Director's Message to UMIACS April 2026

UMIACS was founded more than 40 years ago as an interdisciplinary research powerhouse. While we continue to uphold that standard, our efforts have expanded to include activities that educate and empower broader communities.

One example is this month’s feature story highlighting outreach by the NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute for Robust Quantum Simulation (RQS). Educators and students affiliated with RQS have developed a hands-on activity kit for middle and high school students. Using simple optical components, the kit introduces concepts such as superposition and measurement through interactive experiments with polarized light. The project connects abstract quantum ideas to everyday experiences and provides educators with tools to introduce students to career pathways in a rapidly growing field.

UMIACS researchers are also involved in outreach through the Institute for Trustworthy AI in Law & Society, helping to coordinate the TRAILS AI Camp. This program brings together rising 10th-, 11th-, and 12th-grade students to explore what trust in artificial intelligence means from both social and technical perspectives.

These are just two examples. Over the past decade, many such efforts have connected our scientific expertise with local communities, helping others build knowledge and engage more deeply with science.

We are also pleased to share several recent recognitions of UMIACS-affiliated faculty. Ian Spielman, a senior investigator with RQS, was named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for his work using ultracold atoms to study topics including synthetic magnetic and gauge fields, topological band structures, and cosmological expansion.

In addition, the College of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences (CMNS)—the administrative home for UMIACS—honored four individuals with institute ties. Tom Goldstein received the CMNS Board of Visitors Distinguished Faculty Award. Maria Molina received the CMNS Board of Visitors Junior Faculty Award. Haizhao Yang was recognized with the Thelma M. Williams Adviser of the Year Award. And Myungin Lee, active in the Immersive Media Design program that UMIACS helps support, received the CMNS Board of Visitors Creative Educator Award.

Congratulations to all who received these honors. I look forward to sharing more updates next month.

Best,
Andrew Childs
Interim Director, UMIACS