Founded to reach the moon, we鈥檙e already on our way to the next frontier. Built for liftoff, America鈥檚 Space University celebrates 麻豆原创 Space Week Nov. 3-7.

Where Global Leaders Unite to Boldly Forge the Future of Space

When humans return to the moon, they won鈥檛 be alone. NASA will send robotic machines with them, and like all relationships, trust will be critical.

Through a partnership with Cislune Inc., 麻豆原创 is using immersive technologies to improve trust between humans and artificial intelligence for decision-making in space when circumstances are changing and data remains uncertain 鈥� ultimately ensuring astronaut safety and mission success.

Led by 麻豆原创 Associate Professor Gerd Bruder as principal investigator, Phase I of the project was funded through a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant in which 麻豆原创 collaborated with Cislune to design and build a moon mission simulator. The system was used to refine human decision-making behavior and optimize interactions between astronauts and autonomous systems across the mission timeline.

The project aims to help reduce cognitive workload for astronauts while enhancing critical data, such as breathable oxygen levels, propellant stores and rover range. It鈥檚 also an example of how Knights are developing tech solutions that will propel humanity鈥檚 possibilities in space, which 麻豆原创 was founded to fuel.

鈥淚n future lunar missions, humans will be working in concert with highly autonomous machines 鈥� and both will be making decisions while inundated with data from an ever-growing network of sensors and computers,鈥� says Hiroshi Furuya, a 麻豆原创 computer science doctoral student and graduate research assistant who worked on the project.

Cislune provided insights into space mission operations from previous work with space robotics and rovers, while experts from 麻豆原创鈥檚 supplied expertise in using virtual reality (VR) to create immersive simulations. The collaboration highlights how 麻豆原创 often works with industry to generate collective impact.

麻豆原创鈥檚 team leveraged interdisciplinary knowledge from computer science, engineering and human factors in healthcare 鈥� examining decision support systems designed for nurses and medical professionals.

鈥淭he healthcare research gave us an insightful window into how practitioners evaluate systems when risk and time pressure are critical features of the workplace, which has important connections for space health and missions,鈥� says Furuya, who was previously awarded a NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship for his graduate studies.

AdventHealth Endowed Chair in Healthcare Simulation , co-director of SREAL, provided insights into factors that influence trust and the design of human subject experiments.

鈥淚 find it fascinating how seemingly subtle changes in how relevant information is conveyed can impact trust and decision making,鈥� says Welch, a computer scientist and engineer in 麻豆原创鈥檚 College of Nursing.

The team studied how human-machine trust, uncertainty and decision-making intersect by using VR simulations. The resulting simulator prototype immerses users in a realistic, mission-relevant environment.

The simulator could be crucial not only for the Artemis program, but also for future lunar and deep space exploration missions.

Cislune and 麻豆原创 have submitted a proposal for Phase II of the project, which will expand the simulator and conduct research studies to improve the way machine assistants can help astronauts make decisions under stress and uncertainty.

The tour included visits with key 麻豆原创 research centers, such as (IST), , and the Center of Excellence in Hypersonic and Space Propulsion (HyperSpace Center).

While Grady toured 麻豆原创鈥檚 defense-related research, his wife, Christine Grady, visited 麻豆原创鈥檚 Office of Military and Veteran Student Success; , a clinic dedicated to treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and met with 麻豆原创 Army and Air Force ROTC cadets.

鈥淭he visit from Admiral and Mrs. Grady underscores the vital role 麻豆原创 plays in advancing national security and defense research, supporting critical DOD needs, and preparing the next generation of military leaders,鈥� says Winston V. Schoenfeld, 麻豆原创鈥檚 vice president for research and innovation. 鈥淥ver 30% of 麻豆原创鈥檚 federal funding has come from the DOD for more than a decade, positioning 麻豆原创 as a national leader in delivering key innovations to the DOD.鈥�

The Tour

Grady began his visit with a meeting alongside 麻豆原创 President Alexander N. Cartwright, where they discussed 麻豆原创鈥檚 longstanding commitment to supporting the nation鈥檚 defense through cutting-edge research and workforce development.

While with CREOL, Admiral Grady received a briefing on directed energy research and its applications for DOD missions, particularly the capabilities of the Townes Institute for Science and Technology Experimentation Facility. The institute, located at Kennedy Space Center, supports multidisciplinary research with a focus on space science, optics and other advanced technologies.

At IST, 麻豆原创 showcased the latest advancements in digital twin technology, such as real-time 3D digital twins of structures and areas, and artificial intelligence for DOD-decision making tools.

Grady鈥檚 visit to the HyperSpace Center focused on the integration of students into the research process and the timeline for the hypersonic technology, which would allow air travel at speeds of up to 13,000 miles per hour (Mach 17).

Commitment to National Defense and Military Success

麻豆原创 is a national leader in supporting military and defense initiatives through education, research and industry partnerships.

麻豆原创鈥檚 Office of Military and Veteran Student Success supports more than 3,200 military-connected students, including veterans, active-duty and dependents, by providing academic advising, transition assistance and tailored guidance.

麻豆原创 RESTORES offers innovative, no-cost PTSD treatment for veterans and first responders, with clinical trials achieving a 100% success rate in just 14 days for participants completing VR-assisted exposure therapy. The program has treated more than 500 veterans and 950 first responders, with the majority no longer meeting PTSD criteria.

麻豆原创 also boasts top-ranked ROTC programs, with the Army ROTC Fighting Knights Battalion and Air Force Detachment 159 preparing leaders for military and civilian careers. 麻豆原创鈥檚 AFROTC program, which has been developing officers for the Air Force and Space Force for more than 50 years, has earned the DOD鈥檚 ROTC and Educational Institutional Partnership Excellence Award for multiple areas of excellence.

In research, 麻豆原创鈥檚 close ties to the defense industry are amplified through Central Florida Research Park, a $7 billion hub for modeling and simulation adjacent to 麻豆原创鈥檚 main campus, which is also home to six DOD headquarters. 麻豆原创 also ranks No. 1 in Florida for VA certifications, is leading the nation in the number of cybersecurity championships, and is the top supplier of graduates to the aerospace and defense industries.

For Jacobson, who has had the visual impairment for 25 years, the online program presented an opportunity for her to return to a profession she loves.

鈥淚 was intrigued to be able to do something in nursing without patient contact,鈥� she says.

Her journey to this degree 鈥� her second master鈥檚 in nursing and fifth overall 鈥� has been filled with challenges.

With a passion for caring for others, she pursued a career in nursing. After earning her bachelor鈥檚 degree in nursing, she initially worked at the bedside before joining the U.S. Air Force where she had the rank of captain, worked as a labor and delivery nurse, attended nursing flight school, and served during the Persian Gulf War.

鈥淢y plan was to go to medical school to become an obstetrician or midwife and deliver babies,鈥� she says. She even had completed all of her pre-med requirements while being a single parent and serving in active duty.

That journey, however, was cut short after a procedure to remove thyroid cancer triggered a reaction in her eyes 鈥� causing her vision to slowly deteriorate.

Despite the challenges of her disability and in life, she continued to care for others as now a mother to five children and she continued to pursue an education, earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology, master鈥檚 degree in nursing health policy and a law degree.

While juggling the demands of being a mother and a student, she earned good grades and was an active community volunteer 鈥� even serving as president of her son鈥檚 basketball booster club.

鈥淚鈥檝e had a lot of unfortunate things happen to me, but who doesn鈥檛,鈥� Jacobson says. Her advice for other students, 鈥淔ocus on what you鈥檙e doing today or this semester. That is what you need to worry about.鈥�

After practicing law for several years (she had to close the practice to focus on her family), she returned to school and enrolled in the 鈥� one of only a few nationwide.

During the program, she needed to complete clinical rotation and worked alongside renowned simulation expert and nurse practitioner in a Central Florida clinic.

鈥淚 really enjoyed it, as I really miss being able to be a nurse,鈥� Jacobson says. 鈥淚 still have a lot of nursing knowledge, and it was great to tap into that and belong in that group again.鈥�

She also spent three days in 麻豆原创鈥檚 .

鈥淭hey were really excellent at providing accommodations for me,鈥� she says. Those accommodations included hooking up Jacobson鈥檚 27-inch iMac, her 鈥渨indow to the world.鈥�

In the program at 麻豆原创, one class in particular stood out.

鈥溌槎乖粹�檚 evidence-based practice class is outstanding,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 learned so much and I enjoyed it a lot.鈥�

In fact, it sparked a desire to learn more and she鈥檚 now pursuing an evidence-based practice certification.

Jacobson planned to walk across the stage at 麻豆原创鈥檚 Spring 2023 commencement for the very first time since nursing school 40 years ago, but unfortunately, is needed to care for family. Fortunately, she will have another opportunity.

Her commitment to lifelong learning is not stopping with this degree. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in nursing science, a certificate in nurse coaching, and a graduate certificate in medical writing and editing at other universities. She also recently earned certifications in Python and machine learning, which she plans to use in her data analysis for her doctoral degree and in other research environments.

For Jacobson, knowledge is power and she plans to use that power to help others through advocacy for other nurses with disabilities.

鈥淲e should support each other, and support our fellow nurses with disabilities.鈥�

鈥淭here is a lot they can do, and they can still make contributions to the profession,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e should support each other, and support our fellow nurses with disabilities.鈥�

She is leading by example and, with her degrees, will continue to make contributions to the profession by advancing nursing science through research. She is first focused on validating nurse coaching.

鈥淚 think nurse coaches can do a tremendous amount, and fill the gap a lot in healthcare,鈥� she says.

This is the second time Hancock has received this award for his scholarly work in the area of human factors. This award is for work he published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences concerning the 鈥淔uture of Transportation in an Era of Automated and Autonomous Vehicles.鈥�

The award recognizes a peer-reviewed publication that addresses a significant problem in an innovative way and its relevance to advancing the scientific field of human factors. The national organization was founded in 1990 and works to encourage human factors considerations in the development of aerospace systems.

Human factors looks at improving the intersection between people and machines to maximize human performance and enhance safety. Much of this work is conducted in the area of simulation and modeling, which is why Hancock also has a joint appointment at the Institute of Simulation and Training. Hancock has been at the forefront of this research area since the 1970s. His early work on modeling physiological systems聽influenced both national and international standards for occupational stress exposure and he鈥檚 been honored numerous times over the past decade for his contributions. Most recently he was inducted into the National Center for Simulation鈥檚 Modeling and Simulation Hall of Fame.

Hancock, a Pegasus and Provost Distinguished Professor in the past five years has been named to several high-profile national boards and earned multiple awards. They include:

• United States Air Force, Science Advisory Board
• United States Army, Science Advisory Board
• Paul Bert Award, Aerospace Physiology Society
• International Ergonomics Association Outstanding Educator Award
• Sidney D. Leverett Jr. Environmental Science Award, Aerospace Medical Association
• Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award

Hancock also has a joint appointment in the Departments of Industrial and Systems Engineering and in Civil and Environmental Engineering at 麻豆原创.

Jasmine Haynes, a graduate student in the social work track who is pursuing a doctorate in public affairs, and social work faculty members聽Denise Gammonley,聽 补苍诲听聽conducted research this summer on the benefits of virtual reality in the classroom.

Their goals were to see if virtual reality could improve students鈥� feeling of preparedness in working with Alzheimer鈥檚 patients, as well as foster empathy for the patients and family members affected by the disease.

鈥淚t鈥檚 different than having students engage in role-playing or watch videos because one of the challenges with role-playing is that it is only as good as the actor,鈥� Gammonley says. 鈥淲e needed a better way of exposing students to these situations before we send them out into the field. With virtual reality, students get this experience in a way that feels more real to them.鈥�

Melody Bowdon, interim vice provost of the division of teaching and learning and interim dean of the College of Undergraduate Studies, said the research has helped to convince her of the benefits of virtual reality in the classroom.

“There are some things that can鈥檛 be explained or described but that can be experienced through virtual reality.鈥�

鈥淚 could see the value of VR for recreational and entertainment purposes before I became aware of the Embodied Labs virtual reality tool, but I didn鈥檛 see how it fit into the teaching world,鈥� Bowdon says. 鈥淣ow, I鈥檓 an advocate for it. There are some things that can鈥檛 be explained or described but that can be experienced through virtual reality.鈥�

Researchers in the聽聽are continuing to explore the use of virtual reality simulation training to enhance students鈥� preparedness in helping patients with other conditions. This kind of exposure helps standardize the learning experience because students are not exposed to individuals with every condition in their clinical training.

鈥淐linical training is so important to preparing students for their future as social workers,鈥� Gammonley says. 鈥淏ut we have very little control over what they will be exposed to during that training. Virtual reality allows us to best prepare our students by exposing them to an array of conditions they are likely to see in their careers.鈥�

The subject of Alzheimer鈥檚 is personal for Haynes; her grandfather, who suffered from Alzheimer鈥檚 and Parkinson鈥檚 disease, passed away in 2008.

鈥淢y grandfather was a pretty quiet individual,鈥� she says, 鈥渂ut as his Alzheimer鈥檚 symptoms became more severe, he became more withdrawn and detached.鈥�

That detachment is often an obstacle in treating someone with Alzheimer鈥檚. It鈥檚 an uncomfortable territory for the patient, the family and the social worker.

After experiencing life vignettes through the perspective of a virtual Alzheimer鈥檚 patient, students feel more comfortable and prepared to work with these patients.

鈥淟earning by experience can help students to connect with the concepts and tools we are teaching them,鈥� Bowdon says. 鈥淲hen we can鈥檛 provide the exact experience we are looking to expose our students to in real life, virtual reality can bridge the gap and ignite another dimension of learning.鈥�

The annual award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated extraordinary dedication to the day-to-day implementation of simulation and to excellence in the delivery of simulation-based learning. Spears received the award Thursday at the association鈥檚 2019 conference in Phoenix. The association is a global community of more than 1,800 industry leaders, educators and researchers dedicated to transforming practice to improve patient safety through excellence in healthcare simulation.

鈥淭he advancement and desire to expound on the science of simulation drives her,鈥� says Assistant Professor Desiree A. D铆az. 鈥淪yretta has provided a level of stability and spirit of excellence in the daily operations of our STIM Center and fosters an environment of innovation.鈥�

鈥淪yretta is the one individual we have come to trust to ensure our simulation-based learning experiences meet the highest standards,鈥� says Laura Gonzalez, simulation director at the college. 鈥淪he supports the facilitators and ensures the activities provide an enriching experience for all learners.鈥�

One such activity is the development of an 鈥淓scape Rescue Room,鈥� where teams of students are given hidden clues to address a patient mannequin鈥檚 signs and symptoms. The innovative, yet informative, method is used to enhance teaching and learning of health policies, hospital procedures and guidelines. 聽This successful activity was recently selected for presentation at the National League for Nursing Summit.

Additionally, Spears recently led the efforts to create Simsations 4 Life at the college. In the interdisciplinary club, simulation activities are brought to life with undergraduate and graduate students as well as volunteers from LIFE@麻豆原创 (Learning Institute for Elders) who participate as embedded patients. Spears also created the online orientation and helped develop a 鈥淗aunted Lab鈥� and 鈥淎mazing Race鈥� experience, demonstrating her creativity and innovation in the field.

鈥淭he creation of the club has elevated our simulation fidelity, or realism, tenfold,鈥� says Gonzalez.

Spears has been the STIM Center manager since 2016 and was among the first graduates of the college鈥檚 innovative and interdisciplinary healthcare simulation graduate certificate program. Last year she became one of the first to earn the Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist designation. The certification is an international recognition of her specialized knowledge, skills, abilities and accomplishments in the field. Now she is preparing to conduct her first webinar to mentor other simulationists.

At 麻豆原创, she is part an elite team of healthcare simulation experts, including three advanced certified healthcare simulation educators, two certified healthcare simulation educators, and an internationally recognized computer scientist and engineer.

This is the third consecutive year that an excellence award from the association honored a faculty or staff member from the 麻豆原创 College of Nursing. Associate Professor Mindi Anderson and D铆az were honored with the Excellence in Academia award in 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The annual award recognizes educators who have demonstrated flexibility, creativity and innovation in simulation-based education that has achieved positive outcomes for students and faculty. Anderson received the award at the 2018 INACSL Conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The INACSL is a global community of more than 2,000 industry leaders, educators and researchers dedicated to transforming practice to improve patient safety through excellence in health care simulation.

鈥淒r. Anderson excels in all the roles of academia: teaching, research and service,鈥� said Susan K. Chase, professor at the college. 鈥淗er thoughtful and creative simulations for a nurse practitioner course have enhanced learning, with students exceeding the national average on the board certification exam and earning a 100 percent pass rate. She has also been instrumental in the development of our innovative graduate simulation program.鈥�

鈥淗er enthusiastic personality transcends global boundaries,鈥� added Desiree A. D铆az, assistant professor at the college. 鈥淚n addition to leading successful simulation programs at the University of Texas at Arlington and now 麻豆原创, she recently completed a Fulbright Specialist program in Thailand where she assisted a nursing school in establishing simulation standards of best practice.鈥�

Anderson is one of the foremost experts in health care simulation education, among just 28 in the world who have earned advanced certification in the field 鈥� three are on faculty at the college. An educator for 18 years, Anderson was an early pioneer in the adoption of simulation in health care academic settings. Her research has been widely published and presented both nationally and internationally.

On faculty at 麻豆原创 since 2015, Anderson is currently director of the Nursing and Health Care Simulation Program, the first and only program of its kind in the state of Florida to prepare leaders in the rapidly growing field. She is also part of an interdisciplinary team developing novel learning and training scenarios associated with an innovative and patented physical-virtual patient simulator developed at 麻豆原创.

She is a fellow of the National League for Nursing Academy of Nursing Education, and a longstanding member of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare and the INACSL. In addition, Anderson is a reviewer for the National League for Nursing鈥檚 Nursing Education Perspectives journal and Clinical Simulation in Nursing, is associate editor for the international journal Simulation & Gaming and serves on the editorial board of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare鈥檚 Simulation in Healthcare journal.

This is the second excellence award Anderson has received from INACSL. In 2011, she was awarded the Excellence in Research Award. This is also the second consecutive year that the Excellence in Academia Award was bestowed to a faculty member at 麻豆原创. D铆az received the award in 2017.

鈥淰ery few, if any, universities in the country have the same level of advanced educators on faculty,鈥� said Mary Lou Sole, dean of the 麻豆原创 College of Nursing. 鈥淚t demonstrates our commitment to advance health care through excellence in research, education and ultimately, patient safety.鈥�

An educational leader, the College of Nursing has remained at the forefront of the health care simulation industry. In recent years, leveraging its location in Orlando at the epicenter for modeling, simulation and training, the college has recruited nationally renowned experts to its faculty and created the state鈥檚 first and only Health Care Simulation graduate program.

One of the nation鈥檚 largest universities, 麻豆原创 is recognized nationally for its innovation. At the College of Nursing, its faculty are actively engaged in research in the field of simulation and technology. Current funded projects include a patented new simulated patient, an interactive 鈥�game鈥� to help older patients with cancer and a simulated learning experience to enhance nurses鈥� readiness to practice.

The Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator-Advanced (CHSE-A) certification from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare is awarded to leaders in health care simulation who have demonstrated a high level of expertise. Individuals must already have a CHSE (Certified Health Care Simulation Educator) certification, which is awarded after passing a comprehensive exam demonstrating specialized knowledge, skills and abilities in simulation education, and submit a portfolio highlighting their research, applied work and accomplishments in the field. Of the more than 1,200 CHSE, only an elite group of 28 have earned an advanced certification.

Anderson, an associate professor, and D铆az, an assistant professor, joined the faculty in 2015 and earned their advanced certification in 2014 and 2016, respectively. Gonzalez, director of simulation at the College of Nursing and a clinical associate professor, has been on faculty since 2011 and achieved her CHSE-A in February 2018.

After receiving a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2015, Victoria Loerzel and her dedicated team have worked to develop a game they hope will help patients take better care of themselves. Now ready for clinical trials, this interactive program will be piloted and tested at the UF Health Cancer Center at Orlando Health.

鈥淚t may sound simple, but a lot goes into decision-making for symptom self-management for older people,鈥� Loerzel said. 鈥淭hey often don鈥檛 think about how their actions impact their symptoms.鈥� Older adults are less likely to effectively manage chemotherapy side effects at home, placing them at greater risk for adverse events such as dehydration, weight loss, low blood pressure and more. This results in reduced daily function and an increased chance of an unplanned hospitalization.

An educational tool, Loerzel鈥檚 game was designed to help older adults improve cancer symptom management through better self-care decisions at home. By taking control of their symptom management at home, patients can reduce severe symptoms, unplanned hospital visits and, ultimately, improve quality of life.

The game will allow players to practice at-home symptom management with a character and real-life scenarios to visualize both good and bad outcomes based on their self-management choices. For example, if the character in the 鈥済ame鈥� is experiencing mild nausea from chemotherapy, the patient will have the option to choose how to manage it. They can decide to take medication, take a nap, watch TV and wait for it to pass, or do something else. Based on their answer, the nausea will either go away or get worse. After the 鈥済ame鈥� is played, the patient and their nurse will discuss the outcomes and decisions.

Once shown to be effective, Loerzel hopes this innovative educational tool will be widely used at the bedside to educate, improve symptom management at home and improve the quality of life for cancer patients struggling with symptom management.

Loerzel, who was recently appointed to an endowed professorship, is an oncology certified nurse and has been practicing for more than 20 years. She has focused much of her research on improving symptom management and quality of life for older adults with cancer. She is working with Dr. John Clochesy from the College of Nursing at the University of South Florida, Eileen Smith from at the , Dr. Patricia Geddie from the UF Health Cancer Center at Orlando Health, and 麻豆原创 professor Dr. Xin Yan.

The INACSL is a community of more than 1,500 members in 13 countries dedicated to improving patient safety through excellence in health care simulation. As the vice president of programs, Gonzalez oversees the creation and implementation of the organization鈥檚 professional development and educational opportunities. Programs include webinars, regional simulation workshops and conferences.

鈥淎s a researcher who is dedicated to improving patient outcomes using simulation and technology, INACSL, and the community it provides, has been a beneficial resource in my career,鈥� said Gonzale, who has been a member since 2009. 鈥淚t has been an honor to work with the board of distinguished simulation experts this past year, and I am excited to have the opportunity to continue to serve another year to benefit our members and ultimately, patient care.鈥�

In addition to her board position at INACSL, Gonzalez serves as an on-site accreditation evaluator for the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. She is a member of the Southern Nursing Research Society, Society for Simulation in Healthcare and the nursing honor society Sigma Theta Tau International.

Gonzalez joined the college faculty in 2011 as assistant professor and is a 2008 alumna of the Nursing PhD program. She is currently simulation coordinator across all nursing programs at the college, expanding the implementation of the technology in curriculum to enhance student skills development and learning.