Florida State University welcomed representatives from the College of Social Work’s Florida Institute for Child Welfare (FICW) for a panel during the third annual FSU Discovery Days, which explored how virtual reality (VR) technologies are revitalizing the efficiency of child welfare services.

In a workforce where skills in sensitivity are critical and emotional stakes are high, the panelists discussed how virtual reality simulations can equip trainees in child welfare with the necessary preparedness to navigate real-life scenarios before entering the field.

“Our flagship study, the Florida Study of Professionals for Safe Families, found that 81% of newly hired child welfare workers leave within about the first three and a half years of starting their role, and that’s a staggering number and tells us that we need to do more, and better and ideally faster,” said Lisa Magruder, director of FICW. “One way we’re doing that is through our new experiential learning lab, which is coming soon. We want to bring our vision of simulation-based learning to life. We want to do more around realistic job previews. We want students and workers to have a safe place to practice, reflect, and grow before they’re in the field on their own, working with families.”

“We want students and workers to have a safe place to practice, reflect, and grow before they’re in the field on their own, working with families.”

– Lisa Magruder, director of the Florida Institute for Child Welfare

Established in 2014, the Florida Institute for Child Welfare is a legislatively mandated institute with the mission of promoting the well-being, safety and permanency of the children and families of Florida that are involved with the child welfare system. FICW conducts nationally recognized research and seeks to use collaborative partnerships, research, policy analysis and training to enhance the sustainability of the child welfare workforce.

Brooke Bass, assistant secretary for the Office of Child and Family Well-Being at the Florida Department of Children and Families, gave opening remarks at the event and highlighted how collaboration with the institute has transformed the state of child welfare services in Florida.

“Together, through research, collaboration and innovation, we’ve made tremendous progress in preparing and supporting the dedicated professionals who serve Florida’s children and families,” Bass said. “The Florida Institute for Child Welfare is not just a partner; they are a trusted ally in our shared mission.”

Magruder, who took over as director of the institute in 2023, joined Kristina Finch, associate director of professional development at FICW; Morgan Cooley, assistant professor at Florida Atlantic University’s Sandler School of Social Work; and Kristen Puckett, learning and development manager at the Florida Department of Children and Families’ Office of Child and Family Well-Being for the panel.

Discussing the need to strengthen statewide training and ensure consistent approaches to child welfare, the panelists emphasized the potential of advancing human services alongside technology.

“How can we create infrastructure that makes this training stable?” Cooley said.

Using VR simulations tailored towards child welfare services, FICW and DCF have created the infrastructure to foster consistent, culturally sensitive and trauma-informed training, providing a safe space for staff to practice their interactions with families involved in the child welfare system.

“My motto is words matter,” Puckett said. “When you can work with families in a way that makes you feel like you’ve done your best and where they understand what’s happening, it’s much easier to navigate this field.”

The work done at FICW reflects the power of technology to stimulate innovation across disciplines.

“Innovation moves fast, especially now,” said Finch, who helped spearhead the implementation of VR in Florida’s child welfare services. “If we don’t embrace technology, we’re going to be left behind.”

As a result of this innovation, FICW has deployed 200 headsets and launched two virtual reality simulations throughout the state, making Florida the first to implement statewide VR technology in child welfare training. With plans to expand to four scenarios by the spring, the institute has also begun merging these technologies with course curricula for students of social work.

“Students want to know when they can come back for more,” Magruder said.

Yet, the panelists added that innovation is not always about developments in technology — mindset also makes the difference. While digital advancements open the doors to increased efficiency, the changes that come from engagement with technology are what truly measure innovation.

“Virtual reality is just the tool,” Finch said.

For more information about the Florida Institute for Child Welfare, visit ficw.fsu.edu.

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Florida State University’s Office of the President and the Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement (CRE) hosted the annual President’s Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence on Thursday, Oct. 23. The showcase was part of FSU’s Discovery Days, a weeklong celebration of research, creative activity and discovery.  

About 900 people attended the event, where 36 students presented posters and led creative sessions to share the projects they completed during the summer with support from competitive grants and other FSU initiatives. 

“The students presenting their projects have enriched their academic journeys through directed research and creative endeavors, guided by the mentorship of some of FSU’s most distinguished faculty members,” said Latika Young, CRE director. “We extend our deepest appreciation to President Richard McCullough and Vice President for Research Stacey Patterson for their steadfast support of this event and of undergraduate research at FSU.”  

Student work represented multiple undergraduate research programs at FSU: FSU IDEA Grants, a program that funds undergraduate students’ scholarly and creative work; the Tyler Center for Global Studies, which supports a community of global scholars from 12 partner institutions coordinated by FSU; and the International Genetically Engineered Machine team (iGEM), the premier student competition in synthetic biology. 

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When he decided to major in physics, Florida State University student Nolan Scales was excited to delve into science and to explore research. But he didn’t know that research would be quantum physics. 

Today, Scales is a senior in the Department of Physics and a research assistant in the FSU-headquartered National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (National MagLab), where he helps study superconductors and quantum tunneling, a phenomenon in which a particle passes through a barrier that it shouldn’t have enough energy to move through. 

“I’ve always liked the idea of quantum, but I didn’t know all that much about it until last year,” he said. “The more I found out about it, the more I saw the applications where it could be useful for the future.” 

Scales was among the students who attended a showcase of quantum science and engineering last week at the Interdisciplinary Research and Commercialization Building. The event, led by Assistant Professor of Physics Cyprian Lewandowski as part of FSU Discovery Days, highlighted the FSU Quantum Initiative with a special focus on explaining the latest research in quantum science and engineering to undergraduates and showing how students can get involved in research. 

The United Nations is celebrating 2025 as the Year of Quantum Science and Technology, marking 100 years since the initial development of quantum mechanics and looking forward to the future possibilities in this field. Potential applications of new quantum breakthroughs include precise sensors, unbreakable encryption or quantum computers that can solve certain complex problems exponentially faster than classical computers.

“Quantum is incredibly important for technologies that will make a huge impact on our world,” said Mike Shatruk, director of FSU Quantum. “At FSU Quantum, we are building a comprehensive program to develop the workforce that will develop future breakthroughs.” 

FSU Quantum is home to faculty research published in top journals. Along with that work, faculty leading the initiative are developing a graduate certificate in Quantum Information Science and Technology, which will be the first program offering certified quantum education in Florida. They are also creating an undergraduate quantum science lab and providing a short course for high school students to introduce them to quantum computing. 

The initiative positions FSU to continue making an impact in this field, both in research and training. 

“FSU has emerged as a regional and national leader in research on quantum information science and technology,” Shatruk said. “Our faculty, students and postdoctoral scholars and fellows are pushing the boundaries of knowledge, driving innovative technologies critical to our nation’s security and prosperity.” 

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Florida State University students looked to the future during a Discovery Days panel on opportunities in STEM, when a lineup of FSU research and academic leaders came together to inspire attendees to see how their education can translate into a wide range of career opportunities. 

The event, “Unlock Your Future: Career Paths for STEM Graduates,” offered students a chance to hear directly how STEM degrees can be applied in evolving fields beyond traditional academic paths. 

“Your time at Florida State University is profoundly impactful in shaping who you are as a person. Your academic life is just one part of the college experience — what truly defines this time are the relationships you build, the challenges you embrace and the moments that help you grow beyond the classroom as you become the person you’re meant to be.“

— Stacey Patterson, Vice President for Research

“Your time at Florida State University is profoundly impactful in shaping who you are as a person,” said Vice President for Research Stacey Patterson. “Your academic life is just one part of the college experience — what truly defines this time are the relationships you build, the challenges you embrace and the moments that help you grow beyond the classroom as you become the person you’re meant to be.” 

During the discussion, panelists offered insights and guidance through a lineup of experts who shared their professional journeys in fields such as medicine, laboratory science, university administration and corporate leadership. 

The panel featured FSU Vice President for Research Stacey Patterson, College of Medicine Dean Alma Littles, MagLab Director Kathleen Amm, Director of Laboratory Animal Resources William Hill, Associate Vice President for Strategic Partnerships and Innovation Valerie McDevitt, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Professor David Larbalestier and Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Associate Program Director and Core Faculty for the Family Medicine Residency Matthew Standridge. 

Attendees were encouraged to think beyond traditional roles and consider how their STEM degrees could open doors in unexpected places. 

“There are so many opportunities out there, and people don’t need to be afraid of exploring them and that’s what makes it exciting,” Amm said.  “Even if you choose one path, you can always pivot later. The world is open to you, especially early in your career.” 

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Florida State University’s Discovery Days continued its celebration of research excellence with the inaugural Graduate Research Showcase, where doctoral students shared insights from their academic journeys and groundbreaking research. 

Hosted by the Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards, the event spotlighted the dedication and innovation of FSU’s graduate scholars.  

“This showcase isn’t just about sharing research — it’s about recognizing the drive and curiosity that define our graduate students,” said Keith McCall, acting director of the Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards. “FSU graduate students are emerging experts in their fields, engaged in rigorous and deeply meaningful research that pushes scholarship forward.” 

“This showcase isn’t just about sharing research — it’s about recognizing the drive and curiosity that define our graduate students. FSU graduate students are emerging experts in their fields, engaged in rigorous and deeply meaningful research that pushes scholarship forward.” 

— Keith McCall, acting director of the Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards

Attendees engaged in various disciplines during the presentations, including history, biological science and higher education, and offered constructive feedback to support the students’ continued success. 

Noah Cole, a doctoral candidate in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of History, kicked off the showcase by presenting his research on political factionalism in 15th-century Northern Italy. Cole explored how preachers of the time interpreted factional conflict not just as a social phenomenon, but as a deeply ideological and emotional force.  

His work expresses that factionalism should be treated as a conceptual category — comparable to modern political identities — and that religious leaders, through their Latin sermons, acted as political theorists shaping civic discourse. 

During his presentation, Cole shared insights from his analysis of sermons by three influential figures, showing how each grappled with the nature and impact of factionalism. He highlighted how these leaders framed partisanship as a moral and spiritual crisis. Cole’s research suggests that medieval preaching played a critical role in defining political identity and offers a lens through which to reconsider the emotional roots of modern partisanship. 

Penelope Ales, a doctoral candidate in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Biological Science, presented her research on how crop arrangement affects insect herbivore behavior in agricultural systems.  

Her work focuses on intercropping, a method of planting multiple crops together, as a sustainable alternative to pesticide use. Ales presented her recently conducted field experiment using kale and elephant garlic to test how different planting patterns — monocultures, alternating rows, block mixtures and checkerboard arrangements — influence insect abundance, predator presence and crop damage. 

Ales explained how planting density and spatial arrangement can shape pest and predator dynamics, supporting the resource dilution hypothesis. Her findings suggest that small farms could benefit from exploring crop combinations that promote natural pest control and other ecosystem services. 

Johnnie L. Allen Jr., a doctoral candidate in the Higher Education program in the Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, finished the showcase by presenting his research on how Black college men at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) develop leadership identity and navigate gender expression. Allen explored how students engage with leadership learning and STEM disciplines, focusing on how personal experiences and institutional environments shape their understanding of masculinity and leadership. 

During his presentation, Allen shared insights from interviews, visual mapping and photo-based reflection activities with students involved in leadership programs or STEM fields. He emphasized the importance of recognizing expressions of identity and fostering inclusive leadership development.  

Allen’s research contributes to further conversations about student success at minority-serving institutions and highlights the value of creating spaces where students can reflect on their experiences and define leadership in ways that are authentic to them. 

For more information about the Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards, visit ogfa.fsu.edu. 

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Florida State University’s Claude Pepper Center recently served as a vibrant hub for creativity and collaboration, where faculty from multiple departments engaged with artists, designers and researchers to explore a central question: How can the arts and humanities improve health and well-being?

The Arts-Humanities-Health Symposium IV was one of several events during FSU Discovery Days — a weeklong celebration of research, creativity and innovation.

“Research in the arts and humanities at FSU is defined by the cutting-edge work of scholars and practitioners,” said Iain Quinn, professor of organ in the College of Music and a Faculty Fellow in the Office of Research. “Our faculty and students participate in a global network that is continually engaged in innovation, critical thinking and a deeper understanding of the human condition.”

Throughout the afternoon, presenters highlighted the role of dance, art, music and interior design in promoting health, improving working environments and enhancing lifestyles.

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Children and youth — the Floridians of the future — were the focus of a recent Florida State University event that united faculty around shared interests for interdisciplinary research. 

FSU’s Research Development staff hosted the recent Collaborative Collision seminar as part of FSU Discovery Days. Attendees were invited to consider the diverse experiences that shape childhood and to form partnerships that advance research dedicated to their well-being. 

“This event is meant to bring together research champions from across disciplines to further enhance FSU’s positive impact on young people in our communities,” said Nicole Viverito, ORD program director. “Regardless of the field of study, our researchers are dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth through evidence-based programs and services.” 

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Florida State University-affiliated startup companies took to the stage “Shark Tank”-style at the third annual Discovery Challenge event, pitching their cutting-edge businesses and walking away with a combined $85,000 in new funding.

Discovery Challenge was a high-energy event with five startups pitching their ideas to judges and a packed audience about how they planned to take FSU-supported technologies to the next level of development and commercialization. The event, held Tuesday at the Augustus B. Turnbull III Conference Center, was part of FSU’s annual Discovery Days, a weeklong celebration of research, creativity and innovation.

“These companies are going to impact the world and the people in it,” Vice President for Research Stacey Patterson said. “With our third annual Discovery Days, everyone at FSU is starting to see the promise of discovery, innovation and creativity that’s coming out of this type of work, how it impacts people, how it impacts Floridians —which is what being an R1 institution is really all about.”

Presenters each had six minutes to pitch their project followed by eight minutes for questions from the judges. This year’s judges were Kathy Chiu (DeepWork Capital), Micheal Kramer (K3 Investments and Super-Holdings Investments) and FSU alumna Christina Larkin (Mobius Care).

The five presentations featured a range of topics: preventing premature births and resulting complications; developing smart sensors with wide applications for infrastructure and lifestyle; a solution to help chronic wounds heal more effectively; screening for radioactive materials in food and in other applications; and smart controls, analytics and other tools for the energy industry.

Joshua Degraff with Feel With Me Tech took home the first prize of $50,000 as well as the audience choice award of $10,000. Rich Meeker with Nhu Energy was awarded the second prize of $25,000.

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Florida State University celebrated the grand opening of IGNITE Tallahassee during the third annual FSU Discovery Days, unveiling a new resource designed to serve as a launchpad for entrepreneurship, research and technology development in the Capital City. 

This milestone marks a significant investment in Florida’s innovation infrastructure, offering researchers and startup businesses access to shared laboratories, private offices and collaborative environments that support early-stage ventures and cross-sector partnerships.  

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FSU held the first ever Clinical Catalyst as part of the 2025 Discovery Days, an event to bring together local clinical providers with researchers to find evidence-based solutions to pressing challenges in health and health care.

“There’s so much opportunity in this community for collaboration,” said Vice President for Research Stacey S. Patterson. “We have all the parts. This is just the first step in bringing everyone together.”

The event featured a panel discussion about the value of researcher and clinician collaboration with Dr. Gilbert Chandler from Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic, Professor of Medicine Andrew Kozel, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Assistant Professor Taylor Higgins and Associate Professor of Fine Arts Amy Huber. Then, 12 clinicians from throughout the region gave two-minute snapshots about the challenges they face in their practices.

Topics included mastectomy garments, pregnancy misinformation in social media, pacemaker complications, post-surgery stroke complications, trauma referral from rural areas, ER visits, same-day triage, team-based care, Parkinson’s disease and driving, and end-of-life care.

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As Florida State University graduate student Nicole Haberland prepares to launch her career in speech-language pathology, she knows that each client who enters her clinic will arrive with different needs. 

This past weekend, she was able to practice her clinical skills and serve the community at the “FSU Health Expo: Bridging Community, Health and Research,” held Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Wakulla County Community Center. 

The event, part of FSU Discovery Days, brought together FSU researchers and community organizations to provide resources and information aimed at improving health.

Haberland and other graduate students provided some of the medical screenings available at the expo. She completed hearing tests for patients and referred those who didn’t pass to an on-site audiologist for more advanced testing. 

“It’s incredibly rewarding to know that people who may not be getting screened or don’t have the option to get screened can come to us,” she said. “We can refer them to our clinic and find ways to work with them so they can get the help they need.” 

Visitors participated in free health screenings, attended presentations from FSU researchers whose work translates into better health outcomes, and gathered information from more than 50 organizations, including the Wakulla Senior Center, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic, the Alzheimer’s Project and others.  

“The FSU Health Expo in Wakulla is a powerful example of how academic institutions and communities can come together to improve lives,” said Ursula Weiss, director of community engagement for the FSU Office of Research. “By connecting residents with vital health resources, research opportunities and local services, we’re not just addressing immediate needs — we’re building long-term partnerships that foster healthier, more resilient communities.” 

One of the community partners at the expo was the Wakulla Senior Center, which promotes public health through a variety of services, including transportation, Meals on Wheels, activities and educational presentations for adults 60 and older.  

FSU faculty have made presentations at the center about fraud targeting senior citizens and other legal assistance topics. Saturday’s event helped the center reach more people and connect with other organizations that could provide information at future presentations, said Felicia Hutchison, the activities coordinator for the senior center. 

“Seniors and their families need help,” she said. “Getting people the right information and resources is a huge part of our work.” 

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