If you have any questions, or see something that needs fixing, please reach out to homecoming@umbc.edu

It's a great day to do some philosophizing

We'll be meeting TODAY in SONDHEIM 107 at 4:30 PM!!!!

Be there.

No excuses. 

With suspicion,

Your humble matriarch <3

- Tabula Rasa: Professor lead event where you learn to write Latin in wax tablets (you get to keep the tablet!)

-  Ancient-themed DND: a Greece themed 1-shot tabletop event, in collaboration with the Table Top Gaming Club!

- (Tentative) Trip to the Walter's Gallery: a field trip to the Baltimore Walter's Gallery, which has a beautiful collection of ancient Egyptian, Greek, and some Sumerian artefacts on display!

- Fall Festival: make and decorate your own Roman column!

- Votive Offerings: make a small clay sculpture to offer to the gods (for good luck on your finals)!

- Movie Night Bingo: relax, have fun, and eat pizza while watching an ancient themed movie (movie tbd)

We hope to see you there!

Any and all questions can be sent to jlabuda1@umbc.edu

Sometimes you just need to treat yourself to a nice, breezy walk into nature — or in this case, a walk right into our annual Hackathon! 

This year we are proud to announce we are holding our 10th year anniversary and we would love it for you to join us from September 28-29th for hackUMBC’s 2024 Hackathon! (location tbd) 

[ Registration for Hackathon is linked below as well as in our website! ]

There will also be a Career and Internship Fair 9/18/24 from 11:30- 3:30 pm, it's never to early to meet, learn and grow! These are the experiences that will help you reach your goals! Spot by the RAC to see who they will have there. 

Don't forget to sign up with Handshake here (careers.umbc.edu/handshake) and get your resume put together with there help! Find some templates here (https://careers.umbc.edu/students/documents/resumes/).

Happy Fall Semester!

Today at 2pm!! Bring a bag and fill it up with free fresh fruits and vegetables, and other food products.

Dear UMBC Community,

The Office of Equity and Civil Rights (ECR) has been working hard to update university policies to ensure compliance and to create the most inclusive and accessible environment for the entire UMBC community. I write to share that a number of new interim university policies have been created, and I invite you to read more about each policy by following the links.

This policy applies to discrimination on the basis of sex, sex-based harassment (including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking), sexual misconduct, and retaliation that occurs on or after August 1, 2024, and outlines the university's process for responding to and resolving reports of such conduct. 

Key Provisions:

This policy outlines the university’s responsibility to provide reasonable modifications or accommodations for students and employees who are pregnant or experiencing related conditions, and the procedures for requesting the support. 

Key Provisions:

This policy outlines the university's obligation to provide, and the procedures for, students and employees to request academic, non-academic, and/or employment accommodations to observe faith-based or religious holidays or to participate in organized religious activities.

Key Provisions:

 

All of these policies are designated as interim to allow opportunities for shared governance review during the fall semester. If you have questions about any of these updates, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Division of Institutional Equity for more information.

Sincerely,

Maloy Kumar Devnath, iHARP Research Assistant, successfully defended his PhD Proposal on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. Join iHARP in congratulating Maloy on his successful PhD proposal defense.

Deciphering the Polar Puzzle: Exploring the Relationship Between Sea Ice Retreat and Ice Sheet Melting in the Antarctic

Dr. Vandana P. Janeja, Chair/Advisor (UMBC)
Dr. Sudip Chakraborty, Co-Advisor (UMBC)
Dr. James Foulds (UMBC)
Dr. Md Osman Gani (UMBC)
Dr. Aneesh Subramanian (University of Colorado Boulder)

Abstract

The dynamics of the Antarctic region which holds 90% of the Earth’s ice volume, particularly the interplay between sea ice retreat and land ice or ice sheets melting, demand rigorous scientific examination due to the alarming changes observed in recent decades. Antarctica’s ice mass has been diminishing rapidly, with an estimated average loss of approximately ∼ 146 billion tons annually since 2002. The reduction in sea ice extent raises critical questions about its repercussions on ice sheet melting, as sea ice provides a protective barrier separating ice sheets from warm ocean currents and wave action. While Antarctic sea ice was expanding until 2015, recent trends show a dramatic reversal with record low extents in February 2023. Understanding the relationship between sea ice changes and ice sheet dynamics is pivotal for deciphering the broader implications of global sea-level rise, a pressing concern for coastal communities, ecosystems, and policymakers. To address this, this thesis employs machine learning algorithms and remote sensing techniques to analyze temporal and spatial variations in the polar climate system. This research aims to develop innovative machine learning algorithms to detect anomalous melt events, variations in melt onset and duration, and quantify the feature similarity and associations between sea ice retreat and land ice or ice sheet melting, particularly in regions experiencing anomalous melts with earlier retreat and late accumulation periods. This thesis specifically aims to:

1. Understand how anomalous melt events and variations in melt onset and melting period length impact the dynamics of sea ice retreat.
2. Assess the significance of anomalous melt events compared to steady-state conditions in influencing sea ice retreat.
3. Quantify feature similarity and associations (co-occurrence) between sea ice retreat and land ice or ice sheet melting in regions experiencing anomalous
melts, with particular attention to earlier retreat and late accumulation periods.

By addressing these questions, this thesis contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the intricate interactions between sea ice retreat and ice sheet melting in the Antarctic region and their broader implications for global sea-level rise.

Bottom Row, left to right: Maloy Kumar Devnath, Dr. James Foulds,  Dr. Sudip Chakraborty

Is your major listed below? If so, you are eligible to apply for the CAHSS Dean's Education Abroad Scholarship. Apply by September 10!

• Africana Studies
• American Studies
• Ancient Studies
• Asian Studies
• Dance
• Economics
• Education
• Emergency and Disaster Health Systems
• English
• Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies
• Geography and Environmental Systems
• Gerontology
• Global Studies
• History
• Judaic Studies
• Language, Literacy and Culture
• Media and Communication Studies
• Modern Languages, Linguistics and Intercultural Communication
• Music
• Philosophy
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Public Policy
• Sociology, Anthropology and Public Health
• Theatre
• Visual Arts

What are you waiting for? Apply before September 10!