Spring 2026 Letter from the Director

Friday April 24, 2026

Dear alumni, students, faculty and friends,  As summer appears on the horizon, now is a good time to showcase some of the people and projects that make the University of Florida a leader in civil, coastal and environmental engineering. It has been an amazing semester.   First, we’re excited to introduce the new director of the […]

A career highlight: ESSIE’s Ferraro receives award named for his hero

Monday April 20, 2026

In what he describes as a major highlight of his career, Christopher Ferraro, Ph.D., has been awarded the 2025 Jean-Claude Roumain Innovation in Concrete Award by the American Concrete Institute (ACI).  

ESSIE’s Behdad honored for doctoral dissertation advising

Monday April 20, 2026

The Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering awarded Sara Behdad, Ph.D., the Doctoral Dissertation Advisor/Mentoring Award for the 2025–26 academic year.  

ESSIE’s Rawlinson wins college Faculty Advisor/Mentor Award

Monday April 20, 2026

Taylor Rawlinson, Ph.D., has been selected to receive the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering Faculty Advisor/Mentor Award for the 2025–26 academic year.  

Taking concrete steps towards sustainability

Tuesday March 24, 2026

In a $5 million project funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, a team of researchers from UF, Rutgers University, Oregon State University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology are exploring the viability of using steel slag as an ingredient in cement and concrete. ESSIE associate professor Christopher Ferraro, Ph.D., is one of the project’s principal investigators. 

UF-mentored Turbo Gatorbots win state, advance to FIRST LEGO League World Championship

Friday March 13, 2026

The Turbo Gatorbots secured first place out of more than 800 teams across Florida, earning them a spot at the FIRST LEGO League World Championship in Houston this April, where roughly 200 teams from 66 countries will compete. 

Why light poles failed in Hurricane Ian despite meeting design standards

Wednesday February 4, 2026

UF researchers found that aluminum light poles damaged during Hurricane Ian failed not because of extreme winds alone, but due to a combination of manufacturing defects, design features and installation errors that reduced their built-in safety margins.

Civil Engineering stalwart Chick Glagola remembered as ‘soul of the department’

Tuesday January 6, 2026

Described by his colleagues as the “soul of the department,” Civil Engineering Professor Emeritus Charles “Chick” Glagola, Ph.D., died on Nov. 29 at the age of 80. 

Stark to bring ‘unparalleled expertise’ as new leader of UF’s Center for Coastal Solutions 

Thursday December 18, 2025

University of Florida Associate Professor and researcher Nina Stark was named the new director of the Center of Coastal Solutions — known as CCS — within the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering.  

ESSIE Newsletter, Fall 2025

Wednesday December 17, 2025