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UMBC's InterArts series and the Department of Dance present the Troika Ranch dance company on February 3 and 4, at 8 p.m. in the UMBC Theatre.

Renowned for their densely textured choreography, original musical scores and groundbreaking use of interactive digital media and technology, the New York City-based dance theater company Troika Ranch continues to redefine experimental dance theatre. Their program will feature two works: 2001's Reine Rien and a work-in-progress showing of their newest evening length piece, Surfaces, which is slated to premiere in New York City in May, 2004.

Dubbed "interactive performance pioneers” by The New York Times and "multimedia mavericks” by the Village Voice, Troika Ranch uses custom software and interactive sensory devices to allow their dancers' movements to directly create music and manipulate video imagery as they perform. The company's previous work, Future of Memory, which played to sold out houses in New York in February 2003, was awarded the first ever Dance Audience Award at the 2003 "Bessie” (a.k.a. Downtown Dance and Performance) Awards.

In Surfaces, the company will use onstage cameras and a sophisticated form of "video feedback” to allow the real dancers to perform with their video counterparts. As dancers enter and leave the stage, video "echoes”—delayed by moments or minutes—appear and disappear, creating a swirling fugue between the real and the virtual. In addition, software that analyzes movement in the video frame allows the performers to become "media conductors.” Much as the gestures of an orchestra conductor dictate how the music will be played, the dancers' movement will control the timing, dynamics, and effects applied to the video and sound. The standard relationship, where dancers perform to music, is inverted—now, the media perform to the dancers.

Conceptually, Surfaces begins with the notion that a surface is a point of contact and conflict. Whether the surface of a body, a surface that delineates space, or one that separates one's public and private parts, the surface ensures that one is either on the inside or the outside. Who we are (and who we become) when we struggle to break through the surface is the idea that drives this work.

In Reine Rien, the dancers also directly control their musical and visual accompaniment. Wireless sensors in the performers' costumes measure the flexion of their joints, transmitting that information to an offstage computer. The performers thus determine the timing, dynamics and looping of sampled sound, and the speed, color content and warping of video imagery. The Village Voice described Reine Rien by saying, "Troika Ranch have created an oxymoron: warm, glowy conceptual art. The movement of the dancers, who are wired to a computer, releases…a beautiful idea—that whole cities of sound are immanent in the air, and human motion makes them visible.”

Pushing the integration of dance and media to new heights, artistic directors Mark Coniglio (music and interactive media) and Dawn Stoppiello (choreography) founded Troika Ranch in 1994 with the mission to create digital-dance-theater in which the media elements share the same spontaneity as the human performers on stage. The two words that comprise the company name are indicative of its focus. Troika, Russian for three, represents dance, theater and digital media, the three core elements found in the company's artwork. Ranch symbolizes the collaboration among its members. Coniglio and Stoppiello encourage all in the company to share ideas, techniques and processes to ensure the most abundant aesthetic harvest. The over-arching goal of this collaboration is to fully integrate the three core elements into what Richard Wagner called the gesamtkunstwerk—the total artwork.

Mark Coniglio focuses predominately on interweaving music and media into performance.In addition to his work with Troika Ranch, Coniglio also acts as a consultant for other dance companies. He recently served as technical advisor for a video-intensive work created by Judith Jamison for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Coniglio is one of nine artists selected to receive support during the 2003 inaugural year of a 12-month dance and technology fellowship at Dance Theater Workshop.

Recognized as a creative leader in the field of dance and technology, Dawn Stoppiello, a choreographer, dancer and media artist, was an invited panelist for the Beyond the Divide Symposium as part of Australia's Adelaide Festival 2002; has taught master classes at numerous universities around the country; has lectured on interactive performance in France, Monaco, Holland, England, Canada and the U.S.; and her article "FleshMotor” was recently included in the book Women in New Media, published by MIT Press/ Leonardo Art Journal.

Admission to the concert is $15 general and $7 for students and seniors. For information and reservations, call the Dance Box Office at 410-455-6240.

Our colleague, teacher and friend, Professor Joe Arnold of the Department of History, died on Monday, January 5, 2004. The following tributes from members of the campus community testify to Dr. Arnold's extraordinary contributions to the campus and to his field.

President Freeman Hrabowski's Tribute at Memorial Service for Professor Arnold

Joe Arnold: An Appreciation, By History Department Professor and Chair John Jeffries

Dr. Joseph Arnold was a great friend to libraries and historical organizations, especially UMBC's Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery. When the library's directorship became vacant in 1979, he was asked to serve as acting director, and continued in that role for more than a year until a new director was hired. His oversight of the library was characteristically sagacious. He successfully argued in favor of new funding for library serials at a time when serials costs were en routeto becoming two-thirds of the materials budget. He deftly handled many longstanding library administrative problems. Library staff remember him for his great kindness in the difficult transitions that were occurring.

Founding staff member Simmona Simmons-Hodo remembers, "Joe Arnoldwas a caring and kind individual, who always had time to talk to you." Joyce Tenney, serials librarian, recalls that "Joe's gentle spirit and compassion gave the library a good direction." Dr. Larry Wilt, current director of the AOK, says, "In the 23 years following Joe's acting directorship, he continued his leadership role on behalf of the library by chairing the Library Policy Committee. His wise council will be greatly missed."

Dr. Arnold was the model scholar. I remember the many weeks and months that Joe diligently read The Baltimore Sun in researching the history of Baltimore in the UMBC's Special Collections.

Tom Beck
Chief Curator
Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery

It was with profound sadness that I received the news of Joe Arnold's death. In 1988, following my retirement from a career in state and federal government service, I met with Dr. Arnold to ask for permission to be admitted to UMBC for graduate studies in history. Not having had a superlative record in undergraduate school, I was stunned when Dr. Arnold, then dean of the history department, replied, "When can you enroll?" I did so then and there for the following fall semester.

I received my M.A. in 1991 at the age of 58. And, symbolic of Dr. Arnold's assessment of the potential I represented for scholarly achievement, I was elected to Phi Delta Alpha, the History Honorary Society, having maintained a 3.66 grade point average for my four years at UMBC.

I had been severely injured while on active duty with the U. S. Air Force in 1957. UMBC had been designed and built with outstanding foresight. I was able to traverse the campus via halls, elevators, basements and restricted areas in my wheelchair; rarely being exposed to inclement weather. Essential areas such as the bookstore, the campus grill, and classrooms were all accessible. The only building unprotected was the library.

As I approached the conclusion of my tenure at UMBC, my kidneys began to fail. The combination of accessibility, protection from the elements, and hard work allowed me to be successful. The primary reason for my performance was the excellence of the faculty. They were, collectively, the finest I had encountered in my academic experience. However, all of the above would not have been possible without the judgment of Joe Arnold. I shall forever be grateful for the fact of our meeting in his office in 1988. I have thought of him many times since then, and will do so in the future wherever his spirit shall wander.

George Conn '91 M.A.
History

As a student, I knew Professor Arnold mainly from his public lectures andfrom seeing him around the history department. But from even such alimited experience, it was obvious he was a person of wry humor with a kind ofworld-weary wisdom and a large generosity of spirit. He also carried within that spirit a lifetime of learning and a wide knowledge that he freely shared. Such persons are rare. The poet John Donne reminded us that every person's death diminishes us, as we are all part of the main. But when the bell tolls for someone like Professor Arnold, its tones announce not just our common humanity, but that something special is gone as well.

Larry DeWitt
Graduate Student

Dr. Arnold was more than just my history professor, he was an advisor, a colleague, and a friend. After I began work with the Student Government Association last semester, Dr. Arnold and I would often talk after class. He would ask about what the SGA was working on, and offer ideas and suggestions for campus issues we could address. In addition to this, Dr. Arnold and I served together on the Library Policy Committee. These activities, among many others, serve as a testament to the strength of his commitment to UMBC and its students.

The thing that I will remember most about Dr. Arnold, however, is his kindness and sense of humor. His classes, a mixture of humor, personal experience, and expertise, were both enjoyable and enlightening.

Toward the end of this past semester, Dr. Arnold was giving a lecture in class and mentioned how, while all of his friends were making a lot of money in high-powered careers, he was struggling to get his doctorate in history. At the time he was unsure of what he was doing, but as years passed he knew he had made the right choice. "Don't be afraid to take risks," he told us. By taking a risk, he was able to find a career that he truly loved. These lessons will stay with me always. Dr. Arnold was truly a remarkable person and professor who will be sorely missed.

Nicole Dimick
Sophomore
History

When I read that Dr. Arnold had passed away I was stunned. As a transfer to UMBC no one made me feel more welcome than he did. I have taken a class with him during each of the three semesters I have been at UMBC. The first semester I took his American Cities class, where I not only saw how much he loved what he taught but was given small glimpses into his life, as he always included little anecdotes into his lectures. The next semester he sponsored me in my internship at the Maryland Historical Society (MdHS). I then asked Dr. Arnold to be my advisor and worked with him and shared my excitement and all I had learned from my research with MdHS.

This past semester I was involved in an independent research class with Dr. Arnold about the Baltimore Fire of 1904. We worked through the semester and I produced a paper that I am quite proud of, and would not have completed without the help of Dr. Arnold and his knowledge and endless enthusiasm. Whether I was telling him about street widening in Baltimore, or old churches taken over by businesses, he was optimistic and thrilled to hear what new research I had come up with. He made me want to work harder, and do better.

I last spoke to Dr. Arnold at the end of the semester. I had signed up to be in HIST 495, a history class that focused on the social history of New York. We discussed the books that were going to be read during the semester. He was so excited to start the new semester and teach this class.

That Dr. Arnold will no longer teach, tell stories, or be sitting in his office ready to help anyone who asks, does not seem real. The history department has lost a great professor and a kind man. A deep sadness fills me, as I know it does to anyone who knew him.

Dr. Arnold, you are missed and will be remembered.

Danyelle Dorsey
Senior
History

As I was scheduling Joe's talk in December for our history department seminar series, we were chatting about possible topics. He said he'd pick a chapter from his book manuscript on the history of Baltimore. At first he said, "Well, I could do the chapter on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad." But then he stopped for a moment, and said, "No, I want to talk about people." So he chose the chapter about the Jewish community in Baltimore.

That was all Joe-a deep and abiding interest in people. He was our kindest and most empathetic colleague. We all loved him, and love him still. He had not an enemy in the world.

Sandra Herbert
Professor
History

During my four years at UMBC I met many new people, which is of course part of the whole "college experience." Among those people, Dr. Arnold outshined them all. Amid a campus making strides in research, he made it his priority to do whatever he could for his students and genuinely cared for all of us. He was an astonishing person, evident to all that met him. I knew when I graduated he would always have a place in my heart and memories. More than ever I am sure that the knowledge he passed on and his kind-hearted example will be with me always. I will miss his stories about his fraternity and about meeting his wife and living in Chicago. I will miss the smile that radiated every time he would talk about his wife, children and grandchildren. This fall when I learned that he would be retiring, I thought about all of the people that would be missing out on the experience of knowing him. Dr. Arnold's memory is one of the greatest I have from my time in college, and for that I will thank him always.

Wendy K. Ison '03
History Minor

I just met Professor Arnold before winter break began. Professor Lindenmeyer was kind enough to recommend me for his History of Baltimore class and tried hard to bring Dr. Arnold and I together to discuss entrance to his class. We met shortly after finals ended, and I was so happy meeting him because he seemed like such an incredibly nice man. I know that may sound plain, but he was. I was genuinely excited about the course not only because of the subject matter, but also because of the professor that I met. I didn't know Professor Arnold as well as others in the student body or staff, but I was looking forward to getting to know him. And it shocks me that he's gone.

Erin McClintock
Freshman
Social Work

During the fall 2003 semester, I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Arnold as his graduate teaching assistant for his course, History 102. I have very fond memories of Dr. Arnold as a fine professor, who engaged his students with a warm sense of humor and a firm understanding of history.

Personally, I am deeply saddened that I will not be able to seek out Dr. Arnold's advice on future research that I plan to undertake. I know how much I would have enjoyed discussing ideas with him. He had a wide understanding of American history. Most importantly, Dr. Arnold was sincerely interested in his students, to whom he so generously gave his time and consideration.

I would like to express my deepest condolences to his family and to his colleagues who worked with him at UMBC.

Donna R. Omata
Graduate Student
History

Joe Arnold was the consummate academic professional-an engaging teacher, a highly regarded researcher, a wise campus leader and a caring colleague and friend. We shared intellectual interests in community and urban studies, and I greatly admired his work in urban history. I often would turn to Joe with questions about my own projects, and I always found him ready to offer encouragement, extend advice and provide support. Joe clearly established himself as the dean of historians of Baltimore, and he openly and widely communicated his excitement and expertise to his students, colleagues and the general public.

Special memories include several collaborative teaching and research projects. For several winter sessions Joe and I collaborated on an interdisciplinary course on America in the 1930s, which included field trips to such area resources as the New Deal murals in D.C. and the planned community of Greenbelt-the subject of Joe's dissertation and first book. In the 1980s we worked together with a team of undergraduate and graduate student researchers on the history of Catonsville, exploring photographic, oral history and written records to produce an exhibit, "From Village to Suburb, 1880-1940," which opened in UMBC's Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery, then was on display in the Catonsville Library. The project was so well received by local residents that it was published as a book by the Catonsville Historical Society, and the response led to a second printing. Both projects worked so well because Joe and I shared the excitement of interdisciplinary collaboration, the opportunity to combine our teaching and research interests and-in the latter case-the chance to make a contribution to the public history of the area.

But it really is the personal qualities that these and other interactions exhibited that mattered the most-the times when students came from Joe's courses on urban history or the history of Baltimore with genuine excitement about the perspectives his courses had engendered; the times when I sought him out for advice on my research on Baltimore society and received wise and thoughtful counsel; listening to Joe address a conference on Baltimore history with his wonderful tone of authority measured-as always-with good humor; observing in so many ways his commitment to UMBC, whose aspirations to excellence he so manifestly represented.

Joe and his family also were neighbors in the Hunting Ridge section of Baltimore City before they moved to Howard County. My wife and I send our thoughts and prayers to Mary Jane, the children and their families as they come to terms with this loss, so tragic for us all.

Ed Orser
Professor
American Studies

Joe and I arrived at UMBC at the same time in September 1968. It was a tumultuous time, politically, with social movements against another war, in favor of student power and in favor of black and women's liberation. We were not always on the same sides in these movements, especially as they impacted UMBC, but I always remember Joe as a fair a decent person, who would carefully listen to a variety of arguments before making up his mind.

Sometime in the very early 1970s, he and I along with another faculty member and several black students went to see the then-chancellor to discuss raising the possibility of a black studies program on campus. Although we made a good case, the chancellor turned us down and the campus had to wait for some years for Africana studies to become a reality.

I never really became friendly with Joe but I always respected him. He will be missed.

Fred Pincus
Associate Professor
Sociology/Anthropology

I have known Joe for over 40 years. His contributions to the development of UMBC are immeasurable but, for me, the memories will center around his kindness and insight. I came to love him for his measured thought and especially for his deep affection toward his wife and family, friends, students and the people of Baltimore. He wanted very much to complete his history of Baltimore in retirement. Everyone loses when a pillar of humanity is no longer with us.

Rudy Storch
Associate Professor
Ancient Studies

Class. Race. Identity. Middle and high school art classes are not often seen as a forum to examine such serious topics. An exhibition hosted by the Center for Art and Visual Culture (CAVC), however, shows how young people explore these issues using art as an expressive medium.

On December 8, the CAVC opened an exhibition featuring the work of students involved in its educational outreach program. Approximately 100 middle and high school students from four schools and two after-school programs in Baltimore City and Baltimore County participated in this year's program.

The exhibition is the culmination of over two months of hard work by the participating students. They began with visits to the Center's current exhibition, "White: Whiteness and Race in Contemporary Art," and then worked with their teachers and the CAVC's five interns to discuss what they saw and produce their own work. Inspired by the art and by their own life experiences, the students created art that explores their own ideas about whiteness and race.

Preparation for the educational outreach program is a yearlong affair for the CAVC staff. In choosing shows for its gallery, the CAVC considers topics that would be relevant for the students they work with, many of whom have little or no experience with art. Using ideas inspired by their attendance at a conference hosted by Arts Education in Maryland Schools (AEMS), this year the Center's staff created curriculum packets to help teachers incorporate program participation into their classroom teaching. In addition to working with the students on a weekly basis, the Center's interns also do all the preparation leading up to the exhibition, hanging the student art work and generating accompanying wall text.

While working with students in the program, the CAVC staff is often confronted with the everyday realities of class and race. "Many of the students we work with are in schools with very limited resources where they have had no exposure to art and there is little emphasis on pursuing a college education," says Renee van der Stelt, projects coordinator, who is now leading the program for the fifth year. "We help these students learn that art isn't just a pursuit for rich, white people; they can understand it and create their own art to communicate with others. We hope that the students become more engaged in their education through these types of opportunities and will begin to think about the possibility of going to college."

With the new gallery space in The Commons, this year's Educational Outreach Exhibition will be larger and more accessible to the general public than ever before. The CAVC began the program in the mid-1990s and it has grown gradually ever since, thanks to the continuing support of the UMBC community. "We can't thank Vice Provost for Undergraduate and Professional Education Diane Lee enough for her support of the program," says van der Stelt. "Without the funding from her office and the Maryland State Arts Council, much of what we do in the educational outreach program would be impossible."

The Educational Outreach Exhibition will be on display at The Commons and in the Hallway Gallery of the Fine Arts Building through January 31. A reception for the UMBC community will be held on December 17 from 4 to 6 p.m. on the Mezzanine Level of The Commons. For more information, please call (410) 455-3188.

Tom Schaller, Political Science, in the News
Thomas Schaller, assistant professor of political science and expert analyst of the Democratic presidential primary election, will be the guest for C-SPAN's "Washington Journal" this Saturday, January 31, from 9 to 9:30 a.m.

He has also pre-launched a Internet magazine, The Gadflyer, and traveled to Iowa and New Hampshire to cover the Democratic primaries.

On January 29, Schaller was interviewed on an ABC's "World News Tonight" segment about the Democratic primaries. His editorial "New Math: How a trio of savvy Kerry campaign workers used a fresh voter equation to win Iowa" was published in American Prospect.

Larry Lasher, Honors College, in the Baltimore Sun
"Evolving to the end," an OpEd by Larry Lasher, associate director of the Honors College, appeared in the Baltimore Sun on January 20.

Marcella Holland '80 in the Baltimore Sun
Marcella Holland, political science '80 and Baltimore's new top Circuit Court judge, was profiled in the Baltimore Sun on January 16.

Robert Provine, Psychology, in New Scientist
Professor of Psychology Robert Provine's laughter research was the cover story in the current issue of New Scientist magazine. The article is not yet available online.

UMBC Dance in the Baltimore Sun
UMBC's dance department and its use of technology in performance was the subject of a Baltimore Sun feature on January 22.

Sandy Parker, Geography/Environmental Systems, in the Baltimore Sun
Sandy Parker, associate professor of geography/environmental systems, was quoted in the December 14 Baltimore Sun story, "The Political Environment."

Tom Schaller, Political Science, in the Boston Globe and on National Public Radio
"Gephardt's plan to 'win' Iowa," an OpEd by Assistant Professor of Political Science Tom Schaller, was published in the Boston Globe on January 10.

On January 15, he was a guest on National Public Radio's "Talk of the Nation."

UMBC Chess' Bruci Lopez in the Miami Herald
A feature on UMBC Chess Team member Bruci Lopez appeared in the Miami Herald on January 10.

Donald Norris, MIPAR, Public Policy, in the News
On January 11, Donald Norris, director of MIPAR and professor of public policy, was quoted in the Washington Post story,"Ehrlich Scores High Marks in Poll."

Norris was also quoted in the January 13 Baltimore Sun article, "Lobbying for city falls on mayor's shoulders." He was also interviewed for the January 15 Sun story "State deficit tops Ehrlich's agenda."

He was also interviewed for a January 12 WJZ TV news story on the 2006 gubernatorial race. The segment aired at 5 and 6 p.m. On January 13, he was interviewed for a preview of the Maryland legislative session on Metro Networks radio. On January 16, he discussed Maryland politics on WAMU Radio.

Virginia McConnell, Economics, Co-Authors Environment Cover Story
Virginia McConnell, professor of economics, was co-author of the coverstory for the November 2003 issue of Environment. "A LighterTread?," co-written with her fellow Resources for the Future seniorfellow Winston Harrington of Georgetown University, examined policy andtechnology options for more environmentally friendly motor vehicletechnologies.

Christopher Corbett, English, on WNYC-FM Radio
On January 13, English instructor Christopher Corbett discussed his new book, Orphans Preferred: The Twisted Truth and Lasting Legend of the Pony Express, on the Leonard Lopate Show, WNYC-FM.

Robert Deluty, Psychology, in the Jewish Times
Associate Professor of Psychology and Presidential Teaching Professor Robert Deluty was quoted in "A Stress-Less Season: Ways to take the worry out of the holiday" in the December 12 Jewish Times.

Ed Orser, American Studies, in the Baltimore Sun
Professor of American Studies Ed Orser was quoted in the December 15 Baltimore Sun story, "Reprint offers look at city's movement 'Toward Equality': Historical society reissues chronology of segregation."

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun and Baltimore Magazine
Assistant Professor of Political Science Thomas Schaller's OpEd "Primary politics: Why Maryland's role is secondary," appeared in the Baltimore Sun on December 28.

His article, "The Man Who Wasn't There" was published in the January 2004 issue of Baltimore Magazine. The article is not available online.

UMBC Chess' Battsetseg Tsagaan in the Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun featured UMBC chess team member Battsetseg Tsagaan on December 27.

bwtech@UMBC in the Baltimore Business Journal and Daily Record
The Baltimore Business Journal and the Daily Record published articles on the expansion of Baltimore County's Southwest Enterprise Zone, which now includes bwtech@umbc. The Daily Record article is available to subscribers only.

Donald Norris, MIPAR, Public Policy, in the Baltimore Sun
Director of MIPAR and Professor of Public Policy Donald Norris was quoted in the January 4 Baltimore Sun article "State, local taxes rise as U.S. levy falls."

Ellen Hemmerly on Comcast CNN Headline News
An interview with Ellen Hemmerly, executive director, UMBC Research Park Corp.,will run on Comcast's CNN Headline News on January 9, 19 and 23. Hemmerly will answer questions related to the techcenter@UMBC and bwtech@UMBC Research and Technology Park projects.(Scheduled showtimes: AM: 1:24, 5:24, 7:24, 9:24, 10:24, 11:24/PM: 2:24, 3:24, 5:24, 7:24, 9:24, 11:24)

New Patent for Govind Rao, Chemical/Biochemical Engineering
Congratulations to Govind Rao, professor and chair, chemical/biochemical engineering, for his recently issued patent entitled "Bioreactor and Bioprocessing Technique", patent number U.S. 6,673,532 B2, issued on January 6, 2004. This invention combines bioprocessing with optical chemical sensing technology to monitor, measure, control and/or adjust, to optimize multiple bioprocess parameters in single and/or multiple bioreactors. The patent can be viewed in its entirety on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Web site. If you would like more information about patents, trademarks, or copyrights, please call the UMBC Office of Technology Development at 410-455-1414.

Chris Corbett, English, on Powells.com
Orphans Preferred: The Twisted Truth and Lasting Legend of the Pony Express by English faculty Chris Corbett was favorably reviewed on Powells.com.

Book by Geography/Environmental Science's John Rennie Short Receives National Recognition
Professor and Chair of the Department of Geography John Rennie Short's The World Through Maps: A History of Cartography has been chosen by Discover magazine as one of its picks for best science books for the year 2003. The complete list will be published in Discover magazine's January 2004 Year in Science issue. Previous best picks have been described by Discover as "the most thought-provoking and important science books of the year." The World Through Maps chronicles the development and progression of maps through time--from the earliest maps carved into rocks to the detailed maps that are produced by today's highly-sophisticated technology--and provides insights into the context and messages that are conveyed through maps.

Short received his Ph.D. from the University of Bristol in 1976 and joined UMBC in 2002. His research interests include globalization, urban issues, environmental concerns and history of cartography.

Public Policy's Donald Norris and Patricia Fletcher Named Editors of New Journal
Donald F. Norris, director of MIPAR and professor of public policy, and Patricia Fletcher, associate professor of public policy have been named editors of a new journal, the International Journal of Electronic Government Research. The journal is published by Idea Group Publishing. The inaugural edition will be in the winter of 2005. The journal will publish high quality articles by scholars from around the globe on all aspects of electronic government.

Department of Theatre Heads to Regional American College Theatre Festival
The Department of Theatre's fall production Buried, which was conceived and directed by Colette Searls, has been selected to perform at the regional ACTF in January, along with productions from nine other schools. A total of 26 UMBC students -- some of whom will enter competitions in acting by performing monologues and scenes - will attend. Two other students will compete in lighting and crafts design. All of the students will have an opportunity to attend three to five workshops a day as well as the adjudications of all the productions at the festival.

Department of Music Receives 3rd Place in Adventurous Programming Awards
The Department of Music was awarded 3rd place in Chamber Music America's Adventurous Programming Awards. Linda Dusman, chair of the music department, commented, "First place went to the Los Angeles Museum of Art, 2nd to the Cornish Concert Series in Seattle. I think we are in very good company here given that these are both professional, not university, concert series." Chamber Music America is the national advocacy group for chamber music performance in the U.S.

Exhibition at CAVC in City Paper's Top Ten of 2003
"Some Kind of Love: Performance Video 1989-2000 by Nayland Blake," on view at the Center for Art and Visual Culture (CAVC) in February and March 2003, was named one of the top ten exhibitions of 2003 by City Paper.

BrainChild Maryland announced that it has signed partnership agreements with both UMBC and Johns Hopkins University's Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) to facilitate the commercialization of technologies developed at those institutions.

Under the partnerships, BrainChild Maryland will work closely with these research institutions to evaluate the market and business potential of the technologies invented by their research scientists. As part of its process of working with both UMBC and WSE, BrainChild Maryland will collaborate with scientists and inventors at each institution.

"These partnerships will enable us to work directly with the inventors and evaluate their technologies from both a technical and a business perspective, which means that we can make stronger recommendations to our research partners about their best commercialization opportunities," says Dan Goodman, technology transfer partner at BrainChild Maryland.

"Working with BrainChild Maryland offers us a unique private sector partner to help us move our valuable technologies more quickly and effectively into the marketplace," emphasized Stephen Auvil, director of UMBC's Office of Technology Development. UMBC is a diverse campus with strengths in research areas such as biochemistry, chemical and biochemical engineering, and photonics.

WSE has a number of nationally recognized programs in biomedical, mechanical and electrical engineering, as well as computer science, materials science and engineering, and chemical and biomolecular engineering. The Biomedical Engineering department is consistently ranked #1 by U.S. News and World Reports. The Information Security Institute has been named an NSA Center for Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education and has recently hired one of the nation's leading experts in network security and applied cryptography.

"We are pleased about the agreement between the Whiting School of Engineering and BrainChild Maryland-this company has the potential to help the school determine where best to spend its time and resources," said Ted Poehler, vice provost for research at Johns Hopkins University. "In addition, BrainChild Maryland will counsel inventors on technology commercialization and help expedite the disclosure process. This is an important contribution to increasing the success of WSE technology commercialization."

In addition to its partnerships with UMBC and Whiting, BrainChild Maryland is also actively engaged in evaluating and assessing compelling technologies at the University of Maryland College Park and several Federal laboratories.

BrainChild Maryland will collaborate with the institutions and inventors to commercialize their most promising technologies through one of two paths: by spinning out new companies to develop tomorrow's leading technology products or by aggressively marketing the technologies that have significant value today.

"Our goal is to help Maryland's research institutions maximize the value of their intellectual property," explains Paul H. Mauritz, strategic development partner at BrainChild Maryland, "Either by building and supporting a spin-out company to bring the technology to market or by aggressively marketing the technology worldwide to established corporations-we will pursue whichever path delivers the best return on investment for the research institutions and inventors."

BrainChild Maryland was launched in early November with the goal of identifying and capitalizing on Maryland's most promising new technologies. The company received an initial commitment of up to $1 million in start-up capital from the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development's Investment Financing Group and an additional $1 million from private investors.

BrainChild Maryland is a for-profit company that uses a new business model to accelerate technology commercialization. This new model is based, in part, on innovative companies that are currently commercializing technology and intellectual property in other parts of the U.S. and Europe. In this model, independent, for-profit companies drive the technology commercialization effort through close, collaborative partnerships with research institutions and a strong commitment to economic development.

"Working closely with state agencies like DBED and TEDCO, and Maryland's first-class research institutions, we are building a scalable, repeatable process to identify and capitalize on Maryland's most promising new technologies," concluded Mauritz.