The Synapse
Updates from the Sciences at Loyola University Maryland
September 2020 | Issue 24
Welcome to the fall semester! This issue highlights the amazing work being done by students from NAS and across all disciplines in public health and racial justice. We also feature an exemplary alumna from the class of 2020, welcome the new CPaMS scholars and share opportunities for students and faculty to connect, innovate and grow.
Share your news, photos, inspiring stories and upcoming virtual events for a future issue. We are always looking to highlight student and faculty accomplishments and we are excited to share the ways you are connecting this semester. Please send any feature suggestions to Jen Sullivan at jlsullivan4@loyola.edu.
HIGHLIGHTS & GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Campus Updates for Community Health and Safety
Clearly marked exits and entrances
Hand sanitizing stations and informational signage
One-way staircases
NAS Department and Program Updates
Loyola Students Share "Resources of Change"
A note from Loyola students Emma, Matthew and Ahmed:
Resources of Change is a living and breathing tool tailored to the promotion of self-education on the types of racism and injustice people of color continue to face globally and nationwide. We realize that over the course of our lifetime that race is a one-and-done topic and we do not want that trend to continue anymore. We wanted students, faculty, staff, administration, and friends to sit down and reflect on how race has affected our country in the most inhumane and disgusting ways and this website we feel will demonstrate that through powerful speeches, books, films, and podcasts. We want to give a special thanks to the Loyola professors for their contribution to this website. We hope you enjoy!
Emma Schiller '21, Matthew Dorsey '21, and Ahmed Jackson '21
Instagram: resourcesforchange_
The Green Bandana Brigade - Loyola UIFs advocate for mental health awareness
The University Innovation Fellows (UIF) cohort from 2019 is comprised of three juniors: Siena Pizzano, Cammi Galley, and Benjamin Hunt. UIF’s have a strong desire to become agents of change and innovate on Loyola’s Evergreen campus. In partnership with the Counseling Center, Siena, Cammi, and Ben founded the Green Bandana Brigade, a student run program whose goal is to spread the awareness of campus, local, and national resources for students coping with mental health concerns. The founders felt the need to bring attention to mental health because students aged 15-24 are in the highest risk group for many mental illnesses, though 1 in 4 nationally will not seek help or treatment. In addition, there are more than 1,000 deaths by suicide on college campuses annually in the United States. Therefore, Siena, Cammi, and Ben want to promote a culture where students genuinely care about each individual’s well-being and decrease the stigma surrounding mental health.
In order to become a member of the Green Bandana Brigade, students and faculty/staff members will need to complete our online training called Kognito . Once the training is complete, the individual will receive a certificate, which will need to be emailed to GreenBandanaBrigade@loyola.edu.
Our plan for once we were back on campus was to give green bandanas to those who completed the Kognito training to tie on their backpacks or put in their office to identify them as members of the Brigade. We are now determining how we will represent our solidarity on a virtual platform. However, once we are back on campus all members will receive their green bandanas to identify them as a safe, nonjudgmental person to approach with mental health-related difficulties. Green Bandana Brigade members know about available resources and can provide resource cards to assist others in getting help and support. The Brigade’s goal is to let students know that they have the support of all their peers and faculty/staff members whenever they might need. Siena, Cammi, and Ben hope you prioritize mental health and become a member of the Brigade!
Introducing Loyola's 2024 CPaMS Cohort
CPaMS (Computer science, Physics and Mathematics/Statistics) Scholars is based on building a community for students. As a cohort, Scholars share certain activities and courses during their four years, while receiving the support of a group of mentors and advisors to guide them through college life and to inform them about opportunities beyond Loyola. The 2024 cohort consists of 20 incoming freshmen, pictured below, supported by a team of dedicated faculty mentors from computer science, physics and math and stats. Welcome class of 2024 CPaMS scholars!
NAS students making a difference in diversity and community service
During Loyola University Maryland’s 2020 Commencement, the Natural and Applied Sciences academic division awarded for the first time the Choudhury Sarkar-Dey medal to an outstanding graduating senior who has shown remarkable commitment to diversity and community service during their time at Loyola. We are proud to share with you the reflections submitted by the finalists, nominated by their faculty and departments, in a series of posts on the Art of STEM blog.
Meet Chiara Maalouf, '20, a computer science alumna, CPaMS scholar, Evergreen, Hauber fellow, and Choudhury Sarkar-Dey medal finalist, and learn about her journey to becoming "A Conscious Greyhound." Read more here>>>
Share your summer stories with the Loyola community
The COVID19 pandemic upended many spring and summer plans but our Loyola community is resilient and resourceful. We've heard inspiring stories from those who found a way to stay engaged and active through student club activities, internships, research, volunteer opportunities, newly-discovered hobbies and more.
Dean Fowl and the office of Loyola College of Arts and Sciences are creating a video montage including virtual events and celebrations from spring (honor society inductions, graduations, etc.) as well as summer activities to share with the Loyola College advisory board and online.
We are asking students to submit very brief videos (no more than 30 – 45 seconds) in which they share a few sentences in response to the following questions:
- What did you do over the summer?
- How did you keep connected to Loyola?
- What did you learn from this experience?
Share your experience from a summer research project, an activity related to a Loyola club, an internship, or a summer class at Loyola. This should be a brief video using your phone or computer. Please be sure it is shot with clear audio and video, is well-lit and in a horizontal/landscape format. The filename should include your full name and class year.
To submit a video, upload it to Loyola’s OneDrive and share with Jen Sullivan (jlsullivan4@loyola.edu) and Dr. Roughani (broughani@loyola.edu) by Tuesday, September 8.
We look forward to learning about and sharing your story!
STUDENT & FACULTY OPPORTUNITIES
Connect with a student club this fall!
Interested in connecting with the Pre-Health community? Check out the Pre-Health Welcome Event on September 14 at 6 pm. Details below or email prehealth@loyola.edu for more info.
Fall Pop-Up Class Series
September Pop-Up Classes
- Wednesday, Sept. 9 @ 12 pm: Smartmarker - Stream your whiteboard notes live to your students as you write them with the Smartmarker!
- Wednesday, Sept. 16 @ 12 pm: Mask Making
- Wednesday, Sept. 16 @ 12:30 pm: Photography with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
- Thursday, Sept. 17 @ 12 pm: Games as a New Literacy Tool: Teaching and Learning Through Games and Virtual Reality Technology
- Wednesday, Sept. 23 @ 12 pm: Working with Fonts in Cricut Design Space
- Monday, Sept. 28 @ 12 pm: Learn the Basics of Amazon Cloud (AWS) and Explore Simple Artificial Intelligence Widgets
- Wednesday, Sept. 30 @ 12 pm: Sticker Making with Cricut Print Then Cut
- Wednesday, Sept. 30 @ 12:30 pm: Velfie Videography with Adobe Premiere Rush
Baltipreneurs Accelerator
A message from Wendy Bolger, MBA, Founding Director of Loyola's Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship:
We are thrilled to share that Loyola will be offering the Baltipreneurs Accelerator for new ventures in Baltimore, this time in a virtual format. See the video below to learn more about the program. Loyola’s announcement is here.
Applications are due September 30. You can join us in advance for an informal discussion on September 21 to ask questions about the program and the application process.
What’s special about Baltipreneurs?
- $2,000 stipend for every venture
- Both traditional and nonprofit business models welcome, all industries
- Minimum of $35,000 in total funding provided
- Differentiated instruction-we meet you where you are
- Mentorship-an experienced leader will be with you every step of the way
- Reflection & practice-iterate, fail, do it again before you are asked to present for Demo Day
- Peer learning and cooperation-learn from and grow with your peers, who will be the judges of your performance in the program
- Special access to additional advising, pro-bono consulting, library research services, photo shoot, and more from Loyola
- Preference to founders who identify as underrepresented entrepreneurs, including but not limited to women entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs of color, entrepreneurs with disabilities, or veterans
Be a leader in Baltimore’s entrepreneurial revitalization. Grow your venture. Be a Baltipreneur!
VentureWell E-Team Grant Program
VentureWell's E-Team grant program supports student science and tech startups who are on the path to launching innovations with a social, health, or environmental impact.
Why apply?
- Up to $25,000 in grant funding
- Sponsored training
- Networking and mentorship
- National exposure and recognition
Learn more here: https://venturewell.org/e-team-grant-program/
Key Dates
Stage 1 & Stage 2 application period
September 1 – October 7
Pioneer workshop
January 3 – 7, 2021
Propel workshop
January 17 – 21, 2021
Lecture - "Why Scientists Need to Talk About Religion to Address Race and Gender Disparities in Science”
In this lecture, Elaine Howard Ecklund from Rice University, along with Brandon Vaidyanathan and David R. Johnson, will discuss core findings from their study, the largest and most comprehensive international study of scientists’ attitudes toward religion, gender, and ethics ever undertaken, including a survey of 20,000 scientists and in-depth interviews with over 600 of them. They will explore ways that scientists can engage with and understand the impact of religion on society to increase racial and gender representation in science. The lecture will also include an opportunity for speakers to answer questions submitted by attendees.
The lecture will take place virtually on Monday, October 5, 2020 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (CST).
Details and registration can be found at http://bit.ly/science-religion-diversity.