UMD Receives National Science Foundation Grant To Advance Women in Science & Engineering Careers

A Swenson College of Science and Engineering team has received a $200,000 National Science Foundation over the next two years to conduct a program to help women advance in science and engineering careers.

SCSE will develop a customized plan of action to improve the representation and advancement of female faculty in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Leadership will also be provided for other institutions around the country looking to meet the same goal.

Principal author of the grant proposal, Geology Professor Vicki Hansen, said, "UMD is proud to be taking a leadership role in this project. Women are significantly underrepresented in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) disciplines throughout the world. This is an economic and workforce issue, as well as an ethical and moral concern. Diversity in our nation's science and engineering workforce brings innovation and creativity to solving problems that our nation and communities will face in the future."

SCSE is one of only nine colleges and universities from across the United States and Puerto Rico to receive the grant.

Courtney Jackson's Science Project Featured in The Leading Edge-The Society of Exploration Geophysicists

Geology student Courtney Jackson constructed a detailed geologic map of an area of Venus where she concluded that a circular low formed from negative relief, no central high, concentric arcuate fractures, and landslide features. Vicki Hansen, professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at UMD, introduced Courtney to the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data set of Venus. As a result of Ms. Jackson's project, she won a Second Place of Merit award ($500) and a $1,500 Second Award from the U.S. Air Force.

Read a full description in "The Leading Edge".

Computer Science Alum wins $275,000 in Google's Android Developer Challenge

Jeffrey Sharkey, UMD Computer Science Alum placed in the top 10 of the Google Android Developer Challenge and won an additional $275,000 prize. The final results were announced last week, and he placed in the top 10 out of nearly 1,800 entrants. (photo courtesy MSU: Kelly Gorham)

Read an article featuring Jeffery in the Duluth News Tribune (9/15/08)

Read a description of his "CompareEverywhere" shopping device.

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