UCF in the News

During the pandemic, U.S. theme parks made use of a wide variety of touchless technologies, such as mobile transactions and advanced ride sign-ups. Carissa Baker, a UCF hospitality professor, studied the implementation of these technologies during a research trip to 16 theme parks around the country.

Costas Efthimiou, a UCF physics professor, took a look at the stunts in F9 for Screen Rant. The professor was able to analyze the stunts through various F9 trailers and footage released online, determining just how realistic they actually are.

UCF’s Women’s Basketball team has entered into a sponsorship deal with College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving, marking the first sponsorship of an entire team since new rules allowed collegiate athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness.

Researchers from the University of Central Florida are puzzled about the tiny turtles nesting on Florida beaches. Katrina Philips, the lead author of a new study on the topic and a doctoral candidate in UCF’s Department of Biology, doesn’t know the cause for the size discrepancy.

Carmen Giurgescu, associate dean of research at the UCF College of Nursing, is studying how perceived social stressors, like racism, are factoring into the likelihood of preterm births as well as the deaths of mothers.

UCF Restores – a nonprofit organization that focuses on helping first responders affected by trauma – has been assisting Surfside first responders at the scene of the collapse. Deborah Beidel, a UCF professor of psychology and executive director of UCF Restores said they check on the men and women during their breaks and at the end of their shifts, providing psychological first aid.

Racial disparities in breast cancer survival have narrowed in recent years, according to a study that tracked breast cancer trends in Florida between 1990 and 2015. Overall, deaths from the disease declined among Black, Hispanic and White women alike, says lead researcher Robert Hines, an associate professor at the UCF College of Medicine.

University of Central Florida Lake Nona Medical Center is the first local hospital to provide incision-less brain surgery. Right now, the cutting edge procedure is being done for some patients with essential tremor, ceasing symptoms for some who undergo the surgery.

As part of field training at the UCF Police Department, all recruits are now required to visit the Wells’ Built Museum of African American History and Culture. The museum celebrates notable Black firsts and figures, including Ella Fitzgerald and Ray Charles. All 90 UCF police officers have already been to the museum, including Police Chief Carl Metzger.