L E T T E R F ROM T H E E X E C U T I V E DI R E C T OR FALL 2015 / VOL. 13, NO.1
PU BLISH ER
Peter Weiler VICE PRESIDENT, UNIVERSIT Y RELATIONS ADVISERS
Brian Ullmann ’92 ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Amy Eichhorst EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Margaret Hall EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CREATIVE STRATEGIES MAGAZIN E STAFF
Lauren Brown UNIVERSIT Y EDITOR
John T. Consoli ’86 CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Hailey Hwa Shin ART DIRECTOR
Liam Farrell Chris Carroll Karen Shih ’09 WRITERS
Alex Stoller ’16 EDITORIAL INTERN
Kelsey Marotta ’14 Jeanette J. Nelson MBA ’14 Jesse Wu ’14 Beverly Yeager DESIGNERS
Kelsey Hrebenach ’16 DESIGN INTERN
Gail Rupert M.L.S. ’10 PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT
Josh Loock ’16 PHOTOGRAPHY INTERN
Jagu Cornish PRODUCTION MANAGER
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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 nondiscrimination regarding race, color, religion, age, national origin, political affiliation, gender, sexual orientation or disability.
r e m e m be r w h e n you f i r st arrived on campus? For four years (okay, maybe a little longer for some of you J), you learned from outstanding faculty and took advantage of internships and other outof-classroom opportunities. And after getting one of the world’s best educations, you graduated with lifelong friends and memories, ready to take on the world. Fearless. stay fearless, Terps! These simple words embody the new strategic direction of the University of Maryland Alumni Association. We are committed to helping you stay... • connected to the friends you made on campus. • eager to grow your career through professional networking and development opportunities. • united through our new alumni advocacy program. • a fan through our tailgates and game watches. • involved with all College Park has to offer. • committed to helping students through volunteer opportunities. • supportive to a fellow alumnus as a career mentor. Through our extensive regional, affinity and academic networks, we will provide hundreds of opportunities this year for you to engage with umd and fellow Terps where you live and work. To find programs and events in your area, on campus or online, visit us at alumni.umd.edu. I invite all of you to reconnect and visit us on campus at sporting and cultural events. Not sure where to start? How about at Homecoming 2015? A special insert in this edition of Terp highlights Homecoming Week, Nov. 1–7, with a carnival on McKeldin Mall, a comedy show featuring Hannibal Buress and even a way to join other Terps as we take on hunger in our region. Football, friends, fun and giving back—they’re all part of Terp pride during Homecoming Week! The staff, Board of Governors and volunteer leadership of the alumni association recently completed a strategic planning process that sets an ambitious path. Our new vision statement reads: We are the heart of the university, inspiring lifelong connections with a global network of Maryland alumni. We’re here to help you stay active, stay connected and stay passionate. But most of all, stay fearless!
Amy Eichhorst Executive Director, Alumni Association PS: Check out our new stay fearless ad on the back cover of Terp for details on how you can win a new Ford Fusion hybrid!
The power of curiosity has taken humanity on some of its greatest journeys. Before the lifesaving cure, the revolutionary new energy source or the exploration of distant worlds, smart, curious people posed challenging questions about reality: What’s beyond this horizon? What are the laws of the physical world? Why do animals—and humans—behave as they do? Where did it all begin? Today, UMD researchers are studying the human brain to quantify what makes us who we are—while others work to give robots the ability to emulate our thinking. They’re mining the potential of the quantum world. They’re studying the roots of social movements and social change, and employing advanced technology to make sense of the mushrooming quantity of information in the world. Every issue of Terp features our students’ and faculty’s discovery of new knowledge. In this issue, we further highlight those efforts with a symbol ( ). We’ll be doing the same in future issues on our efforts to transform the student experience, turn imagination into innovation and inspire Maryland pride.
DISCOVER MORE
11 / Q uestioning the Bomb
17 / D on’t Say No to Solo
12 / First LOOK
18 / W hat Makes Terrapins Tick
14 / Moon Mystery 16 / S ocial Sickness
26 / Clear Solution