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September 2025: Faculty Recognition and Impact at Fifield and BeyondExplore the latest from UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences in our department digest. This edition highlights faculty awards that showcase the impact of our team — at Fifield Hall, across Florida, and beyond. We also take a moment to remember the impact some of our faculty have had during their time with us, honoring their contributions and legacy. Take a look back at recent accomplishments, celebrate the incredible work driving our field forward, and discover exciting upcoming events. |
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Spring/Summer 2025: Alumni and FriendsOver the past 18 months, the University of Florida’s Horticultural Sciences faculty have led innovative research projects that push the boundaries of plant science. Notably, Dr. Rob Ferl, Director of the Astraeus Space Institute, became the first NASA-funded university researcher to personally conduct a plant biology experiment in space, flying aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. His mission examined how the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana senses and responds to microgravity, capturing gene expression changes at multiple stages of the suborbital flight. This groundbreaking work advanced our understanding of plant adaptation to space environments and set a precedent for future researcher-tended experiments in commercial spaceflight. |
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June 2025: Commencement and BeyondAs we close out another academic year, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Class of 2025. Their dedication and achievements reflect the strength and spirit of our department. |
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March 2025 Newsletter: A Message from the ChairWelcome to our department newsletter! It gives me the opportunity to write a little about the department, where we have come, and where we are heading in the future. Our department, by any metric, is one of the best horticulture departments globally and certainly the best in the country. That isn't because we chase metrics and drive numbers forward. It's because we maintain trueness to our mission to advance and extend basic and applied knowledge in fruit and vegetable sciences to benefit people and the environment. That mission is guided by our vision to lead fruit and vegetable science and discovery. |
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November 2024: The First EditionWelcome to our new monthly digest—your source for departmental updates, upcoming events, and highlights from Fifield Hall and our statewide extension offices. Whether you’re faculty, student, or collaborator, this newsletter is here to keep our community connected and informed. Let’s dig in. |