Kaitlin Worzalla is a URA Scholar and Geography and Environmental Systems major.

Title: Human Presence in Fragile Spaces: A Study of Antarctic Tourism

Mentor: Charles Kaylor

Come see her oral presentation at URCAD on April 22:  9:20-9:35am, in RAC 230

Abstract:

As Antarctica faces the effects of climate change and increased tourist activity, understanding the intersection between human presence and ecological sensitivity is critical. Using data collected during a December 2025 expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula, this research provides insights into Antarctic tourism through geospatial analysis, wildlife observations, and evaluation of visitor protocols. This project’s significance lies in the findings around the extensive and complex governance surrounding human activity below 60° South. While extensive regulatory frameworks and biosecurity protocols were in place and effectively minimized environmental disturbance, these same regulations had loopholes and appeared fragile. It additionally revealed opportunities for citizen science initiatives that contributed to ongoing wildlife conservation and environmental science efforts. Finally, it showed that tourism vessels function not only as recreational platforms, but also as logistical supports for seasonal research stations. In terms of a warming planet, polar regions are widely considered to be Earth’s climate regulators. As traveling to Antarctica becomes more accessible and popular, it is important that we continue to monitor the impacts of tourism in polar regions and enact responsible tourism practices that can act as models for other tourist destinations.

For more info:

URCAD.umbc.edu

Just a reminder that the deadline for summer Public Health internal internship applications is Wednesday, April 1. Fall semester deadline is May 1. External internships can be secured up to the first day of classes for each semester. Internships are one of the required experiential learning options for Public Health majors. Majors must also register for PBHL 470 or 471 and PRAC 98 in the semester they complete their internship. Minors can not register for PBHL 470 or 471, or apply for internal positions, but are welcome to use the Department resources to secure an internship if they are interested. 

On behalf of the  teaching and learning strategic planning subcommittee, we would like to invite all faculty to a town hall to solicit faculty input on the teaching and learning pillar statement and goals for the strategic plan. 

Virtual Faculty Town Hall: Tuesday, April 7, 4:00 - 5:00 pm; Register to attend here.  

MyUMBC event posting: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/planning/events/152905

In-person Faculty Town Hall: Wednesday, April 8, 12:00 - 1:00 pm; Engineering 027

MyUMBC event posting: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/planning/events/152889

All members of the UMBC community may contribute input at: https://umbc.edu/leadership/strategic-plan/

The Dresher Center for the Humanities has named UMBC English major Agata Ambrozewicz as recipient of the 2026 Mary Akaras Scholarship Book Award. This award provides $500 toward the purchase of textbooks and is given to a strong student majoring in a humanities field.

Agata is a dedicated humanities student who engages deeply with complex texts and contributes thoughtfully in every class. She is an accomplished poet and an active translator of Polish poetry, with a recent translation accepted for publication in a scholarly journal. In addition, she will soon undertake an independent study on feminist translation practices with Professor Jessica Berman. We are excited to support her continued growth as a scholar in the humanities at UMBC. 

Congratulations Agata!

Established in honor of Mary Akaras, The Mary Akaras Scholarship Book Award 

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 · 11 AM - 2 PM

University Center Ballroom

At this industry fair, you will have the opportunity to speak with alumni and employer representatives from various fields in the technology and engineering industries.

Attending organizations will provide information regarding internship and employment opportunities, so be sure to bring copies of your resume to share with the employers. See the list of attending employers in Handshake.

This event is part of UMBC's Career Month, an opportunity for all students from first year to PhD to explore their professional options through workshops, alumni chats, industry fairs, employer site visits, and more.

Please note:
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 faculty, staff, students, and visitors. If you would like to request accommodations (e.g., ASL interpreters, captioning, wheelchair access, etc.) for this event, please notify us at least two weeks prior to the event. Requests received after that time cannot be guaranteed, but we will do our best to make arrangements for program access. Please contact the event host (careers@umbc.edu) with your specific request and be sure to include the event title, date, and time.

Welcome to week 8 of the Tabletop Gaming Club!

The end of the semester is coming faster than anyone would like, but we still have lots of fun in store everyone for the next 8 weeks!

This week is a normal week and we will be hosting club from 7-10pm Tuesday March 31st and Thursday April 2nd in ILSB116B! However tonight will be our last night of March Madness for anyone wanting to participate to get any of our selection of prizes, with prizing being done Thursday.

As for upcoming events: April 16th (Tentatively) will be our semesterly D&D PVP tournament! Come one, come all to participate in our bracketed PVP tournament and compete for Glory! (and some cool D&D related prizes). Newbies and veterans alike are welcome, as well as people not even involved with the club. We do however need more DMs for the tournament so please reach out to any of our Club officers if you are interested! Our TTRPG Ambassado Isra will be posting rules for the tournament by the end of next week. Final details as to location (and possible date changes) will be sent out in the next few days.

That's all for this week folks, I hope you all have a great week and enjoy the lovely weather!

Welcome to Career Month, designed to help students from first-year to PhDs "Explore what's possible and create what's next." Join us each week for events such as industry-focused mini-fairs with employers/alumni, workshops, and employer site visits.

The transition from student to professional doesn’t happen overnight — it happens through a series of intentional conversations. Whether you are a first-year student exploring possibilities or a senior ready to launch, Career Month is your platform to build momentum.

Connect with Targeted Industries

Generic career fairs can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve curated Industry-Specific Fairs to help you find the right fit. By grouping employers by field, you can spend less time navigating a crowded room and more time having high-quality conversations with recruiters who are specifically looking for your skillset.

Practice Your Professional Pitch

A career event is the ultimate "low-stakes, high-reward" environment to practice how you introduce yourself. You don’t need a perfect set of skills to make an impression; you need a clear interest and a few thoughtful questions. Every conversation you have is a step toward normalizing the networking process and reducing the "fear factor" of the job search.

Discover the "Hidden" Roles

Keep in mind that some of the employers attending these fairs might have openings that aren't widely advertised on external job boards yet. By showing up in person, you position yourself at the front of the line. Remember: Preparation + Connection = Opportunity. These events are where the "hidden job market" can become visible.

Maximize Your UMBC Network

Some of the recruiters behind the tables are UMBC alumni who were once exactly where you are sitting. They aren't just looking for resumes; they are looking for fellow Retrievers to join their teams. This shared connection is a powerful tool — don't be afraid to lead with it and use that to your advantage.

Put This Into Action

Ready to see where your degree can take you? Mark your calendar for our specialized Industry Fairs and start building the connections that count.

• Technology & Engineering | April 1, 2026
• Art & Industry | April 7, 2026
• Humanities & Social Sciences | April 8, 2026
• Sciences | April 15, 2026

One conversation can change your trajectory. Reach for the stars and go!

Be sure to also check out careermonth.umbc.edu and our full list of events to keep you busy all month long. 

Beginning this Fall 2026, the Financial Economics BS program will offer two new MATH electives.  These classes are now listed on the degree audit for the major.  Check them out!

Under Core Philosophy & Management:

• MATH 300 - Intro to Mathematical Reasoning
  • Prerequisite: MATH 221 with a grade of 'C' or better.
  • This course develops fundamentals of mathematical logic and proof writing. Topics will include propositional logic, quantifiers, contradiction and contrapositive, induction, sets, relations, integers, functions, images and pre-images, bijections and inverse functions. LaTeX, a typesetting program for mathematical writing will be introduced. In addition to writing proofs, students will learn to assess the soundness of proofs written by others.

Under Upper-Level Economics Electives:

• MATH 385 - Intro to Mathematical Modeling
  • Prerequisite: MATH 225 or MATH 355 with a grade of 'C' or better.
  • This is a project-oriented course offering the opportunity to discover how various real-world problems can be described and analyzed with the aid of simple mathematical models and computer simulations. Possible project topics include operation of a fuse, spread of pollutants in a river, propagation of an infectious disease, traffic flow on a highway, oscillating chemical reactions, population growth in biology, etc.

Engineering Building - The North Elevator in the Engineering Building (Fine Arts side) will be out of service starting April 1.  The South Elevator will remain in servicefor all floors until the North Elevator Modernization is complete. Once the North elevator service is restored the South elevator will be taken out of service for modernization.  The Engineering elevator project is anticipated to be complete (both elevators) by December 14, 2026.

Meyerhoff Chemistry Building - The North Elevator in the Meyerhoff Building (Library side) will be taken out of service starting April 27.  The South Elevator will remain in service until the North Elevator Modernization is complete.  Once the North elevator service is restored the South elevator will be taken out of service.  The Meyerhoff elevator modernization project is anticipated to be complete (both elevators) by December 14, 2026.

Having one modernized elevator in operation by the start of classes this Fall is what we are striving for with each building. Facility Management will post construction signage at each building entrance/exit as well as detour signage to redirect users to the alternate elevator when each project phase begins. 

Accessibility is part of the design process, and we work in partnership with Accessibility and Disability Services which supports faculty, staff, students, and visitors with disabilities. If you have a concern about accessibility or want to inquire about a disability-based accommodation, please do so through their website.  If you notice that any UMBC elevator is out of service or needs a repair, please call it into Facilities Work Control 410-455-2550 for quickest results.

All,

I rented a -80 freezer to defrost one of our units in the building. Due to scheduling conflicts, it will not be picked up until the 7th. Please let me know immediately if you would like to make use of this unexpected opportunity.

This will be on a first come first served basis. 

Thank you!!