FGCU Pioneering Southwest Florida’s Technological Future

New institute harnessing potential of AI and data science to tackle critical issues

by Dr. Leandro Nunes de Castro
AI and Data Science Professor and
DENDRITIC Director

Florida Gulf Coast University is advancing education, research and innovation in artificial intelligence and data science through a new institute led by expert faculty. The Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Institute, or Dendritic Institute, was established by FGCU’s U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering in August 2024. With anew group of faculty providing expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) and Data Science (DS), the institute complements and supplements established academic and research strengths in the college.

Two new degree programs, a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in computer science, were approved in 2024. These new programs align with the institute’s mission by providing a strongacademic foundation in AI and DS, supporting its focus on advancing education and research in these fields.

The Dendritic Institute is committed to addressing Southwest Florida’s pressing issues, including climate-induced agricultural risks, water pollution and disaster resilience. The region’s citrus industry, for example, has faced unprecedented losses due to hurricanes and diseases, with 2024-25 orange production forecasts declining by 20%, state agriculture officials say — potentially the lowest annual harvest on record.

by Dr. Huzefa Kagdi
Dean, U.A. Whitaker College
of Engineering

Meanwhile, Florida ranks first in the U.S. for polluted lakes, with water contamination costing the state’s residents up to $10.5 billion annually, according to the Stockholm Environment Institute, an international nonprofit research center.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Helene and Milton alone caused about $114 billion in damages in 2024. These stratospheric statistics highlight the urgent need for improved disaster preparedness.

According to a report from the World Economic Forum, AI is projected to add 170 million new jobs and eliminate 92 million — a net gain of 78 million jobs. By integrating cutting edge technologies and state-of-the-art knowledge on subjects like climate and resilience, and fostering collaboration among academia, industry and government, Dendritic aims to enhance community well-being, protect natural ecosystems and strengthen economic and infrastructural sustainability for the region. Its main application areas are health, environment, cybersecurity, human computer interface, disaster management and resilience, and education.

Current projects under development include image analysis and diagnosis in medical applications, data quality analysis and environmental solutions, drone swarms and aerial data analysis, social media data analysis, computer-mediated learning, and learning analytics.

As a transformative force for our economy, the Dendritic Institute offers tailored education programs to upskill professionals and nurture future scientists, making graduates highly competitive.

The institute’s name refers to dendrites, branched extensions of nerve cells in the human body that form interconnected networks transmitting signals among other cells. Similarly, FGCU’s institute fosters connectivity among researchers, labs and specialized tools to exchange ideas, knowledge and solutions seamlessly.

By addressing real-world problems and fostering innovation, the institute ensures Southwest Florida’s trajectory toward a sustainable, resilient and technologically advanced future, benefiting the local community and the broader academic sphere.

For additional information and regular updates about the Dendritic Institute, visit its website: www.fgcu.edu/eng/dendritic-institute