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Drone Research Facility Opens
UNT is soaring into the next phase of unmanned vehicle use with the opening of the UNT Advanced Air Mobility (UAAM) test facility, propelling research to new heights. Members of the UNT community and invited guests gathered April 4 to officially celebrate the opening of the space. Standing at 80 feet tall, 120 feet long and 300 feet wide, the UAAM facility at UNT's Discovery Park is the largest of its kind in Texas and one of the biggest nationally. The space is part of UNT's Center for Integrated Intelligent Mobility Systems (CIIMS), an interdisciplinary research endeavor paving the way for the future of transportation and mobility. Researchers can analyze unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, examining how specific maneuvers impact performance, exploring safety measures like collision avoidance and testing communication between UAVs and stationary receivers on the ground or autonomous ground vehicles.
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 Designing Greenspaces
Researchers from UNT's Advanced Environmental Research Institute (AERI) helped the city of Lewisville with research and planning for its newest park in the high-density Triangle neighborhood. The 2.85-acre Parque la Gloria, or Glory Park, includes a playground and open play space, fitness equipment, shade structures and benches, as well as an onsite food market. Lewisville city leadership was so impressed with AERI's thoughtful expertise for Glory Park that they invited faculty and students to work on the city's Healthy Infrastructure Plan adopted in 2023. "It's impressive to see how strong community relationships can snowball into collaborations," says AERI associate director Lauren Fischer, who also is an assistant professor in UNT's Department of Public Administration and was recently honored with the Educator Outstanding Performance Award from the Texas Recreation and Park Society.
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| Eclipse at UNT |
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UNT, alongside the entire nation, observed a monumental event as millions turned their eyes to the skies to witness the total solar eclipse last week. Viewers gathered at UNT's Denton campus, Discovery Park and UNT at Frisco for events celebrating the celestial phenomenon. A team from Pennsylvania State University and Lincoln University also used UNT at Frisco as their base for their part in the Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project, which included launching a weather balloon during the eclipse to study changes in the atmosphere during the celestial event. "People traveled from other states to see this," says Ryan Bennett, director of UNT's astronomy education program. "They were engaged in science and the community. It was wonderful and a reminder of how special our planet is." Check out a video and photos from the events.
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| NSA cybersecurity designation |
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UNT's Center for Experimental Music and Intermedia (CEMI) has produced countless hours of performance-based research and gained a world-renowned reputation since it was founded by the late faculty composer Merrill Ellis in 1963. Its breadth of research and artistic work from faculty and students now spans across disciplines from fixed-media computer music to interactive performance and mixed reality. Read more about how CEMI is celebrating its trailblazing legacy and experience how the center is pushing boundaries in music and arts technologies in CEMI's 60th anniversary events, March 22-23.
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| Understanding Women's Health |
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Julia Heck, associate dean for research in the College of Health and Public Service, studies the effects of environmental toxins and genetic conditions on maternal and child health. More recently, her research has found that exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — the so-called "forever chemicals" — may lead to an increased risk of retinoblastoma in children. Results from another one of Heck's studies indicate that pregnancy in women with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD) contributes to low birth weight of their babies, cesarean-section delivery, preterm birth and preeclampsia.
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| Reducing Textile Waste |
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UNT assistant professor Iva Jestratijevic, whose research in the College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism focuses on sustainability and new methodologies in retail and fashion, is working to repurpose unwanted textiles across campus. She recently launched the Zero Waste Textile initiative at UNT after receiving a grant from the State of Texas Alliance for Recycling. The initiative aims to keep unwanted textiles — including fabric, clothing, shoes and accessories — out of landfills by redirecting them for repurpose and reuse. "The average U.S. consumer throws away around 100 pounds of textiles annually — one of the highest rates in the world," Jestratijevic says. "This program could be breaking new ground as the first of its kind at a university in the United States." Listen to Jestratijevic talk about her research and the new initiative on the latest episode of UNT's new podcast, Happy Friday, North Texas!
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