CAS Chronicles
Stories

‘The Rising Tides Podcast’ explores cutting-edge ocean technologies in marine science
Designed for ocean experts and general audiences alike, “The Rising Tides Podcast” invites oceanographers to discuss their ground-breaking research through one-on-one conversations.
April 2, 2025Community Engagement

Urban and regional planning program director accepts seat on local planning commission
Led by ten citizen appointees from Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa, the City of Plant City and the City of Temple Terrace and two representatives from MacDill Air Force Base and the Hillsborough County Public School District, the planning commission contributes to the creation of a thriving, prosperous community.
April 1, 2025Accomplishments, Community Engagement

ƶijapp faculty lead conservation discussions at Tampa Bay Youth Ocean Summit
John Parkinson, an assistant professor in the ƶijapp’s College of Arts and Sciences, spoke to over 150 university students from across the state who attended the summit to hear presentations on a variety of ocean-related subjects, including how to reduce plastic on university campuses.
March 31, 2025Community Engagement, Events, Research

Can seeds adapt to the heat?
Integrative biology doctoral student Gabriela Quesada-Avila explores how temperature affects seed sprouting to understand plant community responses and inform forest restoration efforts.
March 26, 2025Community Engagement, Research
![Julio Blanco III [Photo by Andres Faza, University Communications and Marketing]](/arts-sciences/chronicles/images/2025/march/julio-new-listing.jpg)
From first-generation student to future pediatrician, meet ƶijapp’s Julio Blanco III
Julio Blanco is the first in his family to attend college. Joining ƶijapp was a monumental feat given the adversity he faced growing up, which included periods of homelessness and his family facing financial hardship. But he never let that get in the way of achieving his dreams.
March 7, 2025Community Engagement

Department of Communication professor Madison Pollino empowers youth through public speaking mentorship
When Tampa's Hispanic Services Council reached out to Madison Pollino about helping them with a mentorship program for middle school students, she seized the opportunity to bridge the gap between her work in higher education and the community.
February 24, 2025Community Engagement

Competition plus collaboration equals success for annual ‘Math Bowl’
The Department of Mathematics and Statistics helped bring more than 600 Hillsborough County Public School students to campus for a competitive commemoration celebrating both the expression and power of the mathematics field.
February 24, 2025Community Engagement, Events

School of Information’s Amelia Anderson honored for research excellence in public library services for adults
Amelia Anderson, School of Information assistant professor, earned the prestigious Association for Library and Information Science Education Connie Van Fleet Award for her success in research about public library services for adults.
February 20, 2025Accomplishments, Community Engagement, Research

National Science Foundation names two ƶijapp faculty ‘Ocean Decade Champions’
The award will provide supplemental support to an ongoing project, a large interdisciplinary endeavor linking multiple U.S. universities and conservation and marine science organizations called “Strong Coasts,” which seeks to reduce risks from hazards like storm surge, confront environmental degradation, enhance communities' adaptive capacities and advance public and private investment in disaster risk prevention and reduction.
February 12, 2025Community Engagement, Research
![The ƶijapp women’s lacrosse team celebrates a victory in their inaugural game. [Photo courtesy of ƶijapp Athletics]](/arts-sciences/chronicles/images/2025/february/lacrosse.jpg)
ƶijapp women’s lacrosse makes historic debut with student-athletes studying to become lawyers, chemists and more
ƶijapp women’s lacrosse dominated its debut game in front of more than 2,000 fans at Corbett Stadium. As the inaugural team, the players are well aware that they will forever be a part of ƶijapp history and are working tirelessness to ensure their legacy extends beyond the field.
February 10, 2025Community Engagement

From ballet to brain injury advocacy: Meet ƶijapp student and Miss Tampa Alexandra de Roos
After a concussion ended her dream of professional ballet, Alexandra de Roos enrolled at ƶijapp as a double major in biomedical sciences and psychology with the goal of becoming a neuropsychiatrist. She was also recently crowned Miss Tampa and plans to use her pulpit to promote brain trauma awareness.
February 6, 2025Community Engagement

Graphic novel aims to break breast cancer’s ‘female disease’ myth and educate men on risks
Marleah Dean Kruzel and research colleagues aim to debunk myths surrounding breast cancer and educate men about their risk through a new graphic novel.
February 3, 2025Community Engagement, Research