Professor Researching Ways to Improve Water Quality

Kathy Carvalho-Knighton, PhD, is very busy this summer growing small plants – duckweed’s to be specific. But she is not a botanist; she is a USF ST. Petersburg professor researching ways to improve water quality.

While working on her PhD at USF Tampa with Dr. Dean Martin, Carvalho-Knighton became interested in phytoremediation, or the use of plants to remediate contaminates in the environment. When she came to USF St. Petersburg three years ago to teach environmental chemistry, she began to study the use of duckweed plants in the remediation of lead from water.

"Water can become contaminated from sources such as old car batteries, lead shot or other sources,” she said. “Sawgrass Lake is a good example. It's right behind a firing range, and lead from the bullets has contaminated the water.”

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USF Scientists to Deploy Underwater Counter-Terrorism Surveillance During GOP Convention

During a press conference, COT members demonstrate the underwater counter-terrorism surveillence that will be used during the GOP Convention later this month. (click inset photos to enlarge)

The Center for Ocean Technology scientists Steve Untiedt and John Kloske demonstrated real-time underwater counter-terrorism surveillance devices for local media, including television stations, newspapers and the Associated Press, Thursday, July 29. The U.S. Coast Guard has contracted with COT to use the surveillance in New York City during the Republican National Convention Aug. 30 to Sept. 2.

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See the Our Campus In The News section below for article that ran in the Tampa Tribune on July 30.

Barnes and Noble to Offer Faculty and Staff Discount

At the USF St. Petersburg bookstore reception Monday, Aug. 9 from 9 am to 6 pm, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to sign up for a discount card that can be used at the Barnes and Noble Superstore on Tyrone Blvd., located across from Tyrone Square Mall. Card holders will receive:

• 10% discount off of all books (excluding Barnes and Noble hardcover and paperback bestsellers, which are already discounted).
• 10% off all other merchandise, including maps, globes and greeting cards (excluding music department items, special orders, gift certificates, multimedia, periodicals, cafe purchases and other special discount offers).

During the reception, faculty members are also encouraged to check their book orders for fall classes. For more information, contact USF St. Petersburg Bookstore at 553-1173.

College of Arts and Sciences Adopted School Visits USF

Thanks to the St. Petersburg Mayor's Mentor and More Program established earlier this year, teachers from Melrose Elementary visited USF St. Petersburg on Wednesday, July 28 for a Teacher Recognition Breakfast and to discuss plans for the upcoming academic year.

This event was supported by the College of Arts and Sciences and the St. Petersburg Times, who adopted Melrose Elementary School as part of Mayor Rick Baker's mentoring program. In this partnership, the College and the St. Petersburg Times assist with events and provide volunteer support for both teachers and students.  

Campus Completes First Public Hearing for Master Plan

At the first public hearing for the Campus Master Plan on Tuesday, August 3, Abdul Nasser, regional vice chancellor for Administration and Finance, presented a timeline for implementation and details of the plan.

The Master Plan will be provided to various government agencies and will be available at the USF St. Petersburg library for public review.   The next step is a presentation to the city council followed by a second public hearing later this fall.   The USF St. Petersburg Campus Board and USF Board of Trustees will act on this plan by the end of this year after taking into account public comments.   The approval of the Master Plan is a pre-requisite to construction of the first phase of Student Residential Facility and Parking Structure.

The Campus Master Plan addresses enrollment projections, academic/support space, parking, student housing; changes in campus land use, impact on public facilities, services, natural resources and off-campus impacts.  

Upcoming Presentations for Psychologist Candidates

Candidates for the Counseling Center Psychologist position will be on campus next week. Both presentations will be in the Vice Chancellor’s conference room, BAY220.

Dr. Thomas Berry - August 9 from 1:00-2:00 pm

Dr. Roberto Morales - August 11 from 1:30-2:30 pm

Those interested are invited to attend. If you have a disability and need to request a reasonable accommodation, please call 553-4413 five working days prior to the presentation.

Submissions for Welcome Back Edition of Bulletin

The first Bulletin for the fall 2004 semester will be published Aug. 23. The Bulletin is the system-wide online news source for USF staff and faculty.  If your department has information for faculty and staff to ease into the new academic year, please submit that news to Carlene Barbeau at Bulletin_Editor@admin.usf.edu. Bulletin will continue its bi-weekly schedule during the new semester.

USF to Participate in 2004 American Heart Walk

On Saturday, Nov. 6 at 8 am, thousands of community members will participate in a Walk/Run at the 2004 Tampa Bay American Heart Walk, the signature annual fundraiser for the American Heart Association.   The event, which promotes physical activity and heart-healthy living in a fun family environment, will be at the St. Petersburg Times Forum in Tampa.

Join USF by helping to raise funds that will be used to save lives from our country's major killers, heart disease and stroke. Team Captains are also needed to represent USF St. Petersburg in this event. To register, go to www.heartwalk.kintera.org/2004TampaBayFl . A Team Captain Kick-Off will be held on Thursday, August 12, at 5:30 pm at the St. Pete Coliseum located at 535 4th Ave. North.   

For more information on becoming a team captain, participating in the walk, or about making a donation, please contact Barry McDowell at mcdowell@stpt.usf.edu or Barbara Fleischer fleische@stpt.usf.edu .

USF Surveillance System To Protect At Convention

Tampa Tribune

July 30, 2004

ST. PETERSBURG — If the thousands of delegates converging on New York for the upcoming Republican National Convention feel a little safer during their visit, they can thank the University of South Florida.

While the Coast Guard patrols New York Harbor during the Aug. 30 through Sept. 2 convention, a surveillance system designed at USF will be onboard to watch for signs of terrorist activity.

Researchers at USF's Center for Ocean Technology in St. Petersburg developed an underwater sonar and video system. It can detect objects as small as a foot in diameter, transmit 3-dimensional images and pinpoint their location in up to 100 meters, or about 328 feet, of water.

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The USF Web Calendar of Events can advertise to campus-wide faculty, staff and to the general public. Events may include lectures, conferences, ceremonies, concerts, sporting events, scholarship events, fundraising events and exhibits.  The best way to submit your event is to use the central news, events and announcements submission form located here: http://www.stpt.usf.edu/news/submissions.htm