Florida State University researchers studying male green sea turtles off the coast of Brazil have discovered two distinct migration strategies, with some turtles traveling up to 1,000 kilometers after breeding while others remain in the same area year-round.

The findings shed new light on the movements of male green sea turtles, which are much harder to study than females. Female turtles regularly return to nesting beaches to lay their eggs, giving researchers predictable opportunities to tag and monitor them. Males, however, rarely return to land after entering the sea as hatchlings, leaving major gaps in scientists’ understanding of where they travel and which marine areas are important to their survival.

The FSU team, based in the Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, tracked adult male green sea turtles at a remote breeding site off Brazil’s coast during three breeding seasons. The study provides new information about where the turtles travel during and after breeding season and could help guide conservation efforts in areas they use for migration and feeding. The research was recently published in Marine Ecology Progress Series.

“Many turtles undertook long-distance migrations, with some migrating for almost a month,” said Armando Barsante Santos, one of the study’s co-authors and a postdoctoral researcher in the Marine Turtle Research, Ecology and Conservation Group at FSU. “Their sense of navigation is impressive, and identifying paths they use during their oceanic migrations is essential for conservation management.”

The post Turtle travels: FSU researchers uncover different migration strategies among male green sea turtles appeared first on Florida State University News.

New FSU Quantum Initiative certificate will prepare students and professionals for careers in the rapidly expanding quantum workforce

Florida State University is launching Florida’s first formal graduate-level credential in quantum information science and engineering, opening a new pathway for students and professionals to enter one of the world’s fastest-growing technology fields. The Graduate Certificate in Quantum Science & Technology is now accepting applications for Spring 2027 enrollment.

Administered by the FSU Quantum Initiative, the interdisciplinary certificate will give graduate students and working professionals rigorous training across quantum physics, materials science, chemistry, computer science and engineering. Drawing on courses from multiple departments and two colleges — the FSU College of Arts and Sciences and the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering — the program positions FSU to help build the emerging quantum workforce vital to the nation’s technological leadership and security.

“Quantum science is reshaping the future of computing, communication, materials and national security, and Florida State University is positioning itself at the forefront of that transformation,” said FSU Vice President for Research Stacey S. Patterson. “This new graduate certificate reflects the strength of our research enterprise and our commitment to preparing students for the high-demand careers that will drive the next generation of discovery and innovation.”

Students will complete required coursework in quantum information and computing, choose from a broad selection of electives and gain access to world-class research facilities, including the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and the new Interdisciplinary Research & Commercialization Building. The building houses cleanroom and nanofabrication facilities as well as dilution refrigerators for low-temperature quantum experiments. The FSU Quantum Initiative also is developing partnerships with leading quantum technology companies and national centers to connect students directly with career opportunities in the rapidly growing quantum industry.

“Florida State University is an ideal place for students to pursue training in quantum science and technology because of the extraordinary breadth of expertise across our campus,” said Sam Huckaba, dean of the FSU College of Arts and Sciences. “Students in this program will learn from faculty working at the cutting edge of physics, chemistry, materials science, mathematics, computer science and related fields, while also benefiting from access to world-class research facilities. That combination of talent, infrastructure and opportunity will prepare them to make meaningful contributions in a rapidly evolving field.”

FSU has made bold investments in quantum science and engineering, including hiring ten new faculty. Many of these faculty will teach new courses that will serve both their departments and interdisciplinary programs.

“The most important challenges in emerging technologies cannot be solved within the boundaries of a single discipline,” said Suvranu De, dean of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. “This certificate reflects the strength of the partnership between the College of Arts and Sciences and the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, bringing together complementary expertise to prepare students for a future where quantum information science and engineering is transforming computing, sensing, communications, and enabling new approaches to materials discovery. It is exactly the kind of interdisciplinary collaboration needed to tackle fundamental scientific challenges and develop the quantum technologies of tomorrow.”

FSU is extending its commitment to quantum education beyond the graduate level. The university already offers introductory quantum computing courses for undergraduate and high school students, and plans are underway to develop formal programs for both groups. Together, these efforts will create a comprehensive quantum education pipeline that introduces students to the field early and supports them through advanced training.

“Quantum information science is not just a frontier for research; it is becoming a foundation for the economy of the 21st century,” said Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Michael Shatruk, director of the FSU Quantum Initiative. “With this certificate program, we are giving students in Florida the tools to be part of that future. And by reaching students at the undergraduate and high school levels, we will be planting those seeds early.” 

The FSU QIST Graduate Certificate Program is accepting applications for the Spring 2027 cohort through Oct. 1, 2026. The program is open to current FSU graduate students in relevant STEM disciplines as well as external post-baccalaureate applicants, including industry professionals seeking foundational knowledge in quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum materials and related technologies. More information and the online application are available on the program website.

About the FSU Quantum Initiative

The FSU Quantum Initiative is a cross-departmental research and education hub spanning the departments of Physics, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Materials Science & Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, and Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering at Florida State University. FSU Quantum coordinates quantum science and engineering research, education, and industry partnerships across the university, with access to the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and the Interdisciplinary Research & Commercialization Building.

The post Florida State University launches Florida’s first graduate credential in quantum information science and engineering appeared first on Florida State University News.

Florida State University chemistry major Ethan Messier is making his mark through high-level research and campus leadership.

As a participant in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), Messier collaborated with Assistant Professor Taylor Higgins at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering to study parental leave policies, a project he later presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.

In addition to his research, Messier serves the university community as an Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) chemistry tutor, an Honors colloquium leader and a learning assistant for organic chemistry.

He supports his peers as a resident assistant at Landis Hall, where he helps students navigate campus resources and find their home at FSU.

Why did you choose Florida State University?

The first time I visited FSU as a freshman in high school, I instantly fell in love with the campus. I toured FSU for the first time on a frigid January morning, staring in awe at the Gothic-style brick buildings and the vastly verdant expanse of Landis Green, and I took about 135 photos at the Westcott Fountain.  

When the time came to apply to college, I was unsure of where I might end up. However, when the garnet and gold confetti finally cascaded across my computer screen, I celebrated with my family. My dad later said, “As soon as we first took you there, I knew this was where you would end up.” He was right; I never looked back. 

I was fortunate enough to earn the National Merit Finalist / Benacquisto Scholarship and be accepted into the University Honors Program, which has supported my journey here. 

What academic achievements have you accomplished at FSU?

My two most significant accomplishments are my research presentation at the 2025 Undergraduate Research Symposium and my involvement in multiple teaching roles across campus.  

Through UROP, I researched parental leave policies in university STEM programs across the United States and their impacts on the recruitment and retention of women faculty in the physical sciences.  

I had several meaningful interactions with faculty who shared their personal experiences as professors or graduate students in STEM fields while balancing family and their research. This experience culminated in presenting my findings at the Undergraduate Research Symposium, where I was able to share this important work with dozens of individuals, but most importantly my dad and grandma.  

My teaching roles are equally significant. My first on-campus job was as a chemistry tutor at ACE, where I supported students in General Chemistry I and II. Watching students gain confidence, experience “lightbulb moments” and develop a genuine zest for chemistry was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had. 

Later, as an Honors colloquium leader, I taught a weekly class to 15 first-year students, mentoring them as they transitioned to college life. 

Currently, I serve as a learning assistant for Organic Chemistry II with Instructor of Chemistry, Kevin Little, where I guide students in class and host weekly office hours. 

My experiences at Florida State have deepened my love for chemistry, teaching and mentorship, and have solidified my goal of incorporating education into my future career as a physician. 

How do you serve the FSU community?

My most significant leadership experience at FSU has been serving as a resident assistant in Landis Hall. I began by serving on Hall Council as the equity and inclusion representative, where I learned more about University Housing and got to know the RA team in my building. 

When I was hired as an RA, I was thrilled to be placed in Landis Hall, which has truly become my home away from home. 

As an RA, I help residents navigate the realities of adult life and encourage them to branch out and build community. I am now in my second year as an RA and third year living in Landis, and I have developed a deep and genuine love for the hall, my co-workers and my residents. This role has been one of the most formative parts of my time at FSU, allowing me to give back to the same community that welcomed me with arms wide open.

The post Ethan Messier appeared first on Florida State University News.

A Florida State University religious studies scholar has earned a competitive grant from one of the country’s leading humanities research organizations to support the translation of two pivotal texts into English and shed light on ancient Buddhist practices and traditions.

Jimmy Yu, the Sheng Yen Professor of Chinese Buddhism in FSU’s Department of Religion, has earned the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Public Impact Grant in Buddhist Studies from the American Council of Learned Societies, a non-profit organization supporting humanities and social science scholars.

The $50,000 grant will support two directions of Yu’s project, “Interdependence: Bridging Chinese Huayan Buddhism and Western Buddhist Practice.” First, the grant includes the translation of two pivotal Huayan Buddhist texts, “Contemplation on the Extinction of Delusion and the Cultivation of the Source of Profound Implications in the Flower Garland” and “Commentary on the Contemplations on the Flower Garland Dharmadhātu.” Second, the grant subsidizes Yu to take a one-year sabbatical to lead retreats and workshops around the country based on the translations.

“Winning this grant came with great excitement and pride,” Yu said. “Now that these texts are translated, people can engage with their teachings, connect them to their own fields of study and apply them to everyday life. I hope it sparks interest in secular, religious and academic fields.”

ACLS was founded in 1919 following the end of World War I to rebuild international scholarly collaboration. Today, its mission is to advance knowledge that improves human experience by supporting those researching human endeavors of the past, present and future. This includes the grants in Buddhist studies, which support projects that make the knowledge of Buddhism more accessible and improve the public’s understanding of Buddhist art, texts and traditions.

“Religious studies scholars like Jimmy remind us that the arena of our research is the world outside of our offices and libraries.”

— Martin Kavka, chair of FSU’s Department of Religion

Yu studies Chinese Buddhism from historical, textual and anthropological perspectives, with a particular interest in how it was practiced in everyday life. Analyzing ancient texts written in classical Chinese, he examines both lived religious traditions and philosophical beliefs from Huayan Buddhist texts. Some of his specific research areas include Chinese Buddhist history from the years 1100 to 1800, bodily rituals and Chan and Zen studies — a major part of which is meditation.

“The grant has given me time to bridge the academic study and the practice of Buddhism together by using my text translations and annotations to design hybrid meditation retreats,” Yu said. “The retreats, scheduled for this year and next, are aimed at English-speaking Buddhists who wouldn’t normally be able to read classical Chinese texts and are seeking greater access to ancient Huayan teachings.”

Huayan Buddhism is a school within Chinese Buddhism that developed during the Tang dynasty from 618 to 907 C.E. It centers around the interconnectedness of all things, borrowing from its core phrase, “One is all, all is one.” For this project, Yu is translating Huayan texts from classical Chinese into English and using them as the foundation for avenues like public lectures known as Dharma talks, mainstream Buddhist journal articles and digital media productions.

The hybrid meditation retreats resulting from these translations will be held at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies in Barre, Massachusetts, later this year; the San Francisco Zen Center in San Francisco in 2027; Great Vow Monastery, Oregon, in 2027; and the Tallahassee Chan Center in Tallahassee in 2027.

“Religious studies scholars like Jimmy remind us that the arena of our research is the world outside of our offices and libraries,” said Martin Kavka, chair of FSU’s Department of Religion. “The retreats he is planning and the various publications that will stem from his work will give Buddhist practitioners in the U.S. a greater self-knowledge about the stakes of their own practices and address a deep lack in Westerners’ understanding of Buddhism.”

Yu earned his doctorate in Buddhist studies from Princeton University in New Jersey in 2008 and joined FSU’s faculty that same year. At FSU, he teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses in Chinese and Japanese religious traditions.

Outside the classroom, Yu is an editor for the Journal of Chinese Buddhist Studies and the Sheng Yen Series in Chinese Buddhism through Columbia University Press. He’s also the founder of the Tallahassee Chan Center, a nonprofit meditation sanctuary that hosts meditation sessions and retreats and has authored six books centered on Chinese and Chan Buddhism.

To learn more about research conducted in FSU’s Department of Religion, visit the department’s website.

The post FSU researcher awarded humanities grant to make Buddhist knowledge more accessible appeared first on Florida State University News.

A Florida State University computer scientist has earned one of the most prestigious awards available to early career faculty for exploring how wireless networks can help devices collaborate to run advanced artificial intelligence applications more efficiently and reliably without relying on cloud computing, supporting the next generation of AI technologies.

Assistant Professor of Computer Science Xiaonan Zhang is a recipient of a 2026 Faculty Early Career Development Award, or CAREER Award, from the National Science Foundation for her work developing frameworks that allow devices connected through wireless networks to collaborate and execute complex AI applications closer to where data is generated.

The CAREER Awards Program offers the NSF’s most significant awards in support of early career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic leaders in research and education. The award provides five years of funding to support research, student training and educational outreach activities while helping faculty pursue long-term scientific goals.

“Receiving this was a reminder that persistence matters and good ideas often take time to develop,” said Zhang, who earned her doctorate from Clemson University in 2020 and joined FSU’s faculty that same year. “Earning a CAREER Award after years of proposal writing, revision and resubmission made the recognition especially meaningful, both personally and professionally.”

The use of AI is increasing in areas of society like healthcare, transportation, environmental modeling and emergency response, requiring more reliable, efficient wireless networks to move massive amounts of data and coordinate real-time decisions. A wearable health monitor or tablet used by a paramedic could use AI to quickly analyze a patient’s condition, for example, but many advanced AI models require more computing power and memory than a single device can provide. While cloud computing data centers help process these tasks, relying entirely on distant infrastructure can introduce delays, consume network resources and create challenges when internet connectivity is limited.

Zhang’s research explores how wireless networks can allow nearby devices to collaborate and jointly run AI applications such as analyzing medical data, helping autonomous vehicles make real-time driving decisions and improving emergency response during disasters. Rather than serving solely as a pathway for transmitting data, these networks can help coordinate where AI computations occur, how resources are shared among devices and how systems adapt when conditions change.

“My goal is to rethink the role of wireless networks in the age of AI,” Zhang said. “I believe future AI-integrated wireless networks will not only connect devices but also help them work together more effectively.”

By exploring how devices work together while remaining reliable in changing network environments, the research could make these advanced technologies more accessible in areas with unreliable cloud connectivity while also expanding the range of devices capable of running them.

“Dr. Zhang’s work addresses increasingly important challenges as AI becomes more integrated into everyday life,” said Weikuan Yu, Department of Computer Science chair. “Rather than viewing wireless networks solely as a way to transmit data between devices, her research explores how devices can work together and share resources to make AI systems more efficient, reliable and resilient. This award recognizes both the significance of this research and Dr. Zhang’s innovative vision for bringing together wireless networking, distributed computing and AI.”

Zhang’s award will also support educational initiatives like establishment of new courses and research opportunities designed to help students deepen their understanding of AI and recognize that the field involves more than just creating intelligent algorithms; the algorithms need to run efficiently across multiple devices and networks for practical use in real-world systems. Zhang will also continue mentoring undergraduate students through the FSU Career Center’s InternFSU Program and engaging K-12 students through FSU’s Young Scholars Program.

“As AI becomes increasingly incorporated into the physical world, scientists need to design communication, computing, and intelligence together so AI can operate more efficiently, reliably, and securely across connected devices instead of relying on distant cloud data centers,” Zhang said.

To learn more about research conducted in the Department of Computer Science, visit the department’s website.

The post FSU computer scientist earns NSF CAREER Award to advance collaborative artificial intelligence systems appeared first on Florida State University News.

Criminology and Middle Eastern studies student Emma Brown uses her fluency in Arabic to fuel her Honors in the Major research. Through her ethnography, she conducts groundbreaking research exploring Middle Eastern resettlement communities in Tampa, Florida, focusing on local integration and support structures.

Brown learned Arabic early in life and studied abroad in Jordan this summer to expand her knowledge of the culture and Arabic language.

Outside of research, Brown is a legal intern for the Center for the Advancement of Human Rights, where she uses her multilingualism to help clients navigate the legal processes for U.S. residency and citizenship. This role inspired her ideal future career as an immigration attorney.

Brown has shone on campus at the Center for Global Engagement as a former Peer Mentor Coordinator. She used her extroverted interpersonal skills to create an environment where more than 300 international students were welcomed to FSU, hosting cultural events and helping them develop their English language skills.

Why did you choose Florida State University?

I chose to attend FSU because of the welcoming atmosphere and outgoing students. As an out-of-state student, I was intimidated by going to a school where I did not have any existing connections. I immediately felt like I belonged on campus and built a community through discussions and events with my fellow students.

What academic achievements have you accomplished at FSU?

I am conducting an Honors in the Major project using ethnographic research to study Middle Eastern communities in Tampa, Florida, with a focus on language usage, commerce, political identity and religion. 

I was awarded the FSU Center for Global Engagement’s Global Citizen Award for the 2025–2026 academic year. This builds on my recognition as the Outstanding Student in Arabic Studies by the FSU Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics in both 2024 and 2025. In addition to my academic honors, I currently serve as the Arabic Honor Society’s outreach coordinator and formerly served as the events chair, where I organized events that built community and encouraged others to explore a new culture.

I am now the assistant at the Middle East Center, where I aid the faculty in their development of the Middle East Center and its academic major. In previous years, I have taught a traditional Arab dance, the dabke, at cultural events and made my personal favorite Arab dessert, Om Ali. I enjoy sharing the opportunity to learn more about the different cultures and languages in the Middle East.

How have you impacted your community?

As a legal intern at the Center for the Advancement of Human Rights, I assist individuals navigating the legal processes for U.S. citizenship and resettlement. In this pro bono role, I leverage my Arabic and Spanish language skills to facilitate client communication, documentation and application support.

I also volunteer as an English Conversation Program Partner Facilitator with the Center for Global Engagement and meet weekly with international students to aid them in their conversational English.

I contribute to Tallahassee by helping the community with pro bono immigration resources, providing people with excellent care without financial burden. On the weekends, I volunteer with Tallahassee refugees and enjoy showing hospitality and aiding in their transition to this new environment.

Outside of my efforts in aiding immigrants and international students, I also contribute to FSU with my passion for advocacy and connection-building. As director of the Women Student Union, I enjoy planning events and fostering spaces that empower women socially, politically and professionally.

The post Emma Brown appeared first on Florida State University News.

Florida State University researchers are part of an international team whose work reveals that North and South American mammals interacted before the Panamanian land bridge formed about 3 million years ago.

Professor of Geology and Environmental Science Yang Wang and geology doctoral student Chance Hannold are coauthors of a new study that challenges the long-held belief that North and South American mammals did not mix until the continents joined through an isthmus, a narrow strip that connects two larger land masses. Instead, the researchers found evidence of some North American animals clustering in present-day southern Mexico before opportunities arose to move further south beginning about 7 million years ago.

This research was published Thursday in the journal Science.

“Fossils, as well as ancient sediments and soils, provide valuable archives of past life and environmental conditions,” said Wang, who is also a faculty affiliate of the National Science Foundation-funded, FSU-headquartered National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. “By studying these natural archives, we can better understand how mammalian communities responded to past environmental changes and the processes that gave rise to present-day biodiversity patterns. This knowledge, in turn, can help us better anticipate the potential impacts of future environmental perturbations on the biosphere.”

North and South America were once isolated continents home to distinct groups of animals. Until recently, scientists believed those animals moved north and south only after the Isthmus of Panama formed about 3 million years ago. Biologists refer to this as the Great American Biotic Interchange, or GABI.

However, the new research suggests many North American mammals migrated to present-day southern Mexico and remained there in a sort of geographical holding pen until the continents moved just close enough for smaller species, including racoon-like coatis, ringtails and rodents, to travel farther south, likely by island hopping through the Caribbean or rafting on vegetation.

This suggests that intercontinental species migration began at least 4 million years before GABI. For context: At the beginning of that 4-million-year gap, early human ancestors had just genetically separated from chimpanzees, and by the end of it, the Stone Age had begun.

For this research, Wang and Hannold, a fifth-year doctoral student, conducted fieldwork in Mexico in from 2022 to 2024, collecting samples of ancient soil and fossilized tooth enamel.

“Earth’s natural processes, such as volcanism, the formation of the Isthmus of Panama, and the uplift of the Himalayas, have shaped the environments and climates in which animals, including humans, live,” Wang said. “We took our field samples back to the lab at FSU to conduct stable isotope analyses, which help identify when, where and in what conditions these animals lived, providing the environmental context for this study’s collection of fossils.”

Stable isotope analyses found evidence that the early arrival of North American mammals in Mexico was driven by the development of savanna grasslands in the region. The data revealed that C4 grasses — warm-season plants that include corn, sugarcane, switchgrass and Bermuda grass — were present in the area around 10 million years ago and became a dominant component of early horses’ diets by 5 million years ago.

“Yang’s new research is truly interdisciplinary, as it combines geological and biological evidence to investigate how geological processes created one of the great natural ecological mixing experiments of the Cenozoic Era,” said Mike Stukel, chair of the FSU Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science. “It is also fascinating to consider how these results might shed light on the current mixing experiment occurring as humans intentionally and unintentionally spread different species across the planet.”

Wang and Hannold’s work was supported by the National Science Foundation through a portion of more than $500,000 in funding for the project. The broader study was led by principal investigator Jack Tseng, an associate professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and coauthored by researchers from Stanford University, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, California, and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, as well as the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, both located in central Mexico.

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

The post FSU geologists discover North, South American mammals mingled before continental connection appeared first on Florida State University News.

Florida State University will celebrate its summer Class of 2026 on Friday, July 31, as graduates mark academic achievements, personal growth and the start of new careers.

FSU will award 2,891 degrees, including 1,582 bachelor’s, 952 master’s and specialist, 253 doctoral, 99 Juris Master’s, and 5 LL.M. degrees. More than 1,786 graduates are expected to participate in the day’s ceremonies.

Anne Bristol

As the daughter of Haitian immigrants and a first-generation college student, West Palm Beach native Anne Bristol will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in political science and a minor in innovation from the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy.

Bristol chose Florida State because of the support she found through the CARE TRIO SSS program and a campus culture that encourages students to lead with purpose. FSU gave her opportunities to turn her passion for advocacy into public service, mentor peers and facilitate meaningful dialogue.

“My time at FSU has instilled in me a commitment to creating positive change in my community, and I am incredibly grateful for the mentors, peers and experiences that have helped me grow into the leader I am today,” Bristol said. “The relationships I built and the opportunities I created for others are what I will carry long after graduation.”

Bristol built strong connections across the FSU community through leadership roles in the Student Senate, the Black Student Union, and the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE).

“Walking across the stage represents so much more than earning a degree,” Bristol said. “It symbolizes every challenge I have overcome, every mentor who believed in me and every sacrifice my family made so I could reach this moment. As the daughter of Haitian immigrants, I carry my family’s resilience with me every day. Crossing the commencement stage means becoming a first-generation college graduate, a milestone that reflects generations of perseverance and hope.”

After graduation, Bristol plans to attend law school to pursue a career in public interest law, advocating for historically underserved communities and helping create equitable policy.

Nicholas Baldini

As a legacy student who grew up wearing garnet and gold, Marietta, Georgia, native Nicholas Baldini will earn his second degree from Florida State University, a Master of Business Administration from the Herbert Wertheim College of Business.

Baldini previously earned his bachelor’s degree in finance at FSU and formed lasting connections through his fraternity, intramural leagues and church group. Following in the footsteps of his mother, a 1987 alumna, he returned to his dream school to blend campus traditions with graduate-level professional development.

“Walking across the commencement stage represents much more than earning another degree,” Baldini said. “This reflects years of hard work, perseverance and growth, along with the support of my family, friends, professors and mentors who helped me along the way. To me, this represents striving to go above and beyond and to stay curious by continuously learning throughout my whole professional career.”

Baldini returned to Florida State to build on his finance background and strengthen strategic leadership skills. Experiences such as attending an alternative investment summit and networking with estate planning professionals helped prepare him for a career in wealth management.

“The MBA program has challenged me to think strategically, collaborate with talented classmates from so many backgrounds, and approach business problems from a broader perspective,” Baldini said. “It is a moment to celebrate everything I’ve accomplished at FSU while looking forward with excitement to starting my career and applying what I’ve learned.”

After graduation, he plans to move to Atlanta to begin his career in wealth management at Charles Schwab. He plans to earn the Certified Financial Planner designation and provide pro bono financial planning to historically underserved communities.

William Perez

Miami native and first-generation graduate student William Perez will earn a doctorate in religion from the Department of Religion in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Perez, the son of Cuban and Nicaraguan immigrants, moved to Tallahassee in 2021 with his wife and four daughters to pursue the American religious history track. Now a father of five, he values the intellectual community he found at FSU and the ability to pursue rigorous doctoral research while spending meaningful time with his family.

Perez chose to attend Florida State because of the national reputation of its religion program. At FSU, he presented at international academic conferences, published research on religion and emotion and received several awards, including the department’s Porterfield Research Prize.

“Not only does FSU boast one of the oldest religion departments at a public university in the United States, but its religion faculty also remains on the cutting-edge of research and publication in the field,” Perez said. “I wanted the opportunity to learn from and work with them, and it has paid off.”

After graduation, Perez plans to continue teaching and conducting research in Tallahassee. He will serve as an adjunct professor in FSU’s Department of Religion and as a religious educator with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ seminary and institute program.

He also hopes to turn his dissertation on religion and emotion into a book, elevate the Latino community in religious studies and bring the interdisciplinary approaches he learned at FSU into wider academic conversations.

“Walking in this ceremony is meaningful to me because it represents not only my accomplishment, but a huge win for the family and community that has cheered me on from the very beginning,” Perez said. “It is the culmination of years of hard work and also the beginning of a new and exciting chapter.”

Jack Wemm

A Tallahassee local and lifelong Seminole, Jack Wemm will graduate magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management from the Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences. He chose FSU for its nationally recognized program and the opportunity to attend his childhood dream school.

During his three years at FSU, Wemm combined academic excellence with leadership and service across the university community.

“I believe in the saying, ‘The people make the place,’ and there is no place like FSU,” Wemm said. “The feeling of being a Seminole and a part of the Florida State community is special.”

Wemm’s time at FSU was defined by service. As vice president of membership for Seminole Student Boosters, he helped lead the student-run organization raising money for FSU Athletics and student-athletes.

He also interned with University Relations, assisting with commencement ceremonies and football game operations and served as a team manager for the FSU men’s and women’s golf teams.

“Graduating in this ceremony means a lot to me because of the hard work and perseverance of not only myself, but also those who have supported me,” Wemm said. “When I walk across the stage, I hope my parents, my professors and the friends I have made along the way know that I could not have gotten this far without them.”

Wemm also studied sport management in London and spent six weeks in Valencia, Spain, through FSU International Programs. The experience broadened his understanding of the global sports industry.

After completing his bachelor’s degree, Wemm will intern in athletics law with FSU’s Office of the General Counsel this summer. He will then remain at Florida State to finish his master’s degree in sport management through the combined pathway program before pursuing law school, where he aims to build a career as a sports lawyer helping shape the future of athletics.

Sydney Goldberg

Tampa native Sydney Goldberg will graduate with a Master of Applied American Politics and Policy (MAAPP) from the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy. A double Seminole, she completed her bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in psychology in three years before entering the graduate program.

Goldberg was drawn to FSU for its location in Florida’s capital and the access it provided to state government. The MAAPP program allowed her to complement her studies with work on political campaigns and experience in state agencies, the legislature and advocacy.

“Walking in commencement marks the end of my academic career at FSU,” Goldberg said. “I tend to move quickly from one goal to the next, so commencement gives me a chance to stop, recognize everything I have accomplished and celebrate with the family and mentors who supported me.”

During her time at FSU, Goldberg maintained a strong campus presence, serving as vice president of the MAAPP Executive Board and holding leadership roles within Garnet and Gold Key, the Women’s Leadership Network, the Student Conduct Board and the Jewish Student Union.

Her proudest accomplishments reflect a commitment to public service. She worked on two successful state and congressional campaigns and participated in two Florida legislative sessions, including work for Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez. She also was selected for the Florida Gubernatorial Fellows Program and spent a year with the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

Looking ahead, Goldberg plans to build a career in political strategy, government affairs and advocacy, using her broad perspective across state leadership to drive results.

“Florida is my home, and I want to continue making a positive impact on the state that has given me so many opportunities,” Goldberg said. “I have been fortunate to have mentors who guided and advocated for me, and I hope to provide that same support to future students and young professionals entering the field.”

Pranathi Brungi

Pranathi Brungi will earn a doctorate in electrical and computer engineering from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. A native of South India, she was drawn to FSU by the college’s partnership with Florida A&M University and its nationally recognized research in power electronics.

Under the mentorship of Professor Petru Andrei, Brungi conducted interdisciplinary research in semiconductor devices, magnetics and machine learning. She developed advanced modeling techniques designed to improve electronic device performance and accelerate the design process.

Brungi’s graduate experience was defined by rapid achievement, leadership and service. She earned both her master’s degree and doctorate in three and a half years, received the Danfoss Research Scholarship and represented FSU during a weather balloon launch at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

She also presented at three Electrochemical Society conferences, served as a session chair and student ambassador, contributed to several research publications and chaired the Excellence in Teaching Award Committee for Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society.

“Walking at commencement represents far more than completing a degree,” Brungi said. “Earning a doctorate has been a personal dream and a journey filled with challenges, growth and perseverance. What makes this moment especially meaningful is seeing my parents and my brother proud of what I have accomplished.”

After graduation, Brungi will begin her career as a device engineer at onsemi, where she plans to advance AI-driven semiconductor design and streamline manufacturing. She also hopes to strengthen partnerships between universities and industry so that promising research can move into practical use.

“Semiconductors are at the core of nearly every technology we use today,” Brungi said. “I want to help ensure this field continues to grow, innovate and inspire future generations of engineers and researchers.”

The post FSU summer graduates reflect on academic journeys built on purpose and community appeared first on Florida State University News.

Florida State University alumnus and insurance executive Allen Durham, who oversees the university’s iconic Osceola and Renegade tradition, and Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor Brad Schmidt will address graduates during FSU’s summer commencement ceremonies Friday, July 31, at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.

FSU expects to award 2,891 degrees, including 1,582 bachelor’s degrees, 952 master’s and specialist degrees, 253 doctoral degrees, 99 Juris Master’s degrees and 5 LL.M. degrees. More than 1,786 graduates are expected to participate in the day’s ceremonies. 

The day begins with a doctoral hooding ceremony at 9 a.m. Faculty members will hood doctoral graduates during the ceremony. 

Bachelor’s, master’s and specialist degree candidates will be recognized during commencement ceremonies at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Florida State President Richard McCullough will preside over all three ceremonies. 

2 p.m. ceremony: Allen Durham 

Allen Durham, founder, president and CEO of an insurance brokerage firm, will deliver the commencement address at the 2 p.m. ceremony.

A 1993 graduate of FSU’s College of Business, Durham earned a bachelor’s degree in risk management before going on to earn a law degree. During a career spanning three decades, he has built a successful business while remaining deeply engaged with his alma mater, serving in several leadership roles, including chair of the FSU National Alumni Association Board of Directors and a member of the College of Business Board of Governors.

The son of Bill Durham, who created the Osceola and Renegade tradition in 1978, Durham served as the eighth student to portray Osceola before taking over leadership of the program in 2007. Since then, he has mentored generations of student riders and helped preserve the university’s longstanding partnership with the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Last year, Durham and his father were jointly honored with the Mores Torch Award for their enduring commitment to Florida State and their role in creating and sustaining one of the university’s most recognized traditions. 

He will address graduates from the Dedman College of Hospitality, Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, College of Applied Studies, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, Herbert Wertheim College of Business, College of Music, and Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences. 

7 p.m. ceremony: Brad Schmidt 

Brad Schmidt, Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor and chair of Florida State University’s Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, will deliver the commencement address at the 7 p.m. ceremony. 

An internationally recognized leader in clinical psychology, Schmidt studies the causes, prevention and treatment of anxiety and related mental health conditions, including PTSD, substance use and suicide. 

Schmidt has led numerous research initiatives supported by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Defense while mentoring generations of students and early career researchers. He was recently elected to the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida. 

Schmidt will address graduates from the College of Medicine, College of Motion Picture Arts, College of Fine Arts, College of Communication and Information, College of Law, College of Nursing, College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, College of Social Work and College of Arts and Sciences. 

Every Florida State University graduate is automatically a member of the FSU Alumni Association. Alumni can learn more at alumni.fsu.edu. 

For more information about commencement, including ceremony schedules and livestream links, visit commencement.fsu.edu. 

The post Osceola and Renegade leader Allen Durham, Lawton Professor Brad Schmidt to address summer FSU graduates appeared first on Florida State University News.

Seven faculty members from Florida State University have received Fulbright U.S. Scholar Awards for the 2026-27 academic year from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

FSU’s seven scholars will travel to Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Belgium, Vietnam and India to teach, conduct research and engage with colleagues in their fields.

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational and cultural exchange program. Led by the U.S. government in partnership with 160 countries worldwide, Fulbright offers programs for passionate and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals of all backgrounds to study, teach and conduct research. Participants enrich their education, advance their careers and make meaningful contributions to communities abroad and at home.

In addition, FSU’s Vice President for Student Affairs Amy Hecht received a Fulbright International Education Administrators (IEA) Award, which supports two-week seminars for U.S. higher education administrators to learn about participating countries’ higher education systems, exchange information on best practices and explore the potential for partnerships with institutions of higher education in the host country.

Hecht will use the award in France, where she will participate in briefings, campus visits, appointments with government officials, networking and cultural activities and meetings with French international education professionals to familiarize herself with France’s higher education and research system.

The 2026-2027 Fulbright Scholars from FSU are: 

Jim Lile, a professor at the School of Theatre in the College of Fine Arts, will use the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to teach courses about Western production practices and conduct research on Asian production methods at National Taiwan University in Taipei, Taiwan, during the spring 2027 semester. 

Lile brings 25 years of experience in live theater. He was first invited to Taipei in October 2023 to conduct a series of master classes based on his experience with the Western theatrical technical production methods used for opera, musicals, plays and dance. The short visit provided such a valuable opportunity that Lile wanted to return to Taipei to continue teaching and learning more about live performance practices in Asia.  

By focusing on the various organizational structures, training techniques and uses of text, movement and music to tell stories, Lile will explore how cultural values and traditions are reflected in technical production methods. 

“I hope to build an international network with theater designers and technicians and create long-term collaboration opportunities in Taiwan and other regional countries,” Lile said. “Taiwan’s multicultural history offers rich opportunities to study the diverse traditions and histories of Asian live performance.” 

Judith Pascoe, the George Mills Harper Professor in the Department of English in the College of Arts and Sciences, will expand on her research and teaching interests in Nara, Japan, through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program starting in March.  

This is Pascoe’s second Fulbright award to Japan. She previously received the Fulbright Japan Lecturing Award for the 2009-2010 academic year while teaching at the University of Iowa. This experience led to her writing “On the Bullet Train with Emily Brontë: ‘Wuthering Heights’ in Japan,” an account of her quest to discover the reasons for the continuous Japanese embrace of the novel “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontë. 

Pascoe will teach classes and continue her research on Japanese adaptations of world literature at Nara Women’s University from March to August 2027. Her classes will draw from her experience as a specialist in nineteenth-century literature, while her research will focus on why certain works have gained popularity among youth demographics.  

“I look forward to fine-tuning the teaching strategies I cultivated for use in Japanese classrooms, to forging relationships with new Japanese colleagues and to learning about present-day Japanese challenges,” Pascoe said. “The Fulbright support for the humanities is a tremendously strong force for kindness, empathy and cross-cultural solidarity.” 

Hui Wang, an associate professor in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, will conduct collaborative research at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore from January to July 2027 through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.  

While at NTU, Wang will collaborate with colleagues on a research project focused on improving manufacturing quality control and process design in advanced production systems, particularly 3D printing.  

The project combines process simulations, sensor measurements and engineering knowledge to better understand how manufacturing conditions affect product quality. 

“Singapore provides a unique environment where advanced manufacturing and data-driven engineering innovation are closely integrated,” Wang said. “Beyond the technical research, I value the cultural exchange aspect of Fulbright very highly. I believe there is much to learn from Singapore’s emphasis on discipline, efficiency and engineering rigor, while also sharing perspectives from the U.S. research environment that encourage open discussion, interdisciplinary exploration and student-centered mentoring. 

Aleksandra Zimmerman, the Ed McIntyre Associate Professor of Business Administration in the Department of Accounting at the Herbert Wertheim College of Business, will carry out research in Antwerp, Belgium, during the fall and spring semesters.

Zimmerman will work with researchers at the University of Antwerp and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, where she will collaborate with faculty on research and engage with students and scholars on topics related to accounting and auditing, human capital and labor markets, and regulatory policy. Her research project will focus on accounting and business with a particular emphasis on issues related to emerging trends and to the accounting and auditing profession and regulation policies in a global context.

The project seeks to address how different institutional structures, cultural norms and regulatory environments influence accounting, auditing and business practices and decision making. Through collaborative research and scholarly exchange, Zimmerman aims to better understand how institutional and cultural settings shape business practices, regulation and standard setting.

“Belgium is an ideal location for this work given its central role in European regulatory and economic systems,” Zimmerman said. “I am most looking forward to the collaborative aspect of the Fulbright experience, working closely with international colleagues, engaging with students, and immersing myself in the academic and cultural life of Belgium and visiting other schools in Europe. Fulbright support is particularly important for accounting and business because these fields are deeply shaped by global economic forces and international regulation.” 

Biwu Ma, professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences, will also travel to Belgium to conduct research at the University of Antwerp during the upcoming fall and spring semesters through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. He will spend the academic year merging material science and medical physics to improve how ultra-high dose rate radiotherapies monitor radiation in real-time. 

With recent advancements in FLASH radiotherapy, an emerging cancer treatment shown to reduce damage to healthy tissue while delivering high rates of radiation at extreme speeds, comes a need to create radiation dosimeters that reliably detect dosages. Ma’s work focuses on developing organic-inorganic hybrid scintillation materials to provide accurate, real-time dose monitoring and enhance treatment precision. 

“The (University of Antwerp) provides a unique environment where materials science can be directly connected to clinically relevant validation and translational research,” Ma said. “The award emphasizes the importance of international collaboration in driving scientific innovation and translating fundamental discoveries into real-world societal impact.” 

Frankie Wong, the McKenzie Endowed Professor in the College of Nursing and founding director of the Center of Population Sciences for Health Empowerment, will travel to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, next spring to further his research at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities at National Vietnam University (VNU-USSH).

Wong, who has visited Vietnam nearly 10 times in the past decade and has previously worked in countries like China, Russia, South Africa and Tajikistan, will further his work examining HIV-related stigma intervention among high-risk men in Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam with the highest rate of HIV in the country. His work seeks to encourage more people to engage in HIV research, which can lead to more cutting-edge strategies to mitigate and/or prevent this global burden. 

“The Fulbright Fellowship will allow me to have an immersive experience. I believe I have the temperament, humility and appreciation of American culture to serve as an effective cultural ambassador for the U.S.,” he said. 

Paromita Sanyal, an associate professor of Sociology in the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy and research associate at FSU’s Center for Demography and Population Health, will travel to India using the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award.

Sanyal specializes in international development, gender, economic and political sociology. Her research examines large-scale programs aimed at inducing development, women’s empowerment and financial inclusion.

As a member of the World Bank’s Social Observatory team, which is based in India and tracks projects aiming to eradicate poverty and improve livelihoods around the world, she uses her insights to understand the impact of socioeconomic interventions on women in India. She will expand upon this work during her Fulbright experience.   

Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build connections, and work to address complex global challenges. Notable Fulbrighters include 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 80 MacArthur Fellows, 41 heads of state or government, and thousands of leaders across the private, public and non-profit sectors.  

More than 800 individuals teach or conduct research abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program annually. In addition, over 2,000 Fulbright U.S. Student Program participants — recent college graduates, graduate students and early career professionals — participate in study/research exchanges or as English teaching assistants in local schools abroad each year. 

FSU faculty interested in learning more about applying for Fulbright Program funding can contact Peggy Wright-Cleveland, Director of Faculty Development in the Office of Faculty Development and Advancement, at mwrightcleveland@admin.fsu.edu or (850) 645-8202. 

To learn more about FSU’s global footprint, visit global.fsu.edu. 

The post FSU faculty earn seven Fulbright U.S. Scholar Awards for 2026-27 appeared first on Florida State University News.

Children learning their “ABCs” or high school students studying the periodic table can turn to songs to help remember foundational educational concepts. A Florida State University professor is applying the method to chemistry class, using artificial intelligence to create new musical learning aids that help students succeed.

Oliver Steinbock, Cottrell Family Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, has previously used AI in his laboratory research to identify chemical compositions of dried salts from images. He is now exploring educational endeavors with the technology through AI-generated songs that explain core chemistry concepts, like thermodynamics and compression, and break down dense equations such as the van der Waals equation.

“I created these chemistry songs as a resource to teach concepts in a different way and create some new interest in the subject matter,” Steinbock said. “These songs can be used by students as at-home study tools, or lecturers could ask students to make their own songs about a topic as an in-class activity and have the students fact-check their songs. It’s just one tool in the toolbox of teaching.”

Steinbock’s 16-song playlist focuses on thermodynamics — the branch of physical chemistry covering interactions among heat, work, temperature and energy — and is available on Suno, a generative AI platform that creates songs based on user prompts. Through different musical genres, Steinbock’s songs teach the laws of thermodynamics, the essential rules of nature that define how energy operates in the universe, which are key foundations for physics and chemistry research.

“Physical chemistry is known as one of the hardest chemistry subjects to learn,” said Wei Yang, chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and a professor of biochemistry. “Many students have a love-hate relationship with thermodynamics due to many key equations and concepts that they must comprehend and memorize.”

In addition to serving as mnemonic devices that aid memorization through rhythm and repetition, learning songs helps students of all levels feel more comfortable in the classroom and reduce anxiety, according to research from the University of Washington published by the American Society for Cell Biology.

“These songs can have huge benefits for students with different learning styles, especially those who want to reinforce key concepts in their free time,” said Andrew Fredericks, a student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and an undergraduate researcher in Steinbock’s laboratory. “Many people are curious — and maybe a little nervous — about how AI will continue to impact education and society, but it’s exciting to see technology being used in creative ways to help students learn.”

The country-inspired song “Temperature” helps students understand how temperature is affected by the first law of thermodynamics, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, while the K-pop inspired song “Z One” teaches the ideal gas law by describing the relationship among pressure, volume, temperature and amount of a substance in a gas.

To develop these songs, Steinbock input sections of his own research papers into large-language models like ChatGPT and Claude and turned the text into lyrics. He then checked the lyrics for factual errors and adjusted prompts as needed before putting the final lyrics and choice of musical genre into Suno. The result was a series of short, catchy songs highlighting core concepts that students sometimes struggle to learn through traditional lectures and reading.

“This project is a really cool example of how AI can be used in education,” Fredericks said. “By combining the chemistry content with music, the songs make the material feel more approachable and enjoyable.”

Steinbock hopes his students use these songs as an additional learning aid to support their studies while highlighting the importance of ethical and responsible AI use.

“In a project like this, I had to check the facts while also considering how much freedom the AI can take to stretch the concepts or mix in cheesy words,” Steinbock said. “AI has the potential to be a useful learning tool, but it still makes mistakes. We must learn to use it safely and constructively.”

Visit the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry website to learn more about Steinbock’s work and research in the department.

The post FSU chemistry professor develops artificial intelligence songs to help students learn complex concepts appeared first on Florida State University News.

As Space Exploration Day approaches on July 20, global space agencies are advancing technologies that make discovery cheaper and safer. Still, human space exploration continues to capture the public’s imagination.

In 2018, the Pew Research Center conducted a study showing that 58% of adults feel human astronauts are essential to the future of the U.S. Space Program. The findings highlight the current dilemma faced in modern space exploration: balancing the efficient reality of robotic exploration against the cultural demand for a human presence.

Florida State University Professor of History Ronald E. Doel is a historian of science who has written about the history of planetary and space exploration. He has appeared in several media outlets, including C-SPAN, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Space.com and more.

Doel affirms that space missions involving humans invite a certain romanticism that robotics technology cannot duplicate.

“Space missions lacking human crews do not create strong memories or emotional connections, even if robotic missions have yielded much of what we now know about the Earth and other planets and moons in the solar system,” Doel said.

Robotic landers and rovers have become essential tools for collecting planetary data. But Doel argues that crewed missions offer something machines cannot fully replicate: a human perspective that helps audiences connect with unfamiliar worlds.

“Crewed missions offer audiences a different kind of understanding of foreign places – emotions and insights that are understandable in ways that scientific data is not,” Doel added. “There are times when the human eye can do better than available instruments to discern sudden, brief, discrete changes. Sketches of planetary features from the 19th century until quite recently that were done by humans using telescope eyepieces could capture more detail than photographs, since the eye could discern features that momentarily became visible in instances of remarkable atmospheric stability and stillness. Certain NASA leaders still believe humans can do science in ways that machines cannot.”

Media interested in interviewing professor Ronald E. Doel on the cultural demand for human space exploration in a world of advancing robotics may reach out to him via email at rdoel@fsu.edu.

Ronald E. Doel, professor of history, College of Arts and Sciences

With how much technology has advanced, sending a rover to space would likely be more efficient financially and far more risk averse. But the human element of space exploration remains so important, especially to the public. Why does sending humans to space remain so important despite the advancements we’ve made?

What do Americans know about space exploration? Ask many citizens, and they can describe and tell stories about the Apollo lunar landings and the space shuttle program. They are aware that an International Space Station is orbiting the earth with human beings on board. Older Americans can recall where they were, and how they felt, when Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon in July 1969, and when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded soon after liftoff in January 1986.

But ask about exploration of our solar system by unmanned robotic spacecraft – one of the major achievements of the 20th century into our own time – and many people draw blanks. Some are aware in general terms that spacecraft have visited Venus and Mars, and that probes reached planets in the outer solar system. Yet compared to familiarity with manned space missions, few Americans are familiar with the Viking, Spirit, Opportunity, Curiosity, and Perseverance landers and rovers on Mars, the Voyager mission of the 1970s and 1980s that visited Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, or the New Horizons exploration of Pluto in 2016. Fewer still know that a robotic lander parachuted through the thick atmosphere of Saturn’s largest moon Titan in 2005, photographing mountains, branching channels and dry riverbeds.

The Space Race captured the public’s attention while taking massive physical risks during the Cold War. As robotics continues to accelerate, and possibly handle more missions that humans once did, could this ultimately dull the excitement of space exploration?

It’s certainly possible. Even the novelty of humans flying to the moon wore off after the initial lunar landings (Apollo 11 and Apollo 12). When Apollo 13 flew towards the moon in April 1970, the major television networks of the time did not broadcast the early live telecast its astronauts beamed back to Earth – going to the moon had become routine. The subsequent oxygen tank explosion that ended the planned Apollo 13 landing and threatened the lives of its three astronauts did generate intense public interest, but this was a story of a possible shipwreck unfolding in real time – not a typical space mission.

When I teach “Space: A History,” I ask my students to informally interview a grandparent (or someone a few generations earlier) to share their memories of space missions. Their reports confirm a much greater familiarity with crewed space fights compared to robotic planetary missions (although some awareness of robotic probes was evident). A familiar response my students received – on robotic explorations – was ‘I heard something about this but didn’t follow it.’ 

The post FSU historian available for interviews on modern space exploration appeared first on Florida State University News.