The Florida Academy of Sciences and Undergraduate Research

Florida Academy of Sciences has served the scientific community since 1936. It advocates for and represents all branches of science. Each of its 13 sections focuses on a particular field of science and engineering. Its membership includes faculty, industry professionals, and graduate and undergraduate students from colleges and universities throughout Florida. Regional societies, such as state academies, facilitate networking among colleagues and students. There are issues in research, teaching, and service unique to Florida that are less effectively addressed by larger societies. One recent example is the Academy’s input to the State standards in science teaching at levels K–12. The Academy’s annual meeting provides students with a nearby venue for oral and poster presentations of their research. Registration and travel costs are much less than for national meetings, a consideration these days for faculty as well as students. Florida Scientist, the Academy’s journal, is a peer-reviewed publication solely for its members and is distributed nationally and internationally. The journal provides student members with the privilege to submit their research papers, and abstracts from the annual meeting are published in it as well. The Academy also recognizes excellence in research through appropriate awards for presentations at the annual meeting