UF events of possible media interest listed (March 24)

March 24, 2014

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The following events are scheduled in the near future at or near the University of Florida:

UF trustees meet this week

The University of Florida Board of Trustees and its committees will meet March 27-28 in Emerson Alumni Hall. Copies of the agendas and times of the meetings are posted on the Board of Trustees website at http://trustees.ufl.edu/. The agendas provide estimated schedules for each meeting, but exact times might vary.

Media Contact: Janine Sikes, jysikes@ufl.edu.

Biomaterials Day symposium

UF’s chapter of the Society for Biomaterials will host a symposium called “Engineering the Future of Medicine” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 28 in the Reitz Student Union Grand Ballroom. All are welcome to attend, but the event is geared toward science, engineering and medicine. The one-day symposium will include talks by biomaterials and biomedical researchers and faculty members, an industry information session of biotechnology companies and a student poster session in which students will get a chance to present their research and compete for a $100 prize.

For more information, visit http://www.uflbiomaterials.org or contact Cary Kuliasha at ckuliash@gmail.com.

Thesis competition comes to UF

Doctoral students from across the globe will be competing in the Three Minute Thesis Competition, in which they explain an 80,000-word thesis in less than three minutes. Preliminary rounds are taking place in March. The top 10 finalists will compete for a chance to present their research to the university community and win cash prizes. The finals will be held at 2 p.m. April 3 in the Reitz Student Union Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. To RSVP, visit http://bit.ly/1pf5CjD.

For more information, contact Ruth Visuete, 352-392-8359, rvisuete@aa.ufl.edu

Photo exhibit features state’s native flowers

Visitors will have an opportunity to discover the wildflowers that inspired Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513 to name this state “place of flowers” at the Florida Museum of Natural History’s photography exhibition on display from April 19-Aug. 3. “La Florida: 500 Years in the Place of Flowers” will showcase images from Gainesville nature photographer John Moran. For more information, visit http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/exhibits/coming-soon/upcoming/.

For other information, contact Paul Ramey, 352-273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu.

Authors to talk during children’s book signing

The Harn Museum of Art will be hosting “Written Inspiration: A Children’s Book Signing Event” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 5 for elementary-age children and their families. Eleven Floridian authors and illustrators will discuss their most recent publications and their inspirations and read their books. Admission to the museum is free. 

For more information, contact Tami Wroath, 352-392-9826, ext. 2116, twroath@harn.ufl.edu.

Health screenings for UF employees

The University of Florida and UF Health will host an employee wellness event March 31-April 25. The event offers benefits-eligible employees free health screenings at locations throughout campus as well as at UF Health locations in Gainesville. Employees may participate in the event at any location. To view a schedule with event locations, visit http://gatorcare.org/wellness.

For more information, contact Paula Varnes Fussell, 352-392-1075, pvarnes@ufl.edu.