News

As America’s Space University, UCF has long been at the forefront of space-related research. Now, UCF Libraries is making it easier to discover and explore that work with the launch of the UCF Space Research Portal, a new online collection showcasing space-related scholarship produced by UCF researchers.

Curated by UCF Libraries, the portal brings together published scholarly works across multiple disciplines including planetary science, aerospace engineering, astronomy, optics, and other fields connected to space exploration. By gathering these publications in one place, UCF Libraries hopes to increase the visibility of UCF’s research and make it more accessible to faculty, students, researchers, and the broader community.

The portal draws from established scholarly resources, including Web of Science and ProQuest. Visitors can explore research authored or co-authored by UCF-affiliated scholars, providing a closer look at the discoveries and contributions taking place across the university.

The collection currently focuses on publications by full-time, tenure-track faculty supporting planetary science and lunar resources research. While it is not intended to represent every space-related publication produced at UCF at this time, the portal provides a curated starting point for exploring the university’s growing body of research.

As new publications are identified and resources allow, UCF Libraries will continue to update and refine the collection. Faculty and researchers are also encouraged to provide feedback to help ensure the accuracy and relevance of the materials featured.
Through the UCF Space Research Portal, the Libraries is proud to help showcase the work of our university’s researchers and connect their discoveries with audiences both on campus and beyond.

Explore the UCF Space Research Portal and discover all the work that is helping to shape our understanding of the universe.

UCF Libraries will be hosting a library-wide celebration during Space Week that highlights UCF’s unique connection to space. We will be in space exploration through exhibits, programs, workshops, student engagement activities, and collaborations across campus!

From October 26 – 30, we invite you to join us in exploring all of our space-related collections, events, and themed-experiences!

Special Collections & University Archives is excited to announce the winners of the 20th Annual Student Book Arts Competition! This year’s top honors were awarded to Rie Cauley for “Kumiko” and Mia Herrera for “We Are So Fortunate”.

The winning artist’s books were selected by David Benjamin, Head of Special Collections & University Archives, and guest judge Denise Bookwalter, Professor of Art at Florida State University. Selected from an impressive group of creative submissions, both works demonstrate exceptional craftsmanship, innovation, and artistic vision.

To celebrate their achievements, we sat down with Rie and Mia to discuss the inspiration behind their award-winning artist’s books, their creative processes, and their experiences exploring the Book Arts Collection at Special Collections & University Archives.

Hello! My name is Ava Botwin, and I was the UCF Special Collections & University Archives (SCUA) Processing Intern for the Spring 2026 semester. Through my internship, I learned the ins and outs of working in an archive, processed multiple collections, and gained hands-on experience in the library.  

For two decades, UCF Libraries Special Collections & University Archives has celebrated creativity, innovation, and artistic expression through its annual Student Book Arts Competition. Established by former Special Collections Head Ellen Anderson, the competition invites UCF students to push the boundaries of the book form by creating original, one-of-a-kind artist’s books.