Category: SFYL Hot Topic

A broad view of a community garden and a perfect example of urban agriculture public support in South Florida. UF/IFAS Photos by Jiangxiao Qiu

What’s driving support for urban agriculture? Public surveys and AI-assisted analysis offer insights

by Lourdes Mederos
August 13, 2026

A University of Florida study provides evidence that public support for urban agriculture has deep roots. The findings show that public support is not one-dimensional. Instead, researchers at UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Blog Community, Farm Management, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: #AI, Agriculture, Community Gardens, Food Security, Sustainability, UF/IFAS, Urban Agriculture
A photo of Milan Malco, a Florida 4-H teen involved in the Sunshine Harvesters Club working with another 4-H member at UF/IFAS Extension Broward County. Photo Credit: Extension UF/IFAS Broward County.

From archery to STEM, fishing to fashion design, Florida 4-H open house showcases opportunities for youth

by Lourdes Mederos
July 16, 2026

Youth interested in science, animals, gardening, archery, fashion, leadership, public speaking and much more can find a place to belong in Florida 4-H. Families in Broward County and surrounding communities looking for affordable, engaging ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Blog Community, , Clubs & Volunteers, Events, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: 4-H Youth Development Program, Agriculture, Archery, Children, Environmental Sciences, Fashion Design, Fishing, Florida 4-H, Florida 4-H Legislature, IFAS, Kenan Bridges, Open House, Opportunities, Professional Development, Public Speaking, Role Models, STEM, UF/IFAS Extension Broward County, Youth
A close-up of a German cockroach on a map. Photo by Johnalyn Gordon.

National survey suggests why roach infestations persist in multi-family apartment buildings, treatment options sought

by Lourdes Mederos
July 6, 2026

Cockroach infestations affect millions of U.S. households, particularly those who live in multi-family residential buildings, who made up nearly 70% of rental units in 2023. A national study, led by researchers from the University of Florida, ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Cockroach, Department Of Entomology And Nematology, Diseases, Espanol, Espanol E Inglés, German Cockroach, Johnalyn Gordon, Louisiana State University, Pest Control, Pests, U.S. Department Of Housing And Urban Development, UF IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, UF Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, University Of Florida, University Of Kentucky, Zach DeVries
This image, featuring the heads of individuals from the soldier caste, is meant to highlight the similarities of appearance across both parental species, the Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus), the Asian subterranean termite (Coptotermes gestroi), and hybrids. Visual identification of hybrid termites can only be done under magnification by experts that are familiar with identification characteristics. Submitting a sample to the UF/IFAS Termite ID Service (TermiteIDServices@ifas.ufl.edu) remains the best option to confirm any suspected samples. Credit: Thomas Chouvenc

Here’s what homeowners need to know about hybrid termites in Florida

by Lourdes Mederos
June 8, 2026

Alarming reports of hybrid “super” termites have fueled misinformation, while flooding news outlets across the United States for months. University of Florida scientists are stepping in to help property owners separate fact from fiction. In ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Home Management, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Asian Subterranean Termite, Ask IFAS, Coptotermes Formosanus, Coptotermes Gestroi, Entomology, Entomology And Nematology, Faith Oi, Formosan Subterranean Termite, Hybrid Termites, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Johnalyn Gordon, Nan-yao Su, News, Termite Damage, Termites, Thomas Chouvenc, UF IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida
A spectacled caiman juvenile. UF/IFAS Photo by Jemeema Carrigan

Invasive caiman may pose new challenges for Everglades restoration

by Lourdes Mederos
June 4, 2026

UF researchers pieced together the first comprehensive review of the spectacled caiman, a small invasive crocodile-like reptile. Introduced into South Florida more than 45 years ago, researchers have suspected caimans compete ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Colombia, Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, Crocodilians, EddMaps, Environmental DNA Tools, Espanol, Exotic Pet Trade, Guayana, IFAS, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Invasive Species, Native Wildlife, News, Research, South Florida, Spectacled Caiman, The Croc Docs, UF IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida, Wetland
Geomatic technology connects the future Digital data, abstract, simple, futuristic, modern, design vertical background EP21.hi-tech communication concept innovation vector illustration background Adobe Stock 501957378

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
Corey Callaghan during a bioblitz showing a toothpick grasshopper as other participants capture it for recording. UF/IFAS photo by Brittany Mason.

Intensity and innovation earn UF/IFAS scientist Early Career Fellow honor by Ecological Society of America

by Lourdes Mederos
April 15, 2026

Whether he’s submitting daily bird sightings on a citizen science website without missing a beat or racing the clock during a 24-hour biodiversity blitz, University of Florida scientist Corey Callaghan brings a distinct intensity to both ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Conservation, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: Apps, Archive, BioBlitz, Biology, Citizen Science, Corey Callaghan, Crowdsource, Datasets, DeLuca Preserve, Early Career Fellow, EBird, Ecological Society Of America (ESA), Ecology, Extension, Global Change, Human-dominated Landscapes, Human-driven Environmental Change, INaturalist, Informatics, Observe Biodiversity, Peer-reviewed Publications, Policy, Quantitative Ecology, Research, Spatial Scales, Theory
Brittany Mason and a student reporting and observing a non-venomous rat snake. Photo by Corey Callaghan

From curiosity to conservation: How citizen science is teaching children and adults to see, experience nature

by Lourdes Mederos
April 13, 2026

It often starts with something small, such as a new bird in a branch, a vibrant butterfly in a yard, a colorful plant growing through a crack in the sidewalk or as part of a lawn. Suddenly, you are engaged and can’t help but snap a ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Beneficial Wildlife, BioBlitz, Brittany Mason, Changes, Changes In Ecosystems, Changes In Environment, Citizen Science, Citizen Science Month, Coexistence With Wildlife, Community, Corey Callaghan, Crowdsource, Curiousity, Department Of Wildlife Ecology And Conservation, EBird, Environmental Shifts, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Global Ecology, Habitat, Habitat Removal, Habitat Restoration, INaturalist, Learning, Observations, Seasonal Changes, Smartphone, Species Distributions, Urbanization, Water Quality, Wildlife, Wildlife Monitoring
Sendero peatonal del parque Welleby con árboles y bancas a lo largo de un estanque en el condado de Broward.

Study uses AI, citizen science to show perceptions of access to Broward County parks

by Lourdes Mederos
April 9, 2026

A new study from the University of Florida paired artificial intelligence and citizen science to measure whether parks in Broward County provide access and the same experiences across communities. Rather than focusing solely on where ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Conservation, Health & Nutrition, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Tags: #AI, Artificial Intelligence, Broward County Parks And Recreation, Citiizen Science, Dog Parks, Dog-friendly Parks, Green Space, Haojie Cao, Homogeneous Neighborhoods, Jiangxiao Qiu, Kid-friendly, Lakefront Park, Make America Beaur, Make America Beautiful Again Commission’s Mission, Parks, Playgrounds, Pool, Recreational, Reviews, Splash Pads, Urban Green Space, Urban Parks, Walking Paths
An asian swamp eel close up. Photo by USGS.

Be an invader detector: UF scientists call on public to help track elusive Asian Swamp Eels

by Lourdes Mederos
April 7, 2026

University of Florida researchers are urging South Floridians to help stop the spread of an invasive fish now secretly moving through canals, marshes and wetlands across the region’s most vulnerable environments. Visitors, residents, ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Conservation, Invasive Species, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: 1-888-IVEGOT1, Archive, Asian Swamp Eel, Canals, Citizen Science Month, Conservation, CROC Docs, Fish, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Frank J. Mazzotti, Frank Mazzotti, Invasive Species, IVEGOT1 Mobile App, South Florida, Southeast Asia, UF/IFAS Wildlife Ecology And Conservation, USGS, Wetlands

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