ARTS SCIENCES EDUCATION
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY 2017
CLIMATE EXTREMES Science uncovers secrets hidden within natural disasters CONTENTS
Scientists advance forecasting to give people more time to prepare for approaching storms
Alumna fights cyber criminals for Comcast
Music legend Sam Moore looks to change the Three women narrative on soul are shaping Mother, researcher, the future cancer fighter: one of STEM professor proves she’s a survivor
Students advance World’s deepest coral research, conservation Selective mutism program helps nursery could help restore of Florida Everglades children find their brave voice threatened coral reefs Mike Heithaus, Dean FROM THE DEAN William Anderson, Vice Dean Ady Arguelles, Executive Director of Development Maricel Cigales, On the first day of the fall semester, I stood atop the Stocker AstroScience Center to marvel Associate Dean Maureen Donnelly, Associate Dean at the Great American Solar Eclipse. In the chaos that is the first day of classes, it was a rare Valerie Johnsen, Executive Director of Academic Support and Analysis chance to pause. I was fortunate that my family was able to join me and the many others on Hector Junco, Executive Director of Finance and Operations campus who took time out of the day to look up. Suzanna Rose, Associate Dean Jeremy Rowan, Assistant Dean From the observation deck of Stocker, I also had that rare Laura Dinehart, Executive Director, bird’s-eye-view of campus. There were several thousand students, School of Education and Human Development faculty and staff doing exactly what we were. Pausing. Watching. Evelyn Gaiser, Executive Director, From rooftops, sitting in the grass, standing along walkways, School of Environment, Arts and Society from the windows of buildings, and all those joining us at the Walter Van Hamme, Executive Director, School of Integrated Science and Humanity astroscience center. I was reminded of how fortunate we are to be JoAnn C. Adkins, Editor, part of this one big community of students, alumni, faculty, staff Arts, Sciences & Education Magazine and community partners that have the goal of creating a better, Aileen Solá-Trautmann, Art Director inspiring future. How will we achieve this goal? Our innovative and Barbarita Ramos, Graphic Designer excellent teaching will train the next generation. Our research and Writers Ayleen Barbel Fattal, Evelyn S. Gonzalez creative works will help solve local and global challenges while Chrystian Tejedor inspiring the public. And, our deliberate engagement will ensure Photographers Carl-Frederick Francois, Douglas Garland, that we maximize our impact. Ben Guzman, Timothy Long, Kristen Mayoral, Christopher Necuze, In the College of Arts, Sciences & Education, we are fortunate to have venues like the Ivan Santiago College of Arts, Sciences & Education Stocker AstroScience Center to give our students and the community the resources to learn Dean’s Advisory Board about the world around us and to develop solutions to the challenges that face us. But it’s Gonzalo A. Acevedo, Co-Chair Kevin Senecal, Co-Chair the people who make amazing things happen — faculty who teach and research, donors who Richard Standifer, Co-Chair Mariel Acosta-Garcia provide the opportunities to always move forward, community partners who help bring about Victor Balestra change and our staff who provide the support that makes it all possible. In the pages of this Sandy Batchelor Manya “Terry” Blechman magazine you will meet Bethany Reeb-Sutherland who encapsulates the qualities of our faculty Stephen E. Davis III Suleyman Demir — optimistic in the face of adversity, compassionate, student-focused and driven to use her Steven Dinh experiences to create new knowledge that will help others. Frank DuMond Sharon Fine Robert “Bob” Fitzsimmons Our students are amazing (including the 3,000 we graduated last year). They are innovating, Kirsten Hines creating and pushing the limits of education — constantly rethinking what is possible. To Patricia B. Keon Paul D. Landrum serve them, we are rethinking how we do things. We are researching new teaching methods Brian Machovina Nancy G. Maynard to improve classroom experiences. We are accelerating research initiatives in key areas where Olga Melin Michael Mendez highly skilled and engaged workers are needed — the environment, child mental health, and John Mills STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math). We are growing initiatives in the Esther Moreno Michael N. Rosenberg humanities to ensure our students develop their creativity and critical thinking as they embark Carl Stocker Daniel Tasciotti on future careers. We are providing the support they need to graduate sooner, with less debt Fiorella Terenzi Jennifer Tisthammer and with real-life experiences to enhance their education. Cenk Tuncay Mine Üçer In this issue of Arts, Sciences & Education, we celebrate the work of all those who make our FIU Board of Trustees successes possible. I hope you will be as inspired as I am and find a way to get involved! Claudia Puig, Chairperson Jorge L. Arrizurieta, Vice Chair Mark B. Rosenberg, Secretary Cesar L. Alvarez Jose J. Armas Leonard Boord Dean C. Colson Mike Heithaus Gerald C. Grant, Jr., ’78, ’89 Michael G. Joseph Dean, College of Arts, Sciences & Education Natasha Lowell Professor, Department of Biological Sciences Justo L. Pozo ’80 Marc D. Sarnoff Faculty Member Arts, Sciences & Education is an annual publication produced by the College of Arts, Sciences & Education and the Kathleen L. Wilson, Division of External Relations at Florida International University. Chair, FIU Faculty Senate College of Arts, Sciences & Education | Florida International University | 11200 SW 8th St., ECS 450 | Miami, FL 33199 Student Member Krista M. Schmidt 305-348-2864 | [email protected]| case.fiu.edu @FIUCASE President, Student Government MMC
Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 | CASE | 1 DISCOVERIES
INVENTION Science
hemical testing is a multi-billion dollar For Furton, who is also FIU’s provost But with the new FIU method, referred industry where accuracy is critical and and executive vice president and a fellow to as “fabric phase sorptive extraction,” results Ctime is of the essence. Thanks to a of the National Academy of Inventors, the could be secured within hours. This could new, patented technology developed at FIU, revolutionary new method was developed improve water and air quality monitoring, sampling and testing is about to get faster, from a desire to improve sample preparation forensic testing and even monitoring of fruit more sensitive and cheaper. in a way that benefits scientists, but more for ripeness. The new testing method involves a importantly, the general public. FIU holds a patent on the invention and composite made of muslin cotton, a common “We hope this will be a game-changer for is currently working to commercialize the fabric, with a custom-chemical coating the industry,” Furton said. technology for widespread use in a variety of applications. designed by College of Arts, Sciences & Currently, to test for an illicit drug in urine Researchers at more than 30 universities Education chemists Kenneth G. Furton and or a pollutant in the air or water, components have independently validated the innovation. Abuzar Kabir. must be separated from the sample in a More than 20 peer-reviewed journal articles The tiny piece of cloth is already proving complicated, multi-step process. Often, have been accepted for publication on the to be a powerful tool in chemical testing. toxic solvents and expensive equipment are technology. Those findings have convinced The researchers have extracted targeted required. The normal process can take 24 leading experts in chemical testing that the components from air and liquid samples hours or more. That time frame doesn’t even technology should replace existing sample within 15 minutes of exposure. include actual chemical testing. preparation methods.
2 | CASE | Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 The Fight against Zika The Biomolecular Sciences Institute has received $1.4 million in state and federal grants to help stop the spread of Zika and other mosquito-borne illnesses. Biologist Matthew DeGennaro, who leads the projects, studies how mosquitoes FABRIC PHASE find human and plant hosts in the SORPTIVE EXTRACTION hopes of identifying molecular targets in the insect. His work could Improve chemical GOAL: lead to the development of better testing with speed, accuracy repellants. The research team is and reduced costs also developing new baited traps UNPRECEDENTED: that could reduce populations of Results in minutes, not days dangerous mosquitoes. INDUSTRY SUPPORT: NEW TOOL DEVELOPED Experts calling for FIU method to replace current methods of TO ASSESS OIL SPILLS chemical sampling Scientists are getting a new perspective of what happens to oil in a spill, thanks to a tool developed by researchers from FIU’s Center for Aquatic Chemistry and Environment in the College of Arts, Sciences & Education. Little is known about how oil acts when it mixes with seawater or sunlight during Stopping Ebola a spill. But by combining techniques to create one The curiosity of one FIU physics powerful instrument, scientists can see how oil Ph.D. student could improve behaves at the molecular level. Traditional analytical decontamination of Ebola sites technologies offer limited information, but now, worldwide. Nepal-native Jeevan scientists can simultaneously examine molecules GC studied how proteins, DNA by mass, size and shape without lengthy sample
We hope and other biomolecules function. preparation and separation steps. Ph.D. candidate “ As West Africa was battling the Paolo Benigni says this expanded knowledge could
this will be a worst Ebola outbreak in history, GC improve clean-up efforts for future oil spills, enabling was studying transformer proteins. officials to predict toxicity of spilled oil, how far it game-changer “ He started to wonder if the Ebola might travel and how long it would likely stay in the virus depends on these proteins to environment. One of the two techniques combined for the industry. function. Through his research, he for this new method — trapped ion mobility discovered it does and he found a spectrometry (TIMS) — was developed by FIU weak spot that could be targeted chemist Francisco Fernandez-Lima in collaboration to destroy the virus. His efforts with Bruker Daltonics Inc. Combining existing could lead to the development of methods to improve data collection could help new, more effective disinfectants to shape more effective environmental policies and combat the spread of Ebola. could be used to study other contaminants.
Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 | CASE | 3 CREATIONS
COMING SOON to a theater near you When Charles Dickens self-published A Christmas Carol in 1843, it was a desperate attempt to save his struggling writing career. But more than give rise to a literary sensation, the book restored the spirit of Christmas and revived the nostalgia and tradition that is still celebrated today. Now, the story behind the story is bound for the big screen, thanks to the literary work of FIU Creative Writing Program Director Les Standiford. In 2008, he published The Man Who Invented Christmas, a historical account of how A Christmas Carol came to be. The film, based on this novel, is slated for release during the 2017 holiday season starring Dan Stevens, Jonathan Pryce, and Christopher Plummer as Scrooge. “It’s extremely gratifying to have my book picked for adaptation,” Standiford said. “I hope audiences will come out of the screenings saying ‘Geez, that was interesting. I didn’t know half of that stuff.’” In The Man Who Invented Christmas, Standiford recounts how three failed books left Dickens broke and distressed. Over the course of six weeks, he penned the tale of Tiny Tim and Scrooge hoping the book would keep his family financially afloat. When the book was rejected by his publishers, Dickens published it himself. It was met with instant success and critical acclaim. “That no one had bothered to tell this story before continues to astonish me,” Standiford said. “I think it is very nearly as heart-warming a story as A Christmas Carol itself.”
A PULITZER Finalist Campbell McGrath’s ambitious and lively ode to the 20th century landed him among poetry’s elite as a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2017. The FIU English professor and author of more than a dozen books recently took on an entire century of history with his latest work XX: Poems for the Twentieth Century. The book features a poem for each year in a century that gave us Hollywood, the atomic bomb, Elvis and Dolly the cloned sheep. The project caught the attention of the Pulitzer Prize committee, which announced the finalists and the awards April 10. At FIU, McGrath is the Phillip and Patricia Frost Professor of Creative Writing. He has taken some of the top prizes in poetry during his career including a Guggenheim fellowship, a Witter Bynner Fellowship from the Library of Congress, and the Academy of American Poets Prize.
4 | CASE | Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 ‘One Today’ sets tone RICHARD for U2 tour Richard Blanco’s BLANCO “One Today” was written in 2013 for President returns Barack Obama’s second inauguration. It would’ve to the been tough to find a larger stage for the poem, but classroom when someone recently called from U2’s production FIU graduate and famed poet company, Blanco realized becomes the teacher this fall his ode to the American experience was about to go on tour. Each night, during the Joshua Tree Tour 2017, the rock band reminds Richard Blanco has returned to FIU, this time as a professor. its fans we are all living The FIU alumnus has spent his career writing and delivering socially minded poetry, under one sky in this one including poems for President Barack Obama’s second inauguration and the reopening of today as Blanco’s poem the U.S. embassy in Havana, Cuba. This fall, Blanco will challenge FIU students in writing and is projected on giant re-imagining poetry. screens as part of a poetry “At critical times, we turn to poetry to find language for what we can’t understand about anthology. The tour marks what’s going on or what we feel,” Blanco said. “That’s why I developed these courses, to the 30th anniversary of bring to the forefront the scrutiny and wisdom of poetry as it relates to this critical juncture in U2’s breakthrough album, our nation’s divide.” The Joshua Tree, which Blanco says a poem is a mirror that reflects both the poet’s life and reader’s life while trying explored the American to make sense of an event or experience. It can promote healing and inspire change. experience in the 1980s. “Every time I read a great poem or I sit down to write one, I discover something new about For the anniversary tour, myself, the world and my relationship to it,” Blanco said. “And, so, I hope the same happens the band chose poetry to for them through the poetry we’ll read, discuss and feel. I want them to know poetry belongs ignite conversations about to them because it is about them.” the current political climate. The award-winning poet has previously taught courses at Central Connecticut State “The poem still carries University, Georgetown University, American University and Wesleyan University. He was the same message,” named the first education ambassador for the Academy of American Poets in 2015. A builder Blanco said. “We’re a great of cities as well as poems, Blanco holds a bachelor of science in civil engineering and a experiment. The American master of fine arts in creative writing, both from FIU. people have always strived, and continue to strive, to be one people. We can live in great harmony.” RICHARD BLANCO FELLOWSHIP IN CREATIVE WRITING The Richard Blanco Fellowship in Creative Writing supports FIU graduate students in pursuit of their professional paths. The fellowship gives talented writers across genres the tools to connect with their intended audiences. To support this project, visit case.fiu.edu/give.
Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 | CASE | 5 HUMANITIES
HOLD ON, HE’S COMING Legend Sam Moore wants to change narrative on soul
By JoAnn C. Adkins | [email protected]
6 | CASE | Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 vertown is rarely mentioned in stories wants to build a program around the stories of it all, there have been high times and low about legendary Soul Man Sam Moore. the artists who shaped the music and helped to times. He is unapologetically candid about his If it is, it’s declared as a prosaic fact, define cultural shifts. So much of the history of experiences. After all, each moment helped Oalmost like a rite of passage and declaration of Overtown and its vibrant music scene are at-risk carve out a genre of music known today simply hardship. Sam Moore grew up in Overtown. But of being lost as fewer people remain who were as soul. what’s missing are the stories. actually there to live it. There are stories, but the Sam wants to preserve the experiences “Was I happy as a kid? I was happy. It stories, he says, are part of the problem — what and stories of the music, especially those that wasn’t easy, but I was a happy kid,” Sam was left out, what was embellished. In some center around Overtown. So much of music says as he stops to think more about life in cases, nostalgia overshadows harsh realities. In today, he says, is built around what’s trending. Miami’s historically black neighborhood during others, stereotypes have masked what was oh- The narrative and passion are lost. Equally the 1940s and 50s. “In school, there were so right with the places and times. The truth, he discouraging to Sam, the respect for the music occasional fights. But there weren’t guns or says, is somewhere in the muddy middle. is fading. Online music streaming and sharing knives. At the end, we were still friends. I’d have “When we talk about culture, how do you services make it more difficult for artists to a busted lip and the next day at school, the miss the churches, the entertainers, the actual protect their stake in the music. And as Joyce kid who gave it to me is sitting there and we’re culture,” Moore said. “You know, artists of the points out, with so many songs being covered cracking jokes. That’s what those days were like. time could go to Miami Beach and play, but by newer acts, the meanings of songs have We were a community.” they couldn’t stay.” gotten lost. He reminisces about Goodbread Alley, where Nat King Cole, Sammy Davis Jr., Johnny “Today, they teach skill but they don’t teach the smell of homemade bread would fill the Mathis, Ray Charles and so many top the history, who they’re playing or for what,” streets. He waves his hand in front of his face entertainers of the time would sing at the she said. as if he can still smell the sweet aroma of a beach but convene in Overtown, staying at Sam has big plans for his collaboration with fresh-baked loaf. But he also recounts the time the local hotels but often at someone’s home. FIU. He wants to teach and recruit other notable his neighbor, a “very sweet lady,” was gunned They would sit around the pool at Overtown’s musicians to join him in educating students down by her husband in her home across the Sir John Hotel aggrandizing stories. Jackie about the stories and social changes that street. He had a hard-working mother and a Wilson, Sam Cooke, James Brown and so shaped the music. He wants to teach others doting grandmother. His father wasn’t around, many others would perform at the Overtown about how the music ushered in cultural shifts. a reality that impacted his life. Throughout his clubs to audiences that were as diverse as the He wants to bring the characters back to life youth, he made good choices and bad ones. music. Sam’s wife, Joyce Moore, was a witness who have long since passed and not just the But it was his community and his experiences to this. In the 1960s, she was a white girl from notable names from Overtown, though there that helped shape his music. Chicago studying business and theater at the are quite a few. He wants people to remember Today, his energy belies his 82 years. Sam University of Miami. She wouldn’t meet Sam heavyweights like Jackie Wilson and Isaac was one-half of the dynamite duo Sam & Dave, until later, but back then, she and her friends Hayes, those who inspired and shaped the which produced hits including “Hold On, I’m would often hop in a car to take in the sounds career of a poor kid from Overtown and so Coming” and their signature classic “Soul Man.” from Overtown’s music scene. There was a time many others like him. HOLD ON, As a solo artist, he has performed at three in the segregated South when Overtown was He wants to preserve the culture — the presidential inaugurations and for all six living one of the hottest racially mixed music scenes collective intellectual achievements of those presidents. He is a member of the Rock & Roll in America. who produced an entire generation and genre
Hall of Fame and Grammy Hall of Fame. He of music and continue to inspire today’s music,
HE’S COMING is not looking to retire from a career that has though the songwriters and performers of today spanned gospel, jazz, rhythm & blues, rock & At the clubs, it was never about may not realize it. “ “ roll, country, bluegrass and, of course, the birth color,” Sam said. “It was just a Overtown’s soul was destroyed by of soul. He still performs. He still records. He bunch of people there for the music. construction of highways through the travels wherever the music takes him and even neighborhood. Thousands were displaced and has a new album in the works. But after a long the clubs, where music once echoed through life away from Miami, he’s returned home — this During the 1960s, Sam Moore and Dave the streets well into the night, were silenced. time to stay. Prater were one of the most popular soul Legends of Overtown’s glory days are still He wants to set the record straight about acts. They were unrestrained performers. No told, but fewer and fewer of those who were Overtown and about the music. He has joined two performances were ever the same. When actually there are around to tell the tales. Sam is FIU as the artist in residence for the Center for the duo broke up for the final time in 1981, ready to get to work to ensure the narrative of the Humanities in an Urban Environment. He Sam embarked on a solo career. Through Overtown’s music lives on.
Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 | CASE | 7 HEALTHY MINDS
Psychologist Jami Furr encourages Aylani Suazo to use her brave voice during “Wacky Wednesday” activities at the FIU Center for Children and Families’ Brave Bunch Camp.
8 | CASE | Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 WHEN A CHILD STOPS SPEAKING, she helps find their voice
By Ayleen Barbel Fattal | [email protected]
leven-year-old Aylani Suazo had not spoken to “When I realized Aylani’s anxiety was affecting anyone in school since age 7. her in and out of school, I began looking for local E Her mother, Aysel, knew there was a problem help but could not find people that specialized halfway through the school year when Aylani was in selective mutism,” Aysel said. “I found in first grade. What seemed like just shyness was information on Brave Bunch online and decided affecting her daughter’s progress in school. Then, to take the chance.” Aylani went completely silent. One of only seven programs in the country and Not long ago, Aysel realized her daughter suffers the only one in the Southeastern United States, from selective mutism — an anxiety disorder that Brave Bunch is a week-long program designed causes her to not utter a word in certain public with a camp format for children ages 4 through 10. places, like school, although she is otherwise Directed by Furr, the program teaches coping skills, talkative at home. incorporates activities that encourage verbalization, More prevalent in girls than boys, selective social interaction and exposure to unfamiliar peers mutism is two to three times more likely to affect and adults to help children like Aylani find their bilingual children. The disorder can hinder “brave voice.” The camp also incorporates daily academic achievement and socialization. It can two-hour parent training sessions and bi-monthly cause a child to become isolated and withdrawn booster sessions for families after camp is over. leading to missed birthday parties and less time in “With six-hour days, they have time to process, the playground. adjust and practice multiple situations with Most elementary schools have at least one child repeated exposure,” Furr told the New York Times. with selective mutism. The condition usually begins “The idea is to translate gains to a real school by age 5, but it is often mistaken for shyness and setting, where they have the most limited speech.” goes undiagnosed until it begins to interfere with a For Aylani, the week she spent at FIU’s Brave child’s progress in school. Bunch camp proved to be transformative. “There are a number of factors that put a child She orders in restaurants and responds when at risk for selective mutism including anxiety in spoken to. Now in 6th grade, Aylani is already the family history, reinforcing avoidant behavior or allowing the child to escape speaking opportunities communicating with her teachers and peers. and modeling of anxious behavior,” said “Brave Bunch has given us, both my daughter Psychologist Jami Furr with FIU’s Center for Children and I, strength and the tools we need to move and Families. “It is much less common for a trauma forward,” Aysel said. “I would definitely recommend to be the trigger of selective mutism.” this program. So far it has changed our lives.” Furr’s training and research focuses on anxiety Since its founding at FIU in 2010, the Center disorders. She decided to specialize in selective for Children and Families has helped nearly 7,000 mutism after identifying a lack of available services families like the Suazos. The center’s researchers and a real need for effective treatment. and clinical experts are among the nation’s best in For a year, Aylani received therapy to treat treating ADHD, autism, anxiety and other behavioral her selective mutism in her home state of North disorders. The evidence-based treatments Carolina with no success. Last summer, Aylani and developed through the center’s programs, including her family traveled to South Florida to take part in Brave Bunch, have the potential to benefit millions FIU’s Brave Bunch Program for Selective Mutism. around the world.
For information about services related to selective mutism and other anxiety disorders, contact FIU’s Center for Children and Families at 305-348-0477 or visit ccf.fiu.edu.
Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 | CASE | 9 THE
SISTERHOOD BySTEM Ayleen Barbel Fattal and Chrystian Tejedor
THREE WOMEN. THREE STORIES. ONE MOVEMENT.
If Zahra Hazari has her way, there will be at least 10,000 more women pursuing physics degrees in the United States by 2020. It’s an endeavor that would have seemed impossible 30 years ago, a time when no one seemed to care that women were not flocking to careers in science, technology, engineering or math — no one except an elite few like Yesim Darici. When she joined FIU in the mid-1980s, Darici became the first female physics professor in the state of Florida. Hazari, Darici and recent FIU graduate Natasha Blanch are changing the face of STEM in the United States. Because of their efforts and others like them, the days of women being under-represented in STEM careers should come to an end.
10 | CASE | Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 YESIM DARICI, ZAHRA HAZARI and NATASHA BLANCH
Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 | CASE | 11 12 | CASE| The Trailblazer Arts, Sciences &Education 2017 attract more womenandunder- minorities toadvanceinitiatives that Physical Society’s committeeon school is,”Daricisayswithoutpause. physicists. Yet, she isTurkish. and celebratingHispanic-American organization dedicatedtoadvancing as theeducationofficerforan naturally. Forsixyears, sheserved Women’s andGenderStudies. issues asthedirector oftheCenterfor advocate forwomenandgender science. Today, sheisalsoFIU’s leading Yet, Dariciisatrailblazerforwomenin with expertiseintransitionmetals. theoretical andexperimentalphysicist in advocacy. Sheisascientist— She alsoservedontheAmerican “Well I’mnotHispanic,butmy For Darici,advocacyjustcomes Yesim Daricididnotpursueacareer Yesim Darici teachers. Throughout her30-year physics workshopsforhighschool and collegelife.Shealsocoordinated under-served areas inbothscience high schoolkidsfrom economically funded programs toengagelocal physics. Sheworkedwithfederally represented minoritiestocareers in in aworldwithoutdiscrimination —not advocate. Inheryouth,Dariciexisted that shehasspentalifetimeasan occurring toherforthefirsttime sometimes takesapauseasifit’s accomplishments today, Darici among itsfaculty. funded projects toincrease diversity two NationalScienceFoundation- minorities attheuniversity, including STEM initiativesforwomenand career atFIU,Daricihaschampioned As shetalksabouther Her professors were allmen.Mostof had noideashewouldbeananomaly. Columbia intheearly1980s,Darici on aPh.D.intheUnitedStates. limits ofscience.So,shesethersights wanted toexperiment—pushthe result, mostphysicistsare women.She most physicistsare teachersandasa pursue aphysicsdegree. InTurkey, Middle EastTechnical Universityto because shewasoblivioustoit. because discriminationwasabsent,but knows whatsuccessfeelslike. them are. Shesmilesbecauseshe happy memoriesthoughmanyof a smile—notbecausethey’re all experiences today, it’s usuallywith of discrimination. endured manybouts many successes,butshehasalso countless students.There havebeen sciences. Shehasmentored helped othersfindsuccessinthe become thefirst. Florida inthemid-1980s.Shewould physics professors inthestateof That’s becausethere were nowomen committee wasmadeupofallmen. at FIU,Dariciapplied.Theinterview advertised foraphysicsprofessor Darici said. there, butIneverlookedforit,” hired fortheproject. Ten were men. total, 11postdoctoralresearchers were University studyingcoaltechnology. In a research positionatWest Virginia herPh.D.,sheaccepted upon earning made thetransitionwitheaseand was self-aware andconfident.She foreign. Shedidn’t really notice.She her classmateswere men.Fewwere At theUniversityofMissouri- In themid-1970ssheenrolled at When shetalksaboutthese Throughout hercareer, shehas When anewpositionwas “Discrimination, I’msure itwas
Zahra Hazari thinks more women At FIU, she has been tireless in Her research in trying to understand should become scientists or engineers. improving opportunities for under- why some students complete STEM And she definitely thinks the world represented minorities in STEM. She degrees and others don’t is ongoing. could use a few more female physics recently led an effort to secure funding She is exploring why people of different majors — 10,000 would be a good start. for students pursuing computer science genders sometimes abandon physics With thousands of high school physics degrees. STEM degrees historically as a major and whether classroom teachers (male and female) helping her take longer to complete than other environments and classmate behaviors out, she may hit that target by 2020. types of degrees, a reality that can lead can influence a student’s decision to It’s a dream that’s been catalyzing in many students to exhaust their financial stick with or abandon science careers. her mind since she first studied physics aid before reaching graduation. For Her efforts recently culminated in Florida. Even before joining FIU in someone who studies why students in a game-changing project that 2014 as a physics education professor, abandon STEM pursuits, Hazari knew has garnered NSF support. Hazari, Hazari had dedicated her research to funding support could help get her colleagues in the FIU STEM improving access for women and other students to the finish line. Working with Transformation Institute, partners from under-represented minorities in physics. collaborators at FIU and at two other physics organizations and another She served on two key committees universities, Hazari received a university have been awarded a dedicated to encouraging more women $5 million grant from the National $3 million grant to recruit thousands to pursue physics careers, one with Science Foundation (NSF) of which more women to pursue physics the American Physical Society and the $1 million will go to FIU to help degrees. The plan seems simple but other with the American Association of students in computer science finish the undertaking is monumental — Physics Teachers. their degrees. partner with 10,000 high school physics teachers who are willing to recruit at least one female student each to pursue a physics degree in college. The Changemaker Hazari and the FIU team are developing a recruitment program and training materials to help the teachers identify and engage the students best suited for the highly skilled field. “We could accomplish something that’s never been done in history,” Hazari said. “We could change the face of physics in the United States.” Hazari is piloting her program this year at 10 schools. She is fine-tuning the lessons and best practices the teachers will use to further encourage their students to seek physics degrees. After ensuring the lessons apply to students in urban, suburban and rural schools, the campaign will expand to 24 teachers in 2018. After that, they We“ could will ramp up quickly, hoping to reach the 10,000 physics teachers — or 60 accomplish percent of all U.S. physics teachers something that’s — in 2019. never been done “We could achieve the largest increase of women in physics in any
in history. We decade in history,” Hazari said. “It’s
could change the very exciting to encourage women to participate in physics when they might face of physics in “ not have considered it before and they the United States. may be perfect. They might have a love for physics they never knew existed.” Zahra Hazari
Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 | CASE | 13 Natasha Blanch
Natasha Blanch hopes to one day be qualified math and science teachers one of those teachers picking up the across the country. torch, igniting the imagination of her Blanch and other students in the students to pursue STEM degrees. program rely on master teachers to She recently became the first FIU provide mentorship and guidance as student to complete the FIUteach they navigate through FIUteach and program when she graduated in prepare for a teaching career. Working Spring 2017 with a bachelor’s degree together with Miami-Dade County in mathematics and a teaching Public Schools, FIUteach serves as a “After taking the The Future certification. The program enables pipeline of highly skilled and diverse first course, I STEM students like Blanch to earn teachers to the fourth-largest school realized I can be both a degree in their major and a district in the country and beyond. the driving force teaching certification without adding First, however, Blanch is taking a time or expense to their four-year detour to the Marshall Islands where behind a student degree program. she will teach accounting and coach who hopes “After taking the first course, high school students in math. to become a I realized I can be the driving “A lot of students in ninth or tenth
neurosurgeon, a force behind a student who hopes grade aren’t at grade-level,” she said.
to become a neurosurgeon, a “Some students have zero concept of rocket scientist, rocket scientist, a physicist or a fractions so it’s definitely going to be a physicist or a “ mathematician,” Blanch said. a change. I anticipate teaching with mathematician. She began her first year at FIU as minimal resources, having to think a finance major, but quickly realized outside of the box and being very analyzing balance sheets was not for creative with the little that we will have. her. While working at a math learning Hopefully I can make my lessons more center, she realized she enjoyed meaningful for the students and more teaching others. Her academic advisor culturally relevant for them.” introduced her to FIUteach, which Though Blanch is the first to complete is part of the National Math and the program, more will soon follow. Science Institute’s UTeach program, a Currently, 350 students are enrolled in secondary STEM teacher preparation FIUteach, making it one of the largest initiative that is helping to produce Uteach programs in the nation.
14 | CASE | Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 ABROAD BLINDFOLDED Students discover pure empathy through challenging study abroad trip
Joshua Metellus learned a new lesson in empathy while navigating the streets of Vatican City while blindfolded.
few students donned blindfolds, nervously Now, on the streets of Vatican City, Metellus nothing can be taken for granted. It really got held on to canes and clung to the arms of was blindfolded. For several hours, he was me to open up my eyes on how you can take A their classmates for support during a walk without the sense he relies on most as a deaf things for granted.” along bumpy cobblestone streets. Some joked person. But he refused to back down from the For Metellus, this study abroad trip really and managed to maneuver effectively around exercise. He zeroed in on his sense of touch to was a once in a lifetime opportunity — where Vatican City as their friends warned them of help him anticipate what was ahead — a trash he learned to empathize even more with obstacles in their paths. can or street curb. people who have other disabilities. In the long Joshua Metellus was terrified. The activity, And so it was that a step at a time, the run, Metellus said, this will make him more meant to help recreational therapy students young man who already knew what it was like successful in his future career as a recreational better understand the challenges faced by to face a life-altering loss, challenged himself therapy provider, and one day, an advocate for people with disabilities, caught him off guard. again and again. The guide who was assigned people with disabilities. Metellus didn’t fear having a disability. to help Metellus had no meaningful way of “I like to challenge myself,” he said. “I Having lost his hearing at a young age, what communicating with him. The only source of he feared most was losing another one of his comfort came from another deaf student. She have to put myself out there. I have to prove senses. Metellus has long-known a disability grabbed Metellus’ hand and began to sign into to people that deaf people might look like means having to do more. He had to learn sign his palm, allowing him to feel the gestures she we have a disability but we’re similar to you language, master lip reading, learn to work with made to ask if he was OK. guys. People with disabilities might do things interpreters and even depend on others to help “It was very emotional, very isolating,” differently, but we can still do the same thing with note-taking in class. Metellus said. “I learned a new lesson — you guys can do.”
Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 | CASE | 15 CONSERVATION
RESEARCH With an Attitude
16 | CASE | Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 WORLD’S DEEPEST CORAL NURSERY Marine scientists, astronauts join forces By Evelyn S. Gonzalez | [email protected]
estled in the Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary, 10 tree-like structures made of PVC pipes rise up from the ocean floor. They are adorned with plastic cards that hang from fiberglass branches. The cards house Ngrowing pieces of endangered coral. An odd sight to see, this group of makeshift trees could help solve one of the greatest environmental problems facing the world’s oceans today — the loss of coral reefs.
The structures are divided into affect shallow reefs more than coral reefs without the support of two groups not far from FIU’s deep reefs, marine scientist Aquarius. It would be impossible.” Aquarius Reef Base. Scientists Mauricio Rodriguez-Lanetty is When astronauts from NASA, call them nurseries, a place studying whether corals in deep the European Space Agency where they grow new corals. One waters can be used to repopulate and the Japan Aerospace resides at 90 feet below the ocean imperiled reefs in shallow waters. Exploration Agency descended surface, the deepest coral nursery He and the members of his lab on Aquarius for a training mission coral in the world. have partnered with the Coral in 2015, they took the trees with fragments “People haven’t tried to grow Restoration Foundation to create them. The scientific project was a coral reef nurseries at these the nurseries. perfect exercise for the astronauts deployed depths before, so there are new When it came to the actual to test communications equipment questions we’ll be able to address labor of “planting” the trees, in an isolated and extreme with science,” said Anthony the team sought the help of environment. They deployed Bellantuono, a post-doctoral astronauts. Establishing a nursery trees per the trees under the direction of research associate in the College at those depths would be difficult nursery Rodriguez-Lanetty and named the of Arts, Sciences & Education. to accomplish on routine dives nurseries Mercury and Atlas. Coral reefs provide economic because of time limits designed to In subsequent training missions services, including coastal avoid decompression sickness. But feet during the past two years, NASA protection, fisheries and tourism thanks to FIU’s Medina Aquarius estimated to be worth $375 billion Program, which houses the astronauts continued to work deep each year. Yet, 20 percent of the world’s only underwater research on the nurseries and students Mercury Nursery world’s coral reefs have been laboratory, people can live and and researchers from Rodriguez- destroyed and show no immediate work underwater for days and Lanetty’s lab make regular visits prospects of recovery. The rest weeks at a time. to monitor the progress, test new feet are threatened, according to the “Saturation diving allows us to ideas and maintain the health of the deep growing corals. The research being World Wildlife Fund. Fishing, conduct research that can’t be Atlas Nursery pollution and global warming are done anywhere else in the world,” conducted at Aquarius is a step the primary culprits. Rodriguez-Lanetty said. “We towards ensuring the future health Because these disturbances wouldn’t be able to study deep of the oceans.
Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 | CASE | 17 Hurricanes Katia, Irma and Jose line up in the Atlantic Basin during the 2017 hurricane season. Credit: NASA Earth Observatory images by Joshua Stevens and Jesse Allen
18 | CASE | Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 APPROACHING STORMS Why advances in science could give people more time to prepare for the wind, rain and storm surge brought on by hurricanes
By JoAnn C. Adkins, Ayleen Barbel Fattal, Evelyn S. Gonzalez and Chrystian Tejedor
Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 | CASE | 19 CLIMATE EXTREMES
increase at least 35 mph in 24 hours or less — hold important clues as to how intense a storm will be when it reaches populated areas. There’s only one problem — rapid intensification is unpredictable. FIU meteorologist Haiyan Jiang hopes to change that. Using passive microwave satellite observations, Jiang has developed an algorithm that can help predict the onset of rapid intensification of major storms. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center and the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center are now using her Haiyan Jiang data throughout the hurricane and typhoon seasons to improve storm modeling. Jiang’s former student Brad Klotz, who recently earned his he 2017 hurricane season will go on record as one of the most active Ph.D. from FIU, is in search of the and devastating in recent history, yet people are far better prepared strongest winds in hurricanes. As today thanks to better predictions. FIU researchers think the science a Ph.D. student, he studied how ocean surface winds interact with of storm forecasting can get even better. T hurricane strength and speed. If forecasters can use surface winds to help identify the location of the strongest winds in a storm, they may be able to better predict Early storm warnings proved techniques. They are searching for where the most devastating landfall critical during recent hurricanes signals embedded within storms that impacts could be. In addition to including Harvey, Irma and Maria. could offer clues to a hurricane’s better forecasting before a storm, In Texas, official watches went path, intensity and probable impacts. this information could also help into effect at least 61 hours before Hurricane Harvey was unique in map out recovery efforts well Hurricane Harvey made landfall. In that it largely fell apart by Aug. 19 before any damage has been Florida, residents were put on alert while crossing over the Caribbean. done. As a meteorologist with six days prior to Hurricane Irma’s For three days, there was no cone of the National Oceanic and approach and official watches were concern. No watches. No warnings. Atmospheric Administration’s first issued 68 hours before landfall. Suddenly, on Aug. 23, Harvey re- National Hurricane Center, Klotz For Puerto Rico, residents were emerged as a tropical depression in is continuing his research. warned of potential impacts from the Gulf of Mexico. During the next Often, with the wind and rain an approaching hurricane four days 61 hours, the tropical depression comes another deadly effect of before Hurricane Maria closed in, and rapidly intensified into Category 4 hurricanes — storm surge. When official watches started rolling out 48 Hurricane Harvey bringing thrashing Hurricane Irma slammed into hours before landfall. winds and heavy rainfall. Florida in September of 2017, the FIU researchers and students While Harvey’s re-emergence as a storm’s heavy winds pushed the are developing new methods to major hurricane was surprising, nearly ocean onto land, flooding several increase the amount of time people every storm experiences a period of neighborhoods including Miami’s have to get out of harm’s way. They rapid intensification. Those moments Brickell neighborhood. Streets were are developing new modeling — when maximum sustained winds turned into rivers.
20 | CASE | Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 Hurricanes and earthquakes: can one predict the other? Scientists explore possible link between powerful storms and future seismic activity While sea level rise poses a will help them better understand long-term threat for Florida, surge the actions that must be taken. When three major hurricanes and just events create short-term crises for “When nothing happens, no as many powerful earthquakes happen the same areas grappling with the one worries,” said Longoria, at around the same time, as they did impending danger of rising tides. who teaches a course on natural in 2017, many wonder if they are Some areas in coastal Florida are disasters at FIU. “Look at us connected. While the 2017 hurricanes particularly vulnerable including when we are not in hurricane and the recent earthquakes in Mexico Key Biscayne, according to season. Nobody talks about it, are likely not connected, geophysicist Earth and Environment Professor nobody prepares.” Shimon Wdowinski believes there could Stephen Leatherman. Across the FIU is trying to change that trend. be a correlation between hurricanes and Caribbean, coastal communities Before 1992’s Hurricane Andrew, the earthquakes that come much later. He is and island nations are highly the university did not offer a class spearheading research supported by NASA examining vulnerable to storm surge. The whether powerful hurricanes can trigger earthquakes. focused solely on disasters. Today, impacts can be deadly. Wdowinski developed the idea for the research there are more than 25 and the Battered by a decade that project following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. The Extreme Events Institute and Sea included several active hurricane magnitude 7 event destroyed much of Port-au-Prince Level Solutions Center are leading seasons and a catastrophic and killed upwards of 300,000 people. Two years prior, research and community outreach earthquake, Haiti was still four powerful hurricanes — Fay, Gustav, Hanna and programs to prepare Florida for the struggling to recover in 2016 Ike — dumped heavy rains on Haiti in just a matter of challenges ahead. when Hurricane Matthew came weeks, killing 800 people and devastating crops. barreling through the Caribbean as The numbers prove that In certain mountainous environments prone to both a Category 4. The storm brought improved predictions save tropical cyclones and earthquakes, heavy rain — 3 to 9 strong winds, heavy rains and lives. One study in the journal feet of rain in a span of 3 to 5 days — can induce a large deadly tides. Approximately 1,000 Epidemiologic Reviews calculated number of landslides. Over time, the landslide material people died, many related to that America suffered an average of is carried to the ocean resulting in significant erosion storm surge. 1,400 hurricane deaths per decade of the mountains and affecting the stress field within FIU researchers are working with from 1910 to 1939, 700 deaths per the Earth’s crust. Wdowinski thinks this could trigger the National Hurricane Center to decade from 1940 to 1969, and an earthquake. If he is right, an earthquake can occur develop a storm surge database for about 250 deaths per decade from several months to years after a wet cyclone strikes in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. 1970 to 1999. an area. Led by Earth and Environment “The number of people killed Haiti experiences limited seismic activity so researcher Keqi Zhang, their efforts by hurricanes halves about every Wdowinski is testing his hypothesis in Taiwan, will improve storm surge forecasting 25 years, in spite of the fact that where there are plenty of earthquake and cyclone for the shared island of Hispaniola. data to examine. coastal populations have been The information they provide could “We plan to provide convincing observations that will increasing, because of what we’re help local government officials demonstrate the proposed cascading relations between doing with forecasting,” said make more informed decisions wet tropical cyclones, landslides and earthquakes,” FIU research meteorologist when hurricanes approach, Wdowinski said. Hugh Willoughby. including when to evacuate. He believes whatever results he gets will be Predictions, the most powerful With most natural disasters, applicable to the Caribbean and parts of South America. tool people have to mitigate the nature is rarely the problem. The The data can also be applied to other similar tectonic devastation is a result of people wrath of hurricanes, have improved environments affected by wet tropical cyclones including living in the direct path of nature. just in the past five years to give the Philippines where a magnitude 6.5 earthquake Ignoring potential disasters until people at least one extra day of hit in July of 2017 — the same region devastated by they are a clear threat to people warning before a storm strikes. Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. Although the delay of months is no longer an option, according With continued research, the FIU and years between wet cyclones and earthquakes will to geologist José F. Longoria, who scientists believe those numbers make it difficult to translate results into a forecasting researches earthquakes, volcanic will only continue to improve, tool, Wdowinski hopes the data can be used to issue a hazards and floods. Educating giving people more time and general warning about possible future earthquakes. people about their vulnerabilities as more certainty as to a storm’s path, early as elementary school, he said, projected landfall and intensity.
Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 | CASE | 21 CLIMATE EXTREMES NATURESOS SIGNALS Long-term research, short-term extremes uncover clues to survival
hen extreme weather strikes, nature endures devastation but also reveals secrets to its resiliency. Researchers Win FIU’s College of Arts, Sciences & Education are investigating the clues that plants, animals and ecosystems leave behind in moments of suffering and recovery. What they find could offer solutions to protecting nature from long-term changes happening to the planet. Hugh Willoughby knows a thing or two about extreme climate events. Throughout his career, the FIU research meteorologist has flown more than 400 missions into the eyes of storms for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Among those was 1989’s Hurricane Hugo, which ravaged the Leeward South China Cold Spell and Drought Islands, Puerto Rico and parts of the southeast United States. “The Caribbean will be the best predictor of climate change,” In 2008, botanist Hong at a higher elevation and is Willoughby said. Liu was watching closely as not an exact match of the Since 2015, energy has been increasing in these storms, but temperatures started to drop transplanted orchids’ native there’s not enough data to establish a trend. The 2017 hurricane around the Yachang National habitat. When temperatures season may change all that. Willoughby says data from recent Orchid Nature Reserve in hit the second lowest ever major storms, including Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, China. Housed within its recorded for the region, Liu could prove temperatures are rising in the Caribbean. It will take 54,000 acres were 29 species feared it would be too much months of data collection and review before scientists can say of delicate and mostly for the rare flowers. for sure. But if Willoughby is right, the Caribbean could serve as endangered orchids. The Amazingly, the orchids a barometer for the rest of the world. nearly 1,000 flowering plants proved largely resistant to Other subtropical and tropical regions are offering clues of were relatively new there, the extreme climate event. their own. In 2008, China was hit with a devastating cold spell having only been moved two While some plants did not followed by a drought. In 2010, South Florida suffered its own years prior by Liu and other survive, only one species was cold spell. And in 2011, one of the most pristine and untouched orchid conservationists. The wiped out entirely by the coasts in world — Shark Bay, Australia — experienced drastic orchids’ native habitat was to cold. When a record-setting changes after temperatures hit historic highs. be flooded as part of a large- drought hit the region a In each of these scenarios, FIU had researchers who have scale hydropower project short time later, not a single been working in these areas for decades. They have been along the Hongshui River orchid died. Liu continues to monitoring conditions, wildlife and plants. Armed with years of and the assisted migration study the orchids at Yachang. long-term research data, they were able to assess how these was the only chance to save It will be years before the isolated weather events impacted their areas. They witnessed many of the species. assisted migration can be catastrophic losses. But they also witnessed stories of adaption The concept of assisted deemed a success, but she and survival. It’s on these moments researchers are focusing migration is new and is hopeful the orchids will with the hopes of developing new methods of conservation and somewhat controversial. It continue to thrive. If they giving policy solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change. is largely untested and can do, the controversy around come with a high price tag. assisted migration could In the case of Yachang, the become a little land is protected but sits less controversial.
22 | CASE | Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 When temperatures in South Florida said Evelyn Gaiser, lead principal dropped below 50 degrees for several investigator of the FCE-LTER and South Florida consecutive days and as low as 35 executive director of the School of degrees in 2010, FIU scientists knew Environment, Arts and Society. Cold Spell there would be consequences for plants Snook, a popular game fish, offered a and animals in the Florida Everglades. particularly unique insight. Sensitive to They were right. temperature changes, snook should not For nearly two decades, FIU has have survived the cold spell. Yet many led the National Science Foundation’s were able to shelter in pockets of deep, Florida Coastal Everglades Long freshwater that insulated them, said Term Ecological Research Program Jennifer Rehage, an ecologist with (FCE-LTER) in collaboration with other the FIU Southeast Environmental universities and partnering organizations Research Center. The takeaway for across the United States. With scientists — freshwater flow in the substantial monitoring and research Everglades is critical for fish to survive data at their fingertips, they were able extreme temperatures. to assess conditions for many species “The risks to these species are once temperatures returned to normal. especially high when they are Native, temperate plants and animals unable to move to more hospitable fared well. Non-native, tropical ones did environments,” said John Schade, not. The results were consistent across program director in the National many species including mangroves, Science Foundation’s Long Term bees, crocodiles, bull sharks and more. Ecological Research Network, which South China Cold Spell and Drought Some took years to recover. funded the research. “In a world where “This short but extreme cold event extreme climate events are becoming mimicked the effects of a strong tropical more common, studies like this are storm or hurricane. The short-term critical to our ability to manage the consequences were different but the fisheries we need to feed growing long-term conclusions were similar,” human populations.”
Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 | CASE | 23 CLIMATE EXTREMES
What’s next?
As 2017 goes on record as the most active hurricane season since 2005, FIU scientists are working furiously to assess what changes have occurred in South Florida, the Caribbean and the Gulf region, gathering data from long-term monitoring stations still standing in the Florida Keys, Florida Everglades, Guadalupe, Dominica, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Texas and elsewhere. Interestingly, in some ways, hurricanes can have some benefits for the environment. Irma kicked up mud onto the coastline in Florida, helping to build up some areas and provide nutrients for mangrove forests. But the storm also caused significant damage. Across the globe, in the pristine a few years,” said Rob Nowicki, a The research continues. researcher at Mote Marine Laboratory waters of Shark Bay, Australia, a Extreme weather events who conducted much of the fieldwork 10-week-long heat wave dealt a harsh are testing the ability of while a marine sciences Ph.D. student blow to the 1,853 square miles of nature to adapt and survive in the Heithaus lab. “If you take a seagrass beds in the region as well as on this changing planet. punch and get up quickly, you’re ready the animals that rely on them for food Clues left behind in the for the next punch. But our study has and shelter. Populations of scallops and wake of extreme weather Western suggested this system took a punch, manna crabs were so adversely affected would likely go unnoticed Australia that fishing of those species was halted. and in the short term, it has not gotten back up.” if not for the long-term Marine scientist Mike Heithaus has Heat Wave If relatively pristine ecosystems research programs that been studying life in the waters of Shark like Shark Bay can be this drastically can differentiate between Bay for more than 20 years. Along impacted by an extreme climate event, a cyclical trend and an with FIU seagrass biologist James Heithaus and others warn this raises abnormal climate event. As Fourqurean, the research team began major concerns for areas already long as there are scientists an immediate assessment of conditions damaged by human activity. It also dedicating decades of their for plant and animal life. At the FIU heightens the urgency for international careers to understanding study sites, at least 70 percent and conservation programs and global how plants, animals and as much as 90 percent of seagrasses policy. The researchers continue to their habitats function, were wiped out. Today, they are still study the waters of Shark Bay and the clues left behind will struggling to recover. other areas throughout the world, continue to be uncovered “We wanted to know how much working closely with local governments to help shape future policy the ecosystem might recover over and international governing bodies. and conservation.
24 | CASE | Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 What’s next? AQUARIUS SUSTAINS DAMAGE FROM HURRICANE IRMA By JoAnn C. Adkins | [email protected]
he FIU Aquarius Reef Base damage, according to Roger has been sidelined by Garcia, operations director THurricane Irma, but the of Aquarius. On the exterior, world’s only underwater research decking, air supply hoses, cabling laboratory should be back in and other support systems were operation by the spring of 2018. damaged. Structurally, one of the The Aquarius habitat sits off legs on the four-leg platform that the coast of Key Largo, 60 feet the habitat sits on was damaged deep on the ocean floor. When and will take some time to repair. Hurricane Irma marched across As for the buoy, the storm the Caribbean toward the Florida blew it away from Aquarius, and Keys in October, the storm passed it eventually came to a rest along over Aquarius ripping the lab’s the Lignum Vitae Channel, about “Aquarius gives us the gift of The Medina Aquarius 94,000-pound life support buoy 14 miles from the habitat. The time, meaning researchers can Program features the from its moorings and causing attached mooring line helped conduct critical research there world’s only underwater damage to the underwater bring it to a stop and it eventually in a week’s time that would take research laboratory, a facilities. Initial estimates put floated under a bridge, which is months or years to do if relying unique research asset repair costs around $500,000. where the Aquarius team found on traditional dives,” said Mike for marine conservation “Our schedule for 2018 is filling it. The buoy suffered significant Heithaus, a marine scientist and programs worldwide. up fast with research, training and structural damage and has been dean of the FIU College of Arts, Research at Aquarius is outreach missions being planned towed to a South Florida shipyard Sciences & Education. “Because leading to advances in so we are working hard to get for repairs. we can broadcast live from coral reef restoration Aquarius back in operation as The good news, according to under the ocean we can also and mitigation of quickly as possible,” said James Fourqurean, is that the habitat interact with and inspire the ocean acidification Fourqurean, a marine scientist at stayed in place and the interior next generation.” while also inspiring FIU and director of the university’s living quarters remained dry. Since assuming operations, future generations of Marine Education and Research FIU took over Aquarius from nearly five years ago, FIU has marine scientists, ocean Initiative which houses Aquarius. the National Oceanic and hosted 19 research and training enthusiasts and decision- “These missions can’t be moved Atmospheric Administration in missions at Aquarius. Recently, makers. Contributions to another location because there 2013 and formed the Medina FIU and the Coral Restoration to the program will is no other Aquarius, no other Aquarius Program, a research and Foundation established the help return Aquarius to underwater research lab anywhere community outreach program. The world’s deepest coral nursery operations and advance in the world. We have already facility allows scientists to live and there to study possible solutions critical programs for ocean started receiving donations work underwater for extended for the rampant loss of coral preservation. through a grassroots campaign periods of time. In addition to reefs worldwide. Throughout it To give, please that is helping greatly, so we’re off FIU research being conducted all, FIU has also hosted virtual contact Ady Arguelles to a good start.” there on coral reef conservation, field trips for hundreds of schools at 305-348-7942 or The wet porch, which serves as predator/prey behaviors and worldwide, giving nearly 34,000 [email protected]. the entry point into the habitat, seagrasses, Aquarius also offers schoolchildren the chance to see took on excess water and life unique training opportunities for the habitat up close and interact support systems sustained NASA astronauts and others. with aquanauts residing there.
Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 | CASE | 25 CLIMATE EXTREMES
EXTINCTION LOOMS for 2 rare bird species after devastating hurricanes Conservationists race to save remaining populations
By JoAnn C. Adkins | [email protected]
onservation biologist Paul Reillo is torn The TCI team is putting in long hours to “The flagship species we have fought between two worlds in the aftermath rebuild what was destroyed at the RSCF to save for so many years may now face Cof Hurricanes Irma and Maria — one of facility and to help the animals recover imminent extinction,” Reillo said, pausing for swift action and one of waiting. from the stress brought on by the storm. a rare break from post-hurricane clean-up. There is little time to rest. More than The Florida grasshopper sparrows are the When Maria marched across the 200 animals, many fighting extinction, are greatest cause for concern. It is the world’s Caribbean, the expansive forests of the relying on him. The FIU scientist is the most endangered bird with less than 100 island were decimated. Tree canopies were founder of the Rare Species Conservatory remaining in the wild before Irma. The team gutted and critical habitat for the Imperial Foundation (RSCF), a partner in FIU’s fears the hurricane has crippled the wild Amazon was destroyed. Dominica is among Tropical Conservation Institute (TCI), population which resides exclusively in the the most hardest hit countries by the recent which offers safe haven, captive breeding prairie grasses of Central Florida. They are spate of storms that attacked the Caribbean. programs and field-based conservation to working with state and federal wildlife officials Fewer than 250 mature Imperial Amazons help save endangered species. In a matter on strategies to help preserve the small were known to populate the forests of of two weeks, two species of birds on the number of birds that remain on the planet. Dominica before Maria. Local forestry brink of extinction were dealt devastating officials have been looking for any signs blows when Hurricanes Irma and Maria WAITING that some of the rare parrots weathered the crossed the Caribbean, leaving devastation Meanwhile, Reillo is waiting for news storm, but the bird is elusive and difficult to in their wakes. The team at the Tropical about Dominica’s critically endangered find under normal circumstances. These are Conservation Institute knows it is facing an Imperial Amazon. not normal circumstances. unprecedented conservation crisis. Since the late 1990s, he has been working “TCI’s fight to save endangered species with Dominica’s Forestry, Wildlife and Parks is critical,” said Mike Heithaus, dean of WORKING Division to help restore the rare parrot’s FIU’s College of Arts, Sciences & Education, Hurricane Irma caused more than population in the wild which has been which houses TCI. “Recent hurricanes have $200,000 in damages at RSCF’s property in devastated by habitat loss, the pet trade proven how very vulnerable many species Loxahatchee, Fla. Little could be done to and natural disasters. In 2000, the local are. Our programs can make the difference save enclosures and fences from the storm, government established a national park to between an animal being here and not, but but Reillo and his team secured the animals, protect critical habitat for the rare parrot the monumental task before us is going including 40 endangered east African species. Reillo raised many of the funds to require tremendous local, national and bongo antelopes, 35 primates including himself to purchase the land necessary for international support.” endangered golden lion tamarins, nearly 100 the initiative. Even if Imperial Amazons survived, the parrots representing a variety of threatened Hurricane Maria, in a matter of a single catastrophic destruction of the island’s and endangered species and 42 critically day, destroyed more than 20 years of work richly biodiverse forests is causing alarm for endangered Florida grasshopper sparrows. to save the species. conservationists. Locals have spotted the
26 | CASE | Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 COMMUNITY RALLIES TO BOLSTER RECOVERY EFFORTS AT BOTANICAL GARDEN
Conservationists race to save remaining populations
By JoAnn C. Adkins | [email protected]
more common Jaco parrot among the gutted forests, but those are struggling to find food. Their plight represents a much larger crisis looming over Dominica’s wildlife and After Hurricane Irma ravaged the property and wiped out The Kampong’s especially the Imperial Amazons. living collections at The Kampong, succulent garden. Reillo believes the Imperial Amazon still researchers, staff and students from Volunteers and ICTB staff worked has a fighting chance. For now, the focus is the International Center for Tropical long hours to restore the downed on getting supplies to the island including Botany at The Kampong (ICTB) and trees to their upright positions. Injured tarps, chainsaws, tools and veterinary many community volunteers jumped branches were trimmed. Nearly all supplies. Researchers and forestry officials into action. of the trees have a fighting chance are still trying to assess the status of the ICTB, a collaboration between because of swift action by staff, population and develop a strategy for FIU and the National Tropical students and community volunteers, recovery. The FIU Tropical Conservation Botanical Garden, maintains a robust according to Christopher Baraloto, Institute team is preparing for an aggressive research program at The Kampong director of ICTB. plan that Reillo knows will come at a and researchers rely on the unique “The Kampong’s living collections significant cost. But the alternative — loss international collection of trees, flowers are essential for research. It’s also an of another flagship species — poses a far and other plants there. Nearly 260 of important part of our local community’s greater cost to the health of the planet. the facility’s 600 trees were brought history and culture,” Baraloto, said. “As down or damaged by Hurricane Irma’s unfortunate as Hurricane Irma’s damage wind and heavy rains. is, the situation will hopefully bring the Initial inspection after the storm community together to work closer.” revealed devastation. A banyan tree Morell says the botanical garden will that formed an archway over the need to rebuild damaged landscape The FIU Tropical Conservation Institute is the property was sheared away. The top areas and repair irrigation and electrical last remaining hope for many species fighting two-thirds of a sorrowless tree, one of systems. They will replace the plants extinction. TCI is supported by the Batchelor the biggest in the United States, was that were lost using propagated plants Foundation, which has provided a challenge on the ground. A baobab tree, planted that were sent elsewhere. grant to support its many critical programs. in 1928 by original estate owner and “The Kampong’s recovery will be Contributions received to help save the botanist David Fairchild, was leveled. much like the recovery of someone Florida grasshopper sparrow and the Imperial Overall, Hurricane Irma’s impacts who was in a serious car accident,” Amazon could be matched by the grant. appear to be far worse than that of Morell said. “It’ll need triage for the To give, please contact Ady Arguelles at Hurricanes Andrew in 1992 and Wilma first month, critical care for the next 305-348-7942 or [email protected]. in 2005 because Irma was so large the six months and up to five years of storms effect were felt for 12 hours, rehab and therapy. It’s going to take according to The Kampong Director time, money and a lot of work, but The Craig Morell. Storm surge flooded the Kampong is resilient. It will recover.”
Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 | CASE | 27 MENTORING CHANGING
By Ayleen Barbel Fattal | [email protected]
sychologist Bethany Reeb-Sutherland She first noticed symptoms late in her
PERSPECTIVES never lets anything get in the way of pregnancy, but they were dismissed — after Phelping those who depend on her. Not all, what woman’s body doesn’t change even cancer. while pregnant? Once her son was born, Psychology Mother. Wife. Educator. Mentor. breastfeeding was a challenge. She knew Researcher. She navigates each relationship something wasn’t right. But she was too professor with a calm, quiet demeanor that can be young, too healthy, and had no family history juggles deceiving. Under her gentle exterior is a of breast cancer. The scientific odds were strength of will and loyalty that is unwavering. in her favor. The diagnosis was not. With motherhood, In the spring of 2016, Reeb-Sutherland a 2-week-old baby and a 3-year-old son at mentoring, was riding a wave of success. In her fourth home, Reeb-Sutherland was presented with year as an assistant professor at FIU, she the greatest test of her will — stage three research was managing the Brain and Behavior breast cancer. and cancer Development Lab. She was advising several “My first thought was how is this going to graduate students and two undergraduate affect my children,” Reeb-Sutherland said. McNair Fellows along with several research Shock soon gave way to action. As she was assistants. They were all flourishing. Her developing treatment plans with her doctors, research on early childhood development she was tending to her family at home. She was catching the attention of her seasoned called a meeting with her students to ensure peers all across the United States. their research and their studies didn’t go off- She and her husband, FIU Psychologist track. The woman, who was preparing for the Matthew Sutherland, celebrated the birth of fight of her life, focused much of her attention their second son March 21. Two weeks later, on those who depended on her. at the age of 37, the mother, wife, educator, “When Bethany asked us all to meet with mentor and researcher took on another title her and told us she had been diagnosed — cancer patient. with such a serious illness, we were all
28 | CASE | Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 Vanessa Vietes, Christopher Clifford, Michele Bechor and Michelle Ramos are reunited with their professor and mentor, Bethany Reeb-Sutherland (center) one year after her cancer diagnosis.
speechless,” said Michele Bechor, one of dinner table often are about how she can though her students point out her dedication the graduate students Reeb-Sutherland help her students with any issues they may and optimism never wavered. Four of those advises. “The news was heartbreaking and be facing,” Matthew Sutherland said. currently working in Reeb-Sutherland’s lab unexpected. The last thing on our minds was But her reach extends well beyond the recently nominated her for the FIU Provost how her illness would affect our work.” classroom. Reeb-Sutherland’s research Award for Mentorship of graduate students. Reeb-Sutherland spent most of the is uncovering mysteries about how “She never put us on the back-burner meeting outlining how the students would social and emotional behaviors develop even when we, ourselves, asked her to,” proceed with papers and projects. She in children, including anxiety. Using wrote Ph.D. candidate Michelle Ramos in her refused to dwell on what was behind her. electroencephalography (EEG) to detect and nomination. “She never dropped the ball on “You can’t change it, so why spend record electrical activity in the brain, she us, and in turn, we strived to never drop the the energy,” she said. “Change your examines individual differences in socio- ball on her.” perspective. Move forward.” emotional behavior. She also examines Nearly one year since her cancer That summer, she underwent diagnosis, Reeb-Sutherland received the biological and environmental factors, chemotherapy and continued teaching award during the FIU Graduate Student including maternal depression, influencing online courses. She remained accessible to Appreciation Week. development, and behavior. As she was her students. She showed up for meetings, “While there’s obviously never a navigating cancer treatments, the Federation phoning in when she was too sick to attend good time to be sick, it was particularly of Associations in Behavioral and Brain in person. In early fall, she had a double heartbreaking to see Bethany fight through Sciences notified her that she would receive mastectomy. Less than six weeks later, she this at this young age, life stage and point in joined her graduate students in San Diego the 2017 Early Career Impact Award for her career,” her husband said. at an international research conference, a her major contributions to advancing the “But the silver lining is that all of this conference she helped to organize. sciences of mind, brain and behavior. has motivated Bethany to pursue new Her husband, full of worry, found few Today, Reeb-Sutherland has shed the title research into ways to help mothers, children surprises in how his wife handled the months of cancer patient, though it will be years and their families better cope with the after her diagnosis. before she can say with certainty if she is emotional distress surrounding cancer “Many of our discussions around the cancer-free. She has reclaimed her stride diagnosis and treatment.”
Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 | CASE | 29 WORLDS AHEAD
emy Dou long dreamed of a science career and hoped that dream would begin at Harvard. He AMBITION Rapplied his senior year of high school, but never heard back. Not even a courtesy rejection letter. Takes a Detour Dou enrolled in his second-choice school and stayed there for a semester but says it wasn’t the right fit. The Researcher finds stride at FIU, Miami-native enrolled at FIU to finish his bachelor’s uncovers challenges in STEM education degree. His classes were challenging and he enjoyed the interactive environment. Once considered his fallback By Chrystian Tejedor | [email protected] school, Dou realized FIU was the perfect fit for him. Upon graduation, he was hired as a biology teacher in Miami. “I loved it. I just loved it,” he said. “I love teaching kids, and I looked for grants to get them cool stuff. We built a greenhouse at one school, designed rockets and flew them.” After eight years, Dou traded the classroom for the White House, developing education programs for minority
30 | CASE | Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). MINGLING: the secret tool But he had a lot of questions about students in STEM and quickly of success in STEM education realized answers weren’t easy to find. He wanted to conduct research Social butterflies may be more likely to continue that could answer why students shy away from STEM fields. And he studying science, technology, engineering and knew where he wanted to conduct this research — at FIU. math (STEM) and ultimately take up a career in Careers in STEM are getting lots of attention these days. They’re those fields, according to new research. high-paying. They’re in-demand. Yet, employers are struggling to The study, conducted by FIU post-doctoral fill open positions. In fact, a 2016 STEM index produced by defense researcher Justyna P. Zwolak and science education giant Raytheon and U.S. News and World Report found while professor Remy Dou, was published recently in the universities had boosted the number of students earning STEM journal Physical Review of Physics Educational Research degrees, there are still 230,246 STEM jobs left unfilled. and was listed in the Editor’s Choice section of Science Part of the problem is minorities and women are under-represented. magazine. It shatters the age-old stereotype of the typical Only 8 percent of bachelor’s degrees in STEM fields are awarded to scientist — that of a lone researcher clad in a lab coat women. And the number of black students who earned STEM degrees toiling away in a windowless lab. dropped by 15 percent year-over-year. The one bright spot is the “We know that as people, connections matter. Who number of STEM degrees awarded to Hispanic students has risen by you know matters,” Dou said. 13 percent. Their research suggests increasing the interactions Dou, a Cuban-American, started debating what could cause among students in introductory science courses may hold students to give up on promising STEM careers. Are the subjects the key to increasing the number of STEM graduates — a too hard? Are teaching methods bad? Do students not believe chronic area of concern in the United States. in themselves? FIU, recognized as the nation’s leader in producing For years, Dou collaborated with his mentors at the FIU STEM STEM degrees for Hispanics, redesigned its introductory Transformation Institute. Together, they discovered students are physics courses to help maintain students’ interests. more likely to stick with a STEM major if their peers and their Instructors no longer just lecture students. They expect professors offer recognition that helps students see themselves students to work collaboratively to discover which physics as biologists, physicists or chemists. Good grades didn’t make principles are at play. a difference. Without the confines of a standard lecture hall, “This is the part that attracts me to this career — that it’s not Zwolak and Dou were able to study how often students interacted, with whom and what effect it had on academic performance that predicts a student’s persistence individual performance. Their findings show that students in science careers,” he said. “It’s these factors related more to who sought out their peers and those specific students students’ beliefs, and attitudes and emotion surrounding science.” who were sought out by others were more likely to With this research under his belt, Dou reflects on his early days continue taking physics courses. as a high school science teacher. He now knows the tight bonds he “How willing they are to interact with others, to built with his students are what mattered most. reach out to others, that was telling us more about their “I just knew that as a teacher I wanted students to feel interested chances of persisting to the next course,” said Zwolak, in what I was teaching,” he said. “I was more focused that they got of FIU’s STEM Transformation Institute. “It doesn’t engaged in the lesson and what we were doing. I was not so focused depend solely on doing well academically, but also on on whether they got an A in my class.” doing well socially.” Today, Dou continues his work as an assistant professor at FIU. He Professors who teach similar courses could institute sometimes reflects back on the journey that brought him here, one a short 5-question survey students could complete on that included disappointment, self-discovery and achievement. their phones at the end of class that will help them gauge Not long ago, Dou was sorting through old papers in his parents’ whether students have enough interaction, and whether home. He came across an envelope with the Harvard emblem. As it those interactions are meaningful. turns out, the college had responded. He had been accepted. His “For students who are really close to others, the parents, fearing the financial costs of a Harvard education, thought access to information and its quality is going to be better the dream was out of reach. They hid the letter hoping to protect because they could be connected to the smartest person Remy from the frustrations of his reality, a decision they have long in class through one or two others,” Zwolak said. regretted. But Dou says he is not fazed by it. He knows his parents “For professors, analyzing the closeness of students were acting out of love. And he found his calling at FIU, a place that gave us up to 75 percent accuracy in predicting whether allowed him to grow as a scientist and evolve into an educator. He is a student would persist or not,” she added. happy. And he is helping others like him find new, innovative ways to engage in STEM education and succeed.
Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 | CASE | 31 ENVIRONMENT
SOLUTIONS In the Everglades
Viviana Mazzei
ea level rise is a monumental Mazzei is conducing her research forests, pine rocklands and sawgrass threat, but one FIU biologist is as part of FIU’s Florida Coastal marshes. Their interconnectivity Stracking levels using one of the Everglades Long Term Ecological makes them especially vulnerable Florida Everglades’ tiniest residents. Research Program, which is dedicated to changes in the environment. In Viviana Mazzei is examining to providing and communicating 2000, the U.S. Congress authorized communities of algae called diatoms to the science that will drive policy the Comprehensive Everglades help resource managers pinpoint which solutions for water, climate change Restoration Plan to restore, preserve areas need freshwater most. and human impacts in the Everglades. and protect the water resources “There are ways to map that now, Her research project is funded by of the Florida Everglades. While with aerial photography, for example, the Everglades Foundation’s FIU attempts are being made to restore but it takes a while to see the effects of saltwater that way,” Mazzei said. “The ForEverglades Scholarship. and redirect freshwater flow in turnover rate for micro-organisms is The Florida Everglades is a the Everglades, Mazzei says early so fast that we will be able to see the wetland made up of different indicators of environmental changes changes happening in the environment ecosystems, including swamps, are needed to focus and expedite more quickly.” hardwood hammocks, mangrove these restoration efforts.
CLOSED SECTION OF THE EVERGLADES REOPENS After nearly 40 years of being closed off to the public as a protection measure for the American crocodile, visitors to Everglades National Park can now explore Joe Bay. Scientists in FIU’s Southeast Environmental Research Center are studying the effects of the decades-long closure and reopening on Joe Bay’s recreational fisheries. Led by Jennifer Rehage, the research team is using net hauls, snorkeling, baited remote underwater video (BRUV) surveys, and local angler surveys to examine fish there and nearby Little Madeira Bay and Long Sound. The three areas have different access regulations, allowing the scientists to evaluate the effects of the closure.
32 | CASE | Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 DID YOU KNOW? >>> FIU’s College of Arts, Sciences & Education is developing an Everglades Observatory for field operations, research, education and Researchers in the FLORIDA COASTAL public outreach. The most important source of freshwater for people in EVERGLADES LONG TERM EVERGLADES Florida, the Everglades also offers RESEARCH PROGRAM are conducting the longest storm protection, wildlife habitat and and largest studies on the Florida Everglades. recreation. The observatory will feature Housed at FIU, the program includes scientists a collaborative hub of scientists, from 27 institutions throughout the United States. educators and community partners It is part of the National Science Foundation’s Viviana Mazzei focused on a vibrant future for the Long Term Ecological Research Network. River of Grass. To support this project, visit case.fiu.edu/give.
EVERGLADES MANGROVES WORTH BILLIONS IN FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
Mangroves in Everglades National Park are worth billions of dollars, according to a recent FIU study. Based on a scientific cost estimate, Earth and Environment researchers put the value of the stored carbon in the mangroves somewhere between $2 billion and $3.4 billion — a relatively small price tag considering the cost to society if the carbon currently stored in these mangroves were ever released into the atmosphere, according to lead researcher and recent FIU graduate Meenakshi Jerath. In addition to removing excess carbon dioxide from the air, mangroves provide a variety of other benefits, including flood control, storm protection and maintaining water quality. The multibillion-dollar estimate reflects the cost to preserve the mangroves by restoring freshwater flow to the areas that need it the most. The mangrove forests of the Everglades National Park are the largest in the continental United States. Although protected, the Everglades is affected by sea level rise, hurricanes, changes in water flow and other environmental events. According to the researchers, funding of mangrove restoration and protection programs is critical to help solidify mangroves as a key tool in the nation’s climate change mitigation strategies.
Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 | CASE | 33 RESEARCH
DRAWING Conclusions
Sketching, painting, 3-D models improve understanding of scientific complexities
hen conducting experiments or studies, researchers follow procedure. They observe. WThey measure. They solve complex equations. They take detailed notes and catalog their results. And many of them draw. The rigors behind scientific discovery and understanding might appear constraining to some, but increasingly, researchers at Florida International University are turning to a decidedly right-brained approach to better illustrate what they find while examining the world around them. Many professors even apply the artistic touch in the classroom, where a few lines drawn on paper or a 3-D model made with everyday supplies could help students unravel the unseen forces at play in a physics problem, provide the context needed to study a geological formation or even develop a better understanding of how DNA is formed.
Unless“ you sketch it, you can’t really
understand what’s going on. It’s sort of like you’re enhancing reality by drawing it.“
- Geologist Grenville Draper
34 | CASE | Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 Physicist Geologist Teacher Ecologist
Conclusions It’s impossible to keep Grenville Draper applies his FIU graduate and current Diatoms are excellent everything in your head, says youthful passion for drawing master’s student Jennifer indicators of changes in physics professor Angie Laird. comics and caricatures to his Guada is a high school art the environment. Aquatic Sketching, painting, 3-D Drawing the components of current work as a geologist. teacher. Her class is where ecologist Evelyn Gaiser a problem and linking them These days, sketches of a students can free their minds turns to these colonies models improve understanding to the physical world helps student chained to his desk and explore their creativity. of microscopic algae to of scientific complexities students better apply formulas studying for final exams have Recognizing that not all pinpoint which areas of the discussed in class. been replaced by detailed students learn the same way, Florida Everglades are most “You can teach them the diagrams of mountains and a colleague enlisted Guada’s susceptible to sea level rise concepts, how to do the math rock formations. Most of help in teaching his biology and other disturbances. and what the equations mean, Draper’s work entails the study students about how DNA is Under a microscope, but when they begin to solve of deformed rocks. formed. Using pipe cleaners diatoms are highly intricate problems interdependently, “Unless you sketch it, you and cardboard, students built and ornate. Drawing their there’s a huge disconnect can’t really understand what’s the double helix structure of a shape and texture helps in putting the concepts and going on,” he said. “It’s sort DNA strand, connecting base Gaiser better understand the equations and the math of like you’re enhancing reality pairs correctly to illustrate a their form and function and together in a way that results by drawing it.” particular trait such as brown interpret how they respond to in an answer,” Laird said. Since the rocks themselves hair or blue eyes. While long-term changes in That’s especially the case are highly layered, the rock most students hit the mark, the environment. with long word problems. formations themselves can be those that connected pairs “Drawing and describing Laird says a drawing doesn’t complicated. Photographs can incorrectly led her colleague things through art are great have to be great. Laird often help geologists analyze the to discuss a new topic — mechanisms for improving draws simple stick figures formations, but they can just DNA mutations. eye for detail,” Gaiser said. and arrows to indicate the as easily confuse. “It’s a way for our students “Diatom biologists have movement of people. In other “I communicate a lot of to come out of this robotic long been using the arts to drawings, Laird’s stick figures concepts through drawing,” method of learning,” communicate the beautiful have elongated hands like Draper says. “Most common Guada said. intricacies of these organisms something out of a Tim sedimentary rocks are layered, For Guada, these to the world, from drawing to Burton movie. and different layer thicknesses collaborations are growing. In photography and sculpture.” “Physics can be a daunting affect the kind of geometry the upcoming year, she plans Taking her science one step and intimidating field of that develops. You can to work with mathematics further, Gaiser collaborates study,” Laird said. “I think scribble as many words as you professors to help their with FIU Artist-in-Residence it’s important to create a like, but the only way to see it students better understand Xavier Cortada to create comfortable atmosphere is with a cross-section drawing the properties of cubes by environmentally oriented where it’s OK to be a bit silly.” like in engineering.” making cubist works of art. artwork including diatoms.
Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 | CASE | 35 ACHIEVING
MYRNA SOTO: COMCAST’S ULTIMATE PROTECTOR
Psychology alumna finds niche in cyber security When you’re an $80 billion cable, broadcast, Internet and home security giant, cyber security is no joke. Myrna Soto lives this reality every day. She is the senior vice president global chief information security officer of Comcast Corp., the world’s largest cable television and broadcasting company. She develops cyber security, network/infrastructure security, and data security strategies for the company, including its Xfinity and NBCUniversal divisions. It might surprise many to know her expertise doesn’t lie in technology. She understands the mindsets of would-be cyber criminals. The woman tasked with Comcast’s cybersecurity holds a psychology degree. Soto graduated from FIU in 1993. She planned to become a therapist specializing in organizational psychology. Instead, she found a career spanning call center management to information technology. She has taken risks and pursued opportunities with American Express, MGM International Resorts and Norwegian Cruise Lines. She has risen to the highest levels of leadership, serves on several boards of directors for major companies and was recognized as one of Fortune magazine’s 50 Most Powerful Latinas of 2017. Throughout her career, she has applied what she learned at FIU about human behavior to better understand employee behavior and attitudes. At Comcast, she also leverages her psychology background to understand the technology that is being developed and how it is being used. “In security and cybersecurity, my degree has been beneficial in understanding adversaries and the motivations of malfeasance,” Soto said. “This has allowed me and my teams to respond to incidents and develop proactive defenses.” For the executive tasked with protecting Comcast from adversaries who could be sitting at a coffee shop around the corner or on another continent, Soto remains vigilant. By understanding what goes on in the minds of hackers and what motivates them, Soto is a formidable foe for the cyber criminals of the world.
36 | CASE | Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 Alumna named Miami-Dade’s 2017 ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR
Like her mother before her, Cisely Scott made education her career. Initially, she followed in her mother’s footsteps, working as a Miami-Dade County Public Schools teacher. Then she became an assistant principal. Earlier this year, the FIU alumna was named Assistant Principal of the Year by Miami-Dade County Public Schools. It marked the fourth consecutive year an FIU alumnus has won this district award. "When I heard my name it was just surreal," said Scott, who earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education in 2000. "I was overcome with joy, there was just this energy from a whole room of people being excited for you that just overtakes you. I felt humbled. I felt proud. I was excited." For Scott, a good day at work means motivating all 420 students at Lenora B. Smith Elementary to succeed. Scott and her teachers celebrate students with perfect attendance and they plan math and science nights where students learn while having a good time. “They’re having fun competing in different mathematical contests, I was competing with children in the fraction competition,” she said. “They build airplanes and see who can go the farthest. They’ve even learned to make ice cream.” She also ensures teachers are motivated – she has built tight bonds with her teachers, knowing when to reassure them and when to push them to accomplish tougher goals. “They know we’re setting the bar high and I want to inspire them to move a little higher,” Scott said. “We’re producing leaders and we’re building the bench as we go along.”
Arts, Sciences & Education 2017 | CASE | 37 Stuffed toy Charles Bleiker Practical. Early childhood educator “I incorporate narrative and make-believe into my early childhood research. Stuffed Sentimental. animals and other props are essential tools to get kids to perform at their Unexpected. highest level.”
Our researchers can’t work without their… Electrical tape Mike Heithaus Marine scientist
“It’s got so many uses and it’s weatherproof, which is perfect for marine research. It can even substitute for a bandage and won’t slide off in the water.”
Baseball cap Rudolf Jaffe Environmental chemist
“I got this hat on a family trip in 2000 where we saw incredible wildlife. That experience reminded me why I was an environmental scientist and the importance of protecting the environment. It also keeps me from getting sunburned.”
Smart Phone Fiorella Terenzi Astrophysicist
“My iPhone puts the whole Digital recorder universe at my fingertips.” Phillip Carter Linguist ID Tags “The bread and butter of Hong Liu my research is listening to Tropical botanist the way people speak and analyzing natural language. “I can’t live without tags. I use them to number individual To do that, I record people in plants and flowers so I can find them again and again to natural language settings.” follow their fates after certain treatments.”