CAS Chronicles

2024 Stories

Dating back to 1865, Juneteenth commemorates the day when 250,000 slaves in the state of Texas, which became the last bastion for slavery during the final days of the Civil War, were declared free by the U.S. Army.

Juneteenth: The complicated history, significance and celebration around the struggle for freedom

Juneteenth has become the most well-known celebration for the ending of slavery in the United States and viewed by some as America’s second Independence Day. But the history of this important celebration is complex and often misunderstood.

June 17, 2024Community Engagement, Events

An example of a storytelling tool is this photo collage that seeks to spark curiosity at the new Living Heritage Institute on the USF St. Petersburg campus.

It all begins with a good story at the Living Heritage Institute

A good story doesn’t just captivate, it can also act as a catalyst for connecting individuals and addressing complex issues. That is the spirit behind the Living Heritage Institute, which seeks to combine storytelling with research that remembers the past and informs the present.

June 13, 2024Research

students gathered around boardroom table in front of Pinellas County Vote sign

Civics program strengthens students’ understanding and involvement in government

For six years, USF St. Petersburg and the Florida YMCA have partnered to offer a program designed to enhance civic education by immersing high school students from across the state in local government and public service.

June 11, 2024Community Engagement

illustration of mosquito with dimensions notated

USF using AI to help combat malaria in Africa

Funded by the NIH, the project is an international effort that will establish a new research center in Africa to advance malaria research and deploy advanced smart traps for real-time identification of mosquitoes carrying the malaria parasite.

June 6, 2024Research

Julie Buckner Armstrong is a professor of English who teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in American literature.

USF English professor to co-edit Florida anthology as part of Duckwall Professorship

Julie Buckner Armstrong, known for her expertise in the civil rights movement and southern literature, has been named the Duckwall Professor of Florida Studies for the 2024-2026 academic years. As part of the Duckwall Professorship, Armstrong will begin focusing on her next book, an anthology of literary works from Florida.

June 6, 2024Accomplishments

(From left) Doctoral candidate and lead scientists, Justin Fletcher, principal investigator, Dr. Brant Burkhardt, and co-principal investigator, Dr. Stanley Stevens Jr. (Photo courtesy of Brant Burkhardt)

Molecular biosciences professor receives $1.8 million grant to explore preventative therapy for Type 1 diabetes

Department of Molecular Biosciences professor Dr. Brant Burkhardt was awarded$1.8 million to investigate preventative treatment options for Type 1 diabetes.

May 30, 2024Research

Woman's arm being scanned for cancer cells

New study shows vitamin C boosts DNA damage and cell death in melanoma cells

A recent study shows that there may be a more effective way to treat melanoma by using vitamin C to increase DNA damage in cancer cells, leading to their death.

May 30, 2024Research

Rows of alcohol bottles on a shelf in a supermarket. (Photo source: Adobe Stock)

Psychology professor leads study exploring the dynamics and treatment of alcohol use disorder

Department of Psychology’s Robert Schlauch is leading a five-year study funded by the NIAAA focused on the recovery and treatment dynamics of alcohol use disorder.

May 30, 2024Research

Students hold their 3D-printed projects at the conclusion of final presentation week in the Advanced Visualization Center. (Photo by Corey Lepak)

Students connect to the past using present-day digital tools in ‘Digital Dinosaurs’ class

University of South Florida students in Dr. Ryan Carney's Digital Dinosaurs course used present-day technology to bring the past to life. Students engaged in hands-on training of the cutting-edge digital tools used in paleontology.

May 30, 2024Community Engagement, Research

Sofia Aris (left) engaged in excavation work. (Photo courtesy of Sofia Arias)

Two CAS students awarded Time Sifters Archaeology Society research grants

CAS students Sarah Hassam and Sofia Arias have been awarded the Time Sifters Archaeology Society’s Cornelia Futor Memorial Student Research Grant, which will assist with their upcoming field research endeavors this summer.

May 30, 2024Accomplishments, Community Engagement, Research

Dr. Cristopher Moore of the Santa Fe Institute was this year’s Nagle Lecture Series speaker. (Photo by Corey Lepak)

Nagle Lecture Series welcomed Dr. Cristopher Moore of the Santa Fe Institute

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics' Nagle Lecture Series (NLS), held in honor of the late R. Kent Nagle, featured Dr. Cristopher Moore of the Santa Fe Institute, a professor specializing in the intersection of mathematics, physics, and computer science.

May 30, 2024Community Engagement, Events

Dr. Jeffrey Ryan aboard the JOIDES Resolution extracting core samples for pore fluid analysis while working in a glove bag nitrogen atmosphere.

School of Geosciences professor is recognized as a fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Dr. Jeffrey Ryan from the School of Geosciences is among the 502 professionals inducted into the 2023 class of fellows by the AAAS organization.

May 30, 2024Accomplishments, Research

About CAS Chronicles

CAS Chronicles is the monthly newsletter for the University of South Florida's College of Arts and Sciences, your source for the latest news, research, and events at CAS.