BSU NEWSLETTER Take a look at BSU's latest Newsletter! Get to know your E-board and learn about upcoming events! ]]> Get to know your E-board and learn about upcoming events! Newsletter https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/attachments/27ec6024eb788e49a7af7d4aca4e423b/6a10f59d/news/000/152/204/70370fb7bbcf61a2da316dfdc1d42443/BSU NEWSLETTER.pptx.pdf?1757367798 https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/152204/guest@my.umbc.edu/2909a96881b0e86732320b134b01c5bf/api/pixel Black Student Union https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/bsu https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/723/97daa09f274c19e07460a340c0e337cb/xsmall.png?1679580207 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/723/97daa09f274c19e07460a340c0e337cb/original.png?1679580207 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/723/97daa09f274c19e07460a340c0e337cb/xxlarge.png?1679580207 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/723/97daa09f274c19e07460a340c0e337cb/xlarge.png?1679580207 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/723/97daa09f274c19e07460a340c0e337cb/large.png?1679580207 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/723/97daa09f274c19e07460a340c0e337cb/medium.png?1679580207 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/723/97daa09f274c19e07460a340c0e337cb/small.png?1679580207 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/723/97daa09f274c19e07460a340c0e337cb/xsmall.png?1679580207 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/723/97daa09f274c19e07460a340c0e337cb/xxsmall.png?1679580207 Black Student Union 0 0 true Mon, 08 Sep 2025 17:56:29 -0400 AI and Information Literacy Module How to use AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Firefly
Banner from the UMD Library site on AI and Information Literacy

The first episode in the USM’s AI, Unscripted podcast series is now available. The collection of 30-minute sessions is intended to encourage and support faculty in using AI for teaching and learning. In this first episode,  Ben Shaw, a teaching and learning librarian at the University of Maryland, College Park, talks about a module on AI and Information Literacy that instructors can add to their courses.

The 1-2 hour module was developed to help university students in any course and with any background learn how to use AI tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Adobe Firefly. You can explore the module on the UMD site. If you are interested in adding or adapting the module for your own course website, you can fill out a request form on this page.


]]> The first episode in the USM’s AI, Unscripted podcast series is now available. The collection of 30-minute sessions is intended to encourage and support faculty in using AI for teaching and... https://umd.instructure.com/courses/1354089 https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/152203/guest@my.umbc.edu/e2319b361bd0f838149e83a7f77a8e6e/api/pixel ai education teaching UMBC AI https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/umbc-ai https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/081/cfb27ebe008c2636486089a759ea5c36/xsmall.png?1691095779 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/081/cfb27ebe008c2636486089a759ea5c36/original.png?1691095779 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/081/cfb27ebe008c2636486089a759ea5c36/xxlarge.png?1691095779 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/081/cfb27ebe008c2636486089a759ea5c36/xlarge.png?1691095779 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/081/cfb27ebe008c2636486089a759ea5c36/large.png?1691095779 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/081/cfb27ebe008c2636486089a759ea5c36/medium.png?1691095779 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/081/cfb27ebe008c2636486089a759ea5c36/small.png?1691095779 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/081/cfb27ebe008c2636486089a759ea5c36/xsmall.png?1691095779 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/081/cfb27ebe008c2636486089a759ea5c36/xxsmall.png?1691095779 UMBC AI 1 0 true Mon, 08 Sep 2025 17:32:30 -0400 GAME DAY IS THIS SATURDAY! sign up now!
Join us for GAME DAY!
]]> Join us for GAME DAY! Flyer https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/attachments/1855c2edb4c12dcc1aa6d1900db817b9/6a10f59d/news/000/152/195/cc27a6718800ae60559987ca385218d0/game day post.pdf?1757360745 https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/152195/guest@my.umbc.edu/83a9d4d0a256d02ce3812ecd61b59a04/api/pixel Badminton Club https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/badminton https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/608/eae273cfbc56e933377183feacf616f2/xsmall.png?1663180947 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/608/eae273cfbc56e933377183feacf616f2/original.jpg?1663180947 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/608/eae273cfbc56e933377183feacf616f2/xxlarge.png?1663180947 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/608/eae273cfbc56e933377183feacf616f2/xlarge.png?1663180947 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/608/eae273cfbc56e933377183feacf616f2/large.png?1663180947 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/608/eae273cfbc56e933377183feacf616f2/medium.png?1663180947 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/608/eae273cfbc56e933377183feacf616f2/small.png?1663180947 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/608/eae273cfbc56e933377183feacf616f2/xsmall.png?1663180947 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/608/eae273cfbc56e933377183feacf616f2/xxsmall.png?1663180947 Badminton Club 0 0 true Mon, 08 Sep 2025 15:46:57 -0400 Psi Chi 101: Connect with the chapter! know more about us, what we do and so much more.
Join us this Wednesday, September 10th from 12 - 1 PM in Math & Psych 104 to know more about Psi chi, what we do, membership details, active status requirements and so much more. We will also have food!

We can't wait to see you there!
]]> Join us this Wednesday, September 10th from 12 - 1 PM in Math & Psych 104 to know more about Psi chi, what we do, membership details, active status requirements and so much more. We will also... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/152194/guest@my.umbc.edu/0cac4263ff6bd93dcdd25947d7327b68/api/pixel Psi Chi Honor Society (Psychology) https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/psichi https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/747/ef5c7ecb02ee6b0a33dba6c4af9c736f/xsmall.png?1422419926 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/747/ef5c7ecb02ee6b0a33dba6c4af9c736f/original.jpg?1422419926 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/747/ef5c7ecb02ee6b0a33dba6c4af9c736f/xxlarge.png?1422419926 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/747/ef5c7ecb02ee6b0a33dba6c4af9c736f/xlarge.png?1422419926 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/747/ef5c7ecb02ee6b0a33dba6c4af9c736f/large.png?1422419926 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/747/ef5c7ecb02ee6b0a33dba6c4af9c736f/medium.png?1422419926 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/747/ef5c7ecb02ee6b0a33dba6c4af9c736f/small.png?1422419926 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/747/ef5c7ecb02ee6b0a33dba6c4af9c736f/xsmall.png?1422419926 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/747/ef5c7ecb02ee6b0a33dba6c4af9c736f/xxsmall.png?1422419926 Psi Chi Honor Society (Psychology) 0 0 true Mon, 08 Sep 2025 15:37:20 -0400 Honors College T-Shirt Design Contest!

Design the 2025-2026 Honors College T-Shirt!

It has been our tradition in the Honors College to have the students design a t-shirt for us each year...and we want you to be a part! Not a particularly artsy person? No worries! Our past winners have come from all majors.

 

Here are the guidelines:

 

1. Designs must be in one color and appear on only one side of a shirt.

 

2. Designs should include graphics and (appropriate) words only, with no background. They should not include copyrighted material.

 

3. Designs must include the words "UMBC Honors College."

 

4. Please submit in either a "print ready file in AI" OR a HIGH-RES PDF.

 

The deadline for submissions is Thursday, September 11th, by 11:59pm to honorscollege@umbc.edu. Voting will begin Friday, September 12th and run through Sunday, September 14th at 11:59 pm. 

]]> Design the 2025-2026 Honors College T-Shirt! It has been our tradition in the Honors College to have the students design a t-shirt for us each year...and we want you to be a part! Not a... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/152191/guest@my.umbc.edu/62986f33d1ff09593776cf9277824e91/api/pixel Honors College https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/honorscollege https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/413/cd2018beeece5fb0a71a96308e567bde/xsmall.png?1339897259 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/413/cd2018beeece5fb0a71a96308e567bde/original.jpg?1339897259 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/413/cd2018beeece5fb0a71a96308e567bde/xxlarge.png?1339897259 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/413/cd2018beeece5fb0a71a96308e567bde/xlarge.png?1339897259 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/413/cd2018beeece5fb0a71a96308e567bde/large.png?1339897259 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/413/cd2018beeece5fb0a71a96308e567bde/medium.png?1339897259 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/413/cd2018beeece5fb0a71a96308e567bde/small.png?1339897259 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/413/cd2018beeece5fb0a71a96308e567bde/xsmall.png?1339897259 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/413/cd2018beeece5fb0a71a96308e567bde/xxsmall.png?1339897259 Honors College https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/191/c7093b7f89d50c9572a05d09e1feb4ed/xxlarge.jpg?1757359644 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/191/c7093b7f89d50c9572a05d09e1feb4ed/xlarge.jpg?1757359644 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/191/c7093b7f89d50c9572a05d09e1feb4ed/large.jpg?1757359644 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/191/c7093b7f89d50c9572a05d09e1feb4ed/medium.jpg?1757359644 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/191/c7093b7f89d50c9572a05d09e1feb4ed/small.jpg?1757359644 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/191/c7093b7f89d50c9572a05d09e1feb4ed/xsmall.jpg?1757359644 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/191/c7093b7f89d50c9572a05d09e1feb4ed/xxsmall.jpg?1757359644 a group of people in the new Honors College t-shirts 1 0 true Mon, 08 Sep 2025 15:28:28 -0400 Mon, 08 Sep 2025 15:29:12 -0400 First Year Ambassador Program INFO! JOIN SGA in your first year at UMBC

Join the First Year Ambassador Program

Are you a new student looking to get involved, meet people, and make an impact on campus? The First Year Ambassador (FYA) Program is your chance to get started.

Applications are open now, but spots are limited.

Apply by Friday, September 19
Link: tinyurl.com/FYA-2526

Take the first step toward leadership and involvement on campus.


]]> Join the First Year Ambassador Program Are you a new student looking to get involved, meet people, and make an impact on campus? The First Year Ambassador (FYA) Program is your chance to get... Image https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/attachments/8586924c1cbe1243d72bbba0f19496e9/6a10f59d/news/000/152/192/db2138b3dcabb86eedc65c4ba1f6ccce/FYA Flyer 25-26.pdf?1757359425 https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/152192/guest@my.umbc.edu/f4c481f2c0572e4693f06632fe71ab30/api/pixel Student Government Association https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/sga https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/011/e96fb9f9c97bcc38136043fb0627ef91/xsmall.png?1756146184 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/011/e96fb9f9c97bcc38136043fb0627ef91/original.png?1756146184 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/011/e96fb9f9c97bcc38136043fb0627ef91/xxlarge.png?1756146184 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/011/e96fb9f9c97bcc38136043fb0627ef91/xlarge.png?1756146184 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/011/e96fb9f9c97bcc38136043fb0627ef91/large.png?1756146184 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/011/e96fb9f9c97bcc38136043fb0627ef91/medium.png?1756146184 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/011/e96fb9f9c97bcc38136043fb0627ef91/small.png?1756146184 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/011/e96fb9f9c97bcc38136043fb0627ef91/xsmall.png?1756146184 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/011/e96fb9f9c97bcc38136043fb0627ef91/xxsmall.png?1756146184 Student Government Association https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/192/cdb4165dac1faee897c92336ae51d339/xxlarge.jpg?1757361019 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/192/cdb4165dac1faee897c92336ae51d339/xlarge.jpg?1757361019 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/192/cdb4165dac1faee897c92336ae51d339/large.jpg?1757361019 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/192/cdb4165dac1faee897c92336ae51d339/medium.jpg?1757361019 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/192/cdb4165dac1faee897c92336ae51d339/small.jpg?1757361019 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/192/cdb4165dac1faee897c92336ae51d339/xsmall.jpg?1757361019 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/192/cdb4165dac1faee897c92336ae51d339/xxsmall.jpg?1757361019 3 0 true Mon, 08 Sep 2025 15:28:03 -0400 Fri, 12 Sep 2025 15:25:29 -0400 What is The Art Life? We're the Scene. Involvement Fest has passed, so has the mandatory trainings one must do to become equipped with the proper skill set to maintain a student organization. The question of “What is The Art Life?” has been asked time and time again. I refuse to change our myUMBC biography, so I will explain it here, as succinctly as I can, as I fear in the process of being as clinical and commercial as possible something deeply magical will become victim to reductionism.

David Lynch, the filmmaker, had a documentary made of him in recent years, before he passed some months ago. He described in it, “The art life… you drink coffee, you smoke cigarettes, and you paint, and that's it. Maybe, maybe, girls come into it a little bit, but basically it's the incredible happiness of working and living that life.” As a great inspiration to me as an artist, the words got me hooked on a certain kind of poetic methamphetamine for life.

The thing about The Art Life is; you can’t exactly place it… it’s a way of maneuvering in the world, interacting with it. Rendering its shapes, colors, and possibilities. It’s not about the kiss itself, it’s about the romance of it. And each cup of coffee is about the simple act of sipping and relishing; not the caffeine rush that comes with it, although that has its charm as well. And the consumption of art has to do with feeling more deeply in touch with the sensitive things; the surreal and visceral. The Art Life is a beautiful life.

At this point, if it isn’t clear what it is I am exactly getting at, here it is: we are not an arts organization. We care about the being an artist and the creation and expression of ideas. Of resisting a system that often suppresses such precious ways of being. We care about community, people sharing that precious way of interacting the world; being radically thoughtful and together. It’s about the uplifting ideas that can cure aches and groans and loneliness of our social order and our environment.

Our way of doing this just so happens to be by acting as a conduit for people to express themselves- whether by submitting their art to our website or to be featured in our newsletter or by re-imagining spaces on campus as punk rock venues for showcasing bands, musicians, and eccentrics. Or by organizing GBMs which are proposed to host various speakers to share art they see as vital and to discuss with others in The Art Life. 

Think of us as a way to share your art with the world and find others who might feel on the fringes of this world barely holding on. Think of us, maybe, also, as a place to go dance at one of our DJ sets and get lost under the disco ball amidst a crowd of people entranced by house music. All of these things are true.

Everything that we host and every event we plan is organized to fund raise for different Baltimore charities relevant to the artists we work with and students on campus.

So, friends and travelers, does The Art Life make a tad bit more sense? Will you come out to one of our shows? Embrace your eccentric side, stumble into community, engage with the world in a beautiful way? We surely hope you will. We’ll see you in the shows… and around.

Namaste,
Jason Blanco
The Art Life, President ]]> Involvement Fest has passed, so has the mandatory trainings one must do to become equipped with the proper skill set to maintain a student organization. The question of “What is The Art Life?” has... https://www.instagram.com/theartlifeumbc?igsh=N3IweWNnMG1hdjA5&utm_source=qr https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/152190/guest@my.umbc.edu/f57a2a9f19c2fb11ff517901a69e30d4/api/pixel housemusic theartlife The Art Life https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/theartlife https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/215/c6c2d83722f4adb8c4f38a2788772390/xsmall.png?1758207956 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/215/c6c2d83722f4adb8c4f38a2788772390/original.jpg?1758207956 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/215/c6c2d83722f4adb8c4f38a2788772390/xxlarge.png?1758207956 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/215/c6c2d83722f4adb8c4f38a2788772390/xlarge.png?1758207956 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/215/c6c2d83722f4adb8c4f38a2788772390/large.png?1758207956 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/215/c6c2d83722f4adb8c4f38a2788772390/medium.png?1758207956 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/215/c6c2d83722f4adb8c4f38a2788772390/small.png?1758207956 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/215/c6c2d83722f4adb8c4f38a2788772390/xsmall.png?1758207956 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/215/c6c2d83722f4adb8c4f38a2788772390/xxsmall.png?1758207956 The Art Life 3 0 true Mon, 08 Sep 2025 15:13:47 -0400 State Wellness webinars: September 2025 - Part 1 Prioritize Healthy Aging This September! The State Wellness Program aims to motivate, inspire, and educate employees through monthly wellness webinars (live and on-demand), healthy challenges, guided meditations, wellness coaching, and much more. 


This month, thrive with one small step, such as scheduling a health screening check-up, as a powerful move toward the future you want to live. This simple step will help catch chronic conditions early, helping you manage them effectively and prevent complications down the road. Your future self will thank you!


Mindful Mondays: The Healthy Aging Mindset


Monday, September 15, 11:00 am - 11:30 am: Live A Happy Life

You, like many others, may be seeking to live a happy life. The truth is, you already have the power to do so! The path to a happy life begins with identifying and reflecting your core values in everything you do. Learn how to identify and live by your core values to find the happiness you seek. 

Register for 9/15 Live a Happy Life

Tasty Tuesdays with Chef Sandra


Tuesday, September 16, 11:00 am - 11:45 am: Homemade Mac & Cheese

Say goodbye to the box mix and hello to creamy, cheese comfort made from scratch! This homemade mac & cheese dish is rich, delicious, and the ultimate feel-good dish. It goes great with homemade chicken nuggets!

Register for 9/16 Homemade Mac & Cheese


Healthy U Wednesdays

Wednesday, September 10, 11:00 am - 11:45 am: Magic of Movement for Health Aging

Movement is a transformative force that significantly impacts your health and well-being. It keeps your body healthy as it pumps blood to muscles, tissues, and organs, reduces stress and anxiety to boost your mood, and enhances your ability to move freely. Learn more about the magic of movement and its healthy aging benefits.. 

Register for 9/10 Magic of Movement for Healthy Aging

 

Wednesday, September 17, 11:00 am - 11:45 am: We've Got Your Back with Habits to Reduce Back Pain

According to a current study, almost 50% of adults have experienced back pain in the last three months. Because back pain can show up in several ways, experts will explain the specific causes for each and how to prevent or manage them.

Register for 9/17 Habits to Reduce Back Pain

Healthy Aging Thursdays

Thursday, September 11, 11:00 am - 11:45 am: Healthy Aging

Explore critical components of healthy aging such as getting your recommended preventive screenings, eating healthy, being physically active, and more

Register for 9/11 Healthy Aging

  

Thursday, September 18, 11:00 am - 11:30 am: Chair Yoga

Give yourself the gift of relaxation and renewal with restorative chair yoga! This gentle practice helps lengthen your spine, reduce built up stress, and boost circulation, all while comfortably seated. Perfect for all ages and fitness levels, chair yoga will leave you refreshed, invigorated, and ready to take on the day! 

Register for 9/18 Chair Yoga


Guided Meditations

Friday, September 12, 11:00 am - 11:15 am: Becoming Motivated

Set aside time for this guided meditation to increase your motivation, face your fears, and experience your true worthiness.

Register for 9/12 Becoming Motivated

 

Tips for a Healthier You

  

Friday, September 12, 11:30 am - 11:45 am: Understanding Colds and Flu

September is the perfect time to prepare for the upcoming cold and flu season. Learn the similarities and differences between the common cold and the flu and ways to prevent them.  

Register for 9/12 Understanding Colds and Flu

 

Friday, September 19, 11:30 am - 11:45 am: Understanding Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that increase your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke. Metabolic syndrome can be prevented with the lifestyle changes described in this session.  

Register for 9/19 Understanding Metabolic Syndrome

  

]]> The State Wellness Program aims to motivate, inspire, and educate employees through monthly wellness webinars (live and on-demand), healthy challenges, guided meditations, wellness coaching, and... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/152187/guest@my.umbc.edu/c9321c403eca226d4de2304a15635110/api/pixel benefits statewellness Training https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/training https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/019/bdb106a0560c4e46ccc488ef010af787/xsmall.png?1281010946 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/019/bdb106a0560c4e46ccc488ef010af787/original.png?1281010946 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/019/bdb106a0560c4e46ccc488ef010af787/xxlarge.png?1281010946 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/019/bdb106a0560c4e46ccc488ef010af787/xlarge.png?1281010946 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/019/bdb106a0560c4e46ccc488ef010af787/large.png?1281010946 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/019/bdb106a0560c4e46ccc488ef010af787/medium.png?1281010946 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/019/bdb106a0560c4e46ccc488ef010af787/small.png?1281010946 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/019/bdb106a0560c4e46ccc488ef010af787/xsmall.png?1281010946 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/019/bdb106a0560c4e46ccc488ef010af787/xxsmall.png?1281010946 Training 0 0 false Mon, 08 Sep 2025 15:12:54 -0400 Mon, 08 Sep 2025 15:18:55 -0400 Early Closing 9-8-25 OHP will be closing early today, Monday, 9-8-25, at 4 pm for New Peer Health Educator Training. The office will re-open Tuesday, 9-9-25 at 8:30 am.

For any questions, send an email to ohp@umbc.edu 
]]> OHP will be closing early today, Monday, 9-8-25, at 4 pm for New Peer Health Educator Training. The office will re-open Tuesday, 9-9-25 at 8:30 am. For any questions, send an email to... https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/152188/guest@my.umbc.edu/dde888f6c4e26716ae2cd3890d877534/api/pixel Office of Health Promotion https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/healthed https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/180/f04904ed5d5cb02feed3d3b3b2aefef3/xsmall.png?1773409295 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/180/f04904ed5d5cb02feed3d3b3b2aefef3/original.png?1773409295 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/180/f04904ed5d5cb02feed3d3b3b2aefef3/xxlarge.png?1773409295 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/180/f04904ed5d5cb02feed3d3b3b2aefef3/xlarge.png?1773409295 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/180/f04904ed5d5cb02feed3d3b3b2aefef3/large.png?1773409295 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/180/f04904ed5d5cb02feed3d3b3b2aefef3/medium.png?1773409295 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/180/f04904ed5d5cb02feed3d3b3b2aefef3/small.png?1773409295 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/180/f04904ed5d5cb02feed3d3b3b2aefef3/xsmall.png?1773409295 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/180/f04904ed5d5cb02feed3d3b3b2aefef3/xxsmall.png?1773409295 Office of Health Promotion https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/188/998ed76e94495ee4fdab4bbb033095f9/xxlarge.jpg?1757357864 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/188/998ed76e94495ee4fdab4bbb033095f9/xlarge.jpg?1757357864 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/188/998ed76e94495ee4fdab4bbb033095f9/large.jpg?1757357864 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/188/998ed76e94495ee4fdab4bbb033095f9/medium.jpg?1757357864 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/188/998ed76e94495ee4fdab4bbb033095f9/small.jpg?1757357864 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/188/998ed76e94495ee4fdab4bbb033095f9/xsmall.jpg?1757357864 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/188/998ed76e94495ee4fdab4bbb033095f9/xxsmall.jpg?1757357864 OHP closing early 9-8-25 at 4 pm 0 0 true Mon, 08 Sep 2025 14:58:06 -0400 Omar Faruque successfuly defends his PhD Proposal! Congratulations to Omar!
Omar Faruque (UMBC), iHARP Research Assistant successfully defended his PhD Proposal on Thursday, September 4, 2025. Join iHARP in congratulating Omar on his successful PhD Proposal defense!

Title
Causal Analysis for Spatiotemporal Data Using Deep Learning

Committee
  • Dr. Jianwu Wang (Chair & Advisor), IS, UMBC
  • Dr. Xue Zheng (Co-Chair), LLNL
  • Dr. James Foulds, IS, UMBC
  • Dr. Osman Gani, IS, UMBC
  • Dr. Yiyi Huang, Bloomberg LP
Abstract
Causal analysis of observational data has become a central research area for understanding complex natural and socio-technical systems. Domains such as climate, healthcare, transportation, energy, and finance generate rich temporal and spatiotemporal datasets that capture the evolution of dynamic processes. Analyzing these data through a causal lens is crucial not only for scientific interpretation of underlying mechanisms but also for informing robust policy and decision-making. The first step in studying such systems is the development of holistic causal graphs that can represent the underlying causal mechanisms and then quantifying the impacts of these causal relations. However, observational data in these domains typically exhibit nonlinearity, nonstationarity, spatial heterogeneity, autocorrelation, time-varying confounding, and diverse noise distributions, posing significant challenges for existing causal methods.

This thesis addresses these challenges through three integrated contributions. First, we propose the Transformer-Integrated Temporal Causal Discovery (TTCD) framework, designed to uncover both contemporaneous and lagged causal relations from nonstationary time series. TTCD features a Non-Stationary Feature Learner to extract robust features, combining temporal and frequency-domain attention with dynamic non-stationarity profiling. A custom Causal Structure Learner then infers the underlying causal graph from these latent features, without strong assumptions about the underlying noise or data generation process.

Second, we extend causal discovery to spatiotemporal data, which often arise in gridded representations of physical and biological systems. As important phenomena in scientific domains are naturally represented as spatiotemporal data, it is required to analyze causal relations from both spatial and temporal modality. To tackle the high dimensionality, local spatial interference, and long-range dependencies inherent in these datasets, we develop a hybrid autoencoder architecture that integrates Graph Convolutional Networks (GCNs) with a Causal Graph Transformer. Unlike prior approaches that rely on strong structural assumptions, static graphs, or supervised signals, this model dynamically learns adjacency structures, avoiding these assumptions. The proposed method captures local connectivity through GCNs and long-range dependencies through the attention-based causal graph transformer.

Finally, we address the problem of causal inference in spatiotemporal systems with hidden confounders, where standard approaches are invalidated by unobserved factors, spatial interference, time-varying confounding, and spillover effects. We introduce a deep learning based potential outcome framework for inferring causal effects of applied treatments from spatiotemporal data in the presence of hidden confounders. The proposed model utilizes the causal graph diffusion technique to estimate unobserved confounders, taking spatial and temporal dynamics into account, and then predicts the factual and counterfactual outcomes of the applied treatment by controlling time-varying confounding with the help of a latent factor model.

Together, these contributions establish a unified framework for causal discovery and inference in temporal and spatiotemporal settings, advancing methodological capabilities while providing practical tools for scientific and policy applications. By applying the proposed methods to datasets from climate, healthcare, and other natural systems, this work seeks to enhance the reliability, interpretability, and actionability of causal analysis in complex real-world domains.
]]> Omar Faruque (UMBC), iHARP Research Assistant successfully defended his PhD Proposal on Thursday, September 4, 2025. Join iHARP in congratulating Omar on his successful PhD Proposal defense!... http://iharp.umbc.edu https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/152186/guest@my.umbc.edu/f2235e80729f2fcc0ecae335b265a756/api/pixel iharp iHARP https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/iharp https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/011/5a4b2df3e2c5e51353edce5eaef18479/xsmall.png?1663786838 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/011/5a4b2df3e2c5e51353edce5eaef18479/original.png?1663786838 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/011/5a4b2df3e2c5e51353edce5eaef18479/xxlarge.png?1663786838 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/011/5a4b2df3e2c5e51353edce5eaef18479/xlarge.png?1663786838 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/011/5a4b2df3e2c5e51353edce5eaef18479/large.png?1663786838 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/011/5a4b2df3e2c5e51353edce5eaef18479/medium.png?1663786838 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/011/5a4b2df3e2c5e51353edce5eaef18479/small.png?1663786838 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/011/5a4b2df3e2c5e51353edce5eaef18479/xsmall.png?1663786838 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/011/5a4b2df3e2c5e51353edce5eaef18479/xxsmall.png?1663786838 iHARP https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/186/c3a0219628e784d5f35656fde43dec8f/xxlarge.jpg?1757356100 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/186/c3a0219628e784d5f35656fde43dec8f/xlarge.jpg?1757356100 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/186/c3a0219628e784d5f35656fde43dec8f/large.jpg?1757356100 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/186/c3a0219628e784d5f35656fde43dec8f/medium.jpg?1757356100 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/186/c3a0219628e784d5f35656fde43dec8f/small.jpg?1757356100 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/186/c3a0219628e784d5f35656fde43dec8f/xsmall.jpg?1757356100 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/152/186/c3a0219628e784d5f35656fde43dec8f/xxsmall.jpg?1757356100 PhD committee standing with PhD Candidate after successful defense of proposal. 4 people in person, 2 people on TV Screen 2 0 true Mon, 08 Sep 2025 14:29:34 -0400 Mon, 08 Sep 2025 14:35:29 -0400