University Beat

Edie J. Banner is an organic chemistry instructor at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee.

While most of the school’s teaching laboratories are at Mote Marine, there’s one particular lab right outside the university’s front door.

For nearly two decades, the New Music New College series has been holding contemporary music concerts in Sarasota. It’s featured works from artists ranging from John Cage and John Luther Adams, to pieces composed by New College students.

One of the major headlines coming from the University of South Florida's gala celebration of its Unstoppable Campaign reaching its billion dollar goal was the announcement of another $15 million gift from philanthropists Les and Pam Muma.

WUSF's University Beat was the only broadcast media invited to speak to the couple at their Belleair home ahead of the announcement. 

When the new Legislative session begins in January, lawmakers will debate policy and craft budgets.

When Bill Hogarth was told the Florida Institute of Oceanography's new research vessel was going to be named after him, he had a pretty reasonable - and funny - reaction. 

“I said, ‘Somebody knows something I don’t know!’ I think, it’s (the naming) usually after you’re dead, I said, ‘I’m retired but I didn’t know I was dying at the same time!’” 

It’s 13 days before the election, and one of the candidates for St. Petersburg Mayor finds himself in front of a class of University of South Florida St. Pete students, explaining what his last six months have been like.

"It has been a far different election that the city has ever seen for mayor, or for that matter, really in some ways, for any other race," said incumbent mayor, Rick Kriseman, who’s in a neck-and-neck race with former mayor Rick Baker.

A professional development event for young women will be held at the USF St. Petersburg Student Center Ballroom this Saturday.

Five world premieres will mark The Florida Orchestra's five decades of music-making in the Tampa Bay community. 

This week on Florida Matters we're hosting another edition of our monthly news roundtable. One topic that was all over the news this past week was white nationalist Richard Spencer's visit to the University of Florida.

When Martin Tadlock got the phone call from University of South Florida System President Judy Genshaft asking him to become the interim regional chancellor for USF St. Petersburg, he was sleeping in for the first time all semester. 

Sharon Scott and Sheila Williams of Tampa had been searching for their sister, Brenda Williams, ever since she disappeared in 1978.

Last year, the two had their DNA tested to see if it matched a cold case victim they saw at a University of South Florida symposium. It didn't.

White nationalist Richard Spencer is in Gainesville today.

WUSF will bring you coverage of the community's response to the speech, security costs and more from correspondent Morgan McMullen and Florida Public Radio Network reporters.