In today’s Industry Roundup we take a look at performance reviews and a new trend showing a shift away from them. We also look at helpful workplace tips for those with ADHD, ways to tap into opportunity, and the next big tech platform.

UMBC and NASA research scientist, Amy Lien, helped solve the mystery of an unusual flash in space that had astronomers and astrophysicists scratching their heads. Her team discovered the flash to be a monster black hole shredding a passing star. In today’s Industry Roundup, we share other fascinating NASA news about a recent discovery revealed through satellite imagery showing the first newly formed island to survive in the satellite era. We also take a look at organizing our digital lives, the difference between data lakes and warehouses, and the three worst computer viruses of all time.

UMBC’s Cybersecurity Graduate Program’s Dr. Terry Thompson recently wrote an in-depth article about Russian disinformation, half-truths, fabrications, and misleading posts made by the Russian government during the 2016 presidential election. In this week’s Industry Roundup, we take a look at new comprehensive reports that the U.S. congress will discuss in regards to this disinformation and what we can learn from The Baltic Nations’ way of dealing with such issues. We will also take a look at a new bio-pharmaceutical company in Montgomery County, SpaceX and its latest venture into space, as well as a comprehensive reading list for data scientists.

When it comes to finding the best program fit, you have plenty of choices with UMBC’s Professional Programs. Before we dive into these choices, consider something for a moment. Did you know that having a Master’s degree can earn you a higher salary than without? In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics states that those holding a master’s degree on average have a higher salary than those with a bachelor’s. On top of that, a master’s degree salary over the course of a lifetime may produce $400,000 more than the lifetime salary of someone with only a bachelor’s.

GIS permeates those parts of our lives that are often overlooked by the general population, and this is just one of the many aspects that UMBC’s GIS graduate program addresses in its instruction.

In this week’s Industry Roundup, we take a look at how Canada is working to create accessible maps for the deaf and hearing impaired communities by adding sign language to them. We also take a look at the impact of data recording blockchains, 3 women pioneers in bio being honored for their contributions, and a controversial concept in AI – manufacturing artificial people.

The data science world is complex, engaging, and always changing. Almost every industry sector is looking for new hires with data science skills. That includes industries like finance and insurance, manufacturing, public administration, healthcare, transportation, trade and more. The opportunities are vast, and graduate faculty member, Patty Stanton understands this and is excited to be part of her students' journey to a rewarding career in the data science industry. We sat down and talked with her about her career path and what led her to UMBC. We also talked about the unique benefits of UMBC's Data Science graduate program.