Erle Ellis, associate professor of geography and environmental systems, appeared on a Smithsonian Magazine blog this week. The post “Watch How America’s Lands Changes from Forests to Fields” shares maps that Ellis created to depict how land use in the U.S. has evolved over the past 300 years. Ellis maps anthropogenic biomes—”a matrix of human-altered croplands, pastures, towns and cities…’anthromes’ for short” to help readers visualize humanity’s effect on the landscape.

This semester, Fall 2013, Ellis is a visiting associate professor of landscape architecture at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design.

As Baltimore anticipates the start of the 2013 Grand Prix, a well-known 2011 economic impact analysis by UMBC economics professor Dennis Coates is again making news. The Press Box Online article “What Is Best Way To Measure Grand Prix’s Economic Impact?” notes that race organizers believe the 2012 Grand Prix generated $42.3 million in economic impact for Baltimore and the 2011 event generated $48 million. Coates, however, contested the 2011 figure in a assessment following that year’s Grand Prix, which indicated the impact was approximately $20 million less than the race organizers claimed. The article notes, “Coates’ argument centered on the $10 million that his study found would have occurred in Baltimore anyway, without the race.”

SB Nation also recently referenced research by Coates and Brad Humphreys, now at the University of Alberta, on “The Novelty Effects of New Facilities on Attendance at Sporting Events” in an online story about stadium construction.

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Visual Data Systems Online Marketing Interns are NOT expected to have any experience as we will provide full training and practice of our marketing methodologies. Create a contest to drive social media engagement, analyze conversion metrics or test a new tool to help streamline processes.

Job perks include being able to say that you are doing your job while creating YouTube channels, building a twitter following, and customizing Facebook client pages, all while in a casual working atmosphere.

You will get to work on client projects right from the start. Your role will be split into the areas of your strengths. You will have the ability to research and test new applications/technology related to SEO and Social Media that will further enhance the Online Marketing program. We will provide full training in all aspects of your job.

You must:
* be a creative thinker with an ability to think outside the box
* be self disciplined
* have good attention to detail
* be computer and Internet savvy
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* be interested in researching and learning the latest SEO/online marketing trends

Any of the following would be advantageous but are not necessary:
* Examples of your writing abilities - particularly anything quirky, funny or interesting
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This is a paid internship and requires around 30-32 hours per week. The Schedule is very flexible. If this sounds like the role for you, then please email your resume to Mark Randle (Intern@vdsys.com) with the subject line "Online Marketing Intern."  You can also apply via UMBCworks, Position ID: 9259169.

With so many vendor-specific and partially supported native event types available nowadays, it helps to be able to tell which browsers supports a given event. Rob Gravelle demonstrates a few such techniques, without resorting to inconsistent browser sniffing.

Donald F. Norris, professor and chair of public policy at UMBC, offers insight in The Daily Record this week on a Maryland campaign finance law that prohibits statewide elected officials from soliciting or accepting campaign contributions when the legislature is in session. Although the law is intended to prohibit vote buying and the influence of policy through campaign finance, it also has the potential to create unfairness, where those running for office who are not currently statewide elected officials can raise funds while others must pause their fundraising efforts.

Norris tells The Daily Record, “It’s always been unfair. The difference [this year] is the primary is in June rather than in September.” He continues. “There are some that are advantaged and some that are disadvantaged by rules.”

Daily Record subscribers can read the article online.

Another chance to catch the most interesting, and important, articles from the previous week on MIT Technology Review.