UF alumna, ‘MythBusters’ contestant speaks to students

After Tracy Fanara spent four weeks trying to become the next “MythBusters” host, she spent her birthday talking to UF engineering students about creativity and science.

Fanara, a three-time UF graduate who competed in “MythBusters: The Search” was invited to speak via Facebook Live by the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering for its Engineering Innovation class Thursday. The 33-year-old’s final episode on the show aired Jan. 28.

David Whitney, the assistant director of the Innovation Institute, interviewed her on Facebook. The video received more than 900 views.

Fanara said engineers should be both creative and innovative.

“If we don’t start innovating and keep doing things how they have been done, we won’t make improvements,” she said.

Eric Wagner, a 22-year-old UF mechanical engineering senior, said Fanara’s advice about stepping outside his comfort zone was helpful.

“I think there’s a lot of growth that engineers have to do, just because the curriculum gets really difficult,” Wagner said. “You have to go outside of where you’re comfortable a number of times throughout your college career to be successful.”

Although Fanara never envisioned herself on a TV show, she now plans to begin her own investigative environmental science show.

“It’s all about role models,” Fanara said. “What kids see on TV and what they think is cool kind of gets instilled in their subconscious.”

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rellenbogen@alligator.org

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