Attention Science, Engineering, Math and Computer Science majors!

Interested in earning $4000 this summer?

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) offers paid research experiences to undergraduate students.  The NIST Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) is looking for students in STEM to join their team for the summer in Gaithersburg, MD.

This is a great way to gain experience in a field of your scientific interest and add to your resume.  Last summer, ten UMBC students were research fellows. Students of all years including graduating seniors may apply to the program.

If you may apply contact Janet McGlynn at mcglynn@umbc.edu now!

The following comes from the Director of HRC’s Family Project, Ellen Kahn:

A Nice, Round Number Says A Lot

Amid the ongoing public debate about whether LGBT parents are “good enough,” and assertions from our conservative opponents that children raised by lesbian and gay parents are “at risk,” another powerful study published today that should put a pall on this conversation.

0%—that is the number of 17 year olds raised by lesbian moms, who report being physically or sexually abused by a parent or other adult caregiver in a recent report from the U.S. National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study.  This number is quite remarkable, particularly in contrast to the dreadful statistic that in general, 26% of adolescents report being physically abused by a parent or caregiver, and 8% report being sexually abused.

In addition to the 0% abuse statistic in this study, just 2.8% of these same teens identify as gay or lesbian, consistent with statistics in the general population.  This should go far in debunking the myth perpetrated by anti-LGBT forces that children raised by gay parents are more likely to be gay themselves (as if that’s a bad thing!)—that we can somehow wield that kind of influence on sexual orientation. I’m sure many of our parents would be the first to testify that as hard as they tried, prayed or wished for us to be heterosexual, they could not influence us.

78 teens were included in this groundbreaking longitudinal study headed by Dr. Nanette Gartrell, all of whom were born into lesbian-headed families.  I hope that people pay attention to this study and are curious about why these particular families do not experience violence. I also hope that professionals and organizations that support families and children can identify effective approaches to supporting the millions of children and youth who do face abuse in their own families.

Research Opportunities for Undergraduates

Last workshop of the semester!

Interested in joining a research team or want to design your own research or creative project? Learn how at the Undergraduate Research Workshop this Monday, November 15 at 12-1 in LH3 in Administration Building. Other Students found valuable research experience and so can you! Now, is the time to select your research location for summer 2011. Find out how to get a great placement.

The tragic news of recent teen suicides paired with a climate of anti-LGBT bullying in many schools has taken an enormous toll on our community and on our nation as a whole. While we are hard at work each day, fighting to prevent bullying and discrimination in schools, this issue also deeply affects all of us here at HRC on a very personal level.

It is for this reason that many of us came together this week to lend our voices to the “It Gets Better” project. The campaign has been created in response to the epidemic of bully-related suicides around the country to remind teens that life gets better, and that many of the feelings that can seem overwhelming won’t be around forever.

All of us here – from the newest intern to HRC president Joe Solmonese – feel passionately about this issue, and we sincerely wish that the video will lend a bit of hope to those in need. Teens, and anyone else struggling with thoughts of suicide, need to be told that things will improve, and that life will get better.

I hope that no matter who you are, you will take the time to check out “It Gets Better.” If you want to know more about the work that we here at HRC are doing to make our schools a more safe and welcoming place, check out our Schools & Youth resources. Most importantly, the Trevor Project and the National Suicide Prevention Hotline have resources available for those in crisis. No matter who you are, there is someone out there that cares for you. Hang on, it gets better.

UMBC now has trial access to the three AAS Historical Periodicals collections through Dec.24.

EBSCO has partnered with the American Antiquarian Society (AAS) to provide digital access to American periodicals published between 1691 and 1877. In total, more than 6,500 periodicals will be available, eclipsing all other online resources in this area. The collection is divided into three series:
Series 1 presents over 500 titles dating from 1691 through 1820.
On campus direct access: Series1

Series 2 presents over 1,000 titles dating from 1821 through 1837.
On campus direct access: Series 2

Series 3 presents over 1,800 titles dating from 1838 through 1852.
On campus direct access: Series 3

The databases can also be accessed through the EbscoHost platform. Access any Ebsco database, click on "Choose Databases." The three AAS databases are at the end of the list and may be searched individually or in combination.

For off-campus access, please login via VPN first (http://vpn.umbc.edu). Then follow the link under "News & Events" on the library homepage. For more info on remote access, see http://aok.lib.umbc.edu/services/remoteaccess.php

Feedback is encouraged. Use the form below or send directly to Drew Alfgren: alfgren@umbc.edu