WHat's New
To further improve the quality of undergraduate education at UMBC and to help prepare graduate students for future career paths, including STEM education, the CNMS is in the process of creating a credit-bearing course — Scientific Teaching for Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs). GTAs teach a significant number of UMBC undergraduate students and play an important role in many introductory mathematics and science courses by leading discussions or laboratory sessions. While receiving instruction on What To Teach, GTAs typically receive no training on How To Teach. To address this need, the pilot GTA training course was created by a group of faculty members from biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics. The goal of this new instruction is to standardize and significantly enhance the pedagogical preparation of all GTAs in the four CNMS departments. After completing a successful initial pilot over the Spring 2009 semester for experienced GTAs, the second pilot course is being guided by Drs. Lili Cui and Suzanne Braunschweig to target less experienced GTAs for the Fall 2009 semester. To access a PDF file of the current syllabus, click here. Contact Kathy Lee Sutphin for more information.


Renovations are being completed on the first floor of the University Center in UC 115 to create the CNMS Active Student Teaching and Learning Environment or CASTLE. This ~2,400 square foot classroom is being established to encourage inquiry-based instruction in the College's key foundational courses in science and mathematics. It will accommodate over 90 students working at large round tables in hierachical groups of 9 and 3. Completion is tentatively scheduled for mid-semester Fall 2009. The CNMS will control and schedule the space to ensure it supports innovative, active-learning instruction only.

The Twelfth Annual CNMS UMBC Summer Undergraduate Research Fest was held Wednesday, August 5, 2009 on the Seventh Floor of the A. O. Kuhn Library and Gallery, Faculty, staff and guests enjoyed the very professional presentations of student summer projects at the event, which was hosted for the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences. There were four oral and 48 poster presenters who were independent researchers or participants in formal undergraduate research experience based at UMBC including the MARC U*STAR, Meyerhoff, HHMI, Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology (JCET), and the Summer Biomedical Training Programs.

The Fourth Annual CNMS Student Recognition Day on Friday, May 8, 2009 honored an outstanding instructor and top students from the four CNMS Departments for their accomplishments. Ms. Bonny Tighe, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, was recognized as the first recipient of The Carl Weber Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching Award, which included a $1,000 prize. Many undergraduate and graduate students were recogized at the gala event. For names of the award winnvisit:

The Third Annual Probability and Statistics Day at UMBC was held April 24 and 25, 2009, by the Department Mathematics and Statistics. The event, which is funded by the National Security Agency, features a workshop on Modern Multiple Testing, three internationally renowned statisticians as plenary speakers, invited and contributed talks, and graduate student poster and oral presentations.

UMBC students, faculty, staff and guests enjoyed a wide array of presentations at the 13th Annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day (URCAD) on Wednesday, April 22, 2009. Next year's event will take place on Wednesday, April 28,2010. Record numbers of student presenters and URCAD visitors, including many from the CNMS disciplines, continue to enjoy the URCAD experience. For details, visit the URCAD website.

Did you know that the Maryland Higher Education Commission awarded teacher professional development proposals under its ITQ Programs to two CNMS departments for implementation in 2009 and 2010? The Teacher Quality in Biology (TQB) Program at UMBC (Dr. Lasse Lindahl, PI) is completing its sixth year and a Teacher Quality in Chemistry (TQC) Program (Dr. Bill LaCourse, PI) is completing its third year. Both proposals target Maryland high school science teachers as participants and benefit from collaborations with the UMBC Department of Education and area school systems.

The Dean's Office of the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences has been located in the University Center (UC 116) since the week ending March 31, 2006. The CNMS contact information continues to be: (410) 455-5827 - Telephone and (410) 455-5831- FAX.