Nursing School Reaps NIH Funding
UCF’s School of Nursing led state efforts to secure funding from the National Institutes of Health for Florida in 2004. The School of Nursing research efforts benefitted by receiving $856,000 of the $1.7 million awarded across the state.

Scientist’s Work Published in ‘Nature’
A UCF biomolecular scientist’s genetic-engineering research and its applications into the “cytoplasmic male sterility” phenomenon in plants has been featured in the August edition of the prestigious journal Nature. The work, by Henry Daniell, was also featured on the cover of the Plant Physiology journal in July 2005.

Engineer Receives CAREER Award
John Shen, associate professor of electrical engineering, has received the prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER award to research a new seminconductor device to control the flow of electrical current and ultimately reduce the amount of energy we use. Shen received $400,000 from the agency to study so-called “superjunction” switches which enable electrical power to be routed much more efficiently.

By utilizing superjunction switches, less raw energy will be required for operating any type of electronic system. Shen reports this is especially significant in the development of energy-efficient equipment or products such as hybrid electric vehicles as well as high-efficiency power supplies. The CAREER grant will enable him to continue this research into 2008. Bobbie Jeanpierre, an assistant professor in the College of Education, also received the award this year. (See IMPACT, Spring 2005 edition)

Biologist Receives USFWS Grant to Study Grasshopper Sparrows
Davis-Shine Endowed Biology Professor Reed Noss received a $615,594 grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Foundation to study the conservation of Florida Grasshopper Sparrows. Noss will use field surveys and evaluation of aerial photographs, satellite images, vegetation maps and other tools to investigate the landscape around the Kissimmee Prairie where the birds are found.

S.T. Wu Named Editor of New Journal
S.T. Wu, a professor in the College of Optics and Photonics, has been named inaugural editor of the Journal of Display Technology, sponsored jointly by seven IEEE Societies and OSA. This is a new archival journal devoted to the timely dissemination of new results and discussions on all aspects of display technologies, spanning many disciplines.

The journal will, for the first time, bridge themes of multidisciplinary interest in the field. The inaugural issue was for September 2005.

Peter Hancock Named Fellow
Psychology professor Peter Hancock has been named a Fellow by the American Psychological Society. Hancock is a four-time member of the ORC’s Millionaire’s Club, largely due to his work using simulation and ergonomics to relieve stress on the battlefield.

Biologist Focuses On Forest Density
A UCF biologist spent his summer shedding light – laser light – on the workings of the Harvard Forest, a long-term ecological research site west of Boston.

John Weishampel and his laboratory team use lasers to measure the density of forests. The lasers, one mounted on an airplane and the other held by hand, send out pulses of light, which reflect off of the terrain. The scientists measure the length of time it takes for the laser to reflect and use that knowledge to build 3-D models of the landscape that are accurate within centimeters. His laboratory recently created the world’s first accurate 3-D image of a tropical rainforest. The Harvard Forest is the most studied in North America and has been well-documented since Europeans colonized the northeast. This extensive documentation will enable Weishampel to compare his 3-D models to centuries-old historic records.

FSEC Energy Summit Stimulates New Ideas
For 30 years scientists at UCF’s Florida Solar Energy Center have studied virtually all aspects of energy, from renewable energy to hydrogen research to energy efficiency. These efforts have saved Floridians billions of dollars.

At a recent Energy Summit, researchers from across campus joined with their counterparts from FSEC to discuss new ideas for collaborations and creative solutions for today’s energy challenges.

At the summit, UCF President John Hitt announced the formation of The Florida Energy Institute to consolidate research efforts in hydrogen, building sciences and solar energy.

President Hitt and keynote speaker Allan Bedwell, leader of Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection, each stressed that Florida must utilize its best research and economic development resources to achieve energy efficiency.

The following day, at a community breakfast sponsored by FSEC, Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty called for a 20 percent reduction in the county’s use of petroleum fuels over the next five years. And President Hitt said he would promote similar measures at UCF.