Expert panel explores phosphate mining and its impacts
September 10, 2025
A panel discussion at Florida Polytechnic University on Monday, Sept. 8, examined the history, benefits and future of phosphate mining.
A panel discussion at Florida Polytechnic University on Monday, Sept. 8, examined the history, benefits and future of phosphate mining.
Payton Barnwell ’19 has dedicated her successful high-tech career to creating meaningful impact through innovation. She helped optimize space station crops as a NASA intern, worked in mission control at Virgin Galactic, and led geospatial product development at SkyFi, creating easy-to-use tools from complex data and imagery. Now, the Florida Polytechnic University alumna has embarked on a new adventure. Barnwell
Fueled by a new National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, innovative research at Florida Polytechnic University aims to redefine the way professors approach engineering design education. Dr. Elisabeth Kames, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, received a $200,000 grant to study how students cognitively engage with engineering design challenges. The research will employ neurocognitive tools such as electroencephalography (EEG), as well as
Undergraduate discovery sparks nationwide scientific attention Florida Polytechnic University senior Anthony Fiorito has captured national attention in the scientific community with groundbreaking research revealing that peacock feathers can emit precise laser light. Fiorito, an engineering physics major, is the first author of a study that has been spotlighted by leading publications including Science, Ars Technica, Interesting Engineering and MSN. The
Connection, communication and advocacy are Colby Manrodt’s top goals as the new president of Florida Polytechnic University’s Student Government Association. “I think our University is in a period of transitioning and going through a lot of change, so we are going to focus this year on bringing better forms of communication to our student body,” said Manrodt, a senior majoring
Florida Polytechnic University welcomed the new academic year on Monday, Aug. 18 with a record-breaking total enrollment of more than 1,900 students, marking a more than 10% increase over last year’s historic enrollment and the second consecutive year of growth. “This remarkable enrollment underscores the growing recognition of Florida Poly’s value in preparing students for high-demand STEM careers,” said Dr.
LAKELAND, Fla. – Florida Polytechnic University has been ranked as No. 25 in the United States among the 100 most affordable computer engineering programs by University HQ, an independent educational organization. With low in-state tuition and a robust program, Florida Poly’s computer engineering program ranks ahead of institutions such as the University of Central Florida, Tennessee State University, and the
Ricardo Kenzo Ota’s summer internship at one of the world’s largest tech companies is opening his eyes to a world of possibilities. The Florida Polytechnic University senior is spending his summer working as a software developer intern at Amazon’s world headquarters in Seattle, Washington. “When I found out that I was selected, I felt like I was dreaming,” said Ota,
Florida Polytechnic University’s Data Science and Business Analytics Department has been named to an international list of the 10 Most Prominent Analytics Institutes 2021 by Analytics Insight Magazine. Florida Poly was listed alongside the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Warwick in Coventry, England, and Cape Breton University in Nova Scotia, Canada. “This is a big honor to
Florida Polytechnic University senior Skylar Rupert is making the most of every educational and professional opportunity available to her this summer as a mechanical intern at TLC Engineering Solutions in Fort Myers, Florida. “At Florida Poly, we work in teams for projects,” said Rupert, from Port Charlotte, Florida. “Working at TLC has made me feel like part of a team
State University System Students: We are excited to welcome you to our campuses next month! To help us provide high-quality classes, student services, extracurricular activities, and athletic programs in a healthy environment, we strongly recommend that all students get vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus before arriving on campus. Since the onset of the pandemic, our successes are a result of
Thick Florida wildland with steep, muddy slopes and rough, rocky terrain is the perfect setting for Dr. Randy K. Avent to strap on his helmet and indulge in his lifelong passion. The Florida Polytechnic University president often meets up with alumni, students, and friends to conquer the woods and tracks of Florida from the perch of his high-powered dirt bike,
A summer research internship experience is allowing Florida Polytechnic University senior Andre Archer to gain close-up, real-world insight into the field of computational mechanics, a specialized area that he would like to pursue as a career. “It is the overlap between mechanical engineering, computer science, materials science, and even chemistry,” Archer said. “It’s really interesting and exactly what I want
A team of Florida Polytechnic University students is working to transform the common hobby drone into a solar-powered craft that can remain continuously aloft throughout the daylight hours. “On a bright, sunny day, it should gather enough energy from its solar panels that it can be charging up the battery while it’s gliding through the air.” said Spencer Bishop, a
As part of the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates, Florida Polytechnic University junior Jabari Acre is spending the summer working on improving stereolithography (SLA) though the use of the two-photon absorption phenomena at the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute in Atlanta, Georgia. The advanced technology allows users to produce complex, three-dimensional structures with nanoscale resolutions through the use of
Updated July 5, 1:45 p.m. Florida Poly is closely watching the trajectory of Tropical Storm Elsa as it approaches the state of Florida. At this time, all University operations will continue as normal. However, we know things can change quickly and the safety of our University community is always our top priority. If there are any changes regarding the path
A summer internship at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is allowing Florida Polytechnic University senior Nicole Ely to use machine learning to gain a better understanding of data shared on Twitter. Ely, who is majoring in data science with a concentration in big data analytics, is working with the Tennessee university’s computational biology program to use the machine learning
