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University of Maryland, Baltimore County

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Displaying 1 - 20 of 63 articles

The High Line in New York City, a former elevated railroad trestle converted to a public park. Shinya Suzuki/Flickr

Urban nature: What kinds of plants and wildlife flourish in cities?

Christopher Swan, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

In an urbanizing world, people increasingly are seeking out nature in cities. Research shows that diverse species of animals, plants and insects can thrive in areas that humans have altered.
How can we change math instruction to meet the needs of today’s kids? World Bank Photo Collection / flickr

Challenging the status quo in mathematics: Teaching for understanding

Christopher Rakes, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Math instruction is stuck in the last century. How can we change teaching methods to move past rote memorization and help students develop a more meaningful understanding – and be better at math?
Polysaccharide molecules such as cellulose, seen here, are long chains of sugars that are very hard to break apart. Enzymes – proteins that can degrade polysaccharides – have many industrial uses. CeresVesta/Wikipedia

Scientist at work: Bio-prospecting for better enzymes

Jeffrey Gardner, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Bio-prospecting is the search for useful materials from natural sources. A biologist explains what we can learn from bacteria about breaking down plant material, and how we can use that knowledge.
Language matters in every class: English, math, history and science. Rawpixel / Shutterstock.com

The sound of inclusion: Why teachers’ words matter

Christine Mallinson, University of Maryland, Baltimore County and Anne Charity Hudley, College of William & Mary

In English and science alike, every student and teacher brings his or her own language patterns to class. But how can educators make sure that language bias doesn't harm student achievement?
Graves at the memorial center Potocari, near Srebrenica. AP Photo/Amel Emric

Bosnia’s 25-year struggle with transitional justice

Brian Grodsky, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

How long does it take to make peace? Decades after the end of the Bosnian war, just one in six residents felt that country had reached reconciliation.
Poul Henningsen’s Artichoke Lamp, viewed from below at London’s Park Plaza Hotel. Doc Searls/Wikimedia Commons

From the mundane to the divine, some of the best-designed products of all time

Catherine Anderson, George Washington University; Carla Viviana Coleman, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Craig M. Vogel, University of Cincinnati ; Kalle Lyytinen, Case Western Reserve University, and Lorraine Justice, Rochester Institute of Technology

We asked five design experts – what's your favorite product of all time, and why?
The world is searching – will we protect ourselves? Graphic via shutterstock.com

The WikiLeaks CIA release: When will we learn?

Richard Forno, University of Maryland, Baltimore County and Anupam Joshi, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

The latest release from WikiLeaks, of information about CIA hacking efforts, is yet another reminder of how Americans and our government must better protect our secret information.
Trump’s budget director, left, says White House spending priorities are straight out of the president’s mouth. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Why Trump’s ‘skinny’ budget is already dead

Roy T. Meyers, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Trump is proposing a budget with little substance and filled with politically toxic spending cuts, making it very unlikely to go anywhere, even in a Republican Congress.
Red-breasted Nuthatches are irrupting this winter across North America. Heather Elaine Ritchie/Flickr

When birds go roaming: The mystery of avian irruptions

Archer Larned, University of Maryland, Baltimore County and Sarah Luttrell, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

During bird irruptions, hundreds or thousands of a single species show up outside their normal territory. Most of what we know about irruptions comes from data collected by citizen scientists.
Donald Trump is famously attached to his phone. AP Photo/Matt Rourke

How to secure a smartphone for the tweeter-in-chief

Anupam Joshi, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

The best way to protect a presidential device is to keep it off the internet altogether. If that's not going to happen, how else can such a sensitive gadget be kept safe?
Static electricity can cause more than just a bad hair day. Ken Bosma

Static electricity’s tiny sparks

Sebastian Deffner, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

These mini lightning bolts have been known for millennia. Understanding static electricity at the atomic level opens the door for new technologies – as well as ways to cut down on the tiny zaps.
Shopping by smartphone is taking off. Credit card and mobile phone via shutterstock.com

Cyber Monday gives a big boost to mobile commerce

A. Ant Ozok, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Americans' reliance on their smartphones and tablets will drive online shopping revenue to new heights – and could introduce new buying experiences as well.

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