UCF Global Perspectives and International Initiatives (GPII) invites you to a timely conversation with Barbara Smith, vice president of peace programs at the Carter Center.Drawing on decades of experience in some of the world's most fragile regions, including post-Taliban Afghanistan, post-war Bosnia, and the Middle East, Smith will share her insights into the importance of inclusive peace dialogues.The discussion will highlight the critical yet often overlooked efforts of those working to heal divided societies and rebuild lives in post-conflict settings.Moderated by: David Dumke, executive director for the Office of Global Perspectives and International Initiatives (GPII).Date: Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025 Time: 3-4:30 p.m. Location: UCF Morgridge International Reading Center (MIRC) - 4143 Andromeda Loop N, Orlando, FL 32816Event Registration - [RSVP is required to attend](https://ucf.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0rigwgpvAjMqeB8).Free and open to the public.Contact: Mirvate El Jerdi [Mirvate.ElJerdi@ucf.edu](mailto:Mirvate.ElJerdi@ucf.edu "mailto:mirvate.eljerdi@ucf.edu") Registration Link: https://ucf.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0rigwgpvAjMqeB8 Registration Info: Free and open to the public. RSVP is required to attend.

During the next several Wednesdays, CREOL faculty will present brief highlights of their research activities. The talks take place at noon in Room 103, with two professors each giving a 25-minute presentation.Attendance is mandatory for all first-semester Ph.D. students.SEPTEMBER 312:00: Ayman Abouraddy12:30: Christian HeideSEPTEMBER 10No presentationsSEPTEMBER 1712:00: Sean Pang12:30: Yannick SalaminSEPTEMBER 2412:00: Konstantin Vodopyanov12:30: Shin-Tson WuOCTOBER 112:00: Joshua Kaufman12:30: Kristopher DavisOCTOBER 812:00: Kyle Renshaw12:30: Peter DelfyettOCTOBER 1512:00: Eric Johnson12:30: Ivan DivlianskyOCTOBER 2212:00: Murat Yuskel12:30: Li FangOCTOBER 2912:00: Kyu Young Han12:30: Leland NordinNOVEMBER 512:00: TBD12:30: Midya PartoNOVEMBER 1212:00: Sasan Fathpour12:30: Debashis ChandaNOVEMBER 1912:00: Stephen Eikenberry12:30: TBD

* Vous voulez ameliorer votre français oral? (Would you like to improve your French speaking skills?) * Vous aimeriez connaitre des etudiant.e.s qui ont la meme passion que vous pour la langue française?(Would you like to meet students who share your passion for the French language?)Bienvenu.e.s au cafe francophone! Venez echanger avec vos collegues etudiant.e.s dans une ambiance decontractee. (Welcome to the French cafe! Come and chat with your colleagues in a relaxed atmosphere.)Pour qui? Les etudiant.e.s de niveau 2000 (intermediaire) et +, ou etudiant.e.s francophones. (For students at the 2000 level (intermediate) or higher, or French speakers)

Writers in the Sun presents Ivonne LamazaresIvonne Lamazares is the author of another novel, The Sugar Island, translated to seven languages, with works published in Latina magazine, Michigan quarterly review, a century of Cuban writers in Florida, The Florida review, and elsewhere.

A webinar providing an overview of the marketing process for small business, as well as a close look at all elements of a marketing plan. Marketing is the driver of revenue growth and an imperative for small business success. Topics include the traditional four "P's" of marketing - Product, Place, Promotion, and Price - as well as three new "P's" with special application to small businesses - Positioning, People, and Planning.Virtual Location URL: https://events.blackthorn.io/en/6g3Q8Wa7/g/x4W8BcsAj4/marketing-basics-webinar-5a1eVO9qZVx Registration Link: https://events.blackthorn.io/en/6g3Q8Wa7/g/x4W8BcsAj4/marketing-basics-webinar-5a1eVO9qZVx

2025 Lecture SeriesSponsored by the Eurasia Foundation (From Asia)With 60 percent of the world's population, Asia is not only home to the world's oldest civilizations, it also represents cultural and economic vitality. Asia has a major role in manufacturing, technology and investment markets. Non-governmental organizations specializing in economic development, healthcare and environmental protection are also active throughout Asia. This series will provide a rare opportunity for students and the community to develop a better understanding of the cultural, political and economic forces that have shaped modern Asia by hearing from esteemed international scholars.Learning from Chinese PhilosophyBryan Van Norden James Monroe Taylor Chair in Philosophy, Vassar College (USA), and Chair Professor in the School of Philosophy at Wuhan University (China)[Eurasian Lecture Series 2025 - College of Arts and Humanities](https://cah.ucf.edu/eurasia-lectures-2025/)Virtual Location URL: https://cah.ucf.edu/eurasia-lectures-2025/

Title: Meta-Optics for Edge ComputingAbstract: With the proliferation of networked sensors and artificial intelligence, there is an increasing need for edge computing where data is processed at the sensor level to reduce bandwidth and latency while still preserving energy efficiency. In this talk, I will discuss how meta-optics can be used to implement computation for optical edge sensors, serving to off-load computationally expensive convolutional operations from the digital platform, reducing both latency and power consumption. Meta-optics can also take advantage of additional information channels, such as polarization, spectral composition, and angle of incidence, to process information not recorded on conventional cameras. I will discuss how this increased freedom in design allows meta-optics to augment, or replace, conventional imaging optics in achieving parallel optical processing across multiple independent channels. The meta-optic frontend is demonstrated to enable segmenting and classifying objects with minimal computational resources as well as allow for spectral discrimination in classifying objects based on their emission characteristics. About the Speaker: Professor Valentine received a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Purdue University in 2004 and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from UC Berkeley in 2010. At Vanderbilt he is currently a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and the Deputy Director of the Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE). Prof. Valentine researches the optical properties of nanostructured metamaterials for imaging and image processing, photodetection, and dynamically reconfigurable optics for wavefront control. He has received an NSF CAREER Award, the Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award, and a Chancellor's Award for Research.Virtual Location URL: https://ucf.zoom.us/j/93234347765?from=addon

Title: Attosecond All-Optical Spectroscopy of Electron Dynamics in SolidsAbstract: The seminar will begin with an introduction to electron dynamics and their potential for information technologies. The importance of sub-cycle resolution and attosecond timescales in capturing and ultimately controlling ultrafast processes in solids will be highlighted.Attosecond all-optical spectroscopy of monocrystalline diamond will then be presented. In this study, intense infrared pulses were shown to reversibly manipulate electro-optical properties on attosecond timescales. Using attosecond transient reflection spectroscopy over an extended photon energy range, it was demonstrated that virtual interband transitions significantly affect the timing and adiabaticity of the crystal response, even in regimes previously believed to be dominated by intraband motion. These results establish that virtual transitions are indispensable for an accurate description of strong-field-induced phenomena in solids, representing a key step toward understanding transient nonlinear optical processes and laying the groundwork for petahertz electronics.The seminar will then transition to current research at MIT, where attosecond resolution is achieved using nanoscale electron emitters. The focus is on extending the detection capabilities of attosecond field-resolved spectroscopy, both by broadening the bandwidth and by enabling simultaneous measurement of the full vectorial electric field. With these advances, the technique aims to be applied to the study of ultrafast magnetism and spin dynamics, providing new opportunities to probe and control light-driven processes in condensed matter.About the Speaker: Gian Luca Dolso is a postdoctoral fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) supported by the Progetto Roberto Rocca Fellowship. He earned his Ph.D. in Physics from Politecnico di Milano in 2024, where his research focused on attosecond and femtosecond solid-state spectroscopy to track ultrafast charge carrier dynamics in solids. At MIT, he works with Prof. Karl Berggren and Dr. Phillip Keathley attosecond field-resolved spectroscopy techniques using on-chip nanostructured devices. His current research focuses on extending the capabilities of attosecond field-resolved spectroscopy. Building on these advances, he aims to capture electron motion in solids at petahertz frequencies, as triggered by ultrashort light pulses.

Compete for $15,000 in cash prizes by pitching bold ideas that create real-world impact.This session will walk you through everything you need to know about the UCF Innovation Tournament, including rules, deadlines, judging and tips to strengthen your pitch.Competition Tracks:* Art and Entertainment* Social and Health* Retail Products and Services* Advanced TechnologyRegistration Link: https://ucf.startuptree.co/discover/events?s=s

Title: Silicon spin-photon qubit sources for scalable quantum photonicsAbstract: Solid-state artificial atoms are key to spin-based quantum information processing and quantum networks, owing to their high-quality spin-photon interfaces and long spin coherence times. Yet, most platforms struggle with scalable monolithic integration and efficient telecom-band coupling to optical fibers. Silicon color centers overcome these barriers by providing single-photon emission directly in the telecommunication bands while leveraging mature silicon semiconductor manufacturing.In this talk, I will present the first all-silicon quantum light source, created by embedding a single silicon color center in a nanophotonic cavity, achieving near-unity atom-cavity coupling, over 30× enhanced single-photon emission, and an 8× acceleration of emission. I will also discuss the programmable and deterministic formation of novel silicon quantum emitters with promising optical and spin properties. Together, these advances lay the foundation for fully integrated, scalable silicon quantum photonic devices, enabling next-generation quantum networks and spin-based quantum information processing.About the Speaker: Dr. Wayesh Qarony is an Assistant Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering, with a joint appointment in Physics, at the University of Central Florida (UCF). He was previously a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Molecular Foundry at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and also held a postdoctoral appointment at UC Davis. He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Physics with distinction from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, co-advised by Dietmar Knipp at the Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials at Stanford University, and his M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Jacobs University Bremen, Germany. Dr. Qarony was awarded and honored many times, such as summa-cum-laude gold medal in B.Sc., German Hempel & HKPFS fellowships, UC Davis PSA grant, outstanding PolyU Ph.D. graduate shining in academia honor, UC Berkeley NSF I-Corps grant award, 2022 NSF I-Corps stipend award, and best paper presentation awards.Dr. Qarony has co-authored several pioneering works, including the first all-silicon quantum light source, the first experimental demonstration and programmable formation of the Ci-center spin-photon qubit in silicon, the first scale-invariant single-mode semiconductor surface-emitting laser (BerkSEL), and record-setting photoabsorption in silicon optical sensors surpassing III-V semiconductors in the NIR. At UCF, he leads the Quantum Devices Lab (Q-Lab), which focuses on silicon color centers as spin-photon qubits and nanophotonic telecom-band single-photon detectors in silicon.Virtual Location URL: https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fucf.zoom.us%2Fj%2F92281584454%3Ffrom%3Daddon&data=05%7C02%7Caaron.eades%40ucf.edu%7Ce5d8a22108814dfca11808ddef960138%7Cbb932f15ef3842ba91fcf3c59d5dd1f1%7C0%7C0%7C638930149749766889%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=gtKBz1ObVCnJtGuKY4DUnzzlMrOfvlLs8I8fevuU%2BLM%3D&reserved=0

2025 Lecture SeriesSponsored by the Eurasia Foundation (From Asia)With 60 percent of the world's population, Asia is not only home to the world's oldest civilizations, it also represents cultural and economic vitality. Asia has a major role in manufacturing, technology and investment markets. Non-governmental organizations specializing in economic development, healthcare and environmental protection are also active throughout Asia. This series will provide a rare opportunity for students and the community to develop a better understanding of the cultural, political and economic forces that have shaped modern Asia by hearing from esteemed international scholars.Daoism: The Unofficial High Religion of ChinaRichard Wang Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies, University of Florida[Eurasian Lecture Series 2025 - College of Arts and Humanities](https://cah.ucf.edu/eurasia-lectures-2025/)Virtual Location URL: https://cah.ucf.edu/eurasia-lectures-2025/

What does "branding" really mean -- and why does it matter for both businesses and people? In this engaging talk, Julie Kostic, founder of JK Creative, shares her journey from designer to entrepreneur, weaving real-world lessons on the power of branding in business and life.Kostic will break down what branding truly is (hint: it's not just a logo) through relatable stories. Along the way, she'll share the branding principles that shaped her career, from agency life to launching an award-winning design studio that has partnered with clients like Under Armour, American Cancer Society and Adirondack Mountain Club.Students and entrepreneurs alike will walk away with practical insights they can apply immediately: how to recognize the brand you're already building, how to position yourself or your company to stand out and how reputation and consistency create long-term value. Whether you're launching a startup, preparing for internships, or looking to define your professional path, this session will challenge you to think differently about branding and inspire you to start making your mark. Registration Link: https://ucf.startuptree.co/event/s/QZcpyur4odWNEasrxUziZs/Designer-to-Founder%253A-The-Power-of-Branding-in-Business-and-Life

Please join us for Copyright and Publishing in the Age of A.I.Featuring guest speakersSarah Norris: Digital Initiatives Librarian at UCF LibrariesKara Taczak: Department of Writing & Rhetoric and Co-editor of College Composition and Communication.

During the next several Wednesdays, CREOL faculty will present brief highlights of their research activities. The talks take place at noon in Room 103, with two professors each giving a 25-minute presentation.Attendance is mandatory for all first-semester Ph.D. students.SEPTEMBER 312:00: Ayman Abouraddy12:30: Christian HeideSEPTEMBER 10No presentationsSEPTEMBER 1712:00: Sean Pang12:30: Yannick SalaminSEPTEMBER 2412:00: Konstantin Vodopyanov12:30: Shin-Tson WuOCTOBER 112:00: Joshua Kaufman12:30: Kristopher DavisOCTOBER 812:00: Kyle Renshaw12:30: Peter DelfyettOCTOBER 1512:00: Eric Johnson12:30: Ivan DivlianskyOCTOBER 2212:00: Murat Yuskel12:30: Li FangOCTOBER 2912:00: Kyu Young Han12:30: Leland NordinNOVEMBER 512:00: TBD12:30: Midya PartoNOVEMBER 1212:00: Sasan Fathpour12:30: Debashis ChandaNOVEMBER 1912:00: Stephen Eikenberry12:30: TBD

In-Person Event! This webinar will explain the SBA federal surplus property programs currently available to 8(a) firms and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs). The workshop will address the regulatory guidance applicable to both programs, eligibility criteria, and the role of the SBA district office monitoring these programs if you receive a property transfer. The Florida State Agency for Surplus Program (SASP) will be discussed, their interaction with SBA and GSA, and what their role in the federal surplus program is, including discussing what documentation will be needed to be considered.Attendees will be briefed by the University of Central Florida APEX Accelerator regarding free technical assistance available to all small businesses in the government contracting arena. Registration Link: https://events.blackthorn.io/en/6g3Q8Wa7/g/x4W8BcsAj4/sba-workshop-federal-surplus-property-program-for-8a-and-veteran-owned-firms-5a1eVO93Rkr

Brandon and Dylan won UCF's Joust competition and joined UCF's award winning Business Incubation Program by developing a nanomaterial for selectively refining metals such as cobalt, lithium, nickel and others.They will describe their journey from invention to their venture Precision Periodic including their failures, pivots and successes. Learn how to turn science into startups and success. Registration Link: https://ucf.startuptree.co/event/s/kmoQBfkY22HtM6wyuQyCuH/Turning-Dirt-in-Dollars---This-Inside-Scoop-of-High-Tech-Startups

Should We Let Chatbots Call the Shots? Dr. David Grant • October 16, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. EasternJoin in person in Room 101, Harris Engineering Center (HEC), UCF Main Campus or by ZoomChatbots are shockingly good at making tough decisions - the kinds of decisions that most of us would only trust an expert to make. Recent studies suggest, for example, that current-get chatbots may actually be better than human doctors at determining the best course of treatment for patients with complex medical needs. As chatbots compare ever more favorably to human decision-makers, it will be increasingly tempting to simply let them make the hard choices for us. In this talk Dr. Grant will argue that we should resist that temptation. While the potential benefits of outsourcing high-stakes decisions to chatbots are considerable, so are the risks.David Gray Grant is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of Florida. His research focuses on concerns about fairness and transparency that arise when institutions use machine learning to make high stakes decisions. He has developed several courses on the philosophy of artificial intelligence at UF and helped developed the curriculum for UF's AI Learning Academy, which offers professional development workshops on artificial intelligence of higher education faculty and administrators. Before joining UF, Dr. Grant was an Embedded EthiCS Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University, a Senior Research Fellow at Jain Family Institute, and a Summer Research Fellow at the Center for Artificial Intelligence in Society at the University of Southern California. He holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from MIT.Virtual Location URL: https://ucf.zoom.us/meeting/register/Wu0K3n1LS5We7TZ_17AePg Registration Link: https://ucf.zoom.us/meeting/register/Wu0K3n1LS5We7TZ_17AePg

Join The India Center at UCF for a discussion with Varun Rai, professor of public affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, as he explores the evolving energy landscape in India.In his talk, Leading on What Matters: The Future of Energy in India, Rai will examine the critical challenges and opportunities shaping India's energy future -- from innovation and sustainability to policy and global leadership. This session offers valuable insights for anyone interested in energy systems, climate strategy and India's role in the global energy transition.Lunch provided to registered guests. Registration Link: https://ucf.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_byKTDz9eUbPxoXk

Title: Time-domain optical control of molecular and material dynamicsAbstract: Since the advent of femtochemistry, researchers have sought to both manipulate and monitor chemical dynamics at the intrinsic length and time scales of atoms, electrons, and the bonds that hold them together. Two-pulse pump-probe approaches have long served as the workhorse of this endeavor, providing a window into dynamics launched by an initial excitation. In this seminar, I will describe our efforts to move beyond passive observation by employing multi-pulse pump-control-probe schemes that guide the microscopic partitioning of energy along distinct dynamical pathways. I will highlight suite of modalities that we have developed through their application to two broad classes of systems: (i) semiconductor materials relevant to solar energy conversion -- including halide perovskites, colloidal nanocrystals, and two-dimensional materials -- where optical probes track the exchange of energy between photons, electrons, and phonons; and (ii) diatomic gas-phase molecules, representing the most fundamental level of photochemistry, where hard X-ray scattering enables real-space and real-time visualization of wavepacket shaping via coherent control. Together, these efforts advance the broader goal of unveiling and ultimately controlling the coupled electronic and structural dynamics that underpin function in condensed phases.About the Speaker: Tom Hopper is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemistry, University of Central Florida. After completing a Masters degree in Chemistry at Newcastle University (2016), he became the first graduate student of Artem Bakulin at Imperial College London, which began with building a brand-new femtosecond laser suite for the Chemistry department, and culminated in numerous awards for his thesis on ultrafast photophysics in organic, hybrid and nanoscale materials and devices. Following an EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellowship in the same lab, Tom moved to Stanford University (2021) as a TomKat Postdoctoral Fellow in Sustainable Energy, continuing research into energy transport in emerging photovoltaics in the group of Aaron Lindenberg. Tom then joined SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (2023) full time as a Postdoctoral Scholar in Photon Science. Working with Adi Natan and Kelly Gaffney, Tom developed pulse sequences to exert coherent control of photochemical structural and solvation dynamics, and image these processes with the world's brightest X-rays at the LCLS free electron laser. Since December 2024, Tom has led a research group at UCF, focusing on ultrafast laser control tools to advance the materials & device science of molecular and nanoscale systems for novel energy, optoelectronic and quantum technologies.Virtual Location URL: https://ucf.zoom.us/j/91734379009?from=addon

Compete for $15,000 in cash prizes by pitching bold ideas that create real-world impact. This session will walk you through everything you need to know about the UCF Innovation Tournament, including rules, deadlines, judging, and tips to strengthen your pitch.Competition Tracks:* Art and Entertainment* Social and Health* Retail Products and Services* Advanced TechnologyRegistration Link: https://ucf.startuptree.co/discover/events?s=s