Panthers in the Headlines: November 2020

5 Panther-Proud Headlines this Month

Kathryn Hatfield December 2, 2020

Florida Tech is a one-of-a-kind community. Our faculty, staff, students and alumni continuously strive to achieve their goals, contribute to the greater good and relentlessly pursue greatness—so much so, they’re making headlines.

1. Associate Professor Andrew Palmer Shares Mars Farming Insights

Dr. Palmer grows a Florida Tech Mars Garden — Andrew Palmer, assistant professor of biological sciences, heads the RADISH project studying plant growth on Mars.

What will it take to farm on Mars? Well, we’re still figuring that out. For now, we can learn from a Florida Tech expert who’s at the forefront of Mars farming research: associate professor Andrew Palmer.

In this Science News piece, Palmer shared what he has learned about the possibility of growing plants on the surface of Mars.

Read more about his research on Mars regolith.

2. Alumnus Earns History-Making Promotion

Retired Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins MS '95 — Retired Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’95 M.S.
Image: *The Washington Post*

Retired Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’95 M.S. has been named interim superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), becoming the first Black man to lead the school. Wins, a 34-year U.S. Army veteran, earned a master’s degree in management from Florida Tech.

Learn more about this historic achievement in this Washington Post piece.

3. Florida Tech Researchers Discover Ways to Improve Lagoon Health

Mesh bag containing plastic bottle caps — Mesh bags filled with bottle caps will be placed in strategic locations within the lagoon to allow “good” bacteria to grow on them.

Oceanography graduate student Abbey Gering and ocean engineering and marine sciences assistant professor Austin Fox are strategically utilizing the very thing we try to keep out of the Indian River Lagoon to, instead, keep it clean. Yes, that’s right: plastic!

Learn how it works in this Space Coast Daily story.

4. weVENTURE Women’s Business Center Supports Local Businesses

weVENTURE Women’s Business Center created a directory of local, women-owned businesses for shoppers this holiday season.

weVENTURE Women’s Business Center in the Bisk College of Business has continued to consult with and support businesses throughout the pandemic. With the holiday shopping season in full swing, weVENTURE executive director Kathryn Rudloff has now shared some advice for consumers, too: Shop local.

In a Florida Today article written by Rudloff herself, she discusses the importance of shopping local, particularly at women-owned businesses, this holiday season.

5. Panthers Around the World Come Together for Day of Giving

Nov. 19 was a successful Day of Giving at Florida Tech. The 24-hour event attracted more than 2,540 donors, who helped raise more than $420,098—far surpassing last year’s results.

Read Space Coast Daily’s full recap of our sixth annual Day of Giving.