UMBC's Professor Tim Oates has a column on the online TechCrunch site describing why we should Stop Fearing Artificial Intelligence. Professor Oates has 20 years of experience working with a wide range of AI technologies, including machine learning, robotics and natural language processing. In the piece, Dr. Oates explains that

"As yet another tech pioneer with no connection to artificial intelligence steps out to voice his fears about AI being catastrophic for the human race, I feel the need respond. … Conflating facts of technology's rapid progress with a Hollywood understanding of intelligent machines is provocative (honestly, it's a favorite in my most-loved science fiction books and movies), but this technology doesn't live in a Hollywood movie, it isn't HAL or Skynet, and it deserves a grounded, rational look.

and discusses some of the limitations of current intelligent systems like IBM's Watson. Like most AI researchers, he's a believer in Strong AI — the idea that there is no theoretical reason why a machine can not exhibit behavior as skillful and flexible as humans — but doubts the such machines will be neccessarily dangerous.

"But let's suppose, for a second, that an AI does learn to think intelligently outside its programming and that it’s become discontent. Would this superhuman intelligence inherently go nuclear, or would it likely just slack off a little at work or, in extreme cases, compose rap music in Latin? In a world filled with a nearly infinite number of things a thinking entity can do to placate itself, it's unlikely "destruction of humanity" will top any AI's list."

Stop Fearing Artificial Intelligence is a well written and thought provoking article.

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

BSO Academy Intern Job Listing

Supervisor: Annemarie Guzy, Director of Education

Term: Flexible: Some hours available as soon as possible through June 27, 2015; more hours available May 15 through June 27, 2015, some hours through July 18 may be available.

We are pleased to acknowledge Kathie Seley-Radtke and Dottie Caplan from CNMS were recognized at the 2015 UMBC Presidential Faculty & Staff Awards.

Kathie Seley-Radtke
Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry
2015–2018 Presidential Research Faculty Award

Kathie Seley-Radtke joined the UMBC faculty in 2003. Internationally known in her field, her research in drug design through chemical synthesis is advancing medicinal chemistry and saving lives.

Seley-Radtke’s current projects focus on the design and synthesis of chemotherapeutic agents to treat cancer and infectious diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis C, Ebola and MERS-CoV, as well as biological probes to explore the structure and function of DNA. In the last 10 years, she received six National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants for which she is the sole principle investigator, and received NIH funding for the Chemistry-Biology Interface graduate training program, which she directs. This prestigious program is one of about 24 such NIH-funded programs in the country, and is recognized for its innovation and positive cross-disciplinary training impact.

She is one of only a few dozen U.S. scientists to have served the White House as a Jefferson Science Fellow. As part of her ongoing assignment at the U.S. Department of State, she continues to work closely with the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, as well as leading scientists, ministry officials, and the Russian Academies of Sciences and Medical Sciences on national security and bioweapons, in addition to emerging and reemerging infectious diseases.

Seley-Radke is currently the president of the International Society for Nucleosides, Nucleotides and Nucleic Acids, the leading scientific society for her field. She is also a member of the Award Nomination and Selection Committee for the American Chemical Society’s Medicinal Chemistry Division and on the Board of Directors of the International Society of Antiviral Research.

In addition to her research, Seley-Radtke has taken a lead role in developing new approaches to attracting and retaining students from diverse backgrounds for the Ph.D. program. She also led efforts to develop a new summer bridge program for incoming chemistry graduate students, designed to improve problem-solving skills and increase retention rates.

Seley-Radtke received her B.A. from the University of South Florida and Ph.D. from Auburn University.

Dottie Caplan
Executive Administrative Assistant, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences
2014–2015 Karen L. Wensch Endowment Award for Outstanding Non-Exempt Staff

Dottie Caplan began her career at UMBC in 1997 as a secretary in what was then known as the College of Arts and Sciences, and joined the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences in 2005. Her dedication to UMBC, its students, faculty, and staff is unparalleled, and her coworkers consider her an invaluable asset to the College and the UMBC community.

Caplan handles a large volume of work and consistently provides support to the Dean and CNMS staff that goes above and beyond her responsibilities, for the good of CNMS and the University. Her helpful, supportive manner is evident in her daily communications. Always offering a smile and an optimistic word, Caplan treats internal and external visitors with the same courtesy and kindness.

Her dedication to CNMS is only matched by her commitment to UMBC’s mission of service. Caplan is president of the Non-Exempt Staff Senate and is known for persistently advocating for her NEES constituents. She embraces shared governance by serving on a number of university committees, including the Strategic Planning Steering Committee. She is a tireless advocate for the Maryland Charity Campaign (MCC), serving on its cabinet and overseeing the annual Non-Exempt Staff/Professional Staff Senate bake sale fundraiser for MCC. In addition, Caplan serves as a mentor for new students and supports both Commencement and Welcome Week activities.

Over the years, Caplan has also served her local community and received awards for her service at the Violetville School, American Heart Association, department of Recreation and Parks, Baltimore City Public Schools, and other organizations.

Governor Hogan and his all-or-nothing agenda

Governor Hogan needs to acknowledge the legislative agenda set out and agreed upon, and concede on his own

Last Thursday, Governor Hogan brought budget talks back to square one, unveiling a supplementary budget proposal that sparked controversy with the General Assembly. His budget comes after both houses of the General Assembly passed a revised version of his original budget.

The budget passed by the General Assembly in near unanimous voting would eliminate 75 percent of Maryland’s deficit according to a Washington Post article, keeping in mind the Governor’s emphasis on fiscal responsibility.

Legislators seemed to compromise on many of the ideas Hogan proposed, such as a 2 percent across-the-board cuts to state agencies and Medicaid. Hogan, on the other hand, refused to compromise, and added more conditions, such as tax breaks.

In addition, in order to compensate for the restored education and Medicaid spending, lawmakers halved a pension fund payment for the state, a 75 million dollar cut, according to the Washington Post.

Governor Hogan, in his supplementary budget, tacitly disapproved of the restored funding to education and Medicaid, by simply not even mentioning it in his budget. Instead, he proposes ideas that were against his original budget proposal.

In the supplemental budget, Mr. Hogan proposes personal property tax exemptions for small businesses next year, originally not planning on it until 2017, according to an article by the Baltimore Sun. In fact, the Legislature’s Chief Budget Analyst, Warren Deschenaux, dubbed the move as an “oops” moment.

Throughout this legislative session, both the House and Senate have been very open to working with the Governor, yet the Governor fails to return the favor, especially when it counts.

A recent article by WBAL claims that Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller has helped the Governor out in many of his proposals, such as the stormwater management fee, funding charter schools, and even the current tax relief proposals.

The Senate and House are near unanimous in their decision, with only 10 votes against the budget from both houses. The Senate voted unanimously on the budget for the first time in 10 years.

The Senate agreed to work with Governor Hogan on his budget which eliminated 75 percent of the structural deficit. Although Governor Hogan was elected on a tax relief, the members of the House and Senate were elected to represent the people, who they feel value education and Medicaid spending.

Our legislators haven’t shown so much support in a budget in 10 years. It’s time Hogan learns to acknowledge what legislators are so sure that their constituents want, and approve the funding legislators want, instead of throwing in their face other parts of his agenda to approve.

http://www.wbal.com/article/114358/21/hogan-seeks-tax-relief-more-troopers-in-supplemental-budget

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/blog/bal-hogan-supplemental-gives-little-ground-on-spending-renews-call-for-tax-cuts-20150402-story.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/maryland-senate-unanimously-approves-budget/2015/03/26/4665db3e-d3df-11e4-ab77-9646eea6a4c7_story.html

Read more stories from: The Retriever Weekly

On April 9, supporters around the nation are uniting in their communities and online to send a powerful message to Congress: It’s time to provide long-term investment for America’s transportation network.

Only comprehensive, long-term federal funding will enable us to repair, maintain, and adequately expand America’s public transportation, roads, bridges, ports, and rail systems to help bring our national transportation system up to speed with the 21st century.

Short-term, inconsistent funding slows progress and costs America’s taxpayers more in the long run.

Communities around the country are coming together to take part in Stand Up 4 Transportation Day.

Congress must take action by May 31. They need to know it’s not acceptable simply to keep kicking the can down the road a few months at a time.

Help us urge Congress: Take real, bi-partisan action to support transportation in our communities.