Research

Jason Schiffman, Psychology, in The Daily Beast

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An article published February 9 in The Daily Beast titled “What Military Base Shootings Reveal about the Mental Health Debate” examines if better mental health screening can prevent future tragedies from occurring. Psychology Associate Professor Jason Schiffman was interviewed for the story and is currently a staff member at Maryland’s Center for Excellence on Early Intervention for Serious Mental Illness. In the article, he argues early treatment for people experiencing symptoms of psychosis and schizophrenia can help prevent them from causing harm to themselves or others. “Studies show one in 5 people in their early phases of psychosis will have a suicide attempt, which… Continue Reading Jason Schiffman, Psychology, in The Daily Beast

Ann Christine Frankowski, Center for Aging Studies, in The New York Times

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In a recent article in The New York Times blog “The New Old Age,” author Paula Span wrote about the Office of Inspector General’s report on Medicare payments for vacuum pumps. The report stated Medicare was paying “grossly excessive” prices for the devices. Ann Christine Frankowksi, senior research scientist for UMBC’s Center for Aging Studies in the department of sociology and anthropology, was quoted in the article commenting on ageist perceptions of sexuality. “The general concept is that older people are asexual, that they don’t have, or shouldn’t have, any thoughts about sex,” said Frankowski, whose research has included sexual behavior and policies in… Continue Reading Ann Christine Frankowski, Center for Aging Studies, in The New York Times

Robert Provine, Psychology, in American Psychological Association Monitor

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As part of its February 2014 Monitor on Psychology, the American Psychological Association (APA) published a feature titled “Why we cry.” The article examines recent research that helps answer what human tears mean through psychological, social and neuroscientific perspectives. Psychology Professor Robert Provine is quoted in the article when the author references a study he conducted with other UMBC researchers. “Tears add valence and nuance to the perception of faces,” Provine says. He also notes tears are a type of social lubricant and help people communicate. Provine is also quoted in the article when the author analyzes recent insights by… Continue Reading Robert Provine, Psychology, in American Psychological Association Monitor

Dawn Biehler, Geography and Environmental Systems, on WHYY Philadelphia

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Entomologists believe bed bugs have started making a comeback in places like Philadelphia in recent years. A report that aired on WHYY in Philadelphia January 17 examines the city’s battle with bedbugs and how it has evolved. Dawn Biehler, assistant professor of geography and environmental systems, was interviewed for the story and commented on the history of bedbugs in the United States and how they appeared consistently up until the 40s and 50s. “It was almost kind of an accepted condition of urban life that every once in a while, you were going to get bedbugs,” Biehler said. “Some people had… Continue Reading Dawn Biehler, Geography and Environmental Systems, on WHYY Philadelphia

UMBC’s Hilltop Institute in The Baltimore Sun

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An article published January 19 in The Baltimore Sun examines the impact of the Affordable Care Act as Marylanders gain health insurance coverage, but points to how many are switching from existing policies. The article, titled “Consumers trading up for better, cheaper health insurance” states that while many people who already have health insurance are trading up for better policies, the number of uninsured might not decrease greatly. UMBC’s Hilltop Institute is mentioned in the article when referencing a past study that was conducted before the Affordable Care Act was launched: “The Hilltop Institute at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County estimated before… Continue Reading UMBC’s Hilltop Institute in The Baltimore Sun

Robert Provine, Psychology, to be Featured in New Book

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Psychology professor Robert Provine participated in this year’s annual question on Edge.org, which features a collection of online essays that is later published as part of a high-profile and top-selling series of books for a general audience. Contributors each year are leading scientists, philosophers and artists and the event draws global news coverage. This year’s question was “What scientific idea is ready for retirement?” In his response titled “Common Sense,” Provine writes about behavioral and brain science: “We fancy ourselves intelligent, conscious and alert, and thinking our way through life. This is an illusion. We are deluded by our brain’s generation of a… Continue Reading Robert Provine, Psychology, to be Featured in New Book

Tom Cronin, Biology, in WIRED

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What’s the Absurd Creature of the Week in WIRED science? Why it’s none other than one of biologist Tom Cronin’s favorite sea critters, the mantis shrimp. And the eyes of these creatures are Cronin’s specialty and that’s where he comes into the article. “As with bees or flies or crabs, they are compound eyes, but unlike those creatures, mantis shrimp “have a very unusual adaptation in that multiple parts of the same eye view the same point in space,” said biologist Tom Cronin of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, “which is sort of like having multiple eyes in one, in… Continue Reading Tom Cronin, Biology, in WIRED

UMBC Study on Maryland Dream Act in the Gazette

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An article published January 8th in The Gazette examines the impact of the Maryland Dream Act after its first year. The law allows undocumented immigrants who graduate from Maryland high schools and meet certain conditions to pay in-state and in-county tuition at Maryland public community colleges and public universities. The article, titled “The First Year of ‘Dreamers,’” references UMBC’s Maryland Institute for Policy Analysis and Research study on the economic impact of the Dream Act. The report concluded the Dream Act would benefit state and local governments with $6.2 million in economic activity. The article mentions opponents’ claims that the Dream… Continue Reading UMBC Study on Maryland Dream Act in the Gazette

Stuart Schwartz, CUERE, on the Marc Steiner Show

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On December 17, Stuart Schwartz, a senior research scientist at the Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education (CUERE) was a guest on the Marc Steiner Show. Schwartz discussed his latest research which uses a kind of Asian radish “This radish can grow to the size of something between a fat carrot and an egg plant,” says Schwartz to Steiner. “It’s able to penetrate pretty compacted soils,” adds Schwartz. And says Schwartz, “We’ve been looking at compacted soils in Baltimore because that creates a lot of runoff.” Planting these radishes on vacant lots, says Schwartz, is a natural low cost… Continue Reading Stuart Schwartz, CUERE, on the Marc Steiner Show

Amy Hurst, Information Systems, Collaborates on $3.7 million project

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Amy Hurst, Collaborates on Multi-University Project To Improve Web and Cloud Computing Accessibility Will Help People With Disabilities Take Full Advantage of Online Resources “The researchers are working on methods for easily modifying software to meet the needs of people with disabilities. Researchers will develop ways to make it easier for people with disabilities to log on to the Web, make user interfaces more accessible, and change the presentation of information on the Web to streamline experiences for people with disabilities, caregivers and service providers. The researchers also will look for ways to leverage help from other people on the… Continue Reading Amy Hurst, Information Systems, Collaborates on $3.7 million project

Jessica Berman, English, Presents Guest Lecture at University of Mysore, India

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English professor Jessica Berman recently presented a guest lecture at the Maharani’s Arts and Commerce College for Women, the University of Mysore, India. Berman was in Mysore as part of an extended research trip in India to study the history of a Muslim woman writer, Iqbalunnisa Hussain, who graduated from the Maharani’s College in 1930. Berman spoke to faculty and Master’s students in English literature on “Modernism in a Post-Colonial Context.” She also interacted with students and discussed her research on Indian authors with the faculty. The lecture was presented on November 13th.

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