Florida State University (FSU) recently held its third annual Discovery Days from October 18 to 25, showcasing research and creative work across the university. The event aimed to highlight the impact of FSU’s research in Florida and beyond.
“Research at Florida State University is making a difference in Florida and beyond,” said FSU Vice President for Research Stacey S. Patterson. “Discovery Days is an opportunity to connect, learn and celebrate the research and creative enterprise across our campus.”
More than 2,500 people attended the weeklong series of events. The program began with a focus on health at the FSU Health Expo in Wakulla County, where over 50 organizations—including local healthcare providers—offered resources, free health screenings, and presentations by FSU researchers.
During the week, Clinical Catalyst facilitated collaborations between regional healthcare providers and FSU faculty by discussing challenges faced in clinical practice. A new research center, the Institute for Connecting Nutrition and Health (ICON-Health), was introduced to encourage partnerships on nutrition-related health issues.
“Through research and education, we are hoping to reduce the burden of chronic disease on people and lower their economic impact,” said Regan Bailey, director of ICON-Health. “There’s a commitment from FSU leadership to bring nutrition to the forefront. That is what is going to catalyze all these different relationships and collaborations across campus. That’s our goal at ICON-Health, to connect disparate researchers with common goals, so we can leverage opportunities and research dollars to make the most impact.”
The IGNITE Tallahassee Grand Opening took place during Discovery Days as well. This business incubator at Innovation Park aims to help high-tech ventures grow from research projects into successful companies by providing lab space, equipment, and business development support.
Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey commented on the significance of this initiative: “We all have a role to play, and we’re at this dynamic time where it’s all coming together, and the future is really bright for Tallahassee and Leon County moving forward. It’s about building community, and we all have a role to play in that community.”
Discovery Challenge followed IGNITE’s open house, where five startups affiliated with FSU competed for $85,000 in funding before judges from DeepWork Capital, K3 Investments, and Mobius Care. Joshua Degraff of Feel With Me Tech won first place for developing smart sensors that provide data-driven insights for infrastructure and healthcare applications. Rick Meeker of Nhu Energy took second place for technology focused on resilient clean energy solutions.
“These companies are going to impact the world and the people in it,” Patterson said. “With our third annual Discovery Days, everyone at FSU is starting to see the promise of discovery, innovation and creativity that’s coming out of this type of work, how it impacts people, how it impacts Floridians — which is what being an R1 institution is really all about.”
Discovery Days also highlighted student involvement in research through events such as the President’s Showcase of Undergraduate Research—supported by IDEA Grants—and a Graduate Research Showcase featuring graduate student projects. The FSU Quantum Initiative hosted a symposium introducing students to quantum science; plans include launching Florida’s first certified graduate program in Quantum Information Science and Technology.
The week concluded with Saturday Morning Physics + Art—a family event combining science demonstrations with creative activities for K–12 students.
Information about all events can be found at discoverydays.fsu.edu. Dates for next year’s Discovery Days will be announced in February 2026.
