UF partnership brings robotic fish to Florida classrooms to spark young scientists
Elementary school students across Florida are using robotic fish to learn one of science’s most fundamental skills: asking questions. A partnership between the University of Florida Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the Thompson Earth Systems Institute at the Florida Museum of Natural History is developing hands-on classroom kits that help students investigate scientific concepts through experimentation…
MAE Partners with CPET to Bring Rocketry to Young STEM Learners
Students participating in the University of Florida’s Center for Precollegiate Education and Training (CPET) recently took part in a hands-on rocketry experience led in collaboration with the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Instructional Professor Matthew J. Traum, Ph.D. The activity gave students the opportunity to design, build, and launch model rockets while exploring the…
Yu Wang’s Vision for Safer, More Human-Centered Autonomous Systems
For Yu Wang, Ph.D., engineering has always been about more than technology. It’s about people. Long before receiving one of the nation’s most prestigious honors for early-career faculty, the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, Wang was fascinated by a simple question: How can we teach autonomous systems to be safer, more reliable, and more beneficial to…
UF Professor Subrata Roy Selected for Florida Inventors Hall of Fame
Subrata Roy, a University of Florida professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering has been selected for induction into the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame for his pioneering work developing plasma‑based technologies that address challenges in areas including health care, food safety, water treatment and space exploration. Roy’s inventions have been patented, commercialized and applied beyond the laboratory, leading to…
MAE Chair Spearot honored as Distinguished Teaching Scholar
The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering proudly congratulates our Interim Chair, Douglas E. Spearot, on his induction into the prestigious University of Florida Academy of Distinguished Teaching Scholars (ADTS). This outstanding recognition highlights Dr. Spearot’s lasting impact as an educator, researcher, and mentor, and reflects his unwavering commitment to student success and excellence in engineering…
2026 MAE Awards Celebration
The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering gathered students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends for its annual Awards Celebration in April, an evening dedicated to celebrating achievement, service, and the MAE community. The banquet represents months of coordination and teamwork across the department and beyond. Teams and individuals throughout the MAE community worked together to highlight…
Drones and decisions: UF optimizing communication among autonomous units
Imagine a cluster of drones swarming above a dense thicket of trees, eyeing its way through unfamiliar topography to locate a missing person amid unpredictable weather. Each drone has its own complex communication and computing capabilities. But as that weather starts to sour against the clock, the rescue mission requires group optimization, not a single drone…
SA Sherif Earns UF Mentoring Honors and ASME Dedicated Service Award
Many of us remember a mentor whose influence stayed with us long after the lessons ended. Someone whose guidance continues to shape how we think, work and lead. For many doctoral students in the department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida, SA Sherif, Ph.D., has been that steady voice throughout their academic…
Subhash Selected for Prestigious Society of Engineering Science Fellowship
Ghatu Subhash, Ph.D., was selected for fellowship at the prestigious Society of Engineering Science (SES). This society sets itself apart because of its acute focus on engineering theory rather than practical applications. Small but mighty, SES boasts members from the National Academy of Science (NAS) and of Engineering (NES) as well as top researchers from around…
Engineering the Future, Mentoring the Next: Yong Huang Ph.D.
Dr. Yong Huang is a professor in the departments of mechanical and aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, materials science and engineering, chemical engineering, and electrical and computer Engineering at the University of Florida. A passionate researcher and mentor, Huang focuses on advanced manufacturing, particularly how materials behave during processing and how innovative manufacturing methods can be used to tackle real-world…