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 The University of Maryland is launching a new
cybersecurity initiative that
aims to stimulate public-private partnerships and address national vulnerabilities, including
those facing industry. The idea is to help "connect the dots" in the region's burgeoning
federal and private cyber sector. The focal point of the initiative, the new Maryland
Cybersecurity Center (MC2), will adopt a holistic approach to cybersecurity education,
research and technology development, stressing comprehensive, interdisciplinary solutions. MC2 will bring together experts from engineering and computer science with colleagues from
across campus in fields such as information sciences, business, public policy, social sciences and
economics to develop new educational and research programs. It will also draw on the university's
technology commercialization resources.
 The University of
Maryland and the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) officially
joined forces to expand research, development and engineering efforts by signing a Cooperative
Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). The CRADA builds upon already existing working
relationships with the university while increasing the understanding of the transforming
missions and functions of Aberdeen Proving Ground, where RDECOM is headquartered.
 The National
Science Foundation has funded a five-year, $3.2 million ADVANCE Program for Inclusive Excellence to
increase the representation of women faculty members in science, technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM) fields at the university. Building on the university’s achievements in inclusiveness
and equity, the ADVANCE program will implement interconnected strategies designed to transform academic
environments and promote the professional growth of women faculty in STEM. Darryll Pines, Clark School
dean, is one of the co-investigators, along with Avis Cohen; professor, Department of Biology and
Institute for Systems Research, and UM Provost Nariman Farvardin.
 In
2010 the Clark School's Institute for Systems Research became a partner and collaborator with the
University Affiliated Research Center/Systems Engineering Research Center (SERC), a 20-university
consortium sponsored by the Department of Defense Chief Technology Office. SERC provides opportunities
to create new funded projects in various aspects of systems science and engineering relating to
defense and intelligence needs. Professor John Baras (ECE/ISR, pictured) is principal SERC investigator for
ISR. The Annual SERC Research Review was held at the Riggs Alumni Center on the College Park campus
in November, featuring Clark School alumnus and former NASA Administrator Michael Griffin (Ph.D. '77,
aerospace engineering).
 The
aim of the Suzhou International University Research Park in the Chinese city of Suzhou, near Shanghai,
is to foster cooperative research between Chinese, European, and American researchers in a wide
variety of areas. The research center for failure analysis and prognostics and health management
will be guided by the Clark School's Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering, the University
of Maryland and their Chinese counterparts.
 The
Office of Advanced Engineering Education and the Fischell Department of Bioengineering (Fischell BioE) have launched a new master's program in bioengineering available on-campus and 100 percent
online, geared towards professional engineers.
 The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has recently launched a Graduate Program in Civil Systems. The focus of the program is to study a variety of systems such as energy, transportation, evacuation, and sensor-based, and their interactions.
 Fischell BioE now offers students in its Research Experiences for Undergraduates program the opportunity to work under the guidance of mentors at federal labs, thanks to a new partnership with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The National Science Foundation-sponsored program recently completed its first year in which students were able to participate in projects underway at either the Clark School or on the FDA campus in Silver Spring, Md.
 Fischell BioE wrapped up its first Research Experiences for Teachers program. The National Science Foundation-sponsored three-year summer workshop, originally designed to provide K-12 educators with bioengineering laboratory experiences they could bring back to the classroom, has evolved into an effort to both better prepare students for the engineering and math courses they will encounter in college, and create new high school courses that will allow students to earn college credit. The program is a joint effort between the Clark School and the University of Virginia, with support from the University of Maryland's College of Education.
 Maryland Robotics Day was the kickoff event for the Maryland Robotics Center, formed earlier this year by the A. James Clark School of Engineering, and housed within the Institute for Systems Research. Professor S.K. Gupta is the center's director. The Center consists of 25 faculty members spanning aerospace engineering, bioengineering, biology, civil and environmental engineering, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, and mechanical engineering.
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