When Viktoriia Savchuk Kennet Ph.D. ‘25 crossed the stage at commencement this May, she carried not only a doctoral degree, but a mission—to return home and use her research on communication and resilience to help rebuild her country.“I love Ukraine. It is a beautiful country,” Viktoriia says. “I cherish every opportunity to be here with my family, friends, and my people, and to contribute in any way I can to positive change and good memories despite everything.”

Every fall semester, ISI Florence students from the University of Maryland Physics Track (Professors Luis Orozco, Sahand Eslami, and Simone Lolli) take part in a long-standing tradition: a special visit to the National Central Library of Florence. Accompanied by Professor Stefano U. Baldassarri, Director of ISI Florence, the group explored some of the most extraordinary treasures in the library’s collection—the original manuscripts of Galileo Galilei.

by Carly A. Park  | November 2025Danuta Liberda-Matyja, a Post-Doctoral Associate with the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Experiential introduction to broad food, energy, water (FEW) nexus topics, focusing on how integration across the biological, physical, social, behavioral, computer and engineering sciences will be critical in solving FEW systems challenges. Students will gain a strong foundational understanding of FEW issues from molecular to societal levels through active learning, field trips, hands-on activities, and the launch of team-based interdisciplinary projects.