In the News

Helen Burgess, English, in Nature
The research journal Nature reviewed a DVD-ROM co-authored by Helen Burgess, an assistant professor in the English department. The DVD-ROM, Biofutures, examines the issue of owning human tissue and genetic material for research and potential profit. “The authors use their broad backgrounds in science policy, history and English literature to locate the questions of body ownership within the wider fields of social science and bioethics,” the review said. The piece, “The Body as a Commodity,” appeared in the Thursday, March 5 issue.
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v458/n7234/full/458033b.html

http://www.umbc.edu/blogs/umbcnews/2009/03/dvdrom_coauthored_by_helen_bur.html
Christopher Corbett, English, in Baltimore Style
In his regular column for Baltimore Style, Christopher Corbett, professor of the practice in English, identified a new measure of the recession’s severity: a purported once-in-a-lifetime investment promoted by the man who cleans his gutters. The column, “The Financial Opportunity of a Lifetime,” ran in the March/April issue.
http://www.baltimorestyle.com/index.php/style/backpage/
Phil Davis ’07 and Vin Grabill, Visual Arts, in the Baltimore City Paper
The Baltimore City Paper reviewed the Dead Air exhibit at the Metro Gallery in Baltimore that features the work of Phil Davis ’07 and Vin Grabill, associate professor and interim chair of the visual arts department. The exhibit is a collection of video pieces that address the imminent demise of analog broadcast television. The piece, “Lost Signals,” ran Thursday March 4.
http://www.citypaper.com/arts/story.asp?id=17651
Tim Finin, Computer Science, in the Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun reported that the National Security Agency is joining a new, highly classified social network that links its analysts for the first time with thousands of colleagues at other U.S. intelligence agencies. “There are still barriers, legal barriers and a natural disinclination to share information,” Finin told the paper. The Sun cited Finin’s research on software that encourages information-sharing while maintaining high levels of privacy and security. The story, “NSA Joining Social Network for Intelligence Analysts,” ran Thursday, March 4.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/technology/bal-te.md.spybook04mar04,0,2709017.story?page=2
Seth Sawyers ’99, English, in the Baltimore Sun
Seth Sawyers ’99, an adjunct instructor in the English department, wrote an opinion essay for the Baltimore Sun that voices his affection for Baltimore’s quirks, regardless of public perceptions. The column, “Viewpoint: Baltimore Doesn’t Need Me to Defend It,” ran Thursday, March 5.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.viewpoint05mar05,0,827043.story
Tom Schaller, Political Science, on the Fox Business Channel
Associate Professor of Political Science Tom Schaller was interviewed on the Fox Business Channel to discuss his Baltimore Sun column about the potential damage that the mortgage interest deduction has brought on the ailing U.S. economy.
http://tinyurl.com/dd4glv
Chris Swan, Geography and Environmental Systems, Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun blog “Bay & Environment” cited research conducted by Chris Swan, assistant professor in the department of geography and environmental systems, on the environmental impact of rock salt used to treat icy roads. “Swan found even modest amounts of salt are bad for zooplankton, the microscopic animals swimming on water that feed on algae, and upon which some fish feed.” The blog post, “Icy Dilemma: Road Salt Taints Streams, Reservoirs,” appeared Wednesday, March 3.
http://tinyurl.com/umbcroadsalt