
The Synapse
Updates from the Sciences at Loyola University Maryland
August 2023| Issue 58
The August edition of the Synapse includes news and stories about a new degree program, faculty achievement, a student essay, and the 2023 Hauber research results presented by our Bright Stars known as Hauber Fellows during a month that we observed a rare Super Blue Moon.
Moonlight drowns out all but the brightest stars.
- J. R. R. Tolkien
Share your news, photos, inspiring stories, and upcoming events for a future issue. Please send any feature suggestions to Hizbullah Baryal at hbaryal@loyola.edu
Plans for offering a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in partnership with Mercy Medical Center
In a message from President Sawyer the campus community was informed that today (Tuesday, August 15), Loyola is formally submitting a request to the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) to recommend the offering of a new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. This new program will be in partnership with Mercy Medical Center. Mercy will provide clinical placements at Mercy’s downtown Baltimore campus, in addition to other resources and support. President Sawyer's message also indicates "This would help address Maryland’s ongoing nursing workforce shortage and provide a mission-focused, transformative educational option for students interested in health careers." Read more about the plans for a new BSN program through the link to the press release.
Establishing the new BSN program could not be accomplished without having flourishing and relevant existing programs offered by the Natural and Applied Sciences division, including biology, chemistry, biochemistry, forensic studies, and pre-health sequences. Dr. Maiju Lehmijoki Wetzel, Director of the Pre-Health Programs, and Department of Biology have been providing highly valuable support for the curricular planning and establishment of the new Nursing program. The Department of Biology plays a crucial role in fostering the growth of Nursing and it will effectively be an incubator for the expansion of the program in the foreseeable future. The thriving Natural and Applied Sciences (NAS) division is proud to provide the technical and scientific support required for nurturing the future growth of the health sciences at Loyola University Maryland.
Professor Prince Chidyagwai; the recipient of the AMS-Simons Research Grant
Dr. Prince Chidyagwai, Associate Professor of Mathematics and Statistics, received research funding under the "AMS-Simons Research Enhancement Grants for Primarily Undergraduate Institution Faculty" program. The funds will support Professor Chidyagwai's scholarly work on a project with the title "Multirate numerical schemes for coupled Multiphysics problems". The work will involve the development, numerical analysis, and implementation of numerical algorithms for solving coupled systems of partial differential equations that describe the interaction between a free-flowing fluid and porous media flow. The grant will provide $3000 per year for 3 years to support research-related expenses.
For more information about the grant, click on AMS-Simons PUI Faculty Grants
Once in a Super Blue Moon
August 2023 can be described as an exceptional show by the Moon. We started the month by the sturgeon supermoon on Tuesday, August 1, and we will end the month with a rare blue supermoon on August 30. A supermoon happens when the moon is full during the closest point in its orbit around Earth. This leads to an extra pop by the Moon, making it look up to 8% bigger and 16% brighter than a typical full moon, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac. The term "supermoon" references the moon's orbit in relation to Earth, while a blue moon is referring to the appearance of a second full moon in a single calendar month. "Once in a blue moon" is used to describe a rare but nonetheless recurring event of having two full moons in one calendar month. A blue supermoon, however, is even more rare than the so-called "once in a blue moon" and it happens far less frequently. The last blue supermoon was in December 2009, and the next one following the August 30 of this year will happen in August 2032.
About the Essay by Choudhury Sarkar-Dey Medal Recipients
The Choudhury Sarkar-Dey Medal is presented to an outstanding senior student graduating with a degree in the Natural or Applied Sciences for academic excellence and outstanding efforts in supporting diversity and community service. This medal was established in 2019 by the Sarkar-Dey family in honor of Dr. Dipa Sarkar-Dey, professor emerita of mathematics, as the first division medal at Loyola University Maryland. This year for the first time two graduating seniors received the medal. The selection was based on the students' resume and an essay addressing reflecting on their Loyola experience, with an emphasis on their efforts related to diversity and community service as specified in the following selection criteria: (a) Co-curricular activities, including research, (b) On-campus service/engagement, (c) Off-campus service/engagement, and (d) Engaged in diversity-related activities. The first two essays were published last month, and the remaining two essays will be published in the July and August issues of the Synapse.
Essay by Choudhury Sarkar-Dey Medal Finalist
Hannah Mannering selected as the Choudhury Sarkar-Dey medal finalist for 2023. We have already published the essays of four finalists during last couple of months and in August issue we like to share with you the last, but not least essay of 2023 written by our medal finalist Hannah Mannering.
Click here to read more about Hannah Mannering essay for this month.
Completion of 2023 Hauber Research Fellowship Program
The culmination of the 2023 Hauber Research Fellowship Program marked a resounding success as fellows showcased their outstanding research outcomes in an array of captivating presentations. With months of dedicated inquiry and exploration, these talented scholars illuminated new dimensions in their respective fields. Their presentations were a testament to the program's commitment to fostering the intellectual growth of Hauber Fellows and supporting their pursuit of academic excellence. The diverse range of topics, from cutting-edge advancements in biotechnology to insightful analyses of technical advancements and scientific achievements, underscored the program's multidisciplinary approach. As the applause echoed through the auditorium, it was evident that the 2023 Hauber Research Fellowship Program had not only enriched the fellows' intellectual pursuits but had also contributed significantly to the advancement of knowledge and the broader academic community. This year's Hauber fellows were supported by the generous support of our industrial partners; Whiting-Turner, W.R. Grace, Emergent BioSolutions, and BoMark, in addition to federal grants through NSF and NIH, and the endowed Hauber Summer Research program.
Student Opportunity: WEGE Prize Competition
Program highlights are as follows:
- Open to all full-time college/university students around the world, at all degree levels.
- Phase 1 (Application): Students independently form teams of 5 and apply with a basic research plan that identifies a wicked problem and proposes a circular design solution.
- Phase 2: Accepted teams refine their ideas and submit a full project summary, which is then reviewed by our panel of core judges: seasoned professionals in the fields of biodesign and materials, the circular economy, sustainable business, and more.
- All submissions will receive valuable feedback on their project summaries, regardless if they move forward in the competition!
- Phase 3: After receiving feedback from the judges, the pool is narrowed down to a set of semifinalist teams who will then continue to work on their project summary.
- Phase 4: Selected finalist teams present their project/ideas to a live audience in May (travel is reimbursed up to $3k) and compete for a portion of a $65k cash prize pool. Award funds can be used at the individual team members' discretion.
Visit www.wegeprize.org to learn more or send an email to Martha Stackhouse wicked@wegeprize.org with questions!
Additionally, you may join one of the informational webinars about this using one of the following links:
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