Join us tomorrow at 12:00pm in ITE 241 for the first event of Cybersecurity Month, a Wednesday Crash Course with Dr. Richard Forno! During the event, Dr. Forno will discuss the foundations of modern cyber defense, the current threats that governments and independent organizations face, and career prospects within the world of cybersecurity. Find us in ITE 241 from 12:00-12:50pm tomorrow and don't miss out!

If you haven't already, check out our Spring '19 Events Calendar as well- keep tabs on it as we update it throughout the semester!

Until then,

~Your ISCOM Executive Board

Title of your research project: Alternative Theatrical Lighting Control System 

Describe your project: I am researching a lighting control system called GrandMA2. The GrandMA2 is mostly used to program lights for concerts and other live performances, rather than Theatre. 

My mentor for my project is Mr. Adam Mendelson, Lecturer in Lighting and Sound Design, Theatre. I have had classes with my mentor previously. I chose him, because he understands the technical aspects of lighting systems. He is also hands-on with his students and takes interest in their development and projects. I knew he would be committed to my project, inspire me, push me to work harder, and be able to give quality feedback on my progress.

My interest for lighting has existed my entire life. In 5th grade I wrote to myself that "I want to do light shows for a living". I have been in pursuit of my childhood dream since. Once I found out about the GrandMA2 system, I knew I had to learn it to advance my dreams to the next stage.

I have had a lot trouble estimating how long things will take. By its nature research is doing something you have never done before. I would plan for something to take 2 hours, for example, but in reality, it would take 6. This would be difficult when I would try to plan my schedule. As a researcher, I did not expect the overwhelming support I would receive. Many times, I received support from people and companies, only through sharing that I am researcher. The best example was I shared with an usher at a Cirque Du Soleil that I am doing research on lighting and she moved my seat from the last row in the building, to the closest section. 

My research took me to different places, one being a lighting conference in Las Vegas. At this conference I was able to sit in on presentations of professionals in the industry who are doing extremely innovative things. This sparked my inspiration and made me want to explore the boundaries of existing technology, and imagine what/ who will be the things/ones to break those boundaries. I also was able to see shows that feature the highest level of lighting design. These sparked my interest and were extremely rewarding to spectate.

I will be sharing my research on February 15th. I am hosting a public light show, as well as programming lights for a live band. This exercises two different strengths this system has over others. The console has the ability to easily program to music in "timecode" while also being able to be used for live playback with a band "busking". After the show I am hosting a master class about my research and the GrandMA2 for other interested students, or members of the public.

The best advice I could give to interested students is to just start. I will process information in my head for a long time, but it wasn't until I started to ask questions and find people who share my interests that my research began to take off. Everyone's research will be different in many ways, and in my case I had many challenges. Every obstacle has the potential to be another triumph, but you will never know unless you start. I found that setting deadlines would require me to get started on things promptly. I broke my research into many incremental deadlines, the times I stuck to the deadlines I was successful; the times I wasn't my research was less fruitful.

I plan to take the information I received from my research and apply it to my career. I now have a level of proficiency in a lighting system that is incredibly popular, but specialized. The skills I received from my research are in high demand and I have many different ways that I can use those skills in my future work. 

 ** Come see Scott's light show on Friday, February 15th, 2019 Proscenium Theater in PAHB - Please no food/ drink in the Theater Doors will open at 6:50pm Light show will start promptly at 7:00pm with doors closing Fayo and The Rollup Collective will perform following the programmed light show.

All are welcome and invited to stay after; He will be hosting a master class about his research on the GrandMA2 lighting system concluding at 9:00pm. Tickets are not needed, and seating will be given on a first come first serve basis.

 

Here is the link to the public Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/396070837863911/?acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22dashboard%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22calendar_tab_event%22%2C%22extra_data%22%3A%22%7B%5C%22dashboard_filter%5C%22%3A%5C%22upcoming%5C%22%7D%22%7D]%2C%22ref%22%3A2%2C%22source%22%3A2%7D

We are a student run organization who work closely with students and alumni, one of our biggest focuses is networking and connecting with alumni to learn about their experiences and how they became successful and how we can be successful. We also work to build a strong sense of community at UMBC by connecting to alumni.

This Friday 2/15 during free hour in Bio 120, we will be having an information session where you can learn more about us and some events that will be happening this semester and also meet the executive board. It would be great to see all of you on Friday, there will be free food!

If you are interested in joining SAA please fill out this quick questionnaire:

Thank you and hope to see you all on Friday!

Elect Her–Campus Women Win is the only program in the country that encourages and trains college women to run for student government and future political office. A project of Running Start, a national organization committed to bringing more women into elected positions, Elect Her addresses the need to expand the pipeline to women running for office and to diminish the longstanding political leadership gender gap. 

UMBC's workshop will be held on Saturday, March 9th from 10:30am-3:30pm in Fine Arts Building at room 011. Breakfast and lunch will be provided (and it will be delicious). You will learn how to figure out what your message and platform is, how to craft a communication strategy that works, and you'll hear from campus and community leaders about what it takes to win. It is going to be a great day!

These skills will be applicable not only for running for office, but for helping advance your student organization, make good arguments on the job, and develop confidence in your skills as a leader. The training is open to all students of all genders, so please join us! 

The following anime are excluded from nomination due to being watch too recently:

Nichijou

The Daily Lives of High School Boys

Wolf's Rain

Iron Blooded Orphans

Bodacious Space Pirates

Kids on the Slope

Noragami

Kamisama Kiss

Cowboy Bebop

Chihayafuru

My Hero Academia

Due to overnight wintery mix across our region, UMBC Transit may be subject to delays or closure - Tuesday, February 12, 2019. We will assess road conditions on an hourly basis.  For the latest inclement weather advisories and updates, please check here.

For further assistance call the campus status hotline at 410-455-6789 or visit Inclement Weather and Emergency Closing Guide.

 - Please do not run to catch your bus.  Allow yourself extra time to walk to your local bus stop and exercise extreme caution when boarding UMBC Buses. 

I am in need of the following leadership roles fulfilled:

-Vice President

-Treasurer

If anyone is interested in the following, please email me at: smcshan1@umbc.edu so we can talk further.

 Available positions include: President, Executive Vice President, Vice President for Student Organizations (VPSO), Treasurer, Senator, and Finance Board Representative.