UCF Office of Global Perspectives and International Initiatives is pleased to invite you for a fascinating conversation with Dr. Kirk Johnson, renowned paleobotanist and the Sant Director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, home to the largest natural history collection in the world. In this captivating talk, Museums, Science, Nature, and the Future, Dr. Johnson will explore the essential role museums play not only as guardians of history but also in advancing scientific understanding. Johnson will take us on a journey of tracing the story of our planet through time, and how the intersection of museums, science, and nature offers vital insights for understanding our present and illuminating the path ahead for navigating the future.Moderated by: David Dumke, Executive Director for UCF Office of Global Perspectives and International InitiativesThis event is part of the Lester N. Mandell Endowed Distinguished Lecture Series and hosted by UCF Global Perspectives and International Initiatives. Registration Link: https://ucf.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_89fVo8GpqPoMr1Y Registration Info: Free and open to the public. RSVP is required to attend.

The UCF College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS)'s Zoom-cast series is live-streamed every other Friday from noon to 1 p.m., offering talks by CECS faculty and a live-chat Q&A.Targeted to faculty, scientists, and potential industry and government partners, [all are invited to Zoom-in](https://ucf.zoom.us/j/95525633786) and hear presentations by UCF's engineering and computer science faculty who explain their cutting-edge, pioneering research endeavors in quick snapshots.These talks provide an opportunity to get to know -- and collaborate with -- our faculty who are advancing innovations in all areas of engineering and computer science, including smart city technology, aerospace, energy, modeling and simulation, medicine, advanced materials, cyber security, and more. Each faculty presenter will narrate as they share illustrative slides.Moderated by Subith Vasu, from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, viewers can submit questions in real-time and express interest in collaborating.The Sept. 19, 2025 presenter lineup:* Yue Wen, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering: "Artificial intelligence for Wearable Robots and Neural Machine Interface" * Christopher Iannello, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: "Strengthening Space Exploration: How Faculty Expertise and Space Sector Experience Can Come Together for Unprecedented Space-Sector Innovation and Workforce Development" * James Earnest, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences: Defining Helpful and Harmful Antibody Responses to Mosquito-Borne Viruses at the Individual and Population Levels"See more details in the [Sept. 19 faculty research talk flyer](https://www.cecs.ucf.edu/web/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Sept-19-2025-faculty-research-talk-flyer-web-accessible.pdf).Miss a session? See [recordings of past research talks](https://bit.ly/3cyb6He).Virtual Location URL: https://bit.ly/3ILqC1l

Many start-up ecosystem stakeholders, such as Startup Genome, Techstars, Y Combinator, CB Insights, Forbes and more, come out with "Top X Reasons Why Startups Fail" articles from time to time. They typically list factors such as "no market for the product or service," "ran out of money," "poor user experience," "poor customer relations," among others.As a project manager looking at these things, I don't see the causes of failure; I only see the symptoms of failure. As someone who's been an entrepreneur for multiple decades, started dozens of companies, with multiple exits in multiple industries, and a professor of entrepreneurship at both the bachelor's and master's levels, I can say without a shadow of a doubt: there has only ever been -- and will only ever be -- ONE cause of startup failure. Us. We are the cause of why our startups fail.I will delve into the primary aspects of what causes us to fail, and discuss solutions that I have proven to work.Virtual Location URL: ucf.zoom.us/my/ucflaunchpad Registration Link: https://ucf.startuptree.co/event/s/GSoxFWiS854et4vSpYyKid/We-have-found-the-enemy%252C-and-the-enemy-is-us%2521

Join Josiah Candelaria, founder of Purple Ocean Superfood Bar, for an inspiring TED Talk titled "From Tent to Trademark: Building a Brand the Real Way."In this powerful session, Josiah shares how he built his thriving business from a single tent setup into a cultural movement -- without investors or shortcuts. This talk dives into real-world strategies for starting a business with purpose, validating ideas through action, overcoming challenges and building a brand that resonates deeply with the community.Students will leave equipped with practical insights, entrepreneurial mindset tools and the belief that your passion -- no matter how small it starts -- can become a platform. Registration Link: https://ucf.startuptree.co/event/s/PS6jRd8DidLs4pzXgSVRfa/From-Tent-to-Trademark%253A-Building-a-Brand-the-Real-Way

Title: Probing light-matter interactions in nano-structured layered van der Waals materials for advanced nanophotonicsAbstract: Nanophotonic devices, relying on strong interaction between light and the underlying materials, play a vital role in modern technology facilitating communication, sensing, imaging, and energy conversion across various disciplines. In my research, I examine the use of novel layered van der Waals materials in creating more advanced nanophotonic devices to meet the growing demands imposed by newly emerging technologies. Specifically, I probe the coupling between light and the intrinsic excitations living within different types of van der Waals materials, which strongly modifies materials' optical responses and thus have profound implications on the photonic nano-structures performances. By utilizing the unique properties of this novel material platform, I find that nanophotonic devices and systems with reduced footprint, stronger light-matter interactions, and potentially higher energy efficiency can be achieved. These findings can provide a guideline for designing, fabricating, and characterizing advanced optical systems made of novel van der Waals materials.About the Speaker: Dr. Haonan Ling is an assistant professor in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department at UCF starting in Jan 2025. His research interest lies at the intersection of material science, applied physics, and optics and photonics. His PhD dissertation focuses on probing light-matter interactions in nano-structured layered van der Waals materials for advanced nanophotonic applications. He is the recipient of the Dimitris N. Chorafas Foundation Prize (2024) and Dissertation Year Fellowship at UCLA (2023).Virtual Location URL: https://ucf.zoom.us/j/93129384570?from=addon

Ethics and Emotion: Implications for the Professional Formation of Future Engineers Dr. Madeline Palmer • September 23, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. EasternThere is a growing recognition for the role of emotion in engineering education as it is embedded in students' responses to topics, experiences in the classroom, and interactions with peers. In tandem, emotion also relates to how people learn about ethics and engage in ethical design making. In this talk, Dr. Polmear will provide an overview of the intersection between emotion, ethics, and engineering education, including recent scholarship in this area and implications for the professional formation of future engineers.Dr. Madeline Palmer is a lecturer (assistant professor) in engineering education at King's College London. Her research relates to ethics, societal responsibility, and emotion in engineering education. She teaches introduction to engineering and design courses where she highlights sociotechnical integration in engineering. Madeline received her Ph.D. in civil engineering (University of Colorado, Boulder) and was previously awarded a Marie Sklodowska-Curie, EUTOPIA Cofund Fellowship at Vrije Universitiet Brussel, Belgium to study macroethiczal development among engineering students.Virtual Location URL: https://ucf.zoom.us/meeting/register/UyVWRXtHTkStg2jiPXO3yw Registration Link: https://ucf.zoom.us/meeting/register/UyVWRXtHTkStg2jiPXO3yw