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Sharks, Spines and Speed: The Secret Behind Their Swimming Styles
What powers a shark's incredible speed, agility and endurance? New Florida Atlantic research discovered the answer lies hidden inside its spine - a biomechanical marvel. Published in the Journal of Anatomy, the study used high-resolution micro-CT imaging to examine and quantify the internal structures and shape of vertebrae from six shark species, revealing that their spines are highly specialized biomechanical systems designed to balance strength, flexibility and swimming efficiency. The study provides new insight into how evolution has shaped shark swimming performance and reveals how these natural designs could inspire future advances in engineering and biomimetic technologies.
| | “Nature has spent hundreds of millions of years refining these designs,” said Marianne E. Porter, Ph.D., senior author and a professor, FAU Department of Biological Sciences. “What we see is an elegant example of biomechanics in action, where each species has evolved a vertebral column precisely tuned to the way it swims. The shark spine isn’t simply flexible – it’s optimized to balance strength, stiffness and motion in ways that maximize performance.” | | | | | |
New Species of African Monkey Discovered in the Congo Rainforest
A rare scientific breakthrough: An international team of researchers has identified a striking new monkey species in the Congo rainforest – the fifth new African monkey species discovered in the past 75 years. Read more.
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Global Schmidt Science Fellow Joins FAU Marine Science Lab to Save Endangered Sea Turtles
Hannah Richards, Ph.D., chose Florida Atlantic to conduct her prestigious Schmidt Science Postdoctoral Fellowship and is on a mission to save endangered sea turtle eggs from local extinction. Read more.
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FAU Harbor Branch Researcher Joins Landmark Ocean Exploration Cruise in Trinidad and Tobago
Joining an international expedition off Trinidad and Tobago, FAU Harbor Branch scientist Megan Conkling, Ph.D., (co-PI) and Professor Emeritus Shirley Pomponi, Ph.D., are aboard the Research Vessel Falkor (too) to explore and map unchartered ocean depths. Read more.
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FAU I-SENSE Evolves to Reflect Decade of Impact Across Cities, Spaces
Celebrating a decade of innovation, FAU's I-SENSE has evolved into I-SENSE: The Institute for Smarter Cities, Spaces, and Health, reflecting its expanding impact to advance solutions that improve urban infrastructure, strengthen weather resilience, enhance national security, protect coastal and marine environments, modernize energy systems and transform healthcare. Read more.
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FAU Instructor Accepted Into Inaugural Cohort of Green Chemistry Professional Mentoring Networks
Donella Beckwith, Ph.D., an instructor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Schmidt College of Science, joined the toxicology network within the program, which aims to share knowledge of toxicology principles with educators and students to design greener, safer chemical products and processes in research and industries. Read more.
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FAU Receives Research Gift from Betty Wold Johnson Foundation
Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute has received a $250,000 gift from the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation to develop a mangrove restoration project at Harbor Branch. Read more.
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Florida Atlantic Entrepreneur Boot Camp Featuring Blue Ocean Economy Track
Have an innovative idea in marine technology, coastal sustainability, ocean health, or the broader blue economy? Prepare to make waves! This year’s hands-on Entrepreneur Boot Camp places a special spotlight on preparing founders for the Blue Ocean Economy Track at the Florida Atlantic Business Pitch Competition. Wednesdays: September 2-30, 2026. Free for students. Learn more.
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Students: WLW-ECOS Paid Internship Opportunities
FAU's WLW-ECOS paid internships provide student stipends while they complete degree-related career experiences at local, well-established nonprofit environment-linked organizations. Students are paid through FAU’s WLW-ECOS Student Success Fund. Learn more.
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Students: WLW-ECOS Undergraduate Research Fellowships
The WLW-ECOS Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program offers Schmidt College of Science undergraduates the opportunity to gain hands-on research experience by working directly with ECOS-member faculty on solution-driven environmental research projects. Fellows receive paid research positions ($22/hour) while building valuable skills, exploring environmental science careers and contributing to projects that make an impact. Learn more.
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Join Us at the 18th Annual Regional Climate Leadership Summit
Nov. 4-6, 2026 | Broward County Convention Center
FAU ECOS is excited to support the 18th annual Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit (Nov. 4–6) as the signature sponsor! Join researchers, policymakers, and community leaders working together on real-world resilience solutions for South Florida and beyond. Be sure to stop by our booth and connect with FAU researchers and leaders in attendance. Learn more and register.
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Miss Fort Lauderdale and FAU Student Paige Aldred Uses Her Crown as a Catalyst for Coastal Conservation
Paige Aldred, a Florida Atlantic University graduate student and 2026 Miss Fort Lauderdale, is blending her passion for marine science and environmental advocacy by researching harmful algal blooms and using her pageant platform to champion critical environmental causes. Read more.
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FAU ECOS Team Showcases Solution Based Research, Wins Award at Prestigious Conservation Biology Conference
Faculty, staff, and students from Florida Atlantic’s School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability (ECOS) participated in the eighth biennial North American Congress for Conservation Biology to share scholarly discourse on contemporary conservation strategies. Read more.
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Leading By Example: Siena Botzer-Gunter Is Driving Local Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship
Learn how Siena Botzer-Gunter, a geoscience major and WLW-ECOS Student Success Scholar, is creating positive sustainability initiatives on campus and across local communities. Read more.
| | | CNN: Monkey With Oange Lips Identified as Newfound Species | Kate Detwiler, Ph.D., senior and corresponding author and an associate professor of biological sciences in the Schmidt College of Science, was featured in a CNN article about the newly identified monkey species of African monkey named Colobus congoensis – one of the rarest discoveries in modern primatology. Read more. | |
NPR: How Researchers Found a New Species of Monkey Deep in the Rainforest
FAU 's Kate Detwiler, Ph.D., senior and corresponding author, and Schmidt College of Science Ph.D. student Junior Amboko, co-corresponding author, were interviewed on WLRN's “All Things Considered” segment for their groundbreaking discovery of a new species of African monkey, known locally as “Likweli.” Read more.
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The New York Times: How a Bird’s Habitat Can Change Its Song
The New York Times featured an in-depth article with Rindy Anderson, Ph.D., an associate professor of biological sciences in the Schmidt College of Science, and her recent study on Bachman’s sparrows that suggests the environment may help determine which bird songs survive across generations. Songs that travel more clearly through habitats were more likely to be common within populations. Read more.
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Oceanographic Magazine: Mobile Lab Gives Caribbean's Iconic Queen Conch New Hope
Led by Research Professor Megan Davis, Ph.D., at Florida Atlantic's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, this article highlighted the mobile hatchery in the Bahamas that has successfully hatched its first queen conch larvae, marking a significant step in a community-led effort to restore a species facing commercial extinction within 15 years. Read more.
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WPLG 10: South Florida Scientists Studying Newborn Sea Turtles
Local 10 News recently highlighted the FAU Marine Lab in Boca Raton—one of only two facilities in the world studying leatherback hatchlings—where researchers are using satellite tagging and nest temperature tracking to protect vulnerable sea turtle species. Watch here. Read more.
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@fauecos | POV: Your Fieldwork Partner Has Fins 🦈
What does a typical day of fieldwork look like for Florida Atlantic marine biology students? Take a point-of-view look aboard the FAU Elasmobranch Lab’s (@sharkmigration) latest research trip with Stephen Kajiura, P.h.D., and his team. Watch hands-on research in action—including measuring, safely handling, and tagging several nurse sharks along with an impressive 11-foot tiger shark. 🎥 Watch the student POV Reel. Follow @fauecos.
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Become a Member
We invite all FAU faculty, postdocs and graduate students to become members of the school. Engage in transformational interdisciplinary research, teaching and community engagement initiatives that bring forth the collective environmental capabilities of the university.
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Partner With the Resilience Engine
Whether you represent local government, private industry, or a community non-profit, your partnership is essential to South Florida’s future. Collaborate with our world-class researchers, invest in the next generation of scientists, or join one of our premier environmental degree programs. Let’s build a more resilient Florida together.
| | Florida Atlantic University’s School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability (ECOS) serves as FAU’s hub for solution-based environmental research, training, and community engagement. Established in 2023 as a partnership between the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI), ECOS unites hundreds of researchers across the university to address the environmental challenges facing South Florida and beyond and to serve as an international model for innovative environmental solutions. | | | | |
