Research

Joan Shin, Education, Launches Book Series with National Geographic Learning

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Joan Shin, Education Professor of Practice, has launched a book series with National Geographic Learning designed to give learners the skills and knowledge they need to learn English and understand the world around them. The series, called “Our World,” uses images and video and provides National Geographic content to young learners of English. Shin is co-editor of the series along with JoAnn Crandall, Professor Emerita and former Director of the Language, Literacy and Culture Ph.D. program. You can find out more about the series here. As part of the series, Shin also developed a professional development video program for teachers.… Continue Reading Joan Shin, Education, Launches Book Series with National Geographic Learning

Marjoleine Kars, History, on WAMU’s The Diane Rehm Show

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A movie released last month tells the story of Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York who was kidnapped and sold into slavery.  “Twelve Years a Slave” powerfully depicts that slavery was driven by violence and examines its moral and economic costs. History Associate Professor and Chair Marjoleine Kars participated in a panel discussion about the movie Thursday on nationally-syndicated The Diane Rehm Show. During the discussion, Kars commented on the significance of the film and why it’s important in understanding slavery. “This culture of terror that it produces almost makes it almost impossible for people to… Continue Reading Marjoleine Kars, History, on WAMU’s The Diane Rehm Show

Stuart Schwartz, CUERE, in the Baltimore Sun and TakePart

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Radishes: They’re not just for salad anymore. In fact, they may be useful for controlling runoff into the Chesapeake. Stuart Schwartz, senior scientist with UMBC’s Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education, spoke with Tim Wheeler, an environmental reporter for The Baltimore Sun, for Wheeler’s article, “Radishes get tryout as runoff fighters.” Wheeler writes: “City and most suburban soil is badly in need of aeration, Schwartz said. He and other researchers have found that even grass-covered ground, just below the surface, is often as dense and impermeable as concrete. Anything heavier than a light rain runs off, washing fertilizer, organic… Continue Reading Stuart Schwartz, CUERE, in the Baltimore Sun and TakePart

Jason Schiffman, Psychology, on WYPR’s Maryland Morning

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“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of medicine,” says Psychology Associate Professor Jason Schiffman when describing treatment of psychosis. Schiffman is a staff member at the new “Center for Excellence on Early Intervention for Serious Mental Illness.” The center’s mission is to identify young people with psychosis or at risk for the specific symptom that makes violence more likely. The program aims to get them into immediate treatment and to provide support. In an interview Monday on WYPR’s Maryland Morning, Schiffman outlined how early treatment of people with psychosis or showing signs of developing it is critical in getting those individuals on… Continue Reading Jason Schiffman, Psychology, on WYPR’s Maryland Morning

Robert Provine, Psychology, to speak at “City of Ideas” event in Mexico

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Professor of Psychology Robert Provine is one of more than sixty speakers who will participate in next month’s “City of Ideas” festival in Puebla, Mexico. The event brings together scientists and scholars to celebrate and discuss creativity and curiosity. The festival takes place from November 7-9. The program will include artistic and cultural short films and presentations from individual speakers. Provine was also recently cited in an “io9” article with an excerpt from his book, “Curious Behavior: Yawning, Laughing, Hiccupping, and Beyond.” The article examines the emotion behind crying. “Several lines of evidence suggest that the NGF [nerve growth factor] in… Continue Reading Robert Provine, Psychology, to speak at “City of Ideas” event in Mexico

Jason Schiffman, Psychology, in The Baltimore Sun

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Psychology Associate Professor Jason Schiffman is in the news again for his role in Maryland’s new Center for Excellence on Early Intervention for Serious Mental Illness. The center aims to identify young people with psychosis, specifically between age 12-22, or people who are showing early symptoms and to provide treatment and support as quickly as possible. A major focus of the center is its Clinical High-Risk Program, an initiative Schiffman is working on with Gloria Reeves, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. The goal is to provide education and spread awareness about… Continue Reading Jason Schiffman, Psychology, in The Baltimore Sun

Donald Norris, Public Policy, on WBAL-TV

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The Gonzales Maryland Poll for October was released Thursday, and the results showed approval ratings dropping for Governor Martin O’Malley and President Barack Obama. The poll surveyed 819 registered voters in Maryland who said they were likely to vote in the 2014 General Election. In an interview aired on WBAL-TV Channel 11, Public Policy Professor and Chair Donald Norris said it’s hard to determine why O’Malley’s approval rating dropped, but a number of laws have taken affect including the controversial gas tax and gun laws. “O’Malley’s popularity rating if I remember correctly has sort of bounced around.  A little bit… Continue Reading Donald Norris, Public Policy, on WBAL-TV

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, Op-ed in The Baltimore Sun

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In his latest op-ed in The Baltimore Sun, Political Science Professor Thomas Schaller writes about how Republicans’ attempt to prevent full implementation of the Affordable Care Act was misguided because provisions of the law are becoming increasingly popular. “But do Americans really oppose the Affordable Care Act? Yes, quote-unquote ‘Obamacare’ is unpopular, with disapproval rates trending around 55 percent, with roughly 45 percent approving. But the Affordable Care Act is actually quite popular,” Schaller writes. “If that sounds like a contradiction, it is: Americans like almost all of the ACA’s key provisions; unfortunately, they don’t realize many of the most popular… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, Op-ed in The Baltimore Sun

David Salkever, Public Policy, in the Baltimore Business Journal

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Maryland’s Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) is in the process of preparing for a new hospital payment system. An advisory group has been created to provide input and expertise as the new system rolls out. David Salkever, Professor of Public Policy, has been named to the advisory council which is set to hold its first meeting November 13th. He was mentioned in the Baltimore Business Journal along with other members of the council in an article last week. The federal centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services must review and sign off on a waiver proposal that would change the way hospitals… Continue Reading David Salkever, Public Policy, in the Baltimore Business Journal

Donald Norris, Public Policy, in The Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, WJZ CBS Baltimore

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Maryland Attorney General and Democratic candidate for governor Douglas Gansler named Del. Jolene Ivey (D-Prince George’s) as his running mate for the gubernatorial campaign Monday. In The Washington Post, Public Policy Professor and Chair Donald Norris comments on how the selection of Ivey could potentially hurt Gansler in appealing to the Baltimore region. “It’s clearly an attempt by Gansler to nullify Anthony Brown’s advantage in Prince George’s,” Norris said. “But it makes it more difficult to appeal to the Baltimore region with an all-Washington ticket.” Norris was also mentioned in The Baltimore Sun in an article about Gansler’s running mate… Continue Reading Donald Norris, Public Policy, in The Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, WJZ CBS Baltimore

Laura Hussey, Political Science, in The London School of Economics American Politics Blog

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In a recent article published in the London School of Economics American Politics and Policy Blog, Political Science Assistant Professor Laura Hussey argues public antipathy toward undocumented immigrants can play a significant role in shaping social welfare policy among Democrats. The article, “Antipathy toward undocumented immigrants risks fracturing support for social welfare among Democrats”, was jointly written by Hussey and University of Rhode Island Assistant Professor Shanna-Pearson-Merkowitz. It argues Republicans tend to broadly oppose social welfare programs, but Democrats’ support for the same programs can depend more on the specific groups of people they benefit. “A key lesson of this research… Continue Reading Laura Hussey, Political Science, in The London School of Economics American Politics Blog

Andrew Miller, Geography and Environmental Systems, in The Baltimore Sun

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A project to build a $400 million gambling complex that will be home to a casino on Baltimore’s Russell Street is moving forward. Construction wasn’t allowed on the piece of land until last year due to the risk of flooding. The Federal Emergency Management Agency said the property was in an area that was particularly prone to flooding, but the city paid a consulting firm to re-evaluate the land and file an appeal. As a result, a new federal map was drawn and construction was allowed to move forward. In an article in The Baltimore Sun on Tuesday, Geography and Environmental Systems… Continue Reading Andrew Miller, Geography and Environmental Systems, in The Baltimore Sun

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