We need 90+ judges for the FIRST Lego League (FLL) State Championship Robotics Competition on February 28th, 2015 at UMBC.

But you do get a free T-Shirt! 

These are just few reasons why you should volunteer to help with this year's FLL Tournament.

Follow this link for full volunteer info, including volunteer registration:

http://mdfirst.org/component/rsform/form/10-maryland-fll-event-volunteers

There are lots of ways to get involved. This call is for Judges, but we also need Judge's Assistants, Emcee, Pit Runners, Team Queuers, Practice Table Managers,  Setup Breakdown Crew, etc.

Judging categories and qualifications:

3. Core Values – “Gracious Professionalism” is one of the mantras of the FLL.  This area judges a team on their ability to be enthusiastic and show partnership, respect for their teammates, support and encouragement for other teams.  Judges need not have technical backgrounds. Any leader who recognizes, practices, or teaches teamwork would make an exceptional judge. Good prospects are team coaches, military professionals, teachers, police officers, Eagle Scouts, etc. 

Judges will need to plan to be at the UMBC competition from approximately 7:30 am to 5pm on February 28th, 2015

Please volunteer! I promise it will be a day you will always remember.

Follow this link for full volunteer info, including volunteer registration:

http://mdfirst.org/component/rsform/form/10-maryland-fll-event-volunteers

The 2015 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program in Computational Sensing and Medical Robotics at The Johns Hopkins University in the Computer Integrated Surgical Systems and Technology Engineering Research Center (CISST ERC) / Laboratory for Computational Sensing and Robotics (LCSR) is an intensive ten-week program of laboratory research and instruction. In the program, each REU student receives hands-on laboratory research experience under guidance from faculty and graduate student mentors. The students will also receive classes on ethics in research and technical communication. A stipend of $5000 and housing will be provided by the program for the 10-week period.

The application can be accessed using this link:-http://lcsr.jhu.edu/reu/

The deadline to submit applications is March 2, 2015.

**I participated in this program a number of years ago and it was **great**! Nowhere else do you get to play with a millions-of-dollars surgical robot (the Da Vinci - look it up, it's awesome) as a field trip. Or do laparoscopic surgery on a live pig (don't worry, if you're squeamish you don't have to do it. I loved it.) 

If you have more questions feel free to contact me at elianan1@umbc.edu !

~Eliana NessAiver Mozes

Savannah State University’s Bridge to Research in the Marine Sciences REU program is now accepting applications for Summer 2015.  The Bridge program is a “pre-REU” program focused on training freshman and sophomore students in conducting research in the marine sciences. There is a 3-week intensive curriculum of classroom, field, and laboratory work before the student is paired with a research mentor at SSU, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, or the UGA-MAREX Aquarium.

Critical points:

-          May 18-July 10, 2015

-          8 week internship with 3 weeks of classroom/field training and then 5 weeks of research with a mentor

-          $4000 stipend

-          Travel, on-campus housing, and food allowance provided

-          Application deadline: March 1, 2015

ACT NOW!