. Astronomy is one of the most difficult sciences because of the remoteness of the subjects. We have to be very inventive in our instruments and theories.

What is something that might surprise people about you?

I play finger-style guitar and have studied with several professional masters. In spite of just turning 60, I also play full court basketball three times a week at the rec center with much younger people.

What book are you currently reading?

If you discount astronomy books, the last book I read for pleasure was Liona Boyd’s autobiography In My Own Key ... My Life In Love and Music. Liona is a world famous classical guitarist and was a frequent visitor to our star parties when she lived in Miami.

are described with words like stellar and

role we play in it is, where we come from and

close pass by Earth. The meteor caused

extragalactic, it’s easy to see why students

where we are going.”

a shockwave that injured more than 1,000

such as Daniella Roberts have chosen this field of physics for their careers.

The FIU Astronomy Club is among the

people. While the two astronomical events

groups to which Van Hamme is referring.

were not related, both generated worldwide

Hosting a series of star parties every

media attention. That is why astronomers are

and that inspires me to try and figure out how

semester, the club reaches an audience of

trying to map anything they can detect that is

it all works,” said Roberts, a senior at FIU and

students, faculty and community members

moving within the solar system, according to

treasurer of the university’s Astronomy Club.

who participate. Astronomy Club member

physicist Caroline Simpson.

“We don’t know much about our universe

The Ecuador native works with Webb,

Patrick Ford is taking his fascination one

studying telescopic images of quasars.

step further. The physics major is one of 700

These compact regions in the center of

international candidates seeking a one-

galaxies are known to serve as sources for

way ticket on the Mars One Project, which

electromagnetic energy including radio waves.

seeks to establish a human settlement of 24

Walter Van Hamme, a physicist and associate director of FIU’s School of

astronauts on the planet in 2023.

“With advances in technology come new

Integrated Science and Humanity, believes

and better tools for astronomers to observe

astronomy’s many unknowns are a great

the skies, leading to a steady stream of

unifier of people. Throughout humanity,

new and exciting discoveries,” Van Hamme

people have looked up to the stars

said. “It is almost certain that some of these

and wondered.

planets have life as we know it. The discovery

“If we do track something that appears to have what is called an Earth-crossing orbit, it is considered a potentially hazardous asteroid or near-Earth object,” Simpson said.

All of FIU’s astronomers are as much explorers as they are scientists. For Fiorella Terenzi, she seeks the aesthetics of space, searching for distant sounds. She specializes in recording radio waves from far-away galaxies and turning them into music, making her one of the first astronomers in the world

of an Earth-like planet with signs of life is just

to study the sounds of space in an aesthetic

in the night sky. Witness, for example, the

a matter of time. I fully expect it to happen in

context. For her, space is as much about its

many thriving amateur astronomy and star

our lifetime.”

beauty as its mystery.

“Humans are fascinated by what they see

gazing clubs scattered around the world,” Van

Astronomers also play a role in global

But there’s still mystery in it. And that’s

Hamme said. “Undoubtedly, this fascination

safety. The world was reminded of this in

why astronomy has a new, permanent home

is due to the innate need of humans to

2013 when Russia was struck by a meteor the

at FIU. n

understand what the universe is, what the

same day that an asteroid made a recordArts & Sciences 2013-2014 | 7

Diplomacy in the Here and Now

The School of International and Public Affairs delves into world of human rights with launch of new center

By NICOLE MONTERO | nmontero@fiu.edu

The loss of basic human rights leads to suffering, profound economic decline and

problems of post-communist transitions and re-opening of the societies closed for decades by a totalitarian rule. On that day, his words and ideals gave rise to a

above all, human

desire at FIU to do more. Twelve years

humiliation. It’s a

later, that desire has been realized with

reality Václav Havel

the School of International and Public

lived during the

Affairs’ initiative to create and endow

communist rule of his

the Václav Havel Center for Human

native Czechoslovakia

Rights and Diplomacy. At the helm is

under the Soviet Empire. Havel became the leader of the Velvet Revolution in 1989, freeing his country and setting it on the

Martin Palous, former ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United States and permanent representative of the Czech Republic to the United Nations.

“Human rights are important because

road to a return to Europe. The

human beings are important,” Palous

revolution ultimately inspired

said. “These rights are in natural tensions

other Warsaw Pact nations to

with other concepts, and I think that

do the same. He was elected

Miami is a great illustration of that tension

the first president of liberated

because of the amount of Hispanics here.

Czechoslovakia, and eventually

There are a lot of similarities with what

became president of the Czech Republic when it separated from Slovakia. Havel left office after 14 years, spending the

I’ve experienced and what I’ve seen in Latin America. The people that can spark change are the ones that leave.”

The core focus of the center is to foster

rest of his life as a staunch

partnerships, international dialogue and

advocate for human rights

greater global exchange in the areas

worldwide.

of human rights, democratization and

In 2002, during his last

diplomacy. According to Palous, human

official presidential visit to

rights are one of the basic tools available

the United States, Havel

to preserve human dignity. People

visited FIU where he spoke

are born free. Political processes and

at a forum devoted to the

systems are often what get in the way.

In 2014, Congress dedicated the bust of the late Vaclav Havel in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall. The bust joins those of other historic figures including American presidents, Winston Churchill and Martin Luther King Jr.

8 | Arts & Sciences 2013-2014

5 Questions: Martin Palous Director, Václav Havel Center for Human Rights and Diplomacy School of International and Public Affairs

“In ’68, it looked like we might have a

that it was a very strong message because

chance for some freedom, but the Soviet

he really believed in solving problems

tanks stopped that. So we started asking

peacefully.”

what we could do in this situation: either

Pérez-Stable believes that, at some

become loyal citizens of a common state

point, enough people in Cuba will

that was violating human rights or try to

understand their power. She believes

leave the country – like many Cubans here

they will understand the idea of anti-

have decided to do,” he said.

communism with emphasis on non-

“Human rights was the form of moral

violence and they will stand up for their

resistance to that situation. It wasn’t policy

rights. In 2014, the Knight Foundation

or strategy because some people didn’t

awarded FIU a grant to create a new

have enough to do that. It was the power

program within the initiative — Preparing

of the powerless.”

Miami for Democratic Transition in Cuba.

Palous worked closely with Václav

Both a challenge and a goal, the project is

Havel. He experienced first-hand the

designed to instill a general understanding

battle of human rights with regards to

among Cuban-Americans and the South

communism and dictatorship.

Florida community about the realities of

“I’ve had a lot of experience and,

the process of peaceful transition including

obviously, the experiences I’ve had with

timing, risks and opportunities. For Miami’s

this kind of totalitarianism are not easy to

diverse citizenry, the pilot project will

be explained to those who haven’t been

hopefully inspire a broad desire to support

exposed to the same kinds of things. But,

a changing Cuba.

in this university, that’s not the case,” said

The Havel center aims to preserve the

Palous. “Here, we have many Venezuelans

values and freedoms won more than 20

and Cubans who have gone through this.

years ago in the Czech Republic with

Here, it’s not just theory. It’s a present time

research, publication and implementation

of people who are passionate about this

in all areas of public affairs and in service

struggle and it’s very real.”

to the concept of an open society.

Marifeli Pérez-Stable, professor in FIU’s

“For me, it’s important that people find

Department of Global and Sociocultural

this center or this entity as something that

Studies, who specializes in U.S./Cuba

can help inspire them and open up their

and Cuban-American relations, agrees.

horizons and their motivations,” Palous

In 2002, she served on the FIU panel that

said. “I don’t want to preach to students

featured Havel.

and to force them to understand this great

“At one point, one of the panelists

man that they have never heard about. I

said that what we needed was some

can help them to discover certain things

bombers to bomb Cuba,” she said. “Havel

that are not so easily available because

interrupted, and he said ‘that’s not the way

human rights are not a matter

to end communism in Cuba.’ He talked

of ideological things, but a matter of

about anti-communism and non-violence

personal experience.” n

and the power of the powerless. I thought

Martin Palous, left, and Václav Havel. Photo courtesy of Václav Havel Library Foundation in Prague

What does your current research focus on?

My research covers several fields: current political thought based on my Central European background and experience; the spiritual and political legacy of Václav Havel; and a comparative study of transitions in the current world with a special focus on Cuba.

How did you become interested in your field of study?

The greatest impact on my political thought was the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. I participated in the Velvet Revolution of 1989 and worked as a diplomat for the new democratic government after. It is here where the major impulses for my studies have come from.

What is the greatest threat to human rights or democracy today?

The unwillingness to be engaged in matters connected with public good; the growing inability of people in democratic countries to resist totalitarian tendencies in their own world; and the unwillingness to be actively involved in the struggle for their own freedom and for freedoms of others.

What is something that might surprise people about you?

Because I love classical literature, I live in a private world that is sometimes distanced from “the beaten paths of men.” So I may look as a weird, crazy guy coming from a different planet from time to time.

What book are you currently reading?

I’m always reading several books at the same time. Right now I have The Altschul’s Method

by Chaim Cigan; Latin America in Focus: Cuba by Ted Henken, Miriam Celaya and Dimas Castellanos; and a new volume from Jan Patocka’s Collected Works on my desk.

Arts & Sciences 2013-2014 | 9

Gifts & Partnerships

Manuel D. Medina

Medina Family Foundation Establishes Aquarius Program unique capabilities of the reef base.

Aquarius, deployed in 1993 by the

stepped forward with a $1.25 million

Manuel D. Medina, founding and

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

gift to Florida International University,

managing partner of Medina Capital,

Administration (NOAA), was slated

providing essential operational support

says the gift is his family’s way of

for decommissioning when FIU

giving back to the ocean, which has

stepped forward with a plan to keep

provided them a lifetime of inspiration

the reef base operational. The special

and enjoyment. Medina, who visited

diving capability of Aquarius, called

Aquarius in the spring of 2014 with his

saturation diving, allows scientists

The Medina Family Foundation has

for Aquarius Reef Base, the world’s only undersea research laboratory.

In honor of the Medina family’s gift, FIU has created the Medina Aquarius

two children, Melissa and Manny Jr.,

to live and work underwater up to

Program, a research and educational

often jokes he has saltwater in

nine hours a day without fear of

outreach program that leverages the

his veins.

decompression sickness.

FIU Launches Initiative on Human Rights The Václav Havel Center for Human Rights and Diplomacy was launched thanks to a $100,000 two-year grant from the Knight Foundation. These funds are underwriting the center’s first project titled “Preparing Miami for Democratic Transition in Cuba,” which is now educating the Miami community about previous democratic transitions and the lessons they hold for eventual change in Cuba. The Havel center also received a $500,000 pledge from Eduardo Pérez Bengochea, which has enabled the School of International and Public Affairs to hire prominent Cuban philosophical historian and political analyst Alexis Jardines as the first Pérez Bengochea Distinguished Scholar in Residence.

10 | Arts & Sciences 2013-2014

Batchelor Environmental Center Coming to FIU Through a collaboration with the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science and the Batchelor Foundation, FIU will construct the Batchelor Environmental Center at its Dr. Joanne Waugh and Interim Dean Mike Heithaus unveil a portrait of Waugh’s late husband and FIU founder Butler Waugh.

Alumna Honors Arts & Sciences Founding Dean FIU alumna Donna Balkan Litowitz ‘80 has honored the late Butler Waugh with a $400,000 gift to the university.

Biscayne Bay Campus (BBC).

Through a $5 million gift from the Batchelor Foundation, the museum will construct the environmental center on a 75,000-square-foot parcel at BBC. Once complete, it will feature a bird of prey rehabilitation clinic, research and teaching facilities, aquaponic and hydroponic systems for research, and research tanks to house sharks, billfish and other fish. The center will have a combined focus of research and educational outreach.

It is scheduled for completion in 2015.

Waugh, a founding father of FIU and the first dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, passed away in

Mine Üçer Celebrates Women in Science Turkish philanthropist Mine Üçer has given $40,000 to the

2012. Litowitz, a former student of

School of Integrated Science and Humanity (SISH) to establish

Waugh’s, has honored his legacy

the Women in Science Lecture Series. The speaker series

by establishing the Butler Waugh

promotes the awareness, participation and advancement of

Endowed Professorship in support

women pursuing academic careers in science.

of the Department of English. The professorship, in addition to supporting faculty endeavors in literature, will also

Üçer, a SISH advisory board member, was born in Ankara, Turkey. After completing an economics degree at Gazi University, she worked at the British Embassy as a commercial

sponsor an annual lecture and provide

officer. She, along with her husband, is passionate about expanding the reach of

student scholarships. As part of the gift,

education in Turkey and abroad. They support projects aimed at high school and

FIU unveiled a portrait of Waugh in the

university students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Üçer takes a special interest in

fall of 2014.

projects targeting the education of girls and young women.

FIU Signs Memorandum with University in Ecuador The FIU African and African Diaspora Studies Program and the Universidad Andina Simón Bolivar in Quito, Ecuador, have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop collaborative programs in African diaspora studies and Latin American cultural studies. The program will work with scholars in the U.S., Ecuador, Honduras, Brazil, Argentina and the Dominican Republic to examine the effectiveness of laws put in place to protect citizens against racism and anti-black racism in those countries.

Arts & Sciences 2013-2014 | 11

Current Initiatives

John Holdren, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology, visits with students at FIU’s new active learning classroom, a major initiative in improving STEM education led by the STEM Transformation Institute.

STEM Transformation Institute With more than 7,500 FIU students majoring in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), the university has launched the STEM Transformation Institute, a multidisciplinary partnership that paves the way for student success.

The STEM Transformation Institute responds to several key recommendations made by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology to meet the national imperative for more and diverse scientists and engineers. Leaders from all sectors, including business, government and education, have called for increased investments in the next generation of innovators and problem solvers. Many STEM-based jobs are going unfilled or moving overseas as the country struggles to keep pace with the demand.

FIU is the largest producer of STEM degrees for Hispanics and one of the top producers of STEM degrees for all minorities.

The university manages more than $20 million in active STEM education grants. The institute targets STEM majors and nonSTEM majors alike, promoting education projects designed to increase science and math literacy among all students, while increasing enrollment, retention and graduation rates for STEM students. The institute’s approach focuses on research, as well as university-industry partnerships.

12 | Arts & Sciences 2013-2014

School of Environment, Arts and Society

Marine Education and Research Initiative Recognizing the international importance of the Florida Keys ecosystem, the Marine Education and Research Initiative (MERI) in the upper Florida Keys enhances the regional scope and resulting global impact of FIU on higher education, scientific research, outreach and community engagement. Unique to this initiative is the seamless integration of K-12 education and public outreach with research programs. MERI leverages and enhances the School of Environment, Arts and Society’s extensive efforts in the greater Florida Keys and South Florida for the betterment of the region’s residents and economy.

Development Contacts: Angelique Grant Hutchinson Assistant Vice President, Development agranthu@fiu.edu 305-348-1151

The Kampong, the National Tropical Botanical Garden’s only garden outside of Hawaii, is located in Coconut Grove, Florida.

International Center for Tropical Botany FIU and the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) have joined forces to create the International Center for Tropical Botany at The Kampong in Coconut Grove, Fla. In recent years, botany as an academic discipline has been disappearing from American universities, and recent studies indicate a looming shortage of botanists, who are critical for the management of forests and national parks and ensuring the long-term viability of the crops and plants people rely on.

Karen Wilkening Director of Development School of Environment, Arts and Society kwilkeni@fiu.edu 305-348-7602

The center will work with local and global botanic garden partners to develop research and training programs. The center’s headquarters will be built on land donated to FIU from NTBG, and will be adjacent to The Kampong, the NTGB’s only garden outside of Hawaii. Scientists at the center will lead efforts to preserve and study tropical plants for future generations.

Arts & Sciences 2013-2014 | 13

Current Initiatives School of Integrated Science and Humanity

Psychologists Anthony Dick, left, and Matthew Sutherland, right, conduct brain mapping research at an MRI facility in Miami.

Cognitive Neuroscience and Imaging The mystery of the human mind is one of immense complexity. Under the Cognitive Neuroscience and Imaging Center, FIU researchers are analyzing brain development, brain function and the neurological basis of behavior. These scientists are investigating possible applications of their pioneering research to advance the treatment of nervous system disorders. They hope to map one of science’s most exciting frontiers – the human brain.

Center for Children and Families Nearly 20 percent of children in the United States suffer from a mental or behavior disorder. The cost to American society is in the tens of billions of dollars. FIU’s Center for Children and Families is an international leader in treatment for child mental health, serving approximately 3,000 children and families annually for ADHD, autism, child anxiety,

Development Contacts:

aggression, other behavior disorders, classroom interventions and parent trainings. The

Angelique Grant Hutchinson Assistant Vice President, Development agranthu@fiu.edu 305-348-1151

center was founded by William E. Pelham, Jr., a pioneer in the field of ADHD research and treatment. He has changed the way the world understands ADHD. Under Pelham’s leadership, the center has amassed a team of nearly 40 researchers and clinical experts across multiple disciplines. The center is also training the next generation of child mental health providers, offering counselor opportunities, training sessions and mentoring of FIU undergraduate, graduate and medical students. Through treatment, research and outreach, FIU’s Center for Children and Families is transforming the lives of children and their families with caring and evidence-based treatments that help the children excel in school, at home and among their peers.

14 | Arts & Sciences 2013-2014

DeAnna Forrester Director of Development School of Integrated Science and Humanity dforrest@fiu.edu 305-348-7942

School of International and Public Affairs Center for European and Eurasian Studies The European continent, which has long

Center for Muslim World Studies FIU has embarked on an endeavor as timely as it is ambitious — to establish an endowed Center for Muslim World Studies in the

seemed stable and predictable, is facing

School of International and Public Affairs. Perhaps never in history

uncertain times. The European Union

has the need been greater to understand the nature of present

member states have been shaken by

day Islam and the Muslim contributions within communities

tensions in the wake of the financial crisis,

throughout the world. The initiative to launch the center is a direct

increasing immigration and the rise of

response to a request from the South Florida Muslim community

radical right-wing politics. Likewise, since

that FIU lead the way in establishing an academic center

the fall of the Berlin Wall and collapse of

dedicated to the study of the diversity of Islam and the relations

the Soviet Union, the countries of formerly

between Islamic societies and the West. The Center for Muslim

communist Eastern Europe and Eurasia

World Studies will highlight the connections between Islam and

have undergone a series of upheavals.

globalization, concentrating on three strategic themes — Global

Given the importance of Europe to

Muslim Diaspora, Interfaith Dialogue, and Islam and Security.

global peace, stability and prosperity, the School of International and Public Affairs has launched a strategic initiative to create and endow a Center for European and Eurasian Studies. The center would expand teaching, research and outreach of the European Studies Program and create new interdisciplinary synergies with the Miami-Florida European Union Center of Excellence.

Development Contacts: Angelique Grant Hutchinson Assistant Vice President, Development agranthu@fiu.edu 305-348-1151

David Skipp Director of Development School of International and Public Affairs dskipp@fiu.edu 305-348-7407 Arts & Sciences 2013-2014 | 15

Think Differently

Researchers create solutions through reimagined technology

By JOANN C. ADKINS | jadkins@fiu.edu

Could you tell the difference between a pile of sugar and an explosive powder? What if your life depended on it? For police, soldiers and other first responders, the ability to identify dangerous chemicals is often a matter of life and death. In today’s era of high-tech innovation, a variety of products are available to help law enforcement.

But these innovations come with a high price tag and can be bulky, which is not always practical. For chemist Kelley Peters, this reality is unacceptable.

The FIU Ph.D. candidate believed she could help find a better way, so she began working with researcher Bruce McCord, an analytical and forensic chemist in FIU’s International Forensic Research Institute (IFRI). In many Third World countries, where modern medical equipment is often out-of-reach, health care workers rely on small chips made of microfluidic paper for basic medical diagnostics.

This special paper only requires small samples and gives rapid results. They are used to help monitor and slow the spread of infectious diseases. Peters believes they could also help stop destruction caused by volatile explosive chemicals. Peters is among the many FIU researchers delving into the world of problem-solving and innovation. For them, it’s less about the invention and more about the application — using existing technologies in ways Above, FIU president Mark B. Rosenberg discusses explosives detection with student Kelley Peters, far right.

16 | Arts & Sciences 2013-2014

that were never originally intended.

FIU Emerges

These efforts were on display in

2014 when South Florida welcomed the inaugural eMerge Americas, hosted by Technology Foundation of the Americas. The annual conference focuses on the key trends driving growth in the Latin America IT market. When FIU began planning for its 2,500-squarefeet of exhibit space, the ideas flowed easily. But as university officials pored through the research and community projects, they realized they had enough to fill a space four times that size. The challenge was in narrowing down the list. Peters made the cut. At first glance,

with complicated

the chips she works with aren’t much to

designs, Peters was able to

look at. They’re small, no bigger than a

captivate crowds with this tiny, paper-

postage stamp. But these plain pieces

based chip.

wilt is a vascular disease of plants

of paper with their blue, plume-shaped

“We often think of technology as

drawing on the front could be the future

something complex with lots of moving

invasive redbay ambrosia beetle. It was

of explosives detection across the globe.

parts,” said Mike Heithaus, interim dean

first noticed in redbay trees throughout

When exposed to a very small sample of

of the College of Arts & Sciences. “That’s

South Carolina, Georgia and Florida,

a powder-in-question, these microfluidic

not always the case. Sometimes the

and has continued to spread to six

chips can do more than just determine

innovation is in recognizing the potential

other members of the Lauraceae family

if a powder is an explosive. They can

of something so simple.”

including avocado trees. Once infected,

identify the type of explosive.

“We hope that these devices will be

Just on the other side of Peters’

caused by a fungus carried by the

more than 90 percent of trees will

eMerge Americas display rested Buddy,

die within six weeks. Diseased trees

used by law enforcement and military

a golden retriever. Seemingly out of place

normally begin to wilt within two to four

personnel in order to keep them safer,”

at a tech conference, the former stray

weeks, but by the time symptoms are

Peters said.

is actually helping to combat a silent

visible, the fungus has likely spread to

killer in the nation’s avocado industry.

other nearby trees via root grafting. This

results. Thanks to its size, it’s

The technology is Buddy’s partner — an

is a particular problem in commercial

convenient. And because of its simple

unmanned aerial vehicle poised on a

growing areas, where trees are plotted

design, it is affordable, costing just

platform next to him. Together, the duo

close to one another. Today, the disease

pennies per chip. At eMerge Americas,

is hunting down the laurel wilt pathogen.

is having devastating effects on infected

surrounded by complex technologies

First identified in the early 2000s, laurel

avocado groves.

The chip offers quick and accurate

Continues on page 16

Arts & Sciences 2013-2014 | 17

“They are pushing limits, challenging understandings of technology and are only limited by their own imaginations.

It’s an exciting time to be at FIU.” - Mike Heithaus, Interim Dean College of Arts & Sciences

FIU Provost Kenneth G. Furton has spent most of his career as a forensic chemist, specializing in scent detection.

He, along with FIU biologist DeEtta

Beyond the World You Know Just beyond FIU’s exhibit wall

that exhorted passers-by to “Think differently, go beyond the world you know,” people had conversations. But

Mills, have teamed up to determine if

true to FIU’s DNA, they were not just

dogs could be trained to detect the

any conversations. It was FIU’s Roger

laurel wilt pathogen at much earlier

Garcia and James Fourqurean, 60 feet

stages of infection than what is currently

below the surface of the ocean in FIU’s

available by all other technologies. By

Aquarius, the world’s only undersea

using drones to isolate areas of concern,

research lab. The Aquarius operations

targeted and manageable areas are

director and director of FIU’s Marine

identified for a dog to search. Furton

Education and Research Initiative

believes canines could be the ultimate

spoke via a live feed with dozens of

solution for early detection of this

conference participants. Residing in the

highly volatile pathogen, thanks to their

Researchers in IFRI are combining

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary,

selectivity, sensitivity

canine scent detection with aerial

Aquarius is a research habitat that

and mobility. Pairing canine scent

surveillance to battle laurel wilt in

enables scientists to live and work in the

detection with drone surveillance to

South Florida. The hunt begins with the

ocean for days, even weeks at a time. It

combat a silent, hidden enemy of the

unmanned drones. These vehicles are

provides unparalleled means to study the

avocado industry could have far-

mounted with digital imaging instruments

ocean, test and develop state-of-the-art

reaching implications for the entire

that provide frequent, safe and cost-

undersea technology, train specialized

agriculture industry.

divers and astronauts, and engage the

Old Dog+Tech= New Tricks

That’s where Buddy comes in.

effective aerial surveillance of avocado

The College of Arts & Sciences, which

imaginations of people all across the

groves to monitor for diseased trees.

accounts for more than half of all research

While the surveillance can identify

world. The reef base is part of FIU’s

at the university, delivered an unexpected

trees in distress, the drones can’t tell a

Medina Aquarius Program, an education

assemblage of research that both

farmer whether the tree is suffering from

and outreach initiative focused on marine

impressed and entertained the thousands

conservation and restoration. Manuel

at the inaugural eMerge Americas.

D. Medina, founder of the Technology

laurel wilt or something else. But a dog can. At least that’s what researchers hope to prove. Canines have 20 times more olfactory receptors than humans, making them 100 times more sensitive to detecting odors.

“What gets me the most when I see FIU’s presence here at eMerge is how

his family have provided critical support

far we’ve come since 2001, when I first

for FIU’s Aquarius programs. He was

attended FIU,” said alumnus Michael

among the first to stop by the exhibit for

Rojas. “It’s now the school of the future.”

a chat with the submerged crew. Shortly

Above photos: FIU Provost Kenneth G. Furton and his canine partner Buddy are combining scent detection with aerial drones to detect a deadly pathogen impacting Florida’s avocado industry.

18 | Arts & Sciences 2013-2014

Foundation of the Americas, along with

after, well-known Cuban activist and blogger Yoani Sanchez visited the exhibit to talk to Garcia. Dozens of people took time to ask questions of the aquanauts while hundreds more listened in. With each conversation, the message was the same: The future of science will rely on people and technology working in concert.

“Technology is constantly evolving and it touches every aspect of an Arts & Sciences education. It’s in our social sciences, natural sciences and physical sciences,” Heithaus said. “But it’s not all about technology. To really make a difference, you need high-tech combined with high-touch.”

A marine biologist by trade, Heithaus is no stranger to new uses for established technologies. Early in his career, he deployed state-of-the-art cameras on marine animals to monitor and study predators and their prey. He has completed more than 100 successful Crittercam deployments on sharks, sea turtles, whales and more. Heithaus also served as a research fellow with National Geographic’s Remote Imaging Program and was the host of the Crittercam Chronicles television series. Students in his lab at FIU’s Biscayne Bay Campus continue this work today.

“What excites me the most is that our students and faculty are working on projects that solve real-world problems,” Heithaus said. “They are pushing limits, challenging understandings of technology and are only limited by their own imaginations. It’s an exciting time to be at FIU.” n Top, Arts & Sciences Interim Dean Mike Heithaus, FIU Senior Vice President Sandra Gonzalez-Levy and Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho discuss undersea exploration at the Aquarius Exhibit during eMerge Americas.

Center photo, Technology Foundation of the Americas founder Manuel Medina chats with FIU researchers stationed 60 feet below the ocean’s surface in FIU’s Aquarius. Bottom, FIU researchers conduct experiments outside Aquarius.

Arts & Sciences 2013-2014 | 19

The Next Class Arts & Sciences students make a difference through research, leadership and policy

Sheyla Marimon

School of Integrated Science and Humanity Junior Sheyla Marimon made FIU history when she became the

“As I started college I wanted to choose a major that taught me

first female general manager of WRGP, FIU’s student-run radio

how to think rather than what to think,” Marimon said. “In high

station now in its 26th year. The philosophy and political science

school we’re made to take so many classes to fill requirements that

major has been a fan of the FM station since she was 15.

when I arrived at FIU I wanted a major that would challenge

“FIU student radio was my first involvement freshman year,” Marimon said. “It has taught me so much by being so hands-on and open to all students.”

Marimon has carried that passion into her work as a peer mentor

me mentally.”

Marimon, who hopes to attend law school after graduation in 2015, finds the most inspiration in her ethics classes. She recognizes that applying concepts from philosophy to issues

in a First Year Experience class, helping incoming freshmen adjust

related to international relations and policy can be crucial to greater

to college life. She also is a two-time presenter at the Women,

global understandings.

Sexuality and Gender Studies Association’s annual conference.

20 | Arts & Sciences 2013-2014

Belinda Sardiñas

School of International and Public Affairs Growing up in a military family, Belinda Sardiñas always had an

interest in international relations. But an internship at the Spanish Consulate led her to FIU’s Master of Arts in Global Governance

program. It was there Sardiñas met Consul General Cristina Barrios.

“I told her I wanted to work in Washington, D.C.,” Sardiñas said.

“She talked to me about the global governance program. I looked into it and thought it’s a great fit.”

During her first year in the professional M.A. program, Sardiñas

landed an internship in the Partnering Directorate division at U.S.

Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) in Doral, Fla. Housed under the Department of Defense, SOUTHCOM is responsible for providing

contingency planning, operations and security in Latin America and the Caribbean.

“It’s so exciting working at SOUTHCOM because I wake up, watch

the news, get to work, and there are teams of people working on

those same issues being talked about in the media,” Sardiñas said.

Prior to graduating from the program, Sardiñas has

already accepted a position in the Advisory Department of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Washington, D.C.

Brian Machovina

School of Environment, Arts and Society Biologist, philanthropist and inventor Brian Machovina ’91 MS ’94 is in pursuit of sustainable solutions for food insecurity. The Ph.D. candidate in Biology is conducting research on the effects of meat consumption by humans on the global ecosystem, believing human carnivory is the single greatest threat to overall biodiversity. His hypothesis — replacing meat with soy protein could be the answer.

“Eliminating livestock and instead growing crops, including soy protein, can also increase the number of calories available for human consumption by 70 percent – enough to feed an additional 4 billion people,” he said.

Machovina recently presented these research findings at the World Botany Conference at UNESCO in Paris, France. Machovina has also been featured in numerous publications for his work on human carnivory, including Science and Nature. Dedicated to conservation and healthy living, he has conducted similar research on the global production of bananas. Along with his wife, Eileen McHale ‘94, Machovina invented Yonanas, a popular kitchen appliance that churns fresh fruit into a frozen treat. The couple also founded Oasis Preserve International in 1997, a non-profit supporting rainforest conservation projects in South and Central America.

Arts & Sciences 2013-2014 | 21

A&S Alumni Inspiring, mentoring and serving with honor

Katherine Vargas

School of International and Public Affairs

Knowing barely a word of English

when she arrived in South Florida 16 years ago from her native Bogotá,

Colombia, Katherine Vargas ‘04 could

not have imagined she would one day

work for the White House. As director of

Hispanic media, Vargas speaks to myriad news outlets—and thus to millions

of Latinos—on behalf of the Obama

administration. This summer Vargas was named one of “The 25 Most Influential Washington Women Under 35” by National Journal.

With a degree in international relations

from the College of Arts & Sciences

under her belt, Vargas worked at the National Immigration Law Center

and, most recently, served as director of communication for the National

Immigration Forum before landing on Pennsylvania Avenue this year.

“To be working at the White House

every day,” she says, “I still kind of pinch

myself, because it speaks volumes about the opportunity this country offers.”

22 | Arts & Sciences 2013-2014

Didley Delpeche

School of Integrated Science and Humanity Didley Delpeche ‘13 served for more than eight years in

the U.S. Army, a commitment that came with its share of

sacrifices. He was deployed to Iraq in 2009, shortly after the birth of his daughter. He missed her first words, steps and

birthday. Training and deployments also meant delaying his pursuit of a psychology degree.

In 2011, while parenting a toddler and still serving in

the military, he decided to make that degree a priority. He

relied on the discipline, leadership and teamwork skills he

learned in the Army to stay on track. During this pursuit, he also earned the Army Achievement Medal for exceptional

leadership. In 2013, he earned his degree from FIU with a 4.0 GPA.

Today, Delpeche serves in the Army National Guard and is

working toward his master’s degree. He currently works for the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Miami in the area of Health Care for Homeless Veterans.

The Army veteran, who was awarded the Iraqi Campaign

Medal, Army Commendation Medal and a professional

development ribbon for the successful completion of the

Warrior Leadership Course, knows the value of service and hopes to someday be a counselor.

Natalie Boden

School of Environment, Arts and Society If there is one thing Natalie Boden ‘99 acquired from her literature

classes, it is the ability to analyze.

“I analyzed works by Shakespeare and by African-American

writers. Learning how to analyze these works, how to prepare an argument and how to defend it, gave me a lot of self-esteem,” Boden said.

Boden is the founder and managing director of Miami-based

BodenPR. Her understanding of the U.S. Hispanic market has

helped make her agency one of the fastest-growing Hispanic firms in the country, with Fortune 500 clients including Target and AT&T.

In early 2014, BodenPR was selected by McDonald’s USA to serve as its national Hispanic authorized organizational representative.

Born in Honduras to a Honduran mother and British father,

Boden started college in England, focusing largely on courses

in biology and chemistry. Her senior year, she moved to Miami and transferred to FIU where she took courses in English and

photography. It was here that she discovered her true passion for communications.

“My English courses taught me the power of writing and story

telling,” Boden said. “My photography course taught me the

importance of visual story telling. The more powerful your story, the more powerful your brand. It was great preparation for what I do today.”

Arts & Sciences 2013-2014 | 23

International Voices Visionaries, activists and champions leave their mark at FIU Every year, the College of Arts & Sciences offers hundreds of lectures for students, faculty and members of the community to share ideas and foster greater understandings of issues that affect us all. These events feature faculty members, students, local community members, activists, global leaders and visionaries.

Each lecture leaves its mark at FIU. The Ruth K. and Shepard Broad Distinguished Lecture Series is a flagship speaker series for the School of International and Public Affairs. For the schedule of upcoming speakers, visit international.fiu.edu. The Our Common Future Lecture is the School of Environment, Arts and Society’s premier annual event, which focuses on addressing critical environmental issues. To learn more, visit environment.fiu.edu. The School of Integrated Science and Humanity recently launched the Mine Üçer Women in Science Lecture Series. For additional information, visit humanity.fiu.edu.

Egyptian Ambassador Mohamed M. Tawfik

Broad Lecture Series captivates thousands

Amy Tan receives Sanders Award

Former Peruvian president offers insight

SISH welcomes executive-in-residence

Nearly 3,000 members of the FIU family and South Florida community attended a series of events hosted by the School of International and Public Affairs’ flagship speaker series, the Ruth K. and Shepard Broad Distinguished Lecture Series. Former member of the Kuwaiti Parliament Salwa al-Jassar shared her insight on democracy in the Gulf Region and the role of women in the Kuwaiti government. William Zarit, minister counselor for commercial affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China, discussed commercial relations between the two countries.

Egyptian Ambassador to the U.S. Mohamed M. Tawfik offered insight into the future of his country, discussing stability, security and the road to democracy. Other featured topics included challenges to global security, human rights, the conflict between Palestine and Israel, global spirituality and more. The speaker series also hosted a teach-in on the Syrian conflict.

Critically acclaimed author Amy Tan charmed a crowd of hundreds after receiving the FIU Creative Writing Program’s Lawrence A. Sanders Award for Fiction, a pre-eminent event in the School of Environment, Arts and Society. The author of The Joy Luck Club and other bestsellers opened her talk with the journeys of the grandmother she never met and her mother with which she shared a lifelong tumultuous relationship. Though her writings are largely fiction, Tan draws from her own family’s experiences, where life was often stranger than fiction. The Joy Luck Club was published in 1989.

She has since written six more best-selling novels, two children’s books and several works of nonfiction. Tan is the fifth recipient of the Lawrence Sanders Award, made possible by an endowment from the Lawrence A. Sanders Foundation of Boca Raton.

Former Peruvian President Alan Garcia offered his insights and perception about the current economic and political trends throughout Latin America during a visit to FIU. Garcia was in Miami to sign an agreement with FIU to create research and student exchange programs with Universidad de San Martín de Porres in Peru. The agreement is an initiative led by FIU’s Latin American and Caribbean Center and its director, Frank Mora. A lawyer, sociologist and regional expert, Garcia is the leader of the Peruvian APRA Party and served his first presidential term from 1985-1990, and his second term from 2006-2011.

FIU’s School of Integrated Science and Humanity (SISH) welcomed attorney and mediation expert Cori Flam Meltzer to campus, launching the school’s Executive-in-Residence Lecture Series, designed to help students gain access to industry professionals in various career paths. Meltzer began her day at FIU with a keynote lecture titled “Who says it’s a man’s world?”

She discussed traditional genderrelated stereotypes as well as ways women can better represent themselves with authority and confidence. Meltzer has worked as a litigator in Washington, D.C. and counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, where she specialized in antitrust, technology, reproductive rights and violence against women.

24 | Arts & Sciences 2013-2014

Invest in girls, change the world

Lehane headlines writers conference

TEDxFIU takes us beyond the world we know

National Geographic Society photojournalist Annie Griffiths documents aid programs designed to empower girls and women in the developing world as they deal with the devastating effects of climate change. This year, she delivered the second annual Our Common Future Lecture, the School of Environment, Arts and Society’s premier event.

Griffiths revealed how photography can connect people all across the world and affect positive social change. Griffiths was one of the first female photographers to work for National Geographic and has worked in nearly 150 countries during her career. She is a fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers, and founder of the Ripple Effect a team of journalists dedicated to documenting the plight of poor women and girls around the world.

Creative Writing alumnus and international bestselling author Dennis Lehane ‘01 stopped

by FIU’s three-day Writers Conference to share his struggles to make it as a writer. Lehane is the author of Mystic River, Shutter Island, and Gone, Baby, Gone, all of which have been made into major motion pictures.

Now in its 27th year, the annual conference brings together aspiring writers from all over the country to participate in workshops taught by acclaimed authors, editors and agents.

Lehane, who earned his Master of Fine Arts degree from FIU in 2001, gave tips on how to write effective fiction.

In 2013, FIU hosted the second annual TEDxFIU including six talks featuring Arts & Sciences students, faculty and alumni. The event opened with Marine Sciences Professors Deron Burkepile and Mike Heithaus teaming up to make a case for manned undersea exploration. Burkepile took to the stage at the FIU Wertheim Performing Arts Center while Heithaus, who currently serves as interim dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, appeared live from 60 feet below the ocean’s surface in the FIU Aquarius, the world’s only undersea research lab. Afterwards, Religious Studies Professor Tudor Parfitt explored religion, genetics and identity in remote parts of the world, detailing his mission to find the lost tribes of Israel.

Alumna Aneysi Fernandez appeared for the first time as a member of the Taiko drumming group Ronin. Pictured above, physicist Pete Markowitz joined artist Xavier Cortada to explain the artistic side of scientific discovery. The duo took the audience on a visual journey into the creation of Cortada’s latest art project celebrating the discovery of the Higgs boson particle. Markowitz was among the international team of scientists who helped make the discovery.

Chemistry Ph.D. student Kelley Peters made the case for more affordable and accessible tools in crime scene investigations.

Biologist and crop pioneer Eric Bishop-von Wettburg made the case for breeding genetically diverse crops that are more tolerant of climate change. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. To learn more, visit tedxfiu.com.

Arts & Sciences 2013-2014 | 25

College of Arts & Sciences in

For the complete stories, visit news.FIU.edu.

Researcher sheds light on false confessions Juveniles may be particularly vulnerable to falsely admitting guilt, according to a study led by

Biomolecular Sciences Institute​

FIU psychologist Lindsay C. Malloy.

The Biomolecular Sciences Institute officially launched in May of 2014. This multi-

A majority of the participants in

disciplinary consortium of FIU’s finest research scientists is a source of academic

the study reported experiencing

mentorship for undergraduate and graduate students supported by a think-tank of

high-pressure techniques when

cross-college and interdepartmental collaborations. Director Yuk-Ching Tse-Dinh

questioned by police. Malloy’s

leads a talented team of researchers studying biomacromolecular interactions, the

research indicates a critical need for

development and identification of biomarkers and the application of nanotechnology

reform in the procedures used for

to infectious diseases, cancer biology and neurodegenerative disorders.

questioning juveniles.

Carnivorous crocs enjoy a taste of fruit

‘Having it all,’ except equality

A study led by the Wildlife Conservation

Women who

Society, including FIU researchers Hong

work in the public

Liu, Mike Heithaus and Adam Rosenblatt,

sector still face

has found the American alligator and a

equal opportunity

dozen other crocodile species enjoy the

challenges,

tastes of fruit along with their usual meat-

according to

heavy diets of birds, fish and mammals.

a new book

This comes as news to scientists, who

authored by

long-believed crocodiles are incapable of digesting fruit and vegetable proteins

FIU Public

and polysaccharides, a complex carbohydrate.

Administration Professor Mohamad Alkadry. Women and Public

Professor judges 2014 Pulitzer Prize for poetry Phillip and Patricia Frost Professor of Creative Writing Campbell McGrath was one of three jurors selected to judge the 2014 Pulitzer Prize in poetry. The judges were sent a copy of each poetry book published last year, around 300 volumes, and asked to select three finalists. This year’s Pulitzer Prize winning poetry book is 3 Sections by Vijay Seshadri.

26 | Arts & Sciences 2013-2014

Service: Barriers, Challenges and Opportunities explores obstacles women continue to face in the workplace, including segregation, pay inequity, sexual harassment and social costs of career progression. The book is coauthored by West Virginia University Professor Leslie Tower.

Researcher dodges typhoons to study monsoons Geology Professor William Anderson spent two months aboard the research vessel JOIDES Resolution in the Japan Sea. As part of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program’s Expedition 346: Asian Monsoon, he and an international research team tested the hypothesis that the great variations between the summer and winter monsoon seasons in East Asia are caused by the creation of the Himalaya mountains, which appeared about 50 million years ago when the Indian and Eurasian subcontinents collided.

Project contributes to improved algebra test scores in Miami-Dade schools High school students identified as being at-risk of failing the Florida Department of Education End-of-Course Algebra I Assessments spent three Saturdays at FIU’s Mastery Math Lab preparing for the test. As part of the pilot program created by FIU and Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the students used a specially designed, web-based program to practice challenging areas of the exams. Of the students in the program, 79 percent successfully passed the end-of-course exam.

Student-created NGO delivers clean water to Haiti A group of four FIU students and one alumnus, who together formed the non-governmental organization Hope2o International, traveled to Haiti to provide safe and clean drinking water to the people that need it most.

The students hand-delivered more

Lead contamination research leads to safer soil in Liberty City

than 50 LifeStraws, a personal water

Student Danielle Goveia used soils from Liberty City to grow spinach for research she

filtration system that removes 99

was conducting in organic gardening. She found concentrations of lead in the spinach’s

percent of waterborne bacteria and

non-edible tissues and lower concentrations in edible tissues, indicating the soil was

parasites, to communities in Port-Au-

contaminated. Goveia notified county officials, who responded to remove the lead from

Prince and Cap Haitien.

the contaminated sites in Liberty City. Follow-up testing showed no signs of contamination.

Arts & Sciences 2013-2014 | 27

College of Arts & Sciences in

For the complete stories, visit news.FIU.edu.

Sociolinguist sheds light on Miami English misconceptions

LACC to study consequences of marijuana legalization in Uruguay

Sociolinguist Phillip Carter garnered international media attention, including CNN and BBC Mundo, with his research on the Miami English dialect.

FIU’s Latin America and Caribbean

Miami English is a variety of English with difference

Center (LACC) and the Universidad

in the pronunciation of vowels, stronger-sounding

Católica del Uruguay have partnered

consonants including “L” and “R,” intonation of

to conduct a comprehensive

sentences, and using literal translations.

research project on the legalization of marijuana and the transformation project will assess the impact of

Frog researcher named Fulbright scholar

marijuana’s legalization on attitudes

Biology Ph.D. student Michelle Thompson

and norms regarding production,

was granted a Fulbright U.S. Student

distribution and consumption. It will

Award. She will travel to Costa Rica to

also explore the characteristics of

conduct research on amphibian and reptile

typical consumers.

community composition in the country’s

of drug policy in Uruguay. The

tropical lowland forests. Her dissertation focuses on how amphibians and reptiles respond to habitat change. She also will serve as a cultural ambassador.

Economists examine impacts of free trade In a recent study, economists Cem Karayalcin and Hakan Yilmazkuday found trade liberalization leads to a reduction in urban concentration. In developing countries, the cost of high levels of urban concentration can be high in terms of overpopulation, congestion and productivity growth. By examining policy changes in multiple cities

Research links sleep deprivation to problems in teens Criminal Justice Professor Ryan C.

across 48 countries, the innovative paper proves the removal or reduction of trade restrictions reduces urban concentration in the largest cities that have ports and, thus, better access to external markets. The paper, titled “Trade and Cities,” was published in World Bank Economic Review.

Meldrum has linked extreme sleep deprivation to 12 outcomes ranging from obesity, substance use, drunk

Portuguese professor awarded prestigious Order of Rio Branco

driving and even suicidal tendencies

Augusta Vono, Portuguese Program

in teens. Meldrum says the real area

director and director of the Strategic

of concern are those adolescents

Language Institute, has been

who achieve less than five hours of

awarded the Grand Officer honor

sleep on a regular basis. According

of the Order of Rio Branco. Vono is

to the study, efforts to assist

the only award recipient currently

these teens in achieving just one

residing in the United States. The

more hour of sleep at night could

Order of Rio Branco is awarded annually to Brazilian and foreign nationals for

significantly reduce their risk of poor

service and achievement in diplomatic service, government and civil fields.

health and bad behavior.

28 | Arts & Sciences 2013-2014

Pilot program reinvents history Nearly 60 Miami-Dade County Public School teachers have earned master’s degrees thanks to a pilot program developed by the Department of History. The traditional master’s degree program is designed for historians, but FIU history professors developed a pilot program specifically designed for those who teach. Set up as a cohort, the program offered handson experiences in archives, historical resource centers and even the Library of Congress.

All the teachers-turned-students also were required to complete original research. The program’s success is having the intended effect in classrooms today. Data collected from Miami-Dade County Public Schools shows students in the classes of the teachers who graduated from the program are actually exhibiting higher test scores, on average, and doing better overall in history classes.

New academy hosts UN course on disasters

Freeing species from evolutionary traps Jennifer Rehage, professor of environmental sciences, studied evolutionary traps, a maladaptive behavior affecting species in rapidly changing environments. Humaninduced rapid changes cause animals to resort to resources, like habitats, mates and food, with the lowest rewards for their survival.

Below, a trap occurs when a Cuban tree frog swallows a Christmas light thinking it is a meal – for thousands

FIU grad turns Miami into a hip poetry hub

In a joint partnership between the United

P. Scott

Nations Office for the Coordination

Cunningham

of Humanitarian Affairs and the

MFA ’08 is

recently established FIU Academy for

turning Miami

International Disaster Preparedness, FIU

into a hip

hosted a United Nations Humanitarian

poetry hub

Civil-Military Coordination Course. The

with O, Miami,

course focused on better preparing

a Knight

emergency responders and improving

of years, the only glows the frog’s ancestors ever saw on a tree came from luminescent insects.

Foundation-

coordination between civil and military

funded annual poetry festival. O,

organizations during relief efforts in

Miami has featured big names since

Latin America and the Caribbean regions.

its inception in 2011, including actor-poet James Franco and 2013

Student names three new algae species in the Everglades

presidential inaugural poet Richard

Biology Ph.D.

Blanco, who is an alumnus of FIU.

student Sylvia

O, Miami distinguishes itself with

Lee named three

the unconventional, including flying

new species

poetry banners behind planes,

of algae in the

writing poems onto drink coasters

Florida Everglades,

and placing poetry parking tickets

including Mastogloia

on cars.

calcarea, an algae that thrives in freshwater, and rare forms of algae that prefer subtropical freshwater wetlands.

CCF offers online resources for parents The FIU Center for Children and Families (CCF) is making mental health care resources more accessible for families through its Effective Child Therapy Online Education website (ECT Online).

Created in collaboration with the American Psychological Association and The Children’s Trust, the website offers video resources for parents and professionals about evidence-based practices that promote child and adolescent mental health. CCF Director William E. Pelham, Jr. spearheaded the project. More information is available at ccf.fiu.edu.

Arts & Sciences 2013-2014 | 29

Fun

Just for Mission 31 creates waves Fabien Cousteau and a team of researchers took up residence in FIU’s Aquarius for Mission 31, the longest mission in the history of the world’s only undersea research lab. Two FIU marine sciences students took part in the 31-day mission led by Cousteau, the first grandchild of famed ocean explorer Jacques Yves Cousteau. A myriad of guests stopped by during the endeavor including movie stars/conservationists Adrian Grenier of Entourage fame and Ian Somerholder from The Vampire Diaries and Lost.

To see highlights from the 2014 mission, please scan the QR code.

Ian Somerholder, left, visits Fabien Cousteau during Mission 31.

Robots build bridge to success for STEM students The Bridge to Success program is providing valuable resources for first-year STEM students as they embark on their college careers. Funded by the Office of Naval Research, the program is designed for incoming physics, engineering and computer science students. Participants engage in a series of physics and building challenges designed to encourage brainstorming and teamwork, apply basic design and engineering principles. The program’s objective is to improve student retention through intellectual engagement and a strong sense of community.

Which came first, hermits or kings?

Marine Scientist Heather Bracken-Grissom has helped answer one of the most debated questions among evolutionary biologists: Did the hermit crab evolve into the king crab, or did the king crab evolve into the hermit crab? Since the 19th century, science has suggested hermit crabs and king crabs are close relatives, despite their strikingly different appearance. Hermit crabs are small and depend on a shell for protection. King crabs are one of the largest crustaceans and do not have a shell, using their external skeleton to defend themselves. For years, molecular data has suggested hermits evolved into kings. As Bracken-Grissom recently proved with DNA testing, that is exactly what happened.

30 | Arts & Sciences 2013-2014

Cameras reveal secret lives of turtles There is no shortage of tomfoolery in the daily lives of sea turtles. Challenging a feisty crab. Chance encounters with stingrays. Playdates with their closest friends and fighting siblings. FIU researchers Jordan Thomson and Mike Heithaus are offering an inside peek into the daily lives of sea and loggerhead turtles. Using GoPro video cameras attached to the turtles’ shells, the day-to-day activities of turtles were recorded in segments. The researchers are studying the foraging ecology, locomotion, diving behavior and social interactions of these endangered animals.

To see highlights from the animal borne cameras, please scan the QR code.

Researcher Jordan Thomson mounts a camera to a turtle’s shell.

Student conducts research under Nobel Prize recipient For the past two summers, FIU biology student Aneysis Gonzalez did what few students get a chance to do — train in the lab of a Nobel Prize recipient.

Gonzalez, now a senior, worked in the lab of Dr. Thomas Südhof, one of three scientists awarded the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work in the discovery of machinery regulating vesicle traffic, a major transport system in cells. The research Gonzalez was involved with could have major implications in tackling questions about a number of diseases involving the brain, including autism, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Football player graces cover of Vogue On Saturdays during football season you’ll find FIU safety Justin Halley doing what he loves most. He’ll put on his No. 32 jersey while roaming the Panthers’ defensive backfield. But during the off-season, the public administration major trades turf for the runways of Milan, Paris, and other fashion meccas as a professional model, a role that has landed him on the cover of Vogue. “In football you get that adrenaline rush, that’s what I love about it...

You’re going to battle, basically,” he said. “The runway is new, it’s different... that’s why I like it. It’s a whole different Justin Halley, above, is a safety for the FIU football team. He works in the offseason as a fashion model. He recently graced the cover of a Japanese issue of Vogue. Justin is the one in the center.

world but you get a little bit of the same adrenaline rush.

It’s been a great experience.”

To see a video featuring Justin Halley, please scan the QR code.

Arts & Sciences 2013-2014 | 31

The College of Arts & Sciences provides an educational foundation that prepares students to be successful and engaged citizens in a global society.

The college is made up of three thematic schools focused on global ideas and solutions for the 21st century: the School of Environment, Arts and Society, the School of Integrated Science and Humanity, and the School of International and Public Affairs. Providing a diverse educational experience, the College of Arts & Sciences offers more than 85 academic degrees in 16 academic departments and 48 interdisciplinary programs.

School of Environment, Arts and Society

Departments

By bringing together the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities, the School of Environment, Arts and Society is transforming the way we conduct research, educate our students and engage the community. Because the world’s environmental problems are no longer just about the environment, the school’s approach to education will ensure today’s students become innovative leaders of the 21st century by providing the communication, research and criticalthinking skills needed to make a difference in our local and global communities.

• Biological Sciences • Earth and Environment • English

environment.fiu.edu

Centers • Center for the Humanities in an Urban Environment • Global Water for Sustainability Program • International Center for Tropical Botany • Marine Education and Research Initiative • Southeast Environmental Research Center • Tropical Conservation Institute

School of Integrated Science and Humanity

Departments

The School of Integrated Science and Humanity encompasses a unique integration of academic departments, centers and institutes advancing a wide array of bold initiatives. The school’s faculty members are pioneering interdisciplinary approaches to the complex challenges of the 21st century, particularly in the fields of biomolecular, behavioral, cognitive and basic sciences. The school houses many of the university’s premier centers and institutes dedicated to research and community engagement including the Center for Children and Families, the International Forensic Research Institute, and the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies.

• • • • •

Chemistry and Biochemistry Mathematics and Statistics Philosophy Physics Psychology

Centers • • • •

Biomolecular Sciences Institute Center for Children and Families Center for Women’s and Gender Studies Cognitive Neuroscience and Imaging Center • International Forensic Research Institute

humanity.fiu.edu

School of International and Public Affairs The School of International and Public Affairs brings together FIU’s internationally oriented disciplines to provide cutting-edge research, first-rate teaching and innovative training necessary for the globalized world of the 21st century. The academic core of the school is comprised of eight major departments and houses many of FIU’s most prominent area studies, international centers, institutes and programs. The quality of its faculty and innovative programs has earned the school affiliate membership in the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs. international.fiu.edu

32 | Arts & Sciences 2013-2014

Departments • • • • • • • •

Criminal Justice Economics Global and Sociocultural Studies History Modern Languages Politics and International Relations Public Administration Religious Studies

Centers

SIPA houses many of FIU’s most prominent international centers, institutes and programs, including the Latin American and Caribbean Center, Cuban Research Institute, Asian Studies Program and the African and African Diaspora Studies Program.

By the Numbers Adding up Arts & Sciences in 2013-2014

16 47 515 4,642 $60 $12.4

academic departments research centers and core science facilities full-time faculty

graduates

million in externally funded research million in philanthropic giving

70,067

YouTube views for TEDxFIU including talks by physicist Pete Markowitz, biologist Eric Bishop-von Wettberg and others

3,000

Children and their families received treatment from FIU’s Center for Children and Families in 2014. Of those, 90 percent were from MiamiDade County, 8 percent from Broward and 2 percent from other nearby areas.

5th

Best Delegate ranking for the FIU Model United Nations in North America

117 million

People reached by news coverage of the Medina Aquarius Program

Arts & Sciences 2013-2014 | 33

NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID Miami FL PERMIT NO 3675

College of Arts & Sciences Modesto A. Maidique Campus ECS 450 Miami, FL 33199-0001 Change Service Requested

Earn Your Bachelor’s Degree Fully Online FIU now offers fully online bachelor degree programs that can open doors to an incredible range of careers. Choose from fully online degree programs like: • • •

Criminal Justice • Public Administration • Interdisciplinary • Studies

Psychology Religious Studies Sustainability and the Environment

With our fully online programs, students can study anywhere, anytime and with 24/7 technology, they can connect with faculty and classmates.

Alumni are a great source for qualified applicants.

Do you know someone who would be a good match for these online degrees? If so, participate in our Referral Program today!

Visit fiuonline.com/referral-form.