Florida Tech Research Year in Review, Part 4
As we wrap up 2018, here are some research highlights and news coverage on Florida Tech from this year.
-Working with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), Florida Tech is now undertaking human testing to utilize the unique characteristic of a Florida Tech-owned spacesuit. The suit can be custom fit to the size of the person wearing it, unlike most previous space suit designs.
Currently, eight research subjects have been randomly selected from Florida Tech and ERAU. Each subject puts on the spacesuit, which is then adjusted to their comfort and to maximize suit performance. Since every subject has different body types, their motion inside the space suit is different as well, and that is key for the research: how each subject moves will give insight into how to better equip the suit and ultimately improve the interaction between the suit-wearing person and the flight deck of a spacecraft.
-Scientist He Jiankui recently announced the successful genetic engineering of human embryos using a technology known as CRISPR. This act potentially made these children resistant to HIV, but also challenged accepted practices and ethical standards in both research and medicine. So what’s the big deal? December 7th, a Florida Tech research panel featuring Christopher Bashur, Toby Daly-Engel, Moti Mizrahi, Kenia Pedrosa Nunes and Andrew Palmer discussed the future of the technology, and the issues involved in the announcement.
–WKMG covered Florida Tech’s studies on the Indian River Lagoon and the effort to clean up the area.
–Darby Proctor, assistant professor in the School of Psychology, spoke with the Washington Post about a new study involving gambling monkeys and the potential to explain high-risk tendencies in humans. The story was also featured in the San Francisco Chronicle.
–Stacey Reeder, associate director of International & Graduate Admission, spoke with U.S. News & World Report about IELTS scores for American university admissions.
-In honor of Florida Tech’s 60th anniversary, Florida Today’s story showcased the university’s evolution from a 37-cent donation to one of the nation’s top universities.
