UMBC Parent Preview: February 2010 Archives

“Our mandate is to increase the environmental IQ of America,” says Dave Jones, CEO of StormCenter Communications, a new resident of bwtech@UMBC’s Incubator and Accelerator. The company is conducting research with NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) to improve the communication of weather and climate change data in order to enhance preparation for and responses to major storms.

StormCenter is developing the Envirocast® Vision™ Touchtable (EVTT), a potential visualization and collaboration tool for the National Weather Service and FEMA that will enable scientists to share information on storm data and make decisions on where to position response crews before storms hit. The EVTT will be a prototype decision support tool for The Gulf of Mexico Alliance (governors of all Gulf Coast states). StormCenter is also working with the state of Texas as a model for how the rest of the Gulf Coast States can be more prepared for weather and climate change impacts to the region.

Continue reading "Increasing America’s Environmental IQ" »

Posted by Rebekah Porter on February 1, 2010 11:26 AM | Permalink

February 18, 2010

UMBC Chess Team Captures Pan-Am Tournament

The chess team from UMBC is back on familiar ground: The summit of the college chess world. And this time, UMBC stands alone.

Capping a near-flawless performance over the past four days at the tournament in South Padre Island, Texas, the Retrievers topped a team from the University of Texas-Brownsville to secure the title outright for the first time since 2005.

UMBC Chess Team Stands Alone Atop World of Collegiate Chess The Retrievers take all six matches in capturing record ninth title at Pan American Intercollegiate Chess Championship

The win completed a perfect 6-0 match record for the tournament, known as the “World Series of college chess.” UMBC’s dominant performance is all the more impressive given the high quality of the 28-team field this year, said Alan Sherman, director of the school’s chess program.

The performance is an upgrade over 2008, when UMBC shared the title with a University of Texas-Dallas team that had been on a two-year Pan-Am win streak.

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Posted by Rebekah Porter on February 18, 2010 9:39 AM | Permalink

Pretty in Pink: Women’s Basketball Completes Season Sweep of Albany with 51-40 Victory in Pink Zone Game

The Retrievers wore special pink uniforms for Thursday's Pink Zone game against the Great Danes.

Sophomore guard Michelle Kurowski (Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville) scored a game-high 21 points to lead the UMBC women’s basketball team to a 51-40 victory over America East rival Albany Thursday evening at the RAC Arena. The Retrievers have won three of their last four games.

The Retrievers wore special pink uniforms as part of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Pink Zone initiative to promote breast cancer awareness, and proceeds from the game will benefit the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund.

Kurowski’s 21 points came on 8-of-11 shooting, including 2-of-3 from long distance, and she was named UMBC’s America East Player of the Game.

Continue reading "Pretty in Pink: Women’s Basketball Completes Season Sweep of Albany with 51-40 Victory in Pink Zone Game" »

Posted by Rebekah Porter on February 18, 2010 9:59 AM | Permalink

One Snowy Week

From a snow-covered retriever to a homemade luge – the UMBC community captured some incredible scenes of Maryland's record snow storm. The following videos and photos capturing the campus were submitted by UMBC staff, faculty, students and alumni.

Check out this time lapse of the snow at UMBC, featured on YouTube.

These photos came from the UMBC Fan page on Facebook