Terp Cover FALL 2009 FINAL:Terp Cover Summer -FINAL 9/18/09 3:43 PM Page covVI
TERP PUBLISHER
Brodie Remington Vice President, University Relations ADVISORY BOARD
J. Paul Carey ’82 M.B.A. Managing Partner, JPT Partners John Girouard ’81 President and CEO, Capital Asset Management Group Anil Gupta Ralph J. Tyser Professor of Strategy and Organization, Robert H. Smith School of Business Beth Morgen Chief Administrative Officer, Maryland Alumni Association Danita D. Nias ’81 Assistant Vice President, Alumni Relations and Development Vicki Rymer ’61, ’66 M.B.A., ’83 Ph.D. Teaching Professor, Robert H. Smith School of Business Keith Scroggins ’79 Chief Operating Officer, Baltimore City Public Schools Lee Thornton Professor and Eaton Chair, Philip Merrill College of Journalism MAGAZINE STAFF
Lauren Brown University Editor Kimberly Marselas ’00 Managing Editor John T. Consoli ’86 Creative Director Jeanette J. Nelson Art Director Joshua Harless Catherine Nichols ’99 Brian G. Payne Contributing Designers Monette A. Bailey ’89 Mandie Boardman ’02 Cassandra Robinson Rebecca M. Ruark Tom Ventsias Writers Kelly Blake ’94 Michael Hoffman ’05 Contributing Writers Anne McDonough ’09 Photographer’s Assistant Kathy B. Lambird ’94 Production Manager Elizabeth Burzenski ’10 Katherine Davis ’09 Magazine Interns E-mail terpmag@umd.edu Terp magazine is published by the Division of University Relations. Letters to the editor are welcomed. Send correspondence to Kimberly Marselas, Managing Editor, Terp magazine, 2101 Turner Building, College Park, MD 20742-1521. Or, send an e-mail to terpmag@umd.edu. The University of Maryland, College Park is an equal opportunity institution with respect to both education and employment. University policies, programs and activities are in conformance with pertinent federal and state laws and regulations on non-discrimination regarding race, color, religion, age, national origin, political affiliation, gender, sexual orientation or disability.
Dear Alumni and Friends, FROM TEXTING TO iPods, technology is
changing the way we live our lives. We’ve certainly come a long way since eight-tracks and street maps! And Maryland’s world-renowned researchers are working to implement technological advances to help improve the likes of health care, energy, the environment and even museum collections for “end users” like you and me, in Maryland and across the nation and the world. “Health IT” on page 20 explores the challenges and opportunities in the race to modernize medical record-keeping. Success would expand health-care access, improve quality and reduce costs and enable each of us to take better charge of our health. On page 12, read about Maryland faculty from engineering, chemical and life sciences and computer science who have joined together to tackle energy storage issues. Their aim: to create “super batteries” to power the next generation of automobiles and more. Our world-class university is also leading a new climate institute with the goal of providing detailed—and perhaps lifesaving—weather information with the help of technology. Read more on page 5. And, get the scoop on technology’s marriage with the environment at Maryland straight from a botanist and undergraduate program director of environmental science and technology on page 13. In collaboration with the university, the Smithsonian Institution plans to make a digital record of the more than 137 million artifacts in the Smithsonian’s collection to keep up with the technological times. Turn to page 3 for more
on that collaboration. At Maryland, thousands of recordings and books in the Keesing Collection of Popular Music, covered on page 17, have been made searchable through University Libraries’ catalog—making rock ‘n’ roll rarities accessible to fans all over the world. Even Terp is getting in on the tech act. Can’t get enough of the magazine that connects you to everything Maryland? Starting with this issue, we preview bonus Web content on page 6. And don’t forget to bookmark alumni.umd.edu for all the goings-on around Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, Oct. 16-17. You won’t want to miss out on the members-only Backyard Bash before the Terrapins tromp the Cavaliers. (See the calendar section in the magazine’s center for more upcoming activities.) Signing off from my BlackBerry— Go Terps!
Danita D. Nias ’81 Assistant Vice President, Alumni Relations and Development