CAS Chronicles

Stories

Թϱ: A Preeminent Research University

St. Petersburg poet laureate and Թϱalumna publishes debut novel

In Gloria Muñoz's debut novel, a genre-bending work of young adult climate fiction, Florida is crumbling under the weight of climate disaster, and seventeen-year-old Julieta Villarreal must decide whether to remain on Earth with her friends and family or to leave everything behind and embark on a mission to establish humanity’s first extraterrestrial settlement.

April 29, 2025Accomplishments, Alumni, Events

Թϱ: A Preeminent Research University

Թϱstudents make directorial debut

When Hilda Sheridan-Hewlett moved from London, England to Tampa, Fla. to study literature and film, she was so swept away by the natural beauty of the local beaches that she decided to write and direct a short film. The final product, “Lost in the Current," has so far been screened at five film festivals.

April 29, 2025Accomplishments, Community Engagement, Events

Eylward’s interdisciplinary approach to analyzing skeletal remains harnesses innovative technology as well as traditional, hands-on methods. (Photo courtesy of Aiden Eylward)

Թϱstudent revolutionizes forensic anthropology with 3D-scanning technology

Anthropology student Aiden Eylward is pioneering innovation in forensic science by using 3D technology to study cancer-induced bone lesions. Through collaborations with IDEx and IFAAS, Eylward is developing new methods to document these complex skeletal changes and transforming how anthropologists tackle challenges in forensic research.

April 29, 2025Research

Field collection of invasive knotweed in the U.S. (Photo courtesy of Christina Richards)

Study reveals how invasive plants thrive in new environments

Christina Richards, associate professor of integrative biology, co-led an international study exploring how the highly invasive Japanese knotweed has adapted across continents, uncovering evolutionary insights into the plant’s success in new environments.

April 29, 2025Research

Abby Vidmar in Port St. Joe, Fla., where her research takes place. (Photo courtesy of Abby Vidmar)

Anthropology in action: PhD candidate Abby Vidmar helps a town tell its story

Abby Vidmar, an applied environmental anthropology PhD candidate, is documenting the powerful grassroots movement in Port St. Joe, Fla., as residents unite to protect their hometown. Through her work, Vidmar blends research with advocacy, capturing stories of resilience and inspiring efforts to protect communities and ecosystems for generations to come.

April 29, 2025Community Engagement, Research

At this year’s Women in Leadership & Philanthropy Faculty Excellence Awards, two out of six of the recipients are from the College of Arts and Sciences. (Photo courtesy of WLP)

Two CAS faculty honored with research excellence awards

Each year, Women in Leadership & Philanthropy recognizes faculty research excellence throughout Թϱwith six award categories and an accompanying $5,000 research grant.

April 29, 2025Accomplishments, Research

At the height of the pandemic, two programs launched to connect people across generations. Five years later, Health Buddies and TelePals have connected hundreds of older adults with Թϱstudents, reducing loneliness and increasing access to health information.

April 25, 2025Community Engagement

graduate in cap and gown stands in front of Թϱseal

College of Arts and Sciences graduate programs shine in U.S. News and World Report rankings

Six of the more than 30 graduate programs considered the best in the country, according to new rankings released by U.S. News & World Report, are housed within USF’s College of Arts and Sciences.

April 24, 2025Accomplishments

spilled prescription bottle with pills

Թϱstudy finds opioid control policies may reduce domestic violence

The research suggests a correlation between opioid misuse and domestic violence, offering broader public health implications beyond addiction.

April 23, 2025Research

Rattlesnake curled up | Photo credit: Ricardo Ramírez Chaparro

What rattlesnake venom can teach us about evolution

Թϱresearchers find that island snakes adapt their venom in surprising ways, offering new clues about how animals evolve in changing environments.

April 23, 2025Research

Ajibola Tolase (center left) and Aracelis Gonzalez Asendorf (center right) attend the Florida Book Awards ceremony

Թϱpoets bring home gold, silver and bronze book awards

Ajibola Tolase, an assistant professor in the Department of English, won a gold medal from the Florida Book for his poetry collection “2000 Blacks.” He joins colleagues Heather Sellers, who received a bronze medal in the poetry category in 2022 for her collection, “Field Notes from the Flood Zone,” and Julia Koets, who received a silver award in the poetry category in 2021 for her collection, “Pine.”

April 22, 2025Accomplishments, Events

A new partnership between Թϱand the city of St. Petersburg will bring an industrial-sized composter to campus, with the goal of reducing tons of food waste from landfills and creating compost for community gardens and urban farms.

April 21, 2025Community Engagement

About CAS Chronicles

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

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