PUBLIC RESEARCH FOR PUBLIC GOOD

At UMBC, high-impact research and top-ranked teaching go hand-in-hand. Our students’ achievements show the power of this dual commitment. UMBC is a top university for undergraduate research and creative projects and is consistently named the nation’s leading producer of Black undergraduates who go on to earn Ph.D.s in the natural sciences and engineering.

Welcome to Inquiring Minds. We have carefully selected this title for our publication to highlight the breadth of research and creative achievement initiatives at UMBC, which are guided by our motto, “Public research for public good,” and our strong commitment to interdisciplinarity.

Our work reflects the focus of our faculty and students across basic, translational, and applied research areas. We thrive on opportunities to directly impact our partner communities, facilitate deeper intercultural understanding through our arts and humanities scholarship, and further our knowledge across a spectrum of science and engineering fields.

We are proud to be an R1 university, as designated by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, placing us among the top 146 research universities in the country. This is the result of over 20 years of work conducted across our academic departments and research centers. Our community of passionate and inquiring minds has been focused on creating a research institution that can perform at the highest level while staying true to UMBC’s overall mission.

We build on the inherent strengths in our vibrant interdisciplinary and collaborative research culture, with a strong nationally recognized reputation for integrating undergraduates in mentored research. Our most impactful research efforts are often based on collaborations among several disciplines across our campuses, with other academic institutions, and with our corporate and community partners.

Our key research and creative achievement themes are well aligned with regional and national priorities, which include:

• Climate and environmental sciences

• Data science, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity

• Community, equity, and social justice

• Health and life sciences

• Creative engagement

• Earth and space sciences

• History, identity, and society

Each of these key themes benefits from an inclusive approach, by taking into account civic engagement, social sciences, ethics, public policy, and other important considerations to provide comprehensive solutions.

We are delighted to share some of the exciting and innovative work of UMBC’s researchers and scholars in support of the state of Maryland, the nation, and beyond. We welcome you to learn more about our community of inquiring minds.

Karl V. Steiner Vice President for Research and Creative Achievement