NASA updates its research misconduct policy which will go into effect on September 28, 2012 - https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/07/30/2012-18435/research-misconduct

A list of of federal agency policies is found at http://www.umbc.edu/research/ORPC/RCRpolicyregs.html

That was one expensive bug.

Knight Capital Group installed a new version of its algorithmic trading software which started aggressively buying up shares of 140 companies on the New York Stock Exchange not long after the markets opened on Wednesday.

"Wizzard Software, for example, shot above $14 after closing the night before at $3.50. Abercrombie & Fitch jumped 9 percent within minutes, hitting $36.75 after closing the night before at $33.80. Harley-Davidson suddenly fell 12 percent, to $37.84 from $43.23."

The sudden swings in stock prices and surging trading volume disrupted the stock markets before Knight noticed the problem and shut down its software after just 45 minutes.

After the dust settled, Knight's automatic trader had lost $400 million — almost $10M a minute. To make matters worse, it's own stock's value has collapsed, losing three-quarters of its value, putting the company at risk as it seeks financing or a new owner.

Knight's bad day is a symptom of a larger problem in our financial systems and, perhaps, in a complex society in which automated systems play key roles.

"For investors, it was the latest breakdown in the increasingly complicated electronic systems that run stock trading. Those systems have been showing signs of strain as more traders and big investment firms use powerful computers to carry out trades in mere fractions of a second. These trading issues have become so problematic and frequent that many experts believe they have shaken investors' faith in markets, especially after the deep losses they suffered during the financial crisis and the recession that followed. As a result, many small investors have been fleeing the stock market."

This week's fiasco is the the third stock trading debacle in the last five months. Such problems present us with new challenges in understanding how we can build automated software systems that can perform important and consequential actions safely.  This will require advances in software engineering, artificial ingelligence, and distributed systems as well as ensuring that computing practitioners understand and employ best practices in building software systems.

Galatians 3:26-4:7 (NIV)

26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
4 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

Reflection:

Growing up in the family called, ‘Church’ is exciting, powerful and at times difficult. But God is our Father and we have everything we need to truly grow up in Him. It is by the Spirit, the mark of God’s family, that we live day to day, love each other as true brothers and sisters in Christ, and know how to love those God is in the process of ‘adopting’ as His own.

Responding to the Transmission:

Let’s spend time praying that we would live declaring who our Father really is in such ways that many sons and daughters who have been broken by earthly family ties can finally see their true Heavenly Father. Let the reunions happen Lord!

Alumnus Jeremy Yap ’08, biological sciences, was recently honored as one of four national winners of a 2012-2013 American Chemical Society (ACS) Medicinal Chemistry Predoctoral Fellowship.

Yap is currently attending the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, where his work “focuses on the design and synthesis of small-molecule inhibitors (drugs) of oncogenic protein–protein interactions,” according to University of Maryland news. The story also notes that the fellowship will allow Yap to pursue his research by providing a full, year-long stipend.

“This is as an excellent example of how important collaboration is in any professional setting,” said Yap upon being named to the fellowship. “The ACS Medicinal Chemistry Fellowship is the result of the joint efforts of my mentor, Dr. [Steven] Fletcher, highly efficient University staff, and a dedicated faculty both on and off campus. All their efforts and support have allowed me the chance to apply for such a generous opportunity. Success in any field is never entirely the result of just one person’s effort, but through extensive collaboration and teamwork.

“Through this fellowship, there are many opportunities that will undoubtedly be available to me in the future. This is a very unexpected award, and I am very grateful for whatever doors it may open in my future career.”

What does it mean to be a man? When and how did you learn to become a man? 
What do you enjoy about being a man? What do you wish was different?

Explore these questions and more through M2M: The Men’s Initiative. In a safe space you will discuss gender roles, norms/variations, and build a healthy, multifaceted masculinity with other UMBC men. Through the facilitation of UMBC male staff members, you will discuss topics related to being a man parallel to other important social identities and explore ways you can be an effective ally for yourself and others.

M2M is a 10-week commitment. The group will meet once a week on Wednesdays from 9:45am-10:50am beginning September 12th.  Group members are expected to make all meetings. 

Applications are due September 7th. Students will be accepted on a rolling basis.

 Download application by clicking on the document button.

For more information, contact the Women's Center at womens.center@umbc.edu or 410.455.2714 

Alumnus Jeremy “Jerry” Yap ’08, biological sciences, was recently honored as one of four national winners of a 2012-2013 American Chemical Society (ACS) Medicinal Chemistry Predoctoral Fellowship.

Yap is currently attending the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, where his work “focuses on the design and synthesis of small-molecule inhibitors (drugs) of oncogenic protein–protein interactions,” according to University of Maryland here. The story also notes that the fellowship will allow Yap to pursue his research by providing a full, year-long stipend.

“This is as an excellent example of how important collaboration is in any professional setting,” said Yap upon being named to the fellowship. “The ACS Medicinal Chemistry Fellowship is the result of the joint efforts of my mentor, Dr. [Steven] Fletcher, highly efficient University staff, and a dedicated faculty both on and off campus. All their efforts and support have allowed me the chance to apply for such a generous opportunity. Success in any field is never entirely the result of just one person’s effort, but through extensive collaboration and teamwork.

“Through this fellowship, there are many opportunities that will undoubtedly be available to me in the future. This is a very unexpected award, and I am very grateful for whatever doors it may open in my future career.”

Welcome class of 2016! We're so glad you chose to study Computer Science or Computer Engineering at UMBC! Now that you're here, we thought you might like a little tour of our department so that you can make the most of the next four years. We don't promise they'll be easy, but we do promise they'll be challening, rewarding, and fun.

Figuring out what courses you need to take is an important first step. All UMBC students, whether they're majoring in Mathematics or French or Media and Communications Studies, have to take General Education Program (GEP) requirements. These are the courses that make you a well-rounded college student. They introduce you to subjects you may have never noticed, like… Asian Studies.

Then there are the courses you take for your major. These are different for the Computer Science and Computer Engineering programs, so click on your major to see what classes you should take, and to learn more about different tracks in fields like Game Development and Information Assurance.

• Computer Science
• Computer Engineering

If you're having trouble figuring out which courses to take and  when, don't despair. That's what your advisor is for. At some point during the semester, head over to room 204 in the Information Technology/ Engineering Building (ITE) and sign up for an advisor.

If you ever find yourself saying those two words, then head over to the Computer Science Help Center for some free tutoring. Located in ITE 201E, it's staffed by your fellow Computer Science students and is open Monday through Friday.

For other problems, head over to the CSEE department office, located in ITE 325. Our supportive staff is here to help Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

You've got interests, right? Well at UMBC, there's a club for that. Whether you one day aspire to create the next video game sensation, are confident in your infallible chess game, or would like to help encourage more women to study a technology field, you can find a club that will speak to your interests. Joining a club is a great way to boost your resume, learn new things, and connect with faculty and students. Plus, it’s fun. Check out a list of all of UMBC’s student organizations.

UMBC's special because we offer undergraduates a chance–and, sometimes money–to work on their own research projects. Undergraduate Research Awards (URA) of up to $1,500 are available for promising research projects and Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day (URCAD) gives undergrads a chance to present their findings to an eager audience. Start thinking about research now. The first step is to attend lab meetings and find out what research opportunities are out there. Take a look at our department's research labs, and see what current students are researching.

Follow us on Facebook. Join our myUMBC group. That way you’ll be the first to know about departmental news. We’ll tell you about job and internship opportunities and events you won’t want to miss. Like they say, knowledge is power.

If you want some idea of what a well-rounded Computer Science or Computer Engineering major looks like, take a look at our students below. In their own words, they talk about internships they've had, clubs they are part of, and what they like most about UMBC. Click on the photo below to meet the students.