Florida Atlantic Research

Research Takes Center Stage 🔬

More than 200 researchers recently gathered at the FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute for the annual Research Renewal event aimed at showcasing the variety of research and potential collaboration opportunities across the university.

With the Indian River Lagoon as a backdrop, 22 speakers represented 10 colleges and four research institutes, alongside opening remarks from university leadership. In addition, more than 20 student researchers showcased their work in poster sessions.

Florida Atlantic University

View more photos of the Research Renewal event at https://bit.ly/49d8f5c

Eight faculty researchers honored by FAU Chapter of National Academy of Inventors

This month, the FAU Chapter of the National Academy of Inventors hosted its annual member recognition luncheon. During the ceremony, four new chapter members were inducted, five were recognized for issued patents, and one became an NAI Senior Member — a national honor for rising stars who foster a spirit of innovation within their communities and institutions while educating and mentoring the next generation of inventors.

The National Academy of Inventors was founded in 2010 to recognize and encourage inventors with patents issued from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, enhance the visibility of academic technology and innovation, encourage the disclosure of intellectual property, educate and mentor innovative students, and translate the inventions of its members to benefit society.

National Academy of Inventors
Florida Atlantic University

New FAU innovation could save sharks from accidental fishing incidents 🪝🦈

Stephen Kajiura, Ph.D., from Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, has been awarded a $15,000 Innovation Pilot Award to advance a patent-pending shark-repellent method that’s practical, affordable and effective.

His device pairs zinc and graphite on a fishing line to create a tiny electric field that sharks can sense - and want to avoid - without affecting catches of valuable fish like tuna and swordfish.

Read more at https://www.fau.edu/newsdesk/articles/shark-deterrent-device.php

A grid of colorful cross-sections may look like abstract art, but the image is actually a series of MRI scans of everyday fruits – including kiwis, tomatoes and mangoes.

The image, titled “Orchard Architecture”, created by Refaat Gabr, Ph.D., MRI physicist and director of FAU’s MRI research services, earned a top staff in Florida Atlantic University’s annual Art of Science contest for transforming a medical imaging tool into an accessible visual experience.

Visit this year's winners photographs on display at the Ritter Gallery at 4 p.m., March 31.
Register Today: https://bit.ly/3M8gZ4e

https://www.fau.edu/research/research-daily/2026/deciphering-dissected-fruit/

Deciphering Dissected Fruit Deciphering Dissected Fruit

Some corners of the internet may be hiding more than we think.
 
A new FAU study finds that adults who report using the dark web also report much higher rates of depression and paranoia than those who use only the surface web.  

These findings suggest mental health struggles, not just privacy, may drive some people into these hidden online spaces. 

Understanding this link could help mental health professionals, caregivers and policymakers reach people in need, even in online spaces we rarely see.  

What lies beneath the surface matters.  

FAU’s Harbor Branch team has created the autonomous system called CAROSEL — the Chamber Array for Observing Sediment Exchanges Long-term — which continuously tracks how nutrients move from sediments into water in real time.  

Because when bottom sediments release nutrients, they can fuel harmful algal blooms, degrade water quality and upset ecosystems.