News at FIU - Florida International University

High school students test rooftop models against hurricane force winds in Wall of Wind Challenge

Marlen Mursuli — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:49:04 +0000

Seven teams of Miami-Dade high school students have designed ways to reduce the impact of hurricane force winds on a flat roof building. On Wednesday, May 22, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., FIU’s team of researchers from the International Hurricane Research Center (IHRC) will judge the student rooftop models as they [...]

Rupert Bryan signs with Miami Dolphins

Contributing Writer — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:08:02 +0000

After a tryout with the Miami Dolphins last week, Rupert Bryan signed with the team. Bryan, who was an offensive lineman at FIU, will compete at fullback with Jorvorskie Lane. Ironically, Bryan and Lane have met before on a football field when FIU played at Texas A&M in 2010. Lane [...]

FIU Business among top-ranked in the country

Contributing Writer — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:13:32 +0000

The R. Kirk Landon Undergraduate School of Business in the College of Business has earned top ten finishes for its marketing and international business specialties in the 2013 Bloomberg Businessweek’s survey of business programs at U.S. colleges and universities. The school’s marketing specialty placed seventh among all schools surveyed, and [...]

Alina Quintana keeps FIU parents in the loop

Mari de Armas — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:50:06 +0000

Recently, Alina Quintana’10, MA’12 became the coordinator of the Division of Student Affairs’ department of Orientation and Parent Programs. She works directly with parents of students on initiatives like the Parent Leadership Council, and Parent and Family Day during Homecoming Week. She also oversees the monthly parent newsletter that updates [...]

LawBridge: A year later

Lilyvania Mikulski — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:20:57 +0000

The ability to consult with other recent law graduates who are experiencing similar challenges and to share expertise by co-counseling on cases, are some of the biggest perks Daniel Izquierdo, a second-year LawBridge resident, sees in FIU’s LawBridge program. FIU’s legal residency, LawBridge, was established in January of 2012 to [...]

Honors College students work to create a sustainable environment in Ometepe

Mari de Armas — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:47:58 +0000

In March 2013 members of the FIU Honors College traveled to Nicaragua’s Ometepe Island – one of the world’s natural wonders and a UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve – as part of alternative Breaks. Students worked alongside local community members and scoured the forest floors for seeds of specific species of trees that [...]

Alumni Q&A: Catching up with David W. Barman JD ’05

Ruben Rivero — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:57:35 +0000

David W. Barman is a 2005 alumnus of the College of Law and one of the first registered patent attorneys from the college. He recently accepted a full-time faculty appointment with the university’s College of Business. Barman, who has taught courses at the bachelor’s and master’s levels at FIU, recently discussed his [...]

Garcia named a semifinalist for Johnny Bench Award

Karen Cochrane — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:26:23 +0000

FIU sophomore catcher Aramis Garcia has been named a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award, as announced by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission. Garcia is one of 15 semifinalists for the award, which recognizes Division I baseball’s top catcher. The Johnny Bench Award, presented by BaseballSavings.com, is given annually [...]

Florida’s top teacher goes to the White House

Alexandra Pecharich — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:05:38 +0000

One of FIU’s own stood with the country’s elite teachers recently at the White House. Alexandre Lopes, Florida’s 2013 Teacher of the Year and a doctoral student in the College of Education, joined the top educators from other states to meet President Obama and vie for the title of National Teacher [...]

aB South Africa: ‘Speechless’

Contributing Writer — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:11:22 +0000

Twenty-four hours and three connecting flights later, our team is finally home. Being immersed in such a beautiful and unique culture was truly a blessing. Thinking about all the wonderful individuals we had the pleasure of coming across these past two weeks, and how each one of them has impacted [...]

Pres. Rosenberg blogs from China: May 14, 2013

Mark Rosenberg — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:37:39 +0000

Pioneers May 14, 2013 Macao — a Special Administrative Region of China — has two distinct looks. It is a 21st century gaming central for China but still maintains its charm as a former Portuguese colony that was turned over as a SAR in 1999. So where better to initiate [...]

Heithaus Lab Blog launches with shark research trip to La Réunion

Evelyn Perez — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:05:40 +0000

Mike Heithaus, executive director of the School of Environment, Arts and Society and marine sciences professor, has launched the Heithaus Lab Blog. The blog highlights work from long-term studies in Shark Bay, Australia and the Florida Everglades, as well as newer studies across the globe. Most recently, Heithaus and Jeremy [...]

Psychology professor recognized for HIV and drug abuse research

Ayleen Barbel Fattal — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:51:59 +0000

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has awarded psychology professor Raul Gonzalez the Outstanding Early Career Investigator Award for 2013. This prestigious and highly selective national award is conferred annually by the Division of Clinical Neuroscience and Behavioral Research at NIDA to recognize outstanding early career investigators. Gonzalez, who also [...]

A piece of FIU at Disney’s Epcot Center

Eduardo Merille — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:15:13 +0000

That’s right panthers. FIU’s original Wall of Wind makes a cameo in an exhibit called Stormsturck at Epcot Innoventions. In 2007, RennaisanceRe sponsored the original 6-fan-Wall of Wind. The company worked with Disney to include footage and a recreation of it in an exhibit focused on hurricane mitigation and safety called [...]

Alumni Association hosts 11th annual FIU Scholarship Fishing Tournament, with free dock party

Simone Worsdale — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:16:13 +0000

Whether pulling in the biggest catch of the day or celebrating dockside, participants in the FIU Alumni Association’s 11th annual FIU Scholarship Fishing Tournament will be united in a great cause – raising dollars for FIU scholars. This one-day offshore tournament will feature fishing for dolphin, on Sat., June 1. [...]

VP of Student Affairs: ‘What goes on outside the classroom is as important as what goes on in the classroom’

Mari de Armas — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:05:29 +0000

Larry Lunsford was recently appointed vice president of Student Affairs, overseeing 25 departments within the division. He had been serving as interim vice president since August of 2012 and had made strategic appointments such as FIU’s first Dean of Students, and the first full-time associate director of Multicultural Programs and [...]

Department of Defense awards FIU seed funding for cyberspace research

Amy Ellis — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:42:43 +0000

In the next few months, FIU researchers will be doing their part to prevent the kind of high-tech cyberattacks that could cripple financial institutions, disable major infrastructure or threaten national security. The Department of Defense plans to provide seed funding of $150,000 to FIU’s Applied Research Center (ARC) to launch [...]

Taekwondo club kicks and sweeps the competition

Mari de Armas — Mon, 13 May 2013 21:03:35 +0000

In April 2013, FIU’s Taekwondo club competed in two major contests and emerged victorious. The first victory came at the Florida State Championships held in Orlando, Fla. where the team collectively won 10 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze medals. Below are the results: Coach Chris Alvarez: 3 gold medals [...]

SEAS, Zoo Miami kick off “Zoo FIU” lecture series Friday May 17

Evelyn Perez — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:33:33 +0000

The School of Environment, Arts and Society (SEAS) and Zoo Miami will kick off its “Zoo FIU” lecture series Friday, May 17, with a talk by FIU zoologist and ecologist, Kristin Bishop. The talk, titled “The Cost of Stealth: Mechanics of Walking in Dogs and Cats,” is scheduled for 7 [...]

aB South Africa: ‘Welcoming arms and loving hearts’

Contributing Writer — Mon, 13 May 2013 16:03:11 +0000

“The beauty of a country lies within the people,” explained Alexander, a volunteer from an organization linked with the clinic earlier today. “So tell me, how have you liked our country?” When asked this question, the answer was simple. Not only has South Africa’s landscape been breathtaking, but the humility [...]