Three Florida State University theoretical physicists are part of a major national initiative exploring how quantum computing could help answer fundamental questions in high energy physics.

Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor of Physics Laura Reina, Professor of Physics Fernando Febres Cordero and Research Faculty member Herschel Chawdhry, all from the Department of Physics, will lead one of eight projects funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s $7.3 million Quantum Outposts in Fundamental Physics initiative under the DOE Office of Science’s High Energy Physics program.

Their project, “Seeking Quantum Advantage in High-Energy QCD,” has received $755,000 and aims to apply quantum computing to theoretical predictions in high energy physics and identify rare physical phenomena emerging in particle physics collider experiments.

“For years, Drs. Reina and Febres Cordero have been a powerhouse team in the field of theoretical high energy physics, and their newer teammate, Dr. Chawdhry, multiplies the discovery potential this team will have going forward,” said Paul Cottle, Department of Physics chair. “Their new DOE grant will connect high energy physics with quantum computing and demonstrates their continued physics leadership.”

As theorists, the team aims to understand the universe at its fundamental level by studying particle collision analyses and providing predictions for the Large Hadron Collider, the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator housed by CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, near Geneva. Much of their research improves the precision of LHC calculations based on the Standard Model of particle physics, which explains how fundamental forces of nature dictate particle interactions.

“Our work helps make the most of data collected in LHC experiments, and we’re always seeking to use the best technologies and algorithms to extract the information we need to probe the Standard Model and possibly identify signals of new physics beyond it,” said Febres Cordero, the study’s principal investigator. “Now, based on what Herschel found in a previous paper, we’re exploring what quantum computers can offer to this work on top of what’s already provided by classical computers.”

One of Chawdhry’s previous papers showed hints that quantum computers have the potential to provide more precise theoretical predictions or complete more complex calculations than traditional computers and even supercomputers — because it’s a quantum system, it can exploit patterns, or use unique quantum rules to solve problems or perform tasks much faster, that can’t be exploited in standard numerical calculations.

“The idea is that we’ll be able to do the same calculation faster, extend the reach of calculations, and hopefully even open up a whole new class of processes for us to study,” Chawdhry said. “Doing so will improve our sensitivity to new physics by increasing our ability to detect small discrepancies that maximize our chance of discovering new physics beyond the Standard Model in the future.”

Expanding quantum computing

To explore how quantum computing can expand theoretical capabilities, the team is applying the technology to quantum chromodynamics, or QCD — the theory that explains the interaction holding quarks and gluons together inside protons and other particles. The LHC is a proton-proton collider, meaning the strong force has a major influence on LHC measurements. However, the technology the team is developing could have potential applications in other quantum field theories, not just QCD.

“The sizes of some of the computations we’re doing are quite large and often reach the limit of current computing capabilities,” Reina said. “The natural question arising from the revolution we’re seeing in quantum computing and information asks if we can use quantum computing to explore how to make our theoretical predictions and calculations even more efficient and precise.”

In addition to aligning with the FSU Initiative in Quantum Science and Engineering, this project contributes to multiple U.S. national priorities including the Quantum Genesis Initiative in the Genesis Mission, which seeks to deliver scientifically relevant quantum computing to the nation by 2028.

“I’m so pleased that the DOE has expressed confidence that the research we’ve done so far and will conduct in the future is contributing to this fast-moving field,” Chawdhry said. “This also gives our group the opportunity to contribute to the U.S. workforce needs because the country wants to expand in quantum information science, an area in which FSU has longstanding expertise due to its decades of fundamental physics research.” 

For more on research conducted in FSU’s Department of Physics, visit physics.fsu.edu.

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A Florida State University scientist has received a nearly half-million-dollar grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to improve nighttime thunderstorm forecasts, research that will help forecasters and communities better prepare for dangerous weather.

Assistant Professor of Scientific Computing Hristo Chipilski will use the $422,645 grant to lead a three-year project combining computational methods with atmospheric observations to accurately model nighttime thunderstorms, which often depend on complex atmospheric conditions that are more difficult for weather models to predict than daytime storms.

“This project is not simply testing a new algorithm or instrument in isolation,” Chipilski said. “Its central question is how advanced computational methods and observations can work together to improve forecasts of one of the atmosphere’s most difficult phenomena.”

All thunderstorms are difficult to predict because small differences in temperature, humidity or wind can affect when and where a storm develops. During the day, sunlight heats the ground, helping warm air rise to form clouds and rain. After sunset, that source of energy for thunderstorms disappears.

Nighttime storms instead depend on conditions including warm, moist air above the Earth’s surface; fast-moving air in the lower atmosphere; fronts; gravity waves or atmospheric disturbances; and outflows, or cool air spreading from earlier storms. Small errors made when inputting these storm conditions can cause a predictive model to estimate the wrong timing, location, amount of rainfall or miss the storm altogether, which can lead to devastating impacts in significant weather events, particularly when nighttime storms spawn tornadoes.

Chipilski will collaborate with researchers at the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Severe Storms Laboratory. His team will use a technique called data assimilation, which blends observations with weather models to estimate current conditions and provide a starting point for forecasts. Using ground-based remote sensing profilers, which are instruments that measure temperature, moisture and wind at different heights, researchers will observe atmospheric changes just before storms form to combine with the data assimilation techniques.

“Getting that starting point is especially important for nighttime thunderstorms because their nonlinear physics can magnify a small initial error very quickly,” Chipilski said. “By combining measurements with advanced data assimilation techniques, we hope to give the model a more accurate picture of the atmosphere and a better starting point for predicting storms.”

The project will test specific data assimilation methods called quantile-conserving ensemble filters, which preserve more information about possible atmospheric conditions than standard methods. While standard methods often simplify calculations by assuming uncertainty follows a Gaussian, or bell-shaped, pattern, quantile-conserving ensemble filters account for more complex conditions. The team will test whether using this method improves predictions of when and where nighttime storms develop.

This work could lead to earlier, more reliable forecasts of nighttime thunderstorms and hazards including flash flooding, hail, damaging winds and tornadoes. Improved forecasts give communities more time to prepare for weather events while benefiting agriculture, aviation and transportation.

“I did not think about a difference between night and day storms before, but Hristo’s project made it clear to me that there is considerable uncertainty in forecasting and issuing warnings for severe nighttime storms, particularly tornadoes and flash floods,” said Peter Beerli, chair of the Department of Scientific Computing. “Hristo’s research will open new ways to analyze and improve existing data using tools that don’t rely on the usual bell-curve assumptions.”

The grant will also support one of Chipilski’s doctoral students, Stephen Asare, who will contribute to the research by conducting numerical experiments on supercomputers while combining research in scientific computing, atmospheric science and applied mathematics.

“The unanswered questions surrounding nighttime thunderstorms continue to motivate me, and I hope this project will make meaningful contributions in this direction,” Chipilski said. “That understanding can help guide future observing networks and forecasting methods well beyond nighttime thunderstorms.”

To learn more about research conducted in the Department of Scientific Computing, visit sc.fsu.edu.

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Experiential learning event offers participants a firsthand look at the challenges survivors face during Domestic Violence Awareness Month

As part of Florida State University’s annual Discovery Days, the Florida Institute for Child Welfare will host an interactive learning simulation designed to help participants better understand the realities faced by survivors of domestic violence.

In the In Their Shoes simulation, participants assume the role of a parent navigating life while experiencing domestic violence. They complete real-world scenarios that simulate common barriers survivors face and make decisions related to safety, housing, finances, employment and family well-being.

“The In Their Shoes simulation is a unique experiential learning opportunity that can’t easily be achieved through a lecture or reading on the topic,” said simulation facilitator Krista Del Gallo. “Participants gain critical perspectives around the choices survivor parents make and how they often come from a place of protecting children and seeking safety in light of limited options.”

The event will take place:

TUESDAY, OCT. 20 

1-3 P.M. 

ROOMS 2400 AND 2500,
THE GLOBAL AND MULTICULTURAL ENGAGEMENT BUILDING 

110 S. WOODWARD AVE. 

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS 

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA

Visit the event website for more information and to register.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence has far-reaching impacts on children and families and is frequently present among families involved in the child welfare system. Child welfare professionals play an important role in helping families navigate safety concerns and resources, making a deeper understanding of survivors’ experiences critical to effective support and intervention.

“Domestic violence affects families in every community,” said Lisa Magruder, the institute’s director. “Through research, training and public engagement opportunities like In Their Shoes, we hope to build understanding and strengthen the systems that support families.”

Experiential learning programs help participants engage more deeply with challenging issues by offering an immersive experience that challenges participants to grapple more deeply with complex subject matters.

“In Their Shoes isn’t a game, and it isn’t meant to be fun,” Magruder said. “It’s designed to encourage perspective-taking, critical thinking and reflection. By putting yourself in someone else’s position, you start to see something victim advocates have emphasized for years: survivors are the experts in their own safety.”

The event is intended for students, faculty and staff interested in gaining a deeper understanding of domestic violence and its impact on families. It may be especially valuable for those studying or working in social work, education, public health, psychology, criminal justice and related fields.

“Domestic violence is not just a workforce issue. It’s a community issue.” Magruder said.  “The more we understand about the realities of abuse, the better equipped we are to respond. When we listen to survivors, learn from research and work together across systems, we create stronger pathways to survivor empowerment.”

The Discovery Days simulation is one of several ways the institute is advancing understanding of domestic violence and its impact on children and families. In addition to training and professional development opportunities, the institute recently dedicated season nine of its child welfare podcast, “Together for Families: Domestic Violence Support in Child Welfare,” to conversations with researchers, advocates, practitioners and individuals with experience on this issue.

Established by the Florida Legislature and housed in the FSU College of Social Work, the institute also offers research publications, learning opportunities and workforce development resources that support child welfare professionals. Through these efforts, the institute connects research, practice and policy to improve outcomes for families and strengthen Florida’s child welfare workforce.

Visit the In Their Shoes event page for more information and to register. Visit the Florida Institute for Child Welfare website to learn more about the institute, explore domestic violence-related resources or listen to “Together for Families.”

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Florida State University has appointed Keithen Mathis as interim director of the FSU Civil Rights Institute (CRI). Mathis will lead the institute’s academic and public-facing initiatives and its work to advance civil rights research, dialogue and engagement.

A respected scholar and educator, Mathis brings extensive experience in research, teaching and community engagement to the role. He currently serves as a teaching professor and associate dean for Culture and Community Engagement at FSU’s College of Social Work.

“The Civil Rights Institute is an important part of the FSU community, bringing people together to examine the past, engage with the present and help shape the future,” said Jim Clark, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “Keithen’s experience and expertise make him well-suited to lead the institute during this transition, and I am confident he will continue advancing its important mission.”

Housed in the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy (COSSPP), the CRI commemorates, celebrates and studies the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. The institute brings together students, faculty and staff from across academic disciplines, including sociology, public health, urban and regional planning, criminology, social work, medicine, nursing and education.

“Keithen’s deep experience in community engagement and campus leadership makes him well-suited to guide the CRI’s interdisciplinary work and build on the institute’s existing opportunities for advancing dialogue, understanding and public engagement in the area of civil rights,” said COSSPP Dean Tim Chapin.

Mathis said he looks forward to building upon the institute’s work while helping guide its next chapter.

“Accepting this interim appointment is both a tremendous privilege and an important responsibility,” Mathis said. “I am honored to serve alongside our faculty, staff, students, alumni and partners as we build on the Institute’s momentum, advance its mission and impact, and embrace the opportunities ahead. Together, we can ensure a smooth transition while laying a strong foundation for the institute’s next exciting chapter.”

The CRI was conceived in 2018 by FSU alumni and siblings Doby and Fred Flowers, with support from a volunteer board of faculty, staff and community leaders. In 2023, with the backing of President Richard McCullough and Provost James Clark, the CRI expanded its operations to include a full-time director.

FSU plans to launch a national search for the institute’s next director in the coming months. For more information about the FSU Civil Rights Institute, visit the institute’s website.

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IGNITE Tallahassee will showcase how it supports high-tech and deep-technology ventures in Florida’s Capital Region during FSU Discovery Days.

The IGNITE Tallahassee Open House + Innovation Expo will give visitors a front-row seat to the resources, success stories and investment strategies available at this business incubator.

With state-of-the-art facilities, expert mentorship, commercialization support, investor access and a vibrant community of clients, IGNITE Tallahassee empowers founders to transform early-stage technology into real-world products and solutions.

The open house program includes:

• State of IGNITE-FSU updates from IGNITE leadership

• Startup Spotlight at IGNITE! featuring IGNITE Tallahassee companies Piersica, Phusion AI, SafePath App, Feel With Me, SeraphFlora and SCOFile

• iCREATE: Innovation Experience for Undergrads with students from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering delivering elevator pitches, a panel discussion, and the presentation of the TiE Tampa Bay’s ARTISAN Student Pitch Award

• Capital of Florida: VC & Angel Funding Panel on how Sunshine State tech startups find funding across Florida

• “Innovation is Everywhere” Expo, featuring demos, prototypes and founders of IGNITE incubator companies and ecosystem sponsors

The program ends with lunch. Breakfast is provided. IGNITE events will continue Wednesday with Discovery Challenge, when FSU startups compete in a “Shark Tank”-style pitch competition for up to $100,000 in cash prizes.

The IGNITE Tallahassee Open House + Innovation Expo will take place:

WEDNESDAY, OCT 21

 9 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. 

IGNITE TALLAHASSEE 

1729 W. Paul Dirac Drive

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA

Visit the event website for more information and to register.
Registration is free and open to everyone.

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The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, or NASEM, is recognizing a FAMU-FSU College of Engineering faculty member for her research that supports safe and clean water for communities in Florida and beyond.

Associate Professor Nasrin Alamdari is part of the 2026-2028 cohort for NASEM’s Gulf Research Program Early-Career Research Fellowship, which supports emerging scientific leaders whose work strengthens the well-being of coastal communities and ecosystems. She is the fourth faculty member in Florida State University history to receive this national fellowship.

“It is an honor to be selected,” Alamdari said. “Part of what makes it meaningful is that this fellowship funds people rather than a single project. Over the next two years, I aim to bridge the gap between forecasting and helping planners with real-world decisions.”

Research to support healthy coastal communities

Alamdari’s research focuses on watershed hydrology, stormwater management, predicting and mitigating harmful algal blooms and developing natural and nature-based solutions. She uses data-driven and process-based models to address water resource problems.

Her team developed fine-scale hydrologic models of Florida’s urban watersheds involving individual stormwater practices such as rain gardens, bioretention cells and retention ponds. They also used machine learning models to forecast cyanobacteria blooms in lakes and coastal estuaries, including Biscayne Bay and Lake Okeechobee.

Her work has produced statewide decision-support tools that help municipalities identify and size stormwater practices for nutrient reduction, estimate the monetary value of green infrastructure assets and predict cyanobacteria in freshwater lakes.

“Data is scarcest precisely in the communities facing the greatest risk,” Alamdari said. “But if we can predict bacteria levels or an algal bloom a few days in advance, even in a county with almost no monitoring, we can transform when warnings are issued and how much a community must spend responding afterward. If a family can make a safer decision about where their children swim or what comes out of their tap, then the research did its job.”

NASEM Fellowship

The NASEM Fellowship supports scientists, engineers and health professionals in the critical pre-tenure phase of their careers, providing a two-year grant for research and professional development.

During the fellowship, Alamdari plans to connect her water quality and algal bloom forecasts to public health data in partnership with health departments and public health researchers and to evaluate how infrastructure performs through events such as back-to-back storms or simultaneous drought and extreme heat.

Alamdari received the fellowship through the program’s Community Track, which supports applied research on climate-related stressors such as heat, flooding and pollution and their impacts on human health, community resilience and regional economies.

Alamdari

Alamdari is an associate professor in the college’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and a member of the Resilient Infrastructure & Disaster Response Center, or RIDER. She has led 15 funded projects, supported by organizations like the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Alamdari holds a doctorate in biological systems engineering from Virginia Tech and completed postdoctoral research at the Colorado School of Mines. In 2025, she received the American Water Resources Association’s A. Ivan Johnson Young Professional Award.

She was also selected for the National Science Foundation’s National Center for Atmospheric Research Faculty Innovator Program, which supports her project to integrate high-resolution atmospheric and hydrologic forecasts into an artificial intelligence-driven statewide early warning system for harmful algal blooms.

 Visit  Alamdari’s website to learn more about her work. Visit the National Academies website to learn more about the Early-Career Research Fellowship and see the 2026-2028 cohorts.

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A Florida State University researcher is helping guide national research priorities in artificial intelligence, advanced computing and data systems in his new role as a program director within the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure at the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Professor of Computer Science Weikuan Yu will serve as an NSF program director for at least one year starting in Fall 2026. In this role, he’ll collaborate with researchers and other program directors to help manage NSF programs and oversee federal research investments related to his expertise in AI, powerful computing systems, large-scale data management and computing infrastructure.

“It’s a great honor to represent FSU at the national level and contribute to federal investments in advanced cyberinfrastructure and national AI research resources,” Yu said. “This opportunity comes at an especially exciting time, as AI is rapidly reshaping science, technology and society. The role gives me an opportunity to step back and look more broadly at where our research community is heading, particularly how national computing, AI and data infrastructure can enable scientific discovery and serve the larger research community.”

A major focus of Yu’s research is improving the efficiency of AI systems. Most recently, he led the development of AURORA, a software framework that monitors AI while helping the system run faster, use memory more efficiently and consume less energy. AURORA was selected for FSU’s 2026 ReliaQuest Innovation Challenge Fund, which supports innovative proof-of-concept solutions in AI and cybersecurity through the FSU Office of Research.

“Computing has become fundamental to nearly every aspect of modern science and society, and AI is accelerating that transformation at an unprecedented pace,” Yu said. “Continued progress depends not only on better AI models, but also on sustained advances in the computing, data, software and networking infrastructure behind them. Ultimately, investing in this foundation is essential to sustaining scientific discovery, technological innovation and our nation’s leadership in an increasingly AI-driven world.”

Yu joined FSU’s Department of Computer Science in 2015 and has served as associate chair for research and held the Mainline Information Systems Endowed Professorship. He also led the Department of Computer Science as chair for three years. “Dr. Yu, who has a robust and broad research program of his own, is imminently well qualified to fulfill this role as a program director,” said College of Arts and Sciences Dean Sam Huckaba. “Serving as director will provide value in both directions. The NSF will benefit from Dr. Yu’s knowledge and experience, and he will return with a better understanding of emerging federal research priorities and how the NSF arrives at funding decisions, particularly for its current highest priorities. While the funding agencies have strict policies against a program officer having anything to do with decision making relating to their home institution, the overall experience of Weikuan’s service will be beneficial to FSU.”

This position was made possible through the Intergovernmental Personnel Act rotator program, which allows federal agencies to bring experienced researchers and professionals from universities or other organizations into federal service, facilitating the exchange of expertise among government agencies and participating institutions.

Yu will also have the opportunity to increase access to large-scale high-performance computing and national AI research resources through programs like the NSF-funded State and Regional AI Infrastructure Hubs, which provide computing resources and training for AI research and education. These efforts connect institutions with fewer resources, like small rural schools, with tools and technology needed to conduct AI research.

“It will be exciting to help advance programs that push the boundaries of national cyberinfrastructure, from high-performance computing and AI research resources to networking, data, and software systems, and broaden their impact across scientific disciplines,” Yu said. “I’m also eager to collaborate with other program directors on emerging opportunities in AI-enabled sciences and help develop the research community and workforce needed to build and use the next generation of national cyberinfrastructure.”

Visit the FSU Department of Computer Science website to learn more about Yu’s work and research in the department.

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The Florida State University School of Theatre will present “Bring It On: The Musical,” a high-energy production featuring music by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Tom Kitt, beginning Friday, Oct. 16, at the Richard G. Fallon Theatre.

Inspired by the 2000 film “Bring It On,” the musical follows the competitive world of high school cheerleading, exploring friendship, rivalry and the challenges of fitting in through music, dance and athletic stunts.

“Bring It On: The Musical is a funny and exciting cheerleading musical! It’s filled with stunts and spectacle, but also a whole lot of heart,” said director Natalie Wisdom. “It reminds us of the importance of friendship, loyalty and enjoying the journey of life with those you love. High school years are fraught with social anxiety, puberty, cliques, acne and angst. But there is one additional element that heals all of these ailments: friendship.”

The production features a cast of 30, including FSU students McKenna Wallace as Campbell, Onyekachi Anyagaligbo as Danielle, Landen Kol as Randall, Angie Carballo as Eva and Mikayla Martinez-Hobbs as Bridget.

Wisdom directs the production, with scenic design by Jesse Dreikosen, lighting design by Casey Duke, sound design by Alroy Harry and costume design by Kelly Tomlin.

Performances run Oct. 16-25 at the Richard G. Fallon Theatre.

Tickets are available at tickets.theatre.fsu.edu. For more information on the FSU School of Theatre’s 2026-2027 season and academic programs, visit theatre.fsu.edu.

BRING IT ON is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

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Florida State University’s Department of Political Science will present a talk by James L. Gibson, titled “Legitimacy: The Theory of the Century” on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Drawing on decades of research, Gibson will explain the theory of sociological legitimacy and its application across the social sciences. He will present evidence on how institutions can lose legitimacy, particularly during periods of democratic backsliding.

The lecture is free and open to the public and takes place:

TUESDAY, OCT. 13, 2026

3:30 P.M. TALK

4:30 P.M. RECEPTION

BETH MOOR LOUNGE (LONGMIRE BUILDING)

125 CONVOCATION WAY

TALLAHASSEE, FL

The concept of legitimacy has long been central to the social sciences. Broadly, legitimacy describes the willingness of people to recognize the rightful authority of political, legal, economic and social institutions.

Gibson joined Florida State University this fall as Provost’s Research Professor of Political Science. For more than four decades, his research has examined democratic legitimacy, political tolerance and public support for political and legal institutions. He is the author or co-author of more than 100 scholarly articles and several books, including Democracy’s Destruction? (2024) and Black and Blue (2018). In 2026, he received the Warren E. Miller Award from the American Political Science Association (APSA) for his contributions to the study of elections, public opinion and voting behavior.

The Department of Political Science is housed within Florida State University’s College of Social Sciences and Public Policy (COSSPP). With roughly 1,300 majors, the department is home to one-third of COSSPP’s undergraduate students and is consistently recognized for the research productivity and influence of its faculty. Its Ph.D. program attracts doctoral students from around the world, and its Applied Politics & Policy Learning Experience (APPLE) program — the only one of its kind in the country — gives undergraduates hands-on political experience in the Florida Legislature and in Washington, D.C.

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Nestled in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood just east of downtown Atlanta, a two-story home built in 1895 preserves the childhood story of one of the world’s most renowned civil rights leaders, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. This historic home, managed by the National Park Service, reopened to the public this year with contributions from a Florida State University historian.

Assistant Professor of History Kathleen Powers Conti began working in 2019 to help restore and reinterpret King’s childhood home, working with NPS staff to identify needed repairs, update accessibility features and recommend ways to create a more historically accurate and meaningful experience for visitors.

“This home is a pilgrimage site for thousands of people, including global dignitaries, presidents and everyday citizens,” said Conti, who has worked on more than 100 public history and historic preservation projects in 45 states. “It was a phenomenal project, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to ensure these sites fully honor Dr. King’s legacy and his historical importance.”

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A Florida State University meteorologist has been recognized for contributions to researchers’ understanding of rainfall and drought patterns in arid environments. This work addresses the globally relevant topics of freshwater availability, changing climate, drought and famine.

Sharon Nicholson, Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor Emerita of Meteorology and Environmental Science, has earned the 2027 Hydrologic Sciences Medal from the American Meteorological Society. This is the highest honor AMS can bestow upon a hydrologic scientist and reflects breakthrough achievements made during Nicholson’s career, which include disproving accepted climate concepts and discovering several previously unknown phenomena, with a focus on the African continent.

“Sharon is a leading expert in tropical meteorology and climate, particularly in Africa,” said Michael Stukel, chair of the Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science. “This is a career-capping award and significant recognition of both Sharon’s outstanding career and the department’s status at the forefront of tropical meteorology.”

Founded in 1919, AMS advances atmospheric science and its related fields, technologies, applications and services for public good. The Hydrologic Sciences Medal is granted annually to a researcher who contributes outstanding scientific knowledge in hydrology, hydrometeorology, or hydroclimatology, including interactions between Earth’s surface and the atmosphere.

“For me, this award says that the meteorological community really respects my contributions, and my name is now associated with some outstanding scientists, prior medal winners, whom I greatly admire,” Nicholson said.

Before her 2025 retirement from FSU, Nicholson studied African rainfall and drought patterns to assess their evolution from 20,000 years ago to today. This work employs a unique combination of traditional meteorological observations, satellite remote sensing, climate dynamics theory and historical records.

In 2018, she disproved a longstanding scientific explanation related to the Intertropical Convergence Zone, or ITCZ, a region in the low latitudes bordering the equator where northerly and southerly winds meet.

“Researchers believed the ITCZ explained the seasonal cycle of rainfall throughout Africa’s tropical and subtropical regions, which span most of the continent,” Nicholson said. “My research showed that ITCZ does not exist over most of Africa and that even where it is present in western countries like Senegal and Mali, it is still not the cause of rainfall. This is my most important work because the ITCZ has in the past been used to predict and explain climate changes.”

Nicholson also discovered that the El Niño-Southern Oscillation — particularly its El Niño phase, spurred by unusually warm conditions in the Pacific — is a primary driver of drought and famine on the continent. Her work has strong implications for forecasting droughts and floods and has been recognized by the heads of several African meteorological services, such as the Ghana Meteorological Agency, as well as former leaders of Senegal and Morocco.

However, Nicholson’s first landmark discovery was made in 1999, well before her breakthrough ITCZ-related work. After examining nearly two decades of satellite data from the Sahel — a strip of semi-arid land immediately south of the Sahara Desert — Nicholson proved that the Sahara Desert was, in fact, not expanding indefinitely as researchers previously thought. Instead, she found that year-to-year rainfall and drought conditions shaped the desert’s continuously shifting borders, giving the illusion of its growth.

“Before my work challenged and overturned the concept, researchers believed the Sahara Desert was expanding at the hands of humans,” Nicholson said. “Although I certainly believe humans have an impact on climate, I was able to definitively show the desert’s changes were caused by meteorological factors and the Sahara was not expanding.”

Nicholson also demonstrated the existence of several previously unknown jet streams: fast-moving air currents that steer storms, drive temperature fluctuations and even trigger extreme weather. Scientists had long been stumped by the presence of deserts on the Horn of Africa — which includes countries like Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia — as equatorial regions are typically known for lush vegetation and syrupy humidity, not dry air and sand dunes. The Turkana jet, one of the jet streams analyzed by Nicholson, suppresses rainfall, explaining how desert conditions are supported on the equator in East Africa.

“Highlighted by the Hydrologic Sciences Medal, Sharon’s work to understand Africa’s complex and highly variable climate has led to improved rainfall forecasts that can help communities prepare for droughts and floods and better ensure food security, water availability and the livelihoods of millions,” Stukel said.

To learn more about research conducted in the FSU Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, visit eoas.fsu.edu.

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One of the nation’s leading experts on mergers and acquisitions is available to dissect Hollywood’s latest upheaval that combines two of its most valuable properties.

Florida State University Higdon Professor of Management David King has been at the forefront of Paramount’s merger with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) since Netflix began its own pursuit of WBD last December. On Tuesday, Paramount officially closed its deal with WBD to form Skydance in an agreement valued at approximately $111 billion.

The merger presents major operational and financial risks, but King said its success may ultimately hinge on stakeholder trust.

“The biggest challenge is maintaining confidence among investors, employees and the broader market,” King said. “Large mergers are ultimately about people as much as assets. If key talent leaves, promised content and strategic plans become harder to deliver.”

Signs of instability could lead to increased borrowing costs or greater pressure on the company’s already substantial debt load. According to King, it is critical that the merger proves it can deliver on its promises.

“Success depends on convincing stakeholders that the new organization can execute its vision, retain creative talent and generate the growth needed to support the merger’s financial commitments,” King explained.

The costly acquisition gives Skydance the scale to compete with other major players in the industry, but it must deliver enough growth and subscribers to justify the risk.

“The streaming era has changed the rules of the game,” King added. “While a combined studio would have a larger catalog of franchises and content, its biggest challenge will be keeping subscribers engaged and reducing cancellations. The merger may strengthen its position against competitors like Disney, NBC Universal and Netflix, but producing quality content and attracting top creative talent will still play a major role in its success. Owning a deep library of intellectual property is valuable, but audiences ultimately stay loyal to platforms that consistently deliver compelling films and series.”

Skydance is looking to preserve creative teams and only consolidate areas like marketing or distribution. However, King warns that balancing financial goals with creative strength is not always as clear-cut as executives may believe.

“Companies frequently promise that creative operations will remain largely intact while efficiencies are found elsewhere, but mergers are rarely that straightforward,” King said. “Organizations often overestimate how much they can save and underestimate the resources required to maintain quality.”

King can provide expertise on Skydance’s corporate strategy and some of its remaining hurdles. He can be reached at dking@wertheim.fsu.edu.

Q&A with David King, Higdon Professor of Management, Florida State University

 Why pursue a deal that adds so much debt?

 “The driving force behind Paramount’s pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery is a belief that scale is essential to competing in today’s entertainment industry. David Ellison has aggressively pursued the acquisition despite its enormous cost, viewing Warner Bros. Discovery’s content library, brands and streaming assets as critical to long-term growth. The challenge is that the deal also brings significant debt and operational complexity. Whether the combined company can generate enough growth, efficiencies and subscriber revenue to justify the financial risks that come with such an ambitious acquisition will be critical to its success.”

DC Studios has established leadership under James Gunn. How risky would it be for new ownership to disrupt a creative operation that’s already in place?

“Any merger creates uncertainty because it can affect contracts, partnerships and long-standing relationships. Even if leadership intends to preserve DC Studios’ creative direction, there will be pressure to evaluate priorities and integrate operations. The challenge is balancing the needs of audiences, theaters, creators and investors, all of whom have different expectations. If key creative talent loses confidence in the company’s direction, retention becomes a major concern. Maintaining stability and trust within successful creative teams is often one of the most important factors in a smooth integration.”

Studios often say they’ll preserve creative teams and only consolidate areas like marketing or distribution. Does that typically hold up in practice?

“Creative businesses depend on specialized talent, and cutting too deeply can weaken production capabilities and push experienced people toward competitors. Replacing that talent is often far more expensive than retaining it. Ultimately, the success of a merger depends on balancing financial goals with the need to preserve creative strength and maintain confidence among employees and partners.”

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