Category: Blog Community

Can spreading basaltic volcanic rock dust improve crops and the health of Florida’s soils?

by Lourdes Mederos
May 12, 2026

Highlights: UF researchers are testing volcanic rock dust to improve soil health across the state’s sandy and organic farmlands. A $749,999 USDA-funded, four-year study aims to boost crop productivity while cutting reliance on ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Blog Community, , Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agricultural Acreage, Agroindustry, And Geomatics Sciences, Basaltic Volanic Rock, Boost Crop Growth, CALS, CLAS, David Foster, Department Of Geological Sciences, Everglades Agricultural Area, Everglades Research And Education Center, Fisheries, Grant, Improve Soil Health, Improve Soil Quality, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Jehangir Bhadha, Landscapes, Mineral Soils, News, Organic Farmlands, Reduce Fertilizers, Research, Rice, Rosvel Bracho, Soil Amendments, Sugarcane, Sustainable Agriculture, U.S. Department Of Agriculture Forest Inventory And Analysis, UF College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Range Cattle Research And Education Center, UF/IFAS School Of Forest, University Of Florida, USDA-NIFA, Volcanic Rock

Researcher’s pioneering work in AI and mapping earns international Young Investigator Award

by Lourdes Mederos
May 7, 2026

The mobile maps people depend on every day to reach a destination, check traffic and understand their surroundings are powered by geomatics sciences, not just roads and turn-by-turn directions. It is a fast-evolving science powered by ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: #AI, 2026 Young Investigator Award, Artificial Intellgience, Crowdsource, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Geomatic Sciences, Geospatial Analytics, Geospatial Science, Henry Hochmair, International Society For Photogrammetry And Remote Sensing International Journal Of Geo-Information, Levente Juhász, Mapping, Meta, News, Peter Mooney, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatic Sciences, Technology And Open Research (GATOR) Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida

Golden oyster mushrooms cultivated, sold in Florida: Scientist urges caution

by Lourdes Mederos
November 6, 2025

The golden oyster mushroom, with bright yellow pillowy caps, are a popular buy that are sold in grow-your-own kits as well as standard grocery stores, farmer and gourmet markets. A University of Florida researcher warns it is quietly invading ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Citizen Science, Culinary Connoisseurs, Culinary Mushroom Enthusiasts, Cultivating, Disrupt Ecosystems, Ecosystems, Farmer Market, Fungal Communities, Fungal Diseases, Golden Oyster Mushrooms, Gourmet Market, Grocery Stores, Grow-your-own Kits, Human Activities, INaturalist, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Invasive, Invasive Species, Michelle Jusino, Mushroom Observer, News, Research, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatic Sciences, Transporting, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida

Behind the scenes: How UF/IFAS risk assessments sustain Florida’s $191M aquaculture industry

by Lourdes Mederos
February 28, 2025

From vibrant tropical fish for aquarium enthusiasts to succulent shellfish served as the center of the plate, Florida’s aquaculture industry serves as an economic powerhouse and a national leader. In 2022, the state’s tropical fish ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Blog Community, Conservation, Invasive Species, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Alligator Farming, Aquatic Environment, Aquatic Invasives, Aquatic Plant Production, BMP, Ecosystem, FDACS, Fish Tanks, Florida Aquaculture, Invasives In Florida, Jeffrey Hill, News, Ornamental Fish Farming, Risk Assessment, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Shellfish Cultivation, Species, Succeulent Shellfish, Sustainability, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, Tropical Fish, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida

UF/IFAS scientist honored with prestigious 2024 Early Career Fellow designation by Ecological Society of America

by Lourdes Mederos
April 30, 2024

Jiangxiao Qiu, has a reputation as a rising star. Qiu is an associate professor of landscape ecology in the UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries and Geomatics Sciences (SFFGS). He’s based at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Conservation, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Archbold Biological Station Buck Island Ranch, Climate Change, Early Career Fellow, Ecological Society Of America, Ecosystems Sustainability, ESA, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Grasslands, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, News, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, University Of Florida, Wetlands

Florida LAKEWATCH: A Regional Coordinator’s Perspective

by Christine Krebs
July 17, 2023

This blog post was written by Marina Schwartz, regional coordinator for Florida LAKEWATCH. Hi, I’m Marina! I’m one of the regional coordinators of the LAKEWATCH Program, and I’m here to explain what our role is and how we help ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Clubs & Volunteers, Community Volunteers, Conservation, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, Volunteer/Training, Water
Tags: Center For Aquatic And Invasive Plants, Citizen Science, Community Volunteers, Florida LAKEWATCH, Lakes, LAKEWATCH, UF/IFAS CAIP, Volunteers

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