Maryland Summer Scholars Program

The Maryland Summer Scholars Program (MSS) provides opportunities for University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) undergraduates to spend much of the summer working closely with faculty mentors on ambitious research, scholarly, or artistic projects. The MSS program provides awards of $3,000 to approximately 25-30 undergraduates each summer.

Many Summer Scholars expand their summer research into an independent study or honors thesis project the following autumn semester, and find that their research experience helps distinguish their applications for graduate study, fellowships, internships, employment and other competitive opportunities.

Maryland Summer Scholars (MSS) may conduct their summer research on the College Park campus or elsewhere in the U.S. or abroad as required by the nature of the project. Students whose projects require travel for an extended period of time to off campus locations (not to include regular commuting) may submit a travel supplement request as directed in the online application form. Travel supplements will not exceed $1,000.

Eligibility: You are eligible to apply for an MSS award: if you have earned 12 or more UMD course credits (not including AP or IB credits) by the date of the application deadline; if you have a cumulative UMD GPA of 3.40 or higher by the date of the application deadline; and if you expect to receive your undergraduate degree no earlier than December 2020. All academic majors are eligible.

Application Deadline: The deadline to apply for summer 2020 awards will be Thursday, February 13, 2020. It is important that candidates begin developing their proposals as soon as possible.

The Maryland Center for Undergraduate Research will hold numerous 30-minute information sessions about the summer 2020 MSS program. Select a session and RSVP by clicking here.

• Monday, December 2 at 10:00am
• Monday, December 2 at 4:00pm
• Wednesday, December 4 at 1:00pm
• Thursday, December 5 at 3:00pm

START Winter Courses

Interested in building marketable skills in the terrorism analysis and homeland security fields? Consider taking an online course with START this Winter 2020 (Jan 2nd-Jan 22nd). These terrorism studies courses are completely online and open to students from any major. This winter we are offering:

• BSST338P: The Rise of the Islamic State (3 credits)
• This course is taught by Jason Blazakis, the Director of the Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. He was previously the Director of the Counterterrorism Finance and Designations Office, Bureau of Counterterrorism at the U.S. Department of State.
• BSST399F: Geospatial Analysis of Terrorism (1 credit)
• This course helps students develop skills in Geospatial Information Systems and the technologys specific applications to terrorism studies. No previous experience with GIS or terrorism data is necessary. Students will leave the course with a firm grasp of GIS technologies and the ways in which they may implemented in terrorism studies.
• BSST399D: Data Presentation Skills for Homeland Security (1 credit)
• Students in this course will develop skills using Stata to present data in research and policy briefs in a manner that is digestible and appealing to policy makers.
• BSST399N: Social Network Analysis for Terrorism (1 credit)
• This class introduces the student to the fundamentals of network analysis and to core network concepts including centrality and prestige, cohesive subgroups, and roles and positions, among other topics. By the end of the semester, the student should be able to conduct network analyses as needed to better understand whatever substantive phenomenon is of interest.

These courses count toward the 3 credit elective requirement for the Global Terrorism Minor - If you are interested in applying to the minor, these courses would count toward the program before you are even admitted. If you have any questions, please contact Liz Wasden at ewasden@umd.edu.

Job with UMD Center for Global Sustainability

Preview attachment CGS Event Coordinator GA description .docx

CGS Event Coordinator GA description .docx

115 KB

INST123

NEW iSCHOOL UNDERGRADUATE DATABASE COURSE
INST123 Databases for All (3 credits, DSSP)
This course is an introduction to relational databases for students with no previous programming experience. This course provides a means for students of diverse backgrounds to successfully learn how to store, retrieve, and maintain data in relational databases. Students are not expected to have any computer programming experience.

Topics include a brief comparison of database systems with an emphasis on relational databases, fundamental relational database concepts, and data types. It also includes technical approaches to accessing information stored in relational databases, including problem analysis, query creation, and execution, as well as debugging techniques.

Students will implement solutions by learning and using the Structured Query Language (SQL) and a relational database management system (RDBMS) to populate and query a series of sample databases. This is a hands-on course; students will be writing, analyzing, and testing SQL queries. The overall objective of this course is to provide a foundational understanding of relational databases, the methods through which the information housed in such databases can be efficiently accessed and maintained, and the process of working with information professionals to design and implement relational databases to meet the information needs for a wide variety of subjects.

AGU Fall Meeting

Protecting Lives from Flooding: Bridging Health and Earth Science   In this era of a changing climate, extreme flooding events are growing in intensity and frequency, threatening our communities. To better predict, respond, and build resilience to these risks, as part of Fall Meeting programming, AGU is hosting an event in Washington, DC, bringing together leaders in the health and environment fields to connect, and explore ways to protect our neighborhoods through the integration of science and practice. Tuesday, 10 December 2019  5:00–7:30 p.m. ET, Panel Program beginning at 5:30 p.m.   2000 Florida Avenue, NW  Washington, DC 20009    Light food and beverages will be served, along with an opportunity to tour AGU's Headquarters, Washington, DC's first ever net-zero energy renovated building.   Space is limited and RSVPs are required. RSVP NOW

Panel Speakers Ana P. Barros, Ph.D.: Edmund T. Pratt, Jr. School Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University (Simulcast from San Francisco)   Georges C. Benjamin, M.D.: Executive Director, American Public Health Association   Lynn R. Goldman, M.D., M.S., M.P.H.: Michael and Lori Milken Dean of the Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University   Aubrey K. Miller, M.D., M.P.H.: Senior Medical Advisor, National Institute of Environmental Health Science (Simulcast from San Francisco)   Tommy Wells, J.D., M.S.W.: Director, District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment

Disability Studies Information Session

New Minor in Disability Studies

Information Session – Wednesday, Nov 13- 3:30-4:30PM, ESJ B0322.    

The new Disability Studies minor is designed to elevate the study of disability, difference, and human potential at the University of Maryland.  Students will examine the concept of disability historically and in contemporary society and explore the challenges and opportunities we face in making our world more accessible to individuals with disabilities. 

Through 15 credits of interdisciplinary coursework, students will study and learn about the intersection of culture, education, and technology with identity and diversity.  

The application survey will be available for a one month period from 11/11 to 12/11/2019.  The application is accessed through the Disability Studies Minor webpage:  https://education.umd.edu/academics/programs/undergraduate/disability-studies-minor 

GIS Position with UMD Libraries

UMD Libraries is starting a new task force exploring wayfinding/signage and digital wayfinding in McKeldin. As part of our information gathering, I was thinking of hiring a GIS grad (or perhaps an undergrad with some advanced skills) student who might have some interest/expertise in wayfinding issues. I'm thinking of some user studies where a GIS person could give students tasks and then record their movements/decisions through the building with the goal of identifying problem areas or sticking points. We are also interested in apps for internal wayfinding or perhaps using Google Indoor Maps for this, so anyone with knowledge or expertise in these areas would be great too.

This would be an hourly position, rates and number of hours/length of employment to be determined based on potential skills of those interested.

Email Gary White (gww2@umd.edu) for more information.