commonvision, UMBC Student Design and Print Center will be closed Thursday, August 21 and Friday, August 22 for staff training.

We will reopen Monday, August 25 at 10 a.m.

Summer Hours will continue Monday, August 25 and Tuesday, August 26 

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

 
Fall Hours will begin on Wednesday, August 27
Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

All inquiries can be sent to commonvision@umbc.edu, or visit commonvision.umbc.edu for more information. 

Master bedroom available (private/shared) in a fully furnished townhouse near UMBC, available starting August 2025. This spacious room comes with a private bathroom, a large walk-in closet, and an optional full-size bed with frame.

The townhouse features a modern, fully equipped kitchen with a stove, fridge, oven, microwave, and dishwasher. A comfortable, furnished living area with a sofa and TV is perfect for relaxing or hosting friends. You'll also have access to a shared patio, in-unit laundry, and dedicated parking space.

Located in a quiet, convenient neighborhood, just a 3-minute walk to the UMBC bus stop (Paradise Route) and 5 minutes to Giant, Weis Market, Five Guys, Dunkin’, Wingstop.

Rent and utilities are separate. Message for pricing and more details. Contact: +1 302-353-9805.

July 26, 2025, marks the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). As the ADA turns 35 this year, here are some key facts you should know.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed in 1990, was a landmark moment in U.S. civil rights history. It made it illegal to deny someone a job, education, or housing just because of a disability. But the ADA didn’t just happen. It was demanded. Activists crawled up the steps of the U.S. Capitol during the Capitol Crawl to fight for equal rights.

Today, the ADA protects people with both visible and invisible disabilities, like PTSD, ADHD, and diabetes. It also covers far more than physical spaces. Think websites, apps, voice recognition, closed captioning, and screen readers. In fact, in 2022 alone, over 3,000 web accessibility lawsuits were filed under the ADA.

From the U.S. to countries like the U.K., Canada, and Australia, the ADA’s influence is global. And yes, even Siri owes a thank you to the ADA.

Equal access isn’t extra. It’s essential.

Finally, come celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act with UMBC's Accessibility and Disability Services AND Student Disability Services. The celebration starts at 10:00 AM at Math/Psych 222 and 212. Stop by, meet our team, get a quick tour of our spaces and learn more about UMBC's disability-focused work and partnerships that support people with disabilities by providing access as well as accommodation services. Additional activities that day include:

• At 12:00 noon we will celebrate the Anniversary of the ADA and have a brief Accessibility Tour of campus in the ADS conference room.
• At 1:00 we will have a demonstration of Assistive Technology.

During the Open House ADS will be running a Disability Film Festival in the spirit of "Nothing About Us, Without Us!" with the screenings of: 

• All Riders
• Le Frere
• Unseen, 
• The Body is a House of Familiar Rooms 
• The Beautiful Colors of Jeremy Sicile-Kira

Popcorn and cake will be served.  We look forward to honoring the anniversary and making more progress together with you and the entire campus community!

This event is open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.

UMBC is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for all.  All films are captioned and have audio description available.  ASL is available upon request.  For additional inquiries about access or accommodation, please email slazar@umbc.edu with "ADA Celebration" in the subject line.

Michael Himes (614/MSU) led a recently published paper titled “Using neural networks for near-real-time aerosol retrievals from OMPS Limb Profiler measurements” in Atmospheric Measurement Techniques (June 2025); GESTAR II colleague Ghassan Taha (614/MSU) is a co-author. 

The paper discusses the benefits of using deep learning, a branch of machine learning (ML), which is focused on neural networks, as it applies to obtaining near-real-time measurements. This form of deep learning is “a complex approximation to the physics-based algorithm the researchers have been utilizing.” Dr. Himes explains that they “used ML/AI to measure aerosols in the stratosphere from major volcanic eruptions and wildfires. This is derived from measurements by the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite’s Limb Profiler (OMPS LP) instrument, which is currently flying on two satellites (Suomi-NPP and NOAA-21) and is planned for two additional satellites in 2027 and 2032.” To obtain the aerosol measurements, using the physics-based method required about two hours of data analysis after the download from the satellite; however, using the neural networks, the data analysis can be performed in “near-real-time, about two minutes.” According to Dr. Himes, acquiring the information sooner is beneficial in various ways: first, the data can be applied to “improved coordination of field campaigns and ground-based follow-up measurements”; second, it can be “useful for aviation safety, such as informing the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center of the location of volcanic aerosols. Ash can cause jet engines to stop working, either by eroding engine components or by causing blockages due to the ash particles melting and resolidifying in the engines. In addition to improved flight paths, providing this data could prevent “economic consequences, as was the case with the 2023 eruption in eastern Russia that led to the cancelations of many Alaskan flights.”

NASA Worldview provides access to any near-real-time NASA satellite imagery such as images of our planet and maps of active wildfires and flooding. Dr. Himes and his team have seen visualizations utilizing their data product incorporated into this online tool along with other related data products. Users can see the latest data measurements as soon as they are available. For example, scientists could track the transport of stratospheric aerosol, such as this snapshot of aerosol over Africa from an eruption in Indonesia about 10 days prior. Dr. Himes explains, “In these images, the white-to-red dots are the team’s new data product for stratospheric aerosol, while the dark blue area shows SO2 that was also emitted by the volcano. The aerosol and SO2 are located in roughly the same place, which is expected.” 

“In the scientific community, there is a lot of excitement around novel applications of neural networks to Earth science,” states Dr. Himes.

This summer, UMBC is teaming up with the Maryland Department of Disabilities to upgrade nine teaching labs in the Meyerhoff Chemistry Building—marking a major step in fostering inclusive STEM education. The goal: ensure all students, including wheelchair users and those with various disabilities, can fully participate in core chemistry and biochemistry courses.

What's Changing in the Labs?

• Wheelchair-accessible sinks, fume hoods, lab benches, and cabinets

• Lowered equipment stations for independent use

• A research lab redesigned for accessible hands-on experience

Lecture Hall Upgrades Include:

• Wheelchair-accessible seating in multiple locations with fold-down tablets

• TV monitors for better visibility for low-vision students

• Standing desks and seating variations for diverse body types, pregnant students, and orthopedic needs

• Assisted listening tech and designated interpreter areas for students who are Deaf or hard of hearing

Additional accessibility projects include:

• Restroom renovations in the Biological Sciences Building

• Elevator upgrades across multiple academic buildings

“The Office of Accessibility & Disability Services greatly values our longstanding partnership with Facilities Management to assist us in the mission of inclusive access and elimination of barriers for all UMBC community members,” says Tawny McManus, Assistant Vice President for Accessibility.

Learn how these changes are reshaping inclusion in STEM at UMBC: Read more here.