Marko H. Bulmer is the Director of the Geophysical Flow Observatory, JCET at UMBC.

On January 4, 2012, I traveled to Haiti to join the Brazilian Military Contingent contributing to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) mission. The purpose of the trip was to identify lessons from the United Nations Mission relevant to humanitarian emergency response and the use of Military and Civil defense assets to support United Nations humanitarian activities in complex emergencies.

First, a little background, a series of major earthquakes struck Haiti on 12 January 2010 in the area around the capital, Port-au-Prince. The strongest of these was a magnitude 7 that occurred at around 1700 hrs local time. There were over 200,000 fatalities and more than 150,000 people had to be buried in mass graves. Some 105,000 homes were completely destroyed and more than 208,000 damaged. Over 1,300 educational establishments and over 50 hospitals and health centers collapsed or were designated as unusable. Part of the country’s main port was not operational, the President’s Palace, Parliament, the Law Courts, and most of the Ministry and public administration buildings were also all destroyed.

At the time, there was already a UN Mission in Haiti which had been there since 2004 that included 6,700 troops as well as 548 civilian staff, mandated to pacify the country, promote free elections and resume national governance. Ninety six UN peacekeepers died in the earthquake but that UN Mission formed the core around which the Earthquake response was organized. On 19 January 2010 the Security Council passed resolution 1908, which increased the military force to 8,950, with 4,391 police to support the immediate recovery, reconstruction and stability efforts in the country. By the 25 January 2010 the UN Food Cluster had reached over 500,000 of the 2 million in need, with some form of assistance. The UN Shelter Cluster estimated that 800,000 people were living in spontaneous settlements in Port-au-Prince.

I’m a NATO Expert in Civil Protection and specialize in Natural Hazards and Emergency Planning with experience in natural and human-induced disasters from around the world. I’m also trained in Stabilization, which is the process by which underlying tensions that might lead to resurgence in violence and a break-down in law and order are managed and reduced, while efforts are made to support preconditions for successful longer-term development. My work in Haiti encompassed the notion of political transformation and disaster recovery. It focused on construction or reconstruction of the social, administrative, and physical infrastructure in a country prone to hurricanes, floods, landslides and earthquakes.

Simon Peacock, an expert in logistics from the United Kingdom, and I gathered and analyzed civil / military coordination information interacting with Haitian organizations, IGO’s and NGO’s, the Civil functions within MINUSTAH, and at times with Ministers and Ambassadors. Security conditions vary across Haiti, especially in the capital, parts of which can be very volatile. Over 400,000 people still live in camps many of which struggle in meeting basic human needs. Orphanages number in the hundreds, many of which are not officially registered. Gangs continue to be active. Murder, rape and lynching are some of the challenges facing the Haitian National Police (HNP) who are being mentored by United Nations Police and the military. Regional elections are expected to be held later this year and these will require a large security and logistics operation. Medical hazards include malaria and cholera as well as HIV AIDS. In addition, there remains considerable vulnerability to the impacts of natural events.

Delivering appropriate and effective civil / military cooperation in this complex environment requires real commitment and dedication. I saw many outstanding activities and projects and learned a great deal to bring back to UMBC and introduce to the appropriate departments and across the wider academic community.

M. H. K. Bulmer PhD

Haven’t been on campus in a while? Well, now it doesn’t matter how many miles may separate you from your alma mater.

Thanks to a collaboration between UMBC’s admissions department and the IRC (Imaging Research Center), you can take a virtual 360-degree tour of campus from the comfort of your own couch.

The new virtual tour includes tree-lined, student-filled panoramas covering the entire campus. The interface allows you to “walk” down UMBC’s main street (or through the library, The Commons, or nearly anywhere else you might like to visit) with a click of a mouse. Michelle Jordan ’93, visual and performing arts, of UMBC’s Creative Services office, helped create the website.

“We know there are plenty of prospective students out there who would like to see UMBC for themselves, but who are too far away to make the trip. This makes it easy and fun,” said Erika Ferrin, director of marketing.

“The bonus here is that alumni can also use the tool to see a place that’s familiar in their memories — but that has changed and grown over the years since they graduated.”

View the Virtual Tour here.

Whether your post-UMBC plans include graduate school, professional training, or directly entering the work force, leadership experience is an important part of your resumé. Leadership skills are easily transferable from one setting to another, so don't assume that you need to be the President of your department's Council of Majors or the pre-professional society associated with your field in order to develop them.

The Office of Student Life is accepting applications from students interested in becoming an Orientation Peer Advisor (OPA), Welcome Week Leader (Woolie), or Peer Facilitator (IHU - a.k.a. "Y" section - peer instructor) for the 2012-2013 academic year. Help a new group of students become a part of your UMBC community!

Applications are due to the Office of Student Life (Commons 336) by 5 pm on MONDAY, MARCH 5 (some of the posters hanging up around campus say March 7 - this is an error)

For more information and application materials, follow the link to the Undergraduate Orientation page below!

In August 2011, hundreds of Environment Canada scientists and staff working on environmental monitoring received notice their positions were targeted for elimination. Ray Hoff, Professor of Physics, at UMBC and his colleagues published a commentary this week in the American Geophysical Union’s publication Eos criticizing Environment Canada’s cuts, the first such criticism from U.S. scientists.

Hoff and his colleagues say that research conducted by scientists in Canada has been instrumental in the success of international agreements such as the Montreal Protocol, international legislation that has successfully reduced atmospheric levels of ozone depleting substances.

Other international agreements that may be endangered by the cuts are the Vienna Convention to Protect Ozone Layer, the Ottawa Declaration, Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, U.S. Canada Air Quality Agreement, and the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change.

With the loss of so many scientists who conduct environmental research in this part of the world, say Hoff and his colleagues, it is not clear whether Canada will be able to keep its commitment to these agreements.

Read the commentary
News Coverage

• Canada dropping the ozone ball, scientists warn
• Canada’s budget cuts threaten science
• Environment Canada budget cuts decried
• Budget réduit à Environnement Canada: des scientifiques américains inquiets
• Cuts at Environment Canada put treaties in jeopardy

Courtesy of Pew Research Center

GOP candidates talk often about the middle class… What about the lower-income voters who are Republican or Republican-leaning?

According to the Pew Research Center, 57% of lower-income Republicans say the government doesn’t do enough for poor people. (An annual family income under $30,000)

This works in contrast to more affluent members of the party (and party leaders) who have a strong aversion big government.

Could these conflicting views cause a rift in the party?

Democrats in low income brackets also felt the government should be more supportive.  A whopping 72% of Democratic or Democratic-leaning didn’t think the government is doing enough to help the poor.

Are you an active member in the Women's Center community? Are you looking to contribute to the Center in new and exciting ways? If so, maybe the Women's Center Advisory Board is the next step for you!
Download your application today!

The Women’s Center Advisory Board is a collective of faculty, staff, and students (graduate and undergraduate) with an interest in the process associated with developing and maintaining the UMBC Women’s Center.

Board Members are asked to participate in a monthly board meeting, scheduled for the first Friday of each month during the academic year.  This forum allows the Director to share information about the Center and similarly allows the board members to share their knowledge, wisdom and unique perspectives.

In addition to advising the Director, Board Members help and give support in the planning, programming, and public relations of the Center via various sub-committees. These responsibilities would entail additional hours of commitment outside of the monthly board meetings.

Board members are appointed for two-year terms, with possibility of renewal.

The Women’s Center seeks to serve a diverse population of women, as well as men interested in gender and women’s issues.  As a result, a diverse board is sought to assure that varying needs and interests are represented.

DEADLINE: Friday, March 16, 2012

For additional information, please call the Women’s Center at x52714 or email womens.center@umbc.edu.

All Are Welcome So Long As They Respect Women’s Experiences, Stories & Potential

Thanks to the Washington Times!

We know that you’re probably sick of politics, so why not focus on a race that actually matters?

At Tuesday’s Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Canadian cocker spaniel Ace (aka Midnight Express) beat out the number one show dog Beckham (aka Thrilling Seduction) for the “Best in Breed” title. He then lost to Emily (aka Caught Red Handed), an Irish Setter, for “Best in Group”.

There was a wedding, and a protest, but let’s just say what we’re all thinking. We are betting Ace is a socialist. He deserved to lose.

And yes, we DID notice that the names of the dogs were a little risque. WWRS? What would Republicans say?

Congratulations to Malachy the Pekingese for winning “Best in Show” in a wholesome, respectable manner.

Thanks to The Washington Times for providing the live updates and names of our furry candidates.

The Diversity Educator Interns are a mix of six, talented undergraduate and graduate students who work to fulfill the Mosaic Center's mission and vision. The DEIs co-facilitate cross-cultural and diversity awareness discussions and educational workshops for UMBC student, staff and faculty groups by request. Want to know more or want the DEIs to present to your class or group? Contact mosaic@umbc.edu.

Name: Chengcheng Zhou (Cici)

Major: This is my second semester in UMBC. I’m currently a graduate student in the Intercultural Communication Program.

Q: How is your major applicable to diversity education?

A: As you see, my major is Intercultural Communication. So, basically, what we learn in my program is applying concepts and skills of intercultural communication to different fields ranging from linguistics to politics.  The diversity education program contains a lot of cultural exchanges and contacts. It’s the best place that I can think of to apply what I have learned in class to practice.

Q: Why did you decide to apply for the Diversity Educator Internship?

A: For me, the name of Diversity Educator Internship itself is attractive. I think it could be a really good opportunity for me to apply what I’ve learned in class to all the activities in this program. It also opens the floor for me to draw on my previous experiences-- contacting and doing workshops with people from different cultural backgrounds--to help contribute a more respectful, civil and accepting campus.

Q: How would you define diversity?

A: Diversity, for me, is being aware of the differences among people and willing to embrace them with mindfulness.

Q: How does UMBC foster an appreciation for diversity?

A: First, the diversity can be presented in student population. We always can run into people from different culture backgrounds on campus, India, China, Spain, etc.. Second, there are a series of talks open to our campus that address a multitude of issues relevant to diversity.

Q: What are ways that students can participate in advocacy for diversity?

A: I think being a advocate, firstly, is being open-minded to everything that you come across in your daily life. Secondly, be mindful and respective to all those differences that you come across. Of course, participating different workshops and training about diversity is also a good way.

Q: After graduating how will you continue to be an advocate for diversity?

A: I definitely will bring what I’ve learned at UMBC to China. No matter what my career will be in the future, I will introduce the Intercultural Communication to my colleagues and friends.