A University of Florida professor has replaced a traditional essay assignment in his graduate school law course with an AI-driven simulation called PrincipalGPT, in which students act as school attorneys advising an AI-generated principal on legal and ethical dilemmas. The interactive format is designed to help students apply real statutes to practical scenarios through live dialogue rather than static writing. Researchers are now working to extend the model into professional development programs for K-12 administrators statewide.
Sources: UF News
The University of Florida has appointed Kevin Robert Orr as dean of its College of the Arts, with the role beginning July 1. Orr has led the UF School of Music since 2015, overseeing 450 music majors and a faculty and staff of 55, while helping raise nearly $65 million for the music building’s renovation and expansion. During his tenure he also launched new degree programs and hired 37 full-time faculty and staff members.
Sources: UF News · The Gainesville Sun
A University of Florida research team is launching photonic semiconductor chips to the International Space Station to evaluate how they perform under extreme conditions. The work is aimed at finding energy-efficient alternatives to earth-based data centers, as the explosive growth of AI continues to place severe strain on power grids.
Sources: UF News
University of Florida scientists are conducting a four-year, USDA-funded study worth nearly $750,000 to evaluate whether spreading basaltic volcanic rock dust can improve soil health and crop productivity across Florida’s varied farmlands. The research targets the state’s nutrient-poor sandy soils as well as highly organic soils, with the goal of reducing dependence on conventional fertilizers. Findings could inform soil management practices in warm, humid agricultural regions throughout the South and in irrigated farming areas nationally.
Sources: UF News
A UF College of Veterinary Medicine surgical oncologist has joined forces with the robotic drug discovery team at the Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute to study melanoma and osteosarcoma — a bone cancer more common in dogs than in humans. The collaboration exploits deep biological similarities between dogs and people, comparing how cancer cell lines from each species respond to drugs in order to identify treatments that could benefit both. Researchers say the cross-species approach could speed the pipeline for new cancer therapies.
Sources: UF News
