It was coined the March on Washington of today’s generation.

And like the march led by Dr. King in 1963, the situation is dire.

Motivating the marchers is the concern that the country, as well as the world, is entering a dangerous phase. So concerned are people that the normally absurd cry of  “THE END IS NEAR” is spilling from the mouths of some of our most respected thinkers.

If the end is indeed near, then perhaps we should try to do everything we can to stop it because, ya know, It is probably a good idea to ensure the survival of our species. That’s why the People’s Climate March this past weekend was so important. 

While 300,000 people converging in New York to save our ship is pretty cool, it was the voices and signs all over the world that were sobering, showing the massive scope and urgency of the climate change issue. Islanders in Kiribati, city-dwellers in Montreal, and others from all over the world were demanding action from leaders at the UN Summit that will be happening this week.

Check out this recap of Sunday’s events from across the globe. The People’s Climate March may have been the start of the global movement our planet has been hoping for.

On Sept 18th the people voted, the people decided. And the Kingdom will remain intact.

After a historic referendum to determine their political future, the Scottish people decided to remain a part of the United Kingdom rather than become a sovereign state. The final vote: 55.3% for the status quo, 44.7% for independence.

But while the debate is over, the controversy rolls along.

Alex Salmond, the independence movement’s head honcho, is already crying foul, saying that his fellow Scots were tricked into voting “no.”

Meanwhile, the Scots’ vote has already inspired one other nation-group to push for its own referendum.

The Scots may not have broken free, but they end up changing world politics yet.

On September 18, students from UMBC’s Graduate Cybersecurity Program joined others from Penn State, Penn State Harrisburg, and the Dickinson College of Law at the U.S. Army War College’s Center for Strategic Leadership and Development to participate in a scripted wargame considering the strategic aspects of cybersecurity during the 2014 Intelligence Community Center of Academic Excellence Symposium.

Students were provided the opportunity to be decision makers in one of six entitites ranging from DHS, DoD, and DoJ to state government and private sector organizations. The morning scenario required students to ascertain the roles and responsibilities of “their” agencies/organizations, their capabilities and liabilities, and decide who they should collaborate with to ensure that appropriate actions were taken and actionable information was conveyed appropriately. During the afternoon session, students considered whether acts of war were committed, decided what the appropriate steps were to counter those acts, and which agencies should be in the lead. The day concluded with a plenary session where each student group discussed their approach to the real-world scenario faced that day.

UMBC graduate cybersecurity students taking part in the event include Mark Lewis, Charles Swassing, Rina Chios, Chris Day, Sara Purdum, Michael Sterrett, Kristian Behel, and Joe Kirik (not pictured).

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UMBC’s involvement was coordinated by CYBR faculty member Bill Waddell, who is the Director, Mission Command and Cyberspace Division and General George S. Patton Chair of Operations Research and Analysis Center for Strategic Leadership and Development at the US Army War College.

Could $100,000 help jumpstart your startup? Well, Maryland’s national business competition is back for the third year! 

Since 2013, InvestMaryland Challenge has awarded nearly $1.5M in prizes to innovative startup companies. Prizes have included cash grants, incubator space, marketing and legal services, and opportunities to pitch investors. 
Start an application today and your business could be on its way to accepting the $100,000 Grand Prize!

The InvestMaryland Challenge is a national seed and early-stage business competition hosted by the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. The Challenge will award $400,000 in grants and a host of business services to companies in the life sciences and high tech industries. Grants are provided by the Department's Maryland Venture Fund andBioMaryland Center. All categories are open to Maryland, U.S. And International companies.

Companies also have the opportunity to receive direct investments from venture capital firms and angel investors.

Go to http://www.investmarylandchallenge.org/ for more information and to apply!

Here in the Office of Institutional Advancement, we are always working hard to support the university and connect our donors with causes they care most about. We would like to introduce our donors — to whom we are so grateful — to the people who help make those things happen. Today, we’ll be hearing from Logan Wern, the Phonathon Coordinator.

Name: Logan Wern
Job Title: Phonathon Coordinator
Focus Area: I manage our call center, where current students are employed to call alumni, update their records and fundraise for UMBC.
Years at UMBC: About 1.5

Q: Where are you from originally?

A: North Canton, Ohio. O-H!

Q: What do you love most about UMBC?

A: The unique culture — learning is cool. Being “nerdy” is cool. I love that.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about your job?

A: The students! I am lucky to work with students every day. Their enthusiasm for learning and life in general always inspires me.

Q: Why do you think it’s important to support UMBC?

A: Just look around. I haven’t been here long, but I know how much UMBC has grown and improved over the years. This wouldn’t be possible without support from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, the community, and friends of the university.

Q: What is a recent book you’ve read?

A: Gone Girl. Bizarre, but good.

Q: If you were an Olympian, what would be your sport/activity of choice?

A: Couples figure skating. I took ballet lessons for many years, so there are some similarities. Couples skating is mesmerizing — the way two people move so seamlessly and gracefully.

Q: Who do you admire and why?

A: My parents. They have been happily married for 27 years, which is amazing in itself. Individually, I admire my mom for her selflessness and my dad for his wisdom. I look up to them a lot.