Partnership is designed to increase collaboration between two well-established research institutions

An established partnership between Kyushu University and UMBC brings new research and collaboration opportunities.

The University System of Maryland signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan on June 24th, 2014. Designed to increase academic exchanges and collaboration between USM and KU, the agreement provides both universities with an opportunity to strengthen their research programs and academic curriculum.

A second memorandum was also signed on the 24th, 2014, reinforcing a partnership specifically between KU and UMBC. KU is a highly selective university and one of the leading research institutions in Japan.

Philip Rous, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, said the agreement signed between UMBC and Kyushu University, “articulates [the] universities’ shared vision and intention to collaborate broadly in both research and education.”

Looking to offer cybersecurity courses and upgrade their technology around campus, KU contacted UMBC seeking a partnership.

“They sought [UMBC] out specifically for cyber security,” said Antonio Moreira, Vice President for Academic Affairs.

UMBC’s prime location around numerous government agencies and experience relating to cybersecurity curriculum will provides a significant benefit for KU, as they begin expanding their own curriculum.

On January 21st 2015, Vice Provost Antonio Moreira and Karl Steiner, vice president for research, were keynote speakers at the opening ceremony for KU’s Cybersecurity Center in Japan.

The event was a step further in officially strengthening the partnership between UMBC and KU, following the signing of the memorandum.

Upon visiting the university, Steiner noted the impressive research being conducted at KU and the unique, state-of-the art equipment the university has. KU’s established research programs in medicine, genetics, biochemistry, pharmacology and immunology provides a unique opportunity for UMBC.

“It was remarkable to see some of the research they were doing,” said Steiner. The partnership provides UMBC with an opportunity to progress their own research programs, while increasing global outreach in the fields of science and technology.

With a majority of KU’s enrollment consisting of international students, UMBC hopes the partnership will benefit both faculty and students of the universities. Students travelling to Japan will directly reap the benefits of the partnership.

However, UMBC hopes a wider range of faculty and students will have the opportunity to take advantage of the partnership. Through webcam, conference calls and video-conferencing, both universities can interact and share research.

“Science cannot be local: science is global,” said Steiner, stressing the importance of international outreach for UMBC. Despite the time difference between the United States and Japan, the partnership is bringing two leading research universities together to make strides towards meaningful research.

http://www.usmd.edu/newsroom/news/1358

http://umbc.edu/window/kyushu_partnership.htm

http://my.umbc.edu/news/49717

*An earlier version of this article stated that Kyushu University is in Fukushima, Japan, when it’s actually located in Fukuoka. The article has been amended.”

Compiled by the Retriever Weekly Features Staff

Virgo- Not only will you get stuck with the squeakiest chair in the room, but, as you will find out, it is also the least stable.

Libra- Don’t be afraid to stir the pot a little bit this week. You do want your pasta to cook evenly after all.

Scorpio- This week will be overwhelmingly positive, which is good because next week… not so much.

Sagittarius-The icy draft coming from beneath your window will make you feel much closer to nature and also very ill.

Capricorn- You won’t be able to stop thinking about that black box you pulled out of the pond scum by the library. It calls to you in your dreams. Why do you keep doing this to yourself?

Aquarius- Your psychology professor will surprise the class by giving each student a real human brain. The mad glint in his eye suggests that you shouldn’t ask questions.

Pisces- Word to the wise: wear goggles while clipping your toenails this week. You vision still hasn’t completely recovered from last time.

Aries- People will laugh at you for wearing shorts in the snow, but when the Fire Giants finally break through the interdimensional rift and bathe the world in cleansing flames, who will be laughing then?

Taurus- This week you’ll run into problems with your new note-taking system when the person whom you get all your notes from misses class.

Gemini- Yes, breakups are hard, but you still have an entire bag of Pizza Rolls back in your room, and isn’t that what really matters?

Cancer- Years of sarcasm will finally take their toll when you forget how to communicate normally. Big deal though, right?

Leo- This week you’ll arrive early to class. (Well, not your class, but the one that’s right after.)

Gameroom hosts semester-long billiards tournament

Students compete to win the honor of best pool player at UMBC in The Gameroom’s spring billiards tournament.

The Gameroom is hardly a typical pool hall. Thanks to The Commons’ many windows, the room is bright and airy and the pool tables are flanked by gaming consoles and ping pong tables. Instead of smoke and the scent of stale beer, the buttery smell of free popcorn floats around the room.

For students who want to have a game of billiards without getting in a fight or being hustled, The Gameroom is an affordable and accessible place to play. It’s open pretty much any time you could want it and its amusements are either cheap or free.

This spring, students will have the chance to vie for the top spot on the leaderboard as participants in a semester-long billiards tournament.

For casual players, a game of pool can be a fun diversion, in which everyone chalks the cues just for fun, and balls hop off the table after a poor shot. More serious and skilled students, however, are encouraged to enter the tournament and attempt to prove themselves the best on campus.

You can’t just walk in and challenge the current leader, though. The set procedures, explained by junior information systems major and Gameroom staff member Sean Horne, make sure that the tournament will run smoothly.

“Players who want to get onto the leader board must sign up,” said Horne. After that they will receive information about the challenged player’s availability to set up a match.

In the spirit of the competition, challengers will have to struggle to work their way up through the ranks. “If you’re number 10, you can only challenge number 9, then you work your way up from there,” Horne explained. The leaderboard reflects the current top ten players at any given point in the tournament.

Interested students will want to get ranked as fast as possible before the competition ramps up. “It is a first come first serve basis for anyone who wants to challenge the number 10 spot opponent,” said Horne, “sign in as quick as possible or you will have to wait your turn.”

The challengers will be responsible for paying The Gameroom’s fees, while the challenged play each match for free once they are ranked.

Horne was brimming with reasons why students should participate. “One, it’s fun,” he started, “two, there are tons of people to socialize with if you are having a hard time normally. Three, a great chance to make new friends.”

And finally, Horne stated, “four, you win prizes.” The top ranked player will receive a prize to be determined at the end of the tournament, around May 13.

So, if you consider yourself a good player, then consider challenging and getting yourself on the leaderboard. Even if you’re not, stop by The Gameroom for a game or two. Hustlers not welcome.