Marie desJardins explains what’s needed to bring computer science to K-12 nationwide

Oct 23, 2015 / 2 minutes of reading

Since 2007, student enrollment in computer science (CS) at the university level has increased by about 120%. However, despite this level of interest, there are major gaps in CS education that result in fewer girls and students from underrepresented minority groups entering the field, argues Marie desJardins, associate dean in UMBC’s College of Engineering and Information Technology and professor of computer science, in The Conversation. desJardins has worked to improve CS education at the K-12, undergraduate and graduate levels. She particularly sees boosting the availability of K-12 CS education, and the skills of teachers teaching CS at that level, as… Continue Reading Marie desJardins explains what’s needed to bring computer science to K-12 nationwide

Kavita Krishnaswamy, CSEE Ph.D. student, named an emerging leader in robotics

Oct 20, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

Robohub has named CSEE Ph.D. student Kavita Krishnaswamy ’07, computer science and mathematics, to their new “25 Women in Robotics You Need to Know About” list, along with other emerging innovators from around the globe, including MIT and Stanford. Krishnaswamy focuses her work on developing robotic systems and interfaces that increase the independence of people with disabilities. She has worked at the National Science Foundation’s Engineering Research Center—Quality of Life Technology Center (QoLT) at Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, and IBM Business consulting services. Krishnaswamy is also a Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellow and a National Science Foundation Graduate… Continue Reading Kavita Krishnaswamy, CSEE Ph.D. student, named an emerging leader in robotics

Ting Zhu receives NSF grant to develop localization and mapping techniques

Oct 19, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

CSEE professor Ting Zhu received an award from the National Science Foundation to develop improved techniques for identifying a person’s location in dynamically changing environments. The award of $250,000 will support the three-year research project, Real-Time Indoor and Outdoor Simultaneous Localization and Mapping. Location-based service was ranked number one for the top technology trends by a recent survey in Time magazine, with potential applications in the area of location-based advertising, recommendation, navigation, asset recovery, and gaming. While many companies are working to improve location-based services, most existing indoor and outdoor maps are relatively static. In reality, many indoor and outdoor… Continue Reading Ting Zhu receives NSF grant to develop localization and mapping techniques

NASA renews partnership with UMBC’s JCET for $46 million over five years

Oct 12, 2015 / 3 minutes of reading

For twenty years JCET has brought leading scientists to UMBC in research areas that align with NASA’s Earth science interests, such as climate and radiation, atmospheric chemistry and dynamics, and solar system sciences, including geophysics. UMBC is now ranked among the world’s top universities for geosciences. Continue Reading NASA renews partnership with UMBC’s JCET for $46 million over five years

Workshop examines diversity in STEM graduate education

Oct 6, 2015 / 4 minutes of reading

The PROMISE program hosts USM-wide workshop to enhance faculty understanding of diversity issues in graduate and postdoctoral education. Continue Reading Workshop examines diversity in STEM graduate education

Chancellor Bob Caret and Ganna Vikhlyayeva '15, animation and interactive media, in UMBC's Imaging Research Cente

UMBC visit offers Chancellor Caret glimpse of “innovation that matters”

Sep 29, 2015 / 3 minutes of reading

UMBC welcomed new University System of Maryland (USM) Chancellor Bob Caret for a busy, full-day campus visit on September 24, 2015. Chancellor Caret has a long relationship with UMBC, but this visit offered a special opportunity for him. “We are delighted the chancellor is taking this time to connect directly with our students, faculty, and staff, and to develop a deeper understanding of UMBC’s culture, vision, and priorities,” said UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski. Chancellor Caret shared his view of the special role Maryland’s public universities play in a region that boasts so many high caliber, internationally known centers of higher… Continue Reading UMBC visit offers Chancellor Caret glimpse of “innovation that matters”

Dean Julia Ross receives “Outstanding Chemical Engineer” honor

Sep 28, 2015 / 2 minutes of reading

Purdue University has honored Dean Julia Ross of UMBC’s College of Engineering and IT as one of six Outstanding Chemical Engineers for 2015.Dean Ross is an alumna of Purdue and received her PhD in chemical engineering from Rice University in 1995. She has served as dean of COEIT since August 2014, and is also UMBC’s Constellation Professor of Information Technology and Engineering.Prior to her appointment as dean, Ross served as special assistant to the provost for inter-institutional research initiatives, 2012-14, and was instrumental in enhancing research collaborations between UMBC and the University of Maryland, Baltimore.Among her current projects, Dean Ross has collaborated… Continue Reading Dean Julia Ross receives “Outstanding Chemical Engineer” honor

Nobel Prize winners recognize alumni Benyam and Isaac Kinde as “Bright Young Minds”

Sep 25, 2015 / 2 minutes of reading

When Science News asked 30 Nobel Prize winners to name early-career scientists who have caught their attention, two UMBC alumni stood out from the crowd. Brothers Benyam Kinde ’10, and Isaac Kinde ’05, both biological sciences, made the top ten list of “Bright Young Minds”—inspiring scholars who are “up-and-coming stars” completing high-caliber research. Science News highlights Benyam’s work on how genetic changes affect brain cell activity in Rett syndrome, a disorder marked by developmental delays and seizures, and Issac’s work to create technology to detect cancer very early, giving patients a better chance at survival. “We still don’t know very much about how individual cells… Continue Reading Nobel Prize winners recognize alumni Benyam and Isaac Kinde as “Bright Young Minds”

Ramon Goings writes about diversifying Maryland’s STEM teacher workforce

Sep 24, 2015 / 2 minutes of reading

In response to a question posted on Education Week‘s website about universities’ responses to the call to increase diversity of the teaching force, Ramon Goings, program coordinator for the Sherman STEM Teacher Scholars Program, wrote about the mission of the Sherman Scholars program and its efforts to address to the shortage of highly qualified STEM teachers serving in high-needs schools. “The Sherman Program provides professional development for both UMBC students and alumni who are currently teaching in school districts across Maryland and other states. In particular, our professional development is focused on developing culturally competent students. Through our partnership with Lakeland Elementary/Middle School,… Continue Reading Ramon Goings writes about diversifying Maryland’s STEM teacher workforce

Renetta Tull shortlisted for GEDC Airbus Diversity Award

Sep 21, 2015 / 2 minutes of reading

Renetta Tull, associate vice provost for graduate student development and postdoctoral affairs, is one of ten impressive candidates shortlisted for this year’s GEDC Airbus Diversity Award. The GEDC Airbus Diversity Award honors people and projects worldwide that “have encouraged students of all profiles and backgrounds to study and succeed in engineering.” This year’s shortlist includes scholars from Germany, South Africa, Australia, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. Tull’s profile in the GEDC/Airbus announcement reads: Renetta Tull leads the PROMISE Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP), a program that has grown to include a global STEM diversity and… Continue Reading Renetta Tull shortlisted for GEDC Airbus Diversity Award

UMBC joins National STEM Collaborative supporting opportunities for underrepresented girls and women

Sep 18, 2015 / 2 minutes of reading

Responding to the underrepresentation of minority women in STEM fields, UMBC has joined a new national collaborative committed to supporting educational opportunities for girls and women of color in STEM. The White House Council for Women and Girls announced the formation of the National STEM Collaborative at a special event at the White House on September 15, 2015 (watch video). In addition to UMBC, the consortium, led by Arizona State University, consists of 19 institutions of higher education and nonprofit partners, including Amherst College, City College of New York, Diné College, Maricopa Community Colleges, Spelman College, University of Alabama, University of California-Riverside,… Continue Reading UMBC joins National STEM Collaborative supporting opportunities for underrepresented girls and women

Sarah Jewett, STEM Transfer Student Success Initiative, Discusses Workforce Prep on WalletHub

Sep 16, 2015 / 1 minute of reading

In a ranking of the nation’s community colleges, WalletHub asked experts about changes in the higher education landscape. Sarah Jewett, executive director of the STEM Transfer Student Success Initiative, spoke about whether community colleges should focus on preparing students for the workforce or a four-year institution. “Both community colleges and universities can benefit from collaborative inter-institutional partnerships in which everyone shares the responsibility for helping students to develop a robust and realistic set of academic and career options,” Jewett said. “Early exploration of majors and fields, active participation in experiential learning opportunities, sustained development of goals and plans, and transitional… Continue Reading Sarah Jewett, STEM Transfer Student Success Initiative, Discusses Workforce Prep on WalletHub