The center, named after one of the most influential supporters of European integration throughout most of the 20th century, will be entirely dedicated to EU topics and will support an annual visiting scholar program, additional special topic classes and a yearly workshop. It will be housed within the UF Center for European Studies.

The visiting scholars, who will spend a minimum of two weeks in Gainesville working with UF faculty and teaching a special two-week intensive course, can be either academics from European Union universities or current practitioners in the field of European integration, such as EU government officials.

There are currently 107 such centers at universities worldwide, and the vast majority are in EU member or candidate countries. This year, Japan was the only other non-European country to receive a grant from the EU to create a new center, said Amie Kreppel, director of the UF Center for European Studies.

The grant will provide the university with approximately $205,000 over three years and present the possibility of future grants and center renewals.

The Jean Monnet center is proof of the increasing international recognition of the strength of UF’s European studies programs, Kreppel said. Growing student interest, the efforts of the Center for European Studies and the strength of other Europe-focused groups such as the France-Florida Research Institute and the Center for Greek Studies are the driving forces behind the rapid growth of EU scholarship at the university, she said.

The center’s mission of educating non-Europeans about the EU is vital for Americans and Floridians in today’s world, Kreppel said.

“The EU is America’s largest trading partner and our most important political ally,” she said. “And for Florida, the EU is our biggest foreign direct investor. Their investments account for more than 145,000 jobs.”

UF’s successful bid to start a Jean Monnet center has a significance that reaches far beyond Gainesville, Kreppel said.

“For America, it encourages other universities to continue to apply for them,” she said. “I think that a lot of people assume that just because it’s never happened before, Jean Monnet centers are not for America.”

Thanks to UF, that is no longer the case.

Morgan succeeds Manny Fernandez, who has filled the position since 2004. Morgan has served as vice chair since 2001.

One of the original members of the board when it was created in 2001, Morgan, of Windermere, also is a former member of the UF Foundation Board of Directors. Before retiring, she served as senior vice president of public affairs for Walt Disney World, where she was responsible for the company’s lobbying efforts, philanthropic programs; conservation initiatives and media relations. She attended the University of Florida and graduated from Rollins College with a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication.

Morgan also serves as a member of the board of directors for Orlando Regional Healthcare System and the Children’s Miracle Network. Her corporate board service includes Orlando-based CNL Hotels & Resorts.

Also one of the original UF board members, McGriff is a private investor in Jacksonville. He was president of Alliance Mortgage Co. from 1975 to 1989. He also is the former president of Florida Mortgage Bankers Association of Florida and a former chairman of the board of directors of Associated Industries of Florida. He graduated from UF with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1969 and received the UF Distinguished Alumnus award in 1993. McGriff served as one of the UF representatives to the University Medical Center Board from 1986 to1996 and served as CEO of the hospital from 1996 to 1999.

Chad Werch, director of the AHB Research Institute and principal investigator, said this study is unique because adolescents from diverse high school settings will receive positive youth development messages along with health risk messages for substance abuse, thus targeting multiple health behaviors during a single, short intervention session.

“This project strives to reduce alcohol abuse and problems among high-risk older adolescents often ignored in prevention research and services,” Werch said.

The intervention study, called Active!, hopes to combat physical inactivity, alcohol and drug misuse, poor nutrition and lack of sleep, all of which are common issues among today’s teenagers. According to research, more than half of American youths are not physically active on a regular basis. National health data for high school students also show an alarming 25.5 percent of students have been involved in heavy episodic drinking in the past month, according to the Youth Risk Behavior and Surveillance Survey in 2005.

This grant will allow AHB Research Institute to provide a free, activity-based health promotion program for at-risk high school students at various northeast Florida public schools, Werch said.

Werch said research on an initial intervention titled SPORT showed an increase in moderate and vigorous physical activity, and a decrease in alcohol use, heavy drinking and alcohol problems among participating adolescents.

“Active! is built on years of previous research funded by the National Institutes of Health,” Werch said. “It is designed to increase physical activity, decrease alcohol use and promote better nutrition and sleep habits.”

The first phase of the program will have students evaluate future intervention strategies for content and design. The next phase will consist of evaluations of a 20-minute screen, fitness consultation, and a plan created by computer or a fitness specialist. A third phase will examine a parent-based program delivered by mail to participating adolescents’ homes.

“Our trained intervention staff will provide brief motivational programs addressing a variety of health behaviors including, exercise, eating healthy, resting properly and avoiding alcohol and other drug use,” Werch said.

The Florida Museum of Natural History tells this remarkable story in its exciting new national traveling exhibition, “Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived,” which opens Saturday. The exhibition features a 60-foot-long walk-through sculpture and highlights the evolution, biology and misconceptions regarding giant prehistoric sharks.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., opening activities include an opportunity for visitors to bring in their own fossils to try and “Stump the Smithsonian Paleontologists” while having the fossils identified. Other family fun and discovery includes activities and interaction with area fossil club representatives and Florida Museum researchers as well as gallery walks with other local shark experts, including Mark Renz, author of “Megalodon: Hunting the Hunted.” Renz will give a gallery walk at 11 a.m. followed by a book signing session from noon to 4 p.m.

“The megalodon exhibit gives us the chance to showcase current museum research and our extensive paleontology collections,” said Florida Museum assistant director for exhibits Darcie MacMahon. “Who can imagine a 60-foot shark cruising all the world’s oceans? The evolution and extinction of this giant beast capture our imaginations and inspire us to learn about shark evolution in general and the importance of shark conservation today.”

As unique as megalodon was, so too is the exhibition that tells the story of this enormous creature. The exhibition showcases both fossil and modern shark specimens as well as full-scale models from several collections. Visitors enter a full-size sculpture of megalodon through massive jaws and discover this shark’s history and the world it inhabited, including its size, structure, diet, lifespan, relatives, neighbors, evolution and extinction.

The exhibit also provides details on improving the health of our oceans and survival of threatened species. Recent worldwide declines are attributed to commercial and sport overfishing. Scientists estimate humans kill 100 million sharks, skates and rays each year, and the life history of most shark species makes it difficult for populations to rebound. For those wondering why we need sharks, the Megalodon exhibition asks guests to consider the marine food web domino-effect caused by overfishing. The exhibition also highlights shark medical research that may provide insight into our own well-being.

Another exhibition section describes how this animal continues to fascinate many, elevating megalodon to near cult status. From biker jackets to postage stamps, the exhibition explains the many ways megalodon remains a part of human culture through art, literature, music and film.

“Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived” was produced by the Florida Museum of Natural History with support from the National Science Foundation. The Florida Museum will display the exhibition through Jan. 6, 2008. Admission to this exhibition is free, though museum donations are gladly accepted.

For more information, visit http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/megalodon/ or call 352-846-2000.

The college is using the $275,000 grant to fund the newly created Study of the U.S. Institute on Journalism and Media, a six-week program titled “New Freedoms in Media: Teaching the Digital Journalism of Tomorrow.” It starts June 10.

“The excitement and passion the University of Florida has shown in designing and planning this program is very evident,” said Adam Van Loon, a program officer in the State Department’s Study of the United States Branch. “We’re delighted to be working with the College of Journalism and Communications.”

Eighteen journalism educators from as far away as Argentina, China and Rwanda will spend four weeks in Gainesville, a week in South Florida and a week in Washington, D.C., and New York. Among other topics, they’ll examine the media’s role in America, journalism’s potential in their countries and online communications’ influence on the international community.

The participants will benefit from the “skills and knowledge [they’ll] acquire and be able to disseminate,” said Professor Sylvia Chan-Olmsted, principal investigator and associate dean for research. “The U.S. will also benefit, as better informed audiences in the participants’ countries lead to more productive relationships.”

The institute goes beyond providing new tools. It aims to inspire such actions as the promotion of a global free press and engendering interaction among members of the media, said Professor Emeritus Kurt Kent, the institute’s co-director.

The participants are among the 30,000 people who participate annually in State Department exchanges, which include the Fulbright program. They will produce news and multimedia blogs and take a close look at diversity in the United States. They’ll visit a Habitat for Humanity project and African-American, Haitian and Hispanic media operations.

The experience is about more than exchanging knowledge and sharing viewpoints — it’s about establishing long-term, two-way relationships, Kent said. “Our faculty members will learn from them while they’re here, and afterwards.” It’s also about the future. The participants will have an impact on their countries’ next generations of journalists and media professionals.

The workshop will be facilitated by the University of Florida Counseling Center’s Wayne Griffin and Natalie Indelicato and will be a good opportunity for all UF employees to learn more about the life-saving method QPR, or Question, Persuade, Refer.

To reserve a seat, e-mail Glenn Ketcham at gketcham@ehs.ufl.edu.

“We’ve heard from our listeners that they get a lot out of the show, but it’s also nice to be recognized by our peers,” host Tom Wichman said.

The program is written in a friendly and fun style that appeals to both amateur and experienced gardeners — covering such topics as lawn care, flower planting, watering and fertilizing. There are also shows about outdoor living, garden-related crafts, hurricane preparation and recovery, as well as coping with drought.

“Americans love to garden,” said Wichman, who is also the primary content reviewer for the program and the state Master Gardener coordinator. “And we think this format is a great way to get people interested in the latest University of Florida research information.”

Three out of four American households have some kind of yard or garden, according to the Garden Writers Association. In fact, Florida’s green industry, which encompasses all lawn- and gardening-related business, contributed $15.2 billion to the state economy in 2006. Research shows that gardeners are not only willing to spend to get the landscapes they want, they are also voracious seekers of gardening-related information.

Each “Gardening in a Minute” show refers the audience to county Extension offices and the “Gardening in a Minute” Web site, www.gardeninginaminute.com. Both the program and Web site emphasize Florida-friendly gardening practices, which impact the state’s unique environment as little as possible.

The radio program and its Web site have been recognized for providing quality information in a user-friendly format by the American Society for Horticultural Science; the Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association; the National Association of County Agricultural Agents; and twice by the Association for Communication Excellence in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Life and Human Sciences.

“Gardening in a Minute” airs every weekday on NPR stations in 19 counties in North Central Florida and will be expanding to other stations in the near future.

Produced by WUFT-FM in Gainesville, “Gardening in a Minute” may be heard on that station and WJUF-FM in Inverness during the 2 o’clock hour and again at 6:18 p.m. It’s sponsored by UF’s Center for Landscape Ecology and Conservation.

William G. Lassiter Jr. and his wife Aneice of West Palm Beach, Fla., have given $1 million to UF’s M.E. Rinker Sr. School of Building Construction and $1 million to UF’s College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics.

“I wanted to put back something into the university that would help a lot of young people in building construction,” said William Lassiter, alumnus of the building construction program at UF and director of W.G. Lassiter Properties Inc., a major real estate development company in Palm Beach, Fla. “My wife wanted to do something for kids, so we also decided to give to the Department of Pediatrics.”

Lassiter, who graduated from UF in 1951, is also the president of Palm Beach Development Corp. and Legal Leasing Corporation and director of Gardens Park Plaza Inc. and the Beltub Park Property Owners Association Inc.

The gift to the School of Building Construction in the College of Design, Construction and Planning will endow the William G. Lassiter Jr. and Aneice R. Lassiter Professorship in Building Construction. The funds will provide spendable income to be used to support a professorship in the school.

“The resources generated by Lassiter’s endowed professorship will be used to bring outstanding
construction professionals into the classroom to share their knowledge with our students and give them a broader
exposure to the real world of construction,” said Abdol Chini, director and professor at the school.

The Lassiters also gave $600,000 to endow the William G. Lassiter Jr. and Aneice R. Lassiter Professorship in the Department of Pediatrics to support a professorship with an emphasis on congenital heart disease, and $400,000 to endow the William G. Lassiter Jr. and Aneice R. Lassiter Pediatric Diabetes Research Fund.

The gift is eligible to receive state matching funds from the State of Florida Trust Fund for Major Gifts and it will be recognized as part of President Bernie Machen’s Faculty Challenge Initiative.
“We want young men and women to further their education, graduate and go on to make good careers,” said Lassiter. “We also wish that our gift will help provide funds for someone to discover a cure for congenital heart disease or take pediatric diabetes research to another level.”

The gardens, behind Fifield Hall off Hull Road, represent a collaborative effort between the University of Florida, the Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association, and international plant breeders to evaluate new plant cultivars that work well in Florida’s challenging climate.

“For the average home gardener, I think it offers an opportunity for them to see the up-and-coming varieties that are out there,” said Julie Markowitz, a spokeswoman for FNGLA.

The trial gardens showcase nearly 800 varieties of ornamental and flowering plants, native plants and ornamental grasses from 19 suppliers. The tested varieties often include the newest colors and flower forms that are being introduced, said Jim Barrett, professor of floriculture.

Researchers at UF plant the cultivars in late March and early April and monitor how well they perform throughout the spring and summer. The final results are then compiled and made available online. The 2006 results and photographs are currently available, and the 2007 results will be available later this year.

The UF trial gardens will continue through the end of the summer and are free and open to the public, though restrooms and water fountains are only available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday when Fifield Hall is open. Parking in the Fifield Hall lot is restricted to UF decal holders weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Seating is limited for this event, which will include an opportunity for participants to ask questions and share their own experiences on the topic. To reserve a seat, e-mail Glenn Ketcham at gketcham@ehs.ufl.edu.

The grant, which will be distributed over three years starting in July, will fund her research into two proteins associated with breast cancer development and spread: focal adhesion kinase and p53, a tumor suppressor gene altered in about 40 percent of breast tumor cases. Golubovskaya, who is affiliated with UF Shands Cancer Center, will analyze how the two proteins interact, an association that has never been studied in the breast cancer cell-biology field.

“This grant will help develop future therapy for breast cancer targeting these two proteins,” Golubovskaya said.

The grant is part of nearly $82 million the foundation is awarding this year through its Research Grants and Awards Program.

The award is given annually to a periodontal faculty member in each of the nation’s 56 dental schools who has been identified by his or her colleagues as having provided “outstanding teaching and mentoring in periodontics.” Brock was cited for his contributions to the department as interim director of the postgraduate program while continuing his undergraduate teaching, and for his recent board certification in periodontology.

In this newly created position, she will develop and implement an evidence-based clinical curriculum in preventive dentistry and work to ensure preventive dentistry is integrated through all four years of the D.M.D. curriculum.

Autio-Gold is a clinical researcher specializing in dental cariology, the study of dental decay as a transmissible, infectious bacterial disease. Her skill set includes evaluation of preventive dentistry and development of oral health programs, caries risk assessment and minimally invasive restorative dentistry.

Autio-Gold earned her dental and doctoral degrees in cariology from the University of Oulu, Finland. She serves as secretary/treasurer for the International Association for Dental Research and is a member of the association’s Cariology Group. She also has served as chairwoman of the American Association for Dental Research Fellowship Committee.