Gymama Slaughter, an assistant professor of computer science and electrical engineering, was featured by the National Science Foundation, NSF, as part of National Chemistry Week for creating a wireless, implantable sensor to monitor blood sugar levels. The sensor is powered by the glucose itself. Learn more about the research
Penny Rheingans, a professor in computer science and electrical engineering, talks with the BBC about the benefit that some tech companies are now offering women — paying for female employees to freeze eggs. Rheingans tell the BBC, “my initial reaction is negative.” She says that the companies are suggesting that, “their culture and work expectations might be incompatible with raising a family.” Furthermore, she says, “they’re saying to women that they should wait to have those babies until the company is done with their technically productive years.” Listen to the complete interview
Brian Frey, UMBC Ph.D. student in information systems, has been collaborating for the past several years with colleagues at Georgia Tech University on a very simple concept: How can one infuse braille communication with the iPhone? Over these past few years the team has been refining their Braille Touch App in support of that concept. Their efforts were validated with the recent release of the Apple’s new mobile operating system, iOS8. Of the millions of apps that Apple has approved for release in the App Store since the release of the first generation iPhone, only a select few have been… Continue Reading Information Systems Ph.D. Student is Co-Developer of an iPhone App in iOS8 Package
For three days beginning September 6 the White House Educational Game Jam invited a select set of professional game developers and academics to create innovative educational game prototypes over single weekend, with the resulting games presented at the White House Executive Office Building. There were 23 teams and about 100 participants. The team sizes ranged from 1 to 9, with most around 4-5. It was a mix of major companies and schools. Examples of large companies were: Ubisoft, Sony and Rovio. Small companies were: BrainPop, GlassLab and RocketMind. Academic teams included the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Carnegie Melon University, American University, University… Continue Reading UMBC Team Participates in White House Game Jam
As guest editor of the spring 2014 issue of Peer Review, Patrice McDermott, vice provost for faculty affairs, coauthored an introductory essay that calls for greater inclusivity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). While the United States seeks to increase the number of STEM workers, the number of women STEM graduates decreased by 39% from 2001 to 2010. In order to reverse this trend, McDermott and co-author Kelly Mack advocate for growing the number of female faculty members, which has been shown to have positive effects on retaining female students. The article states, “We need a fundamental reconsideration of… Continue Reading Vice Provost Patrice McDermott Calls for Gender Equity in Peer Review
Carlos Romero-Talamas, a professor in the UMBC Department of Mechanical Engineering, has been recognized with a DARPA Young Faculty Award (YFA) for his research in computational models of nuclear fusion technology. Read more about the research
Julia Ross, Dean of the College of Engineering and Information and Technology along with her colleagues: Jon Singer and Chris Rakes from the Department of Education at UMBC and Richard Weisenhoff from Baltimore County Public Schools, received an NSF $3 million grant for engineering education. In this study UMBC will partner with the Baltimore County Public School System to implement a professional development model that incorporates engineering curriculum in high school biology and technology classrooms.
Anne Spence, mechanical engineering, will participate in a roundtable discussion hosted by Congressman Elijah Cummings. The panel is part of a Congressional initiative to learn about issues women educators encounter in building and sustaining economic security. The discussion will also focus on strategies to increase the number of women pursuing STEM fields. Spence has conducted extensive research on engineering education and seeks to identify best practices for educating teachers and engaging students. The discussion will take place on August 13 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the University of Maryland Biotech Park Conference Center. Click here to learn more… Continue Reading Anne Spence, Mech. Engineering, to Participate in Rep. Cummings’ Roundtable Discussion
Delece Smith-Barrow of U.S. News & World Report, recently wrote about the importance of engaging women and minorities in STEM fields. Smith-Barrow interviewed UMBC’s Penny Rheingans, director for the Center of Women in Technology (CWIT). Smith Barrow wrote: “If students struggle in class and have few peers and faculty that look like them, it’s easy for them to think, “maybe I’m not supposed to be here, either,” says Penny Rheingans, director for the Center for Women in Technology at the University of Maryland—Baltimore County. Prospective college students who are women or underrepresented minorities can determine if a school can help them in their STEM… Continue Reading U.S. News, Colleges Work to Engage Women, Minorities in STEM Fields, Penny Rheingans
Dean Warren DeVries of the College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT) has been elected an Honorary Member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). DeVries will be recognized in November for his “distinctive contributions to engineering education and research as a professor, for dedication to advancing the frontiers of discovery and innovation through public service, and for striving to advance the recognition of engineering’s contributions to humankind through leadership in professional societies.” Honorary membership is ASME’s oldest award and just five members are selected annually to receive this special recognition. DeVries will step down as dean of COEIT… Continue Reading Warren DeVries, COEIT, Elected Honorary Member of ASME
Upal Ghosh, professor in chemical and biochemical engineering, has partnered with Newcastle University in the project: Development of Sustainable Technologies to Investigate, Restore and Protect the Urban Water Environment. Newcastle University, University of Maryland Baltimore County (US), Federal University of Minas Gerais (Brazil), Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (India) and CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute Nagpur (India) The grant instituted through Newcastle University will support student and faculty research exchanges among the partnering institutions. The project will examine urban water quality and was summarized by the researchers: Urban water quality is under enormous pressure around the world because of increasing population… Continue Reading UMBC Partners With Newcastle University in Urban Water Quality Study
President Hrabowski and three undergraduate scholars from UMBC kicked off the U.S. News STEM Solutions conference with a keynote panel on April 23. Dalton Hughes ’14, chemical engineering, Lauren Mazzoli ’15, mathematics and computer science, and Mitchel Zavala ’14, mechanical engineering, spoke about their UMBC experiences in a discussion moderated by PBS Newshour co-anchor Judy Woodruff. The panel addressed major issues in STEM education, including the challenge of retaining students as STEM majors, the need to increase the participation of underrepresented populations in STEM, and the importance of mentorship and a supportive peer community in student success. Mazzoli, Zavala and… Continue Reading Pres. Hrabowski and UMBC Students Headline U.S. News STEM Solutions Conference
