Campus Notes: Florida State marine geologist named Sloan Research Fellow – Tallahassee Democrat

Florida State marine geologist named Sloan Research Fellow

For Florida State University Assistant Professor Jeremy Owens, the chemical fingerprints left behind by oxygen in the ancient ocean are the key to better understanding our current and future climate.

A fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation will give him the opportunity to further investigate the connections between chemical and climatic changes in the ocean and extinction events from millions of years ago.

Owens, an assistant professor of marine geology in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, was named a 2020 Sloan Research Fellow, for which he will receive a two-year, $75,000 fellowship.

Sloan Research Fellowships are awarded each year to researchers in eight scientific and technical fields — chemistry, computer science, economics, mathematics, computational and evolutionary molecular biology, neuroscience, ocean sciences and physics.

The award will help Owens build a record of oxygen in the ocean across the globe from millions of years ago, which will provide a framework to compare modern and ancient disruptions in the climate.

PeaceJam at FSU presents ‘The Dalai Lama: Scientist’ event

PeaceJam Southeast and the Askew Student Life Center are collaborating to bring a film to Florida State University that provides insight into the life of the Dalai Lama.

“The Dalai Lama: Scientist” is the latest film from PeaceJam Productions, an arm of the PeaceJam Foundation whose projects showcase Nobel Peace Prize winners. The film sheds light onto the upbringing of the cultural and religious figure of the Dalai Lama and his strong, unknown commitment to exploring science and technology. 

The screening will be 7 p.m. Monday at the Askew Student Life Center, 942 Learning Way.

The Center for Leadership and Social Change at Florida State University serves as the headquarters for PeaceJam’s Southeast affiliate.

FSU among top producers of U.S, Fulbright scholars, students

Florida State University is one of the nation’s top research institutions for producing Fulbright U.S. Scholars and students, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Notably, Florida State is one of only 20 in the country to be named a top producer for both the Fulbright U.S. Student and U.S. Scholar programs.

Eight faculty scholars from Florida State were awarded Fulbright grants for 2019-2020, tying FSU for fourth in the nation among research institutions. Florida State also was a top producer of student Fulbright winners with 10 students receiving awards in 2019-2020.

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program.

Ten Florida State University graduate students and recent alumni are spending the 2019-2020 academic year teaching English or conducting research projects abroad as a part of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

The program, administered by the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, offers grants for graduating college seniors, graduate students, young professionals and artists to study, research and/or teach English in participating countries around the world for one year.

FAMU professor Jennifer Taylor named to Rodale Institute board

Jennifer Taylor, an associate professor in Florida A&M University’s College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, has been appointed to Rodale Institute’s board of directors.

Last fall, Taylor was named “Women of the Year in Agriculture” by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

She also was recognized last fall by Rodale Institute as an Organic Pioneer. The honor is presented annually to a farmer, a scientist, and a business person — for their innovations and commitment to the organic industry.

She is well known for involvement in promoting organic farming in Tallahassee and was one of the driving forces in establishing the weekly farmer’s market at Lake Ella.

Florida A&M hosting annual Harambee Festival 2020

FAMU’s Black History Month celebrations will continue with the Harambee Festival from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at Cascades Park.

Mapy, also known as the Violin Queen, will headline the entertainment. 

FAMU alumnus and saxophonist BK Jackson, who performed with Trombone Shorty during the Grammy Awards, will also perform.

For more info, call the Office of Communications at 850-599-3413.

Dow Jones News Fund selects FAMU for Digital Media Institute

Florida A&M’s School of Journalism & Graphic Communication has received a $30,000 grant to host the Dow Jones News Fund HBCU Digital Media Institute on May 11-15, 2020.

Professor Francine Huff, the Knight Chair for Student Achievement, applied for the grant to run the institute that will offer a week of training in digital media for 15 students who will study news gathering and storytelling techniques.

Huff will direct the digital media institute, which will take place at the FAMU SJGC building.

The institute is seeking a cohort of sophomores and juniors from HBCU campuses across the country who are interested in learning digital media skills.

This group of students will work together to produce a digital media project that includes various digital media content. The Dow Jones News Fund HBCU Digital Media Institute will cover all travel, housing and meals.

Students interested in attending the training should apply by 5 p.m. Friday, March 6.

Florida A&M University to hold FAMU Day at TCC

FAMU Day at TCC will be held from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m.  Wednesday in the Student Union Ballroom on TCC’s main campus.

The event will feature representatives from FAMU who can provide information about transferring from TCC to the university.

Students also learn about scholarship information, clubs and organization opportunities and financial aid requirements.

Ten Tallahassee Community College honors students attend conference

Ten TCC Honors students attended the Florida Collegiate Honors Council annual conference held last week in Jupiter.

The conference gives students the opportunity to gather, share research, and network.

Two of the students delivered presentations during the breakout sessions.

Edwin Washington provided research on minorities in STEM majors and focused on the pros and cons of being a minority student in this major.

Erika Fornero-Monia presented an engaging workshop about learning a new language and overcoming culture shock. 

TCC Wakulla Center is hosting event focusing on career training

The Tallahassee Community College Wakulla Center is hosting a Leap Now and Level Up to a new Career! College and Career Fair.

The event is 1 to 4 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 27, at the Wakulla Center, 2932 Crawfordville Highway.

The free event will focus on earning a GED, learning new career skills and current job openings.

The event is free and open to the public. Register early, by visiting TCCWakullaCenter.Eventbrite.com. For more information, email TCC2WORK@tcc.fl.edu or call (833) TCC-JOBS.

SFEA Chapter of Flagler College-Tallahassee wins three awards

The Flagler College Tallahassee chapter of the Student Florida Education Association earned top awards during a recent conference in Orlando.

The chapter was honored for “Outstanding Community Outreach & Political Action”; “Outstanding Senior” for Tamra Carranza; and “Outstanding Chapter Advisor” for Anna Burnley.

Contact senior writer Byron Dobson at bdobson@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @byrondobson.

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