UMBC News

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) has taken its strong reputation of responsiveness to the needs of IT community online, thanks to a unique partnership with Baltimore-area technology firm, e.magination. Today marks the launch of TechPort, http://techport.umbc.edu, an online community providing easy access to UMBC faculty experts, student talent, employers and IT leaders in the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond.

UMBC's Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery has extended "Patapsco: Portrait of a Valley, Photographs by Peggy Fox," an exhibition featuring 70 of Peggy Fox's photographic portraits of the elders of the historic Patapsco Valley and surrounding landscapes, accompanied by excerpts from Alison Kahn's oral histories. The exhibition will continue to be on view through June 30. The original exhibition, organized by Sally Voris for the Friends of the Patapsco Valley & Heritage Greenway, Inc., included 55 photographs commissioned by the Friends. The presentation at UMBC includes 15 new prints produced by Fox especially for this venue, to further document the environment which defines and characterizes the Patapsco Valley.

Maurice Berger and Symmes Gardner discuss the Fred Wilson exhibition.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Chess Team tied for first place at the 2000 Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship, held Dec. 27-30 in Milwaukee. The victory is UMBC's fourth championship in the past five years, a streak matched only by Harvard University.

For the first time, UMBC Research Week (April 17-25) will be capped off with a lecture by a prominent researcher who exemplifies the creative spirit of research. On April 25, NASA engineer and author Homer H. Hickam, Jr. will speak about his journey from the coalmines of West Virginia to the heart of NASA in a lecture to UMBC faculty, staff and students. Hickam's lecture, to be held at 7:30 p.m. in UMBC's Ballroom, will be followed by a book signing.

UMBC's Fine Arts Gallery presents "Fred Wilson: Objects and Installations, 1979-2000," the first mid-career survey of the artwork by the internationally recognized artist, curated by Maurice Berger, curator of the Fine Arts Gallery. The exhibition, which consists of more than 100 objects, some reconfigured to re-create sections of Wilson's original installations, will be on view from October 11, 2001 through January 12, 2002. An opening reception will be held on October 11 from 5 to 7 p.m.. Gallery hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call (410) 455-3188 or visit www.umbc.edu/fineartsgallery.

UMBC's Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery presents "Alice Burr, Photographer: A California Pictorialist Rediscovered," a look at the photographic works of an accomplished member of the amateur and professional movements in photography that flourished in early twentieth-century California. The free exhibition is on view January 29 through March 12. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, noon to 4:30 p.m.; Thursday, noon to 8 p.m.; and Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. For more information call (410) 455-2270.

UMBC's Humanities Forum and Espaces Series are free and open to the public.

U.S. Senators Barbara Mikulski and Paul Sarbanes; Governor Parris Glendening; Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend; University System of Maryland Chancellor Donald Langenberg; UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski; and NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center Director Al Diaz will be on hand Jan. 19 at 2:00 to celebrate the largest research collaboration in UMBC history: the Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology (GEST) Center.

Doug Hamby Dance, the Baltimore-Washington region's leading explorers of technology in modern dance, will perform at Dance Place in Washington, D.C. Showtimes are at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, July 13 and 14, and 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 15. Tickets are $15 general and $12 members, students, seniors and artists. Dance Place (www.danceplace.org) is located at 3225 8th Street NE. For more information, call (202) 269-1600 or visit www.umbc.edu/dhd.

The UMBC Computer Certification Training Center announced today it was selected to join Sun Microsystems' (Nasdaq: SUNW) Sun Academic Initiative, a unique program designed to teach the latest information technology skills to an emerging workforce. Sun's training arm, Sun Educational Services, provides curriculum materials, faculty training, full administrative support and free Web-based student resources, to support UMBC CCTC's strategy of complete learning solutions.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) announced the opening of its latest associated commercial venture today: The UMBC Computer Certification Training Center, LLC.

UMBC President Freeman A. Hrabowski, III is the 2001 recipient of the Stuart M. Macht Award in recognition of a career of community and business leadership. Baltimore County Executive C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger presented Hrabowski with the award at the annual Baltimore County Business Awards celebration, held at Martin's West in Baltimore, Md.

Scientific American Frontiers, a PBS science series hosted by Alan Alda, will air "Life's Little Questions II" on January 30 at 8:00 ET. In this one-hour episode, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) psychology professor Robert Provine helps Alda awaken the child scientist inside him and ask some seemingly trivial questions that have surprisingly significant answers. For instance, what is laughter and why do we laugh?

Phoenix Dance Company, the professional modern dance company in residence at UMBC, will present a concert at 8 p.m. February 14 through 17 in the UMBC Theatre. Tickets are $10 general, $7 students and seniors. For information and reservations, call (410) 455-6240.

UMBC's Dance Department presents two lecture/demonstrations by Troika Ranch, an innovative dance company that combines dance, music, theater and interactive digital media. The events will be held on February 7 at 1 p.m. and8 p.m. in the UMBC Theatre. Because the 8 p.m. show is presented in conjunction with UMBC's Progressions class, seating is very limited. The company will also give a master class for intermediate and advanced dancers on February 8 at 10 a.m. Space is limited. For more information call (410) 455-6240.

AS OF MARCH 7, CABARET IS SOLD OUT. Those interested may put their names on a waiting list at the Box Office (in the lobby of the Theatre bldg.) one hour before showtime of each performance. NO WAITING LIST REQUESTS WILL BE TAKEN BY PHONE OR EMAIL. The waiting list is first come, first served and there are no guarantees that those on the list will be seated.

UMBC's Department of Theatre presents a Studio Theatre production of Cabaret, directed by guest artist Robin Midgley. After a free 8 p.m. preview on March 8, performances will be held at 8 p.m. on March 9, 10, 13 and 14, and at 4 p.m. on March 11 and 15. Admission is $5. The March 15 show is free to UMBC faculty, staff and students. All performances take place in the UMBC Theatre.

UMBC's Department of Visual Arts presents its Visiting Artist Series for Spring 2001. All events are free and open to the public; times and venues vary. For more information, call (410) 455-2150.

UMBC's champion chess team will be featured on NBC's "Today Show."

UMBC's Department of Music presents a concert of late 20th-century works for guitar by faculty member William Feasley. The program includes compositions by George Rochberg, UMBC music faculty Stuart Saunders Smith, Robert Beaser, Lou Harrison, Ralph Towner, Peter Madlem and William Bolcom. The concert will be held on February 23 at 8 p.m. in the Fine Arts Recital Hall. Admission is $7 general and $3 students/seniors. For more information call (410) 455-2942.

Leaders from UMBC, Montgomery County Public Schools, and Montgomery College will convene at UMBC to put a new teacher recruitment and education program, “Recruiting at Home: Students to Teachers,” into action. The ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, February 2 in UMBC's Albin O. Kuhn Library.