RIDER Center

02/19/2026

RIDER Center is opening its doors for our annual open house this Saturday, 21 February, from 10am-3pm to public. Join us for a showcase of the research we do. Bring your family for science fun!

02/02/2026

Okra enthusiasts, gardeners and the lovers of Southern food, come through to have a conversation with Chris Smith and grab a copy of his 2020 James Beard Foundation award winning book, The Whole Okra: A Seed to Stem Celebration!

🗓 Wednesday, 4 February
⏰ 2:05 PM
📍 Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center
📍 555 W Pensacola St, Tallahassee, FL 32306
📍 Room 208

Register at https://lnkd.in/ewaysfm6 or via the QR code on the flyer.

Florida State University Division of Research Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR) Florida State University College of Social Work Florida State University School of Communication Florida State University - College of Arts and Sciences FAMU FSU College of Engineering

02/01/2026

RIDER-hosted Rooted In Resilience: Farmers and Researchers Respond to Disasters and Disruptions will continue with another amazing line up of local and regional experts, farmers and community organizers on the second day. Come join us to learn and share knowledge with us about farmer resilience, emergency management and environmental impact of disasters on our food systems.

🗓 Wednesday, 4 February

⏰ 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

📍 Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center

📍 555 W Pensacola St, Tallahassee, FL 32306

📍 Room 208

Register at https://fsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0c7dvEuDF7imdRY?Q_CHL=qr or via the QR code on the flyer.

Florida State University Division of Research Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR) Florida State University College of Social Work Florida State University School of Communication Florida State University - College of Arts and Sciences FAMU-FSU College of FAMU FSU College of Engineeringering

01/31/2026

We have an amazing line up of speakers on both days of our upcoming summit next week. Join us to learn about how farmers, food practitioners and community leaders take care of and steward land, water and their communities in times of non-emergency and disasters and can connect with researchers in meaningful ways to maintain the integrity of our food ecosystems together.

🗓 Tuesday, 3 February
⏰ 10:00 AM - 4:40 PM
📍 RIDER FLVC
📍 1753 W Paul Dirac Dr, Tallahassee, FL 32310
📍 Room C01

Register at https://lnkd.in/ewaysfm6 or via the QR code on the flyer. Scan the QR code on the flyer to access the schedule and speaker profiles.

Florida State University Division of Research Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR) FAMU-FSU College of FAMU FSU College of Engineering

01/30/2026

We are thrilled that renowned expert of microbial oceanography and community-centered researcher, Dr. Asli Aslan, will join us for the luncheon keynote on the second day of the Rooted In Resilience: Farmers and Researchers Respond to Disasters and Disruptions summit.

Dr. Aslan leads multidisciplinary research on water quality and public health and builds partnerships with public and private stakeholders to bridge ecosystem and human health to move science into meaningful impact.

🗓 Wednesday, 4 February
⏰ 12:30–1:15 PM
📍 Florida State Conference Center (Turnbull)
📍 Room 208

Register at https://lnkd.in/ewaysfm6 or via the QR code on the flyer.

Georgia Southern University Institute for Water and Health at Georgia Southern University Florida State University Division of Research Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR) Florida State University College of Social Work Florida State University School of Communication FAMU FSU College of EngineeringU-FSU College of Engineering

01/29/2026

We are the sum of our experiences and relationships, and the relationships we build with other individuals in our ecosystems define the ways in which we do research for those ecosystems.

Join the morning keynote on the second day of the RIDER-hosted Rooted In Resilience: Farmers and Researchers Respond to Disasters and Disruptions summit, to hear wildlife ecologist, esteemed scholar and biology professor Dr. Jonathan C. Hall, Ph.D. talk about how relationships among the individuals, including us the researchers, that form our ecosystems speak to the research needs for food disruptions and access in times of crisis and emergency.

Register at https://lnkd.in/ewaysfm6

Event details are 👇

🗓 Wednesday, 4 February
⏰ 9:00–9:50 PM
📍 Florida State Conference Center (Turnbull)
📍 Room 208

Eastern Michigan University Florida State University Division of Research

11/18/2025

Webinar: Bridging the Rural Mobility Gap

The R-SEAT Center at FAMU-FSU College of Engineering invites you to explore the Rural Mobility Index (RMI) — a new composite framework to identify and address transportation constraints in rural communities.

📅 Date: November 19, 2025
🕑 Time: 2–3 PM EST
🎙️ Speaker: Sarah Mvuma
👨‍🏫 Host: Dr. Tsegai Yhdego
🔗 Join via Zoom: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/96661736693

Learn how the RMI integrates key mobility metrics — from economic burden to transit access — to support data-driven transportation planning for underserved regions.

Let’s close the gap between urban systems and rural needs.

FAMU FSU College of Engineering Florida State University Division of Research Florida A&M University

10/15/2025

Eren Erman Ozguven, Director of RIDER, will co-lead a multi-disciplinary project to develop an integrated AI system that tackles wildfire modeling and preparedness in Florida and broader Southeast region that is also increasingly affected by hurricanes.

“RIDER is the connection that encompasses the multidisciplinary research team of engineering, computer science, education, earth sciences and social work for this project,” Dr. Ozguven emphasized. “Our goal is to save lives and to support communities impacted by the risk of wildfires.”

Awarded by NSF with $2.3 million, the project team will develop an open-source system that will be deployable across the region, potentially transforming wildfire risk management for millions of residents while establishing new standards for interdisciplinary disaster science.

In addition to the human and wildlife losses, according to a 2023 study by the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, wildfires are estimated to cost the United States between $394 to $893 billion in economic losses. In Florida, compounded with hurricanes, losses related to wildfires can be significantly more devastating.

By developing innovative AI-driven solutions, the research team aims to create lasting impact in wildfire preparedness, response, and recovery not only for Florida but also for other disaster-prone regions across the southeastern United States.

Read the full story: https://eng.famu.fsu.edu/news/researchers-secure-23m-nsf-grant-combat-hurricane-fueled-wildfires-ai-technology

FAMU FSU College of Engineering Florida State University Division of Research Florida State University College of Social Work Learning Systems Institute FSU Department of Computer Science Apalachee Regional Planning Council Tall Timbers, a Research Station & Land Conservancy

FAMU-FSU Engineering's RIDER Center leads groundbreaking $2.3M NSF wildfire research protecting infrastructure and communities from hurricane-fueled fires.

09/16/2025

The FAMU-FSU Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Student Chapter just made history!

From competing with over 150 student chapters worldwide to winning the Chapter Momentum Award at the 2025 ITE Annual Meeting, our students are proving that innovation and passion can move communities forward — one smart solution at a time. With initiatives like the “Transit Talks” series, strong industry partnerships, and a second-place finish at the Collegiate Traffic Bowl, the chapter exemplifies what it means to lead with purpose and collaboration.

👏 Huge thanks to faculty mentor Dr. Qianwen (Vivian) Guo and the support from FPSITE for championing the next generation of transportation engineers.

Florida A&M University Florida State University Division of Research FAMU FSU College of Engineering

08/22/2025

Congratulations to Dr. Lisa Spainhour, Chair of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Executive Director of RIDER, on receiving the 2025 Outstanding Service to the Engineering Profession Award from the Florida Engineering Society!

For over 30 years, Dr. Spainhour has exemplified leadership in civil engineering education, public safety, infrastructure innovation, and student development and success. Her efforts helped establish the RIDER Center, led to over $20 million in funded research, and delivered critical traffic safety tools now used to manage 40% of Florida’s crash reporting.

At RIDER, we are deeply grateful to Dr. Spainhour for her unwavering commitment to advancing our faculty’s research and service to communities. Her dedication continues to inspire our mission, and we wish her continued success and happiness in all that lies ahead.

📖Read more: https://eng.famu.fsu.edu/news/civil-engineering-professor-receives-statewide-recognition-outstanding-service-engineering

FAMU FSU College of Engineering Florida State University Division of Research Florida A&M University

08/06/2025

Throwback Wednesday: Planning Transit for the Unexpected 🚉

This week we’re spotlighting Dr. Qianwen (Vivian) Guo's past research which helps answer critical questions:
When should we invest in rail transit—and how much should we build—when the future is uncertain?
Dr. Guo worked with other researchers to model transit demand jumps due to sudden events in a way that accounts for both gradual ridership changes and sudden demand shocks—like the 80% drop during COVID-19.

Dr. Guo's research equips agencies to make timing and sizing decisions that lead to more resilient, cost-effective transit systems.

Florida State University Division of Research FAMU FSU College of Engineering Florida A&M University

08/01/2025

Are U.S. dams at greater risk today than 50 years ago?

A new study led by RIDER faculty researcher Dr. Ebrahim Ahmadisharaf—published in Nature Communications and featured in Newsweek—analyzed 50 years of data from 33 large, high-hazard dams. The results show a clear increase in the number of dams with critical overtopping probabilities, revealing vulnerabilities that traditional analysis methods often overlook.
Between 1973–2002 and 1991–2020, the number of dams with very low overtopping risk fell from 62% to 45%. Meanwhile, the number of dams with low and moderate risk levels more than doubled during the same period. Six dams, located in Texas, Kansas, and California, were identified as having the highest overtopping probability—many near major population centers. These findings highlight the urgent need for smarter infrastructure investments and updated emergency preparedness across the U.S.

🔗 Read the full article on Newsweek:
https://www.newsweek.com/map-us-dams-risk-overtopping-water-2102192

Florida State University Division of Research Florida A&M University FAMU FSU College of Engineering