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“What’s the worst that can happen if you try to reach towards your big goals?” Says UCF student Andres Käosaar.As a researcher of teams in extreme environments, Käosaar — who first picked up an oar three years ago — is putting himself to the ultimate test as he attempts to row westward across the Atlantic Ocean for 40 consecutive days as part of the World’s Toughest Row.Discover what drives his pursuit: https://www.ucf.edu/news/rowing-across-the-atlantic-ocean-one-ucf-students-bold-journey/Follow UCF on social! Instagram: https://instagram.com/ucf.edu Facebook: https://facebook.com/UCF LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-central-florida/ X: https://twitter.com/UCF

At #SpaceU we don’t just look at the stars, we work among them. ✨ Together, we dare to invent the future of space exploration. Thank you celebrating our inaugural UCF Space Week with us.Follow UCF on social! Instagram: https://instagram.com/ucf.edu Facebook: https://facebook.com/UCF LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-central-florida/ X: https://twitter.com/UCF

L. Trenton Marsh, Ph.D., shares how a community tragedy reshaped his role as a researcher and led to the creation of H.O.P.E. — the Healing Oasis for Peace and Empowerment. After the unexpected death of a youth participant, he and his team paused their research to hold listening sessions that surfaced the community’s most urgent needs.From those conversations, H.O.P.E. was born — a weekly youth-led program at the Boys & Girls Club focused on healing, empowerment, and building skills in conflict resolution and teamwork. This project demonstrates how responsive, community-engaged research at UCF Downtown can transform grief into resilience and leadership.Follow UCF on social! Instagram: https://instagram.com/ucf.edu Facebook: https://facebook.com/UCF LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-central-florida/ X: https://twitter.com/UCF

L. Trenton Marsh, Ph.D., introduces H.O.P.E. — the Healing Oasis for Peace and Empowerment — a youth-led program created in response to community tragedy. By partnering with Boys & Girls Club teens, the project identified challenges in conflict resolution and teamwork to design a program that fosters empowerment, resilience and healing.This community-engaged research near UCF Downtown highlights the power of youth leadership in creating stronger communities.Follow UCF on social! Instagram: https://instagram.com/ucf.edu Facebook: https://facebook.com/UCF LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-central-florida/ X: https://twitter.com/UCF

Follow UCF on social! Instagram: https://instagram.com/ucf.edu Facebook: https://facebook.com/UCF LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-central-florida/ X: https://twitter.com/UCF

Tasked with the mission of putting humans on the moon, UCF was founded to launch the future. And that same daring spirit still drives us today. As America’s Space University, we continue to face the unknown with courage, unbelievable grit and a determination to turn the impossible into reality. During UCF Space Week 2025, we celebrate all the ways we dare to advance the next era of space as we reach new frontiers in innovation and exploration. We celebrate our origin story, extraordinary trajectory and far-reaching future as #SpaceU. ucf.edu/spaceFollow UCF on social! Instagram: https://instagram.com/ucf.edu Facebook: https://facebook.com/UCF LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-central-florida/ X: https://twitter.com/UCF

Harnessing the power of video game technology to reimagine immersive performances. 🎮✨   Merging creativity and technology, UCF student Gil Bloom used Unreal Engine 5 to bring live projections to the stage — redefining what’s possible in theater production. At UCF, we turn bold ideas into real-world innovations.Follow UCF on social! Instagram: https://instagram.com/ucf.edu Facebook: https://facebook.com/UCF LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-central-florida/ X: https://twitter.com/UCF

Follow UCF on social! Instagram: https://instagram.com/ucf.edu Facebook: https://facebook.com/UCF X: https://twitter.com/UCF

Staci Zavattaro, Ph.D., shares insights from her “Death Café” initiative — an event that creates space for open conversations about death and dying within a public service context. Her interdisciplinary research explores how government and community partners engage in death care, revealing opportunities for collaboration across fields.This UCF Downtown project highlights the importance of dialogue around end-of-life issues and the role of public service in supporting communities through one of life’s most universal experiences.Follow UCF on social! Instagram: https://instagram.com/ucf.edu Facebook: https://facebook.com/UCF LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-central-florida/ X: https://twitter.com/UCF

Christina Bernhardt, Ph.D., MSW, shares lessons from her UCF Downtown research on addressing food insecurity through healthcare partnerships. She underscores the critical role of provider engagement in designing and refining training to ensure sustainable impact.Through this project, more than 1,000 households and 1,500 Central Florida residents received support, demonstrating how community-engaged research can impact health outcomes across the region.Follow UCF on social! Instagram: https://instagram.com/ucf.edu Facebook: https://facebook.com/UCF LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-central-florida/ X: https://twitter.com/UCF

Kelly Stevens, Ph.D., highlights her collaboration with the City of Orlando to develop a solar-powered, portable resilience hub. Designed to provide vital resources in times of disaster, the hub strengthens community preparedness and ensures support reaches neighborhoods most in need.This project demonstrates how UCF Downtown faculty are combining research and innovation to create practical solutions that keep communities safe and connected.Follow UCF on social! Instagram: https://instagram.com/ucf.edu Facebook: https://facebook.com/UCF LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-central-florida/ X: https://twitter.com/UCF

Xialing Lin, Ph.D., partners with UCF teams and local agencies to expand digital literacy for Orange County residents with limited access to technology. Through strategic campaigns, her work connects people with tech training, job applications, social networks and essential services.By bridging the gap between resources and those who need them most, this UCF Downtown project empowers residents with the tools and knowledge to thrive in an increasingly digital world.Follow UCF on social! Instagram: https://instagram.com/ucf.edu Facebook: https://facebook.com/UCF LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-central-florida/ X: https://twitter.com/UCF