Category: Industry & Community Engagement

A new partnership between Orange County Public Schools and UF’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering introduced high school students to artificial intelligence through a Smart City design contest. Students built Python-based machine learning models to predict energy demand, gaining hands-on experience with AI while tackling real-world engineering challenges.

UF’s EQuIPD program inspires students to see themselves as future engineers through summer camps, mentorship and real-world design challenges.

This summer, more than 20 University of Florida student mentors will fan out across 16 Florida counties to help lead 39 engineering summer camps for nearly 400 students.   As part of UF Engineering’s 2025 Engaged Quality Instruction Through Professional Development (EQuIPD) camps, high school and middle school students will delve into design challenges that incorporate […]

Developed through a collaboration between the EQuIPD Grant at the University of Florida and Duke Energy, the Powering the Community (PTC) outreach program has expanded since its inception in 2022 to bring an artificial intelligence and power distribution contest to middle school students throughout the Duke Energy service area. Spun off from the annual Powering […]

The fourth annual Powering the Community (PTC): High School AI Design Contest, sponsored by Duke Energy, concluded on November 20 with a Design Showcase at the University of Florida. The six-and-a-half-week contest, which began on October 4, brought together 70 high school students from Alachua, Marion, and Sumter counties to tackle real-world energy challenges.  Participants […]

University of Florida Partners with Southern Regional Education Board to Develop High School Artificial Intelligence Pathway Curriculum in South Carolina  The University of Florida (UF) is proud to announce its partnership with the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) to develop a comprehensive four-course Artificial Intelligence (AI) curriculum for high school students in South Carolina. This […]

As the world shifts towards sustainable energy solutions, the University of Florida Training Reactor is emerging as a cornerstone for nuclear education, research, and outreach.

Brooke Lastinger’s academic journey is a testament to the power of exploring new frontiers. An undergraduate student in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering (MSE), Lastinger found her path through a combination of mentorship, research opportunities and following her passion. Her decision on a major was inspired by advice from two sources: her high […]

With immense pride and gratitude, we are honored to announce the establishment of the Brice Turner Memorial Fund, a lasting tribute to the memory of a remarkable individual whose commitment to academic excellence and leadership continues to inspire us all.  A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Turner‘s diverse interests in athletics, F1 racing, outdoor adventures, and […]

Nancy Ruzycki’s Summer Science Camps Continue to Empower Young Scientists Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rapidly advancing technology with rapidly expanding applications in the workforce. Currently, however, there is a shortage of materials for both teaching and learning AI.  To address this gap, in 2022, Nancy Ruzycki, Ph.D., an instructional associate professor in the Department […]