College of Arts and Sciences

• Department of Communication

Internships
Graduate internships in the Department of Communication involve supervised applications of communication theory in agencies of business and government. Also undergraduates participate in supervised field placements. Contact: Teresa Harrison

• Department of Geography and Planning

National Transportation Information Systems Planning
Prof. Catherine Lawson is assisting the National Academy of Science's Transportation Research Board guide the development of intelligent transportation systems as chair of their Urban Transportation Data and Information Systems Committee. She also chairs their National Cooperative Freight Research Program Panel and is a panel member of the Hazardous Materials Cooperative Research Program. Contact: Catherine Lawson

College of Computing and Information

Junior FIRST LEGO League
Junior FIRST LEGO League (Jr.FLL) introduces children aged 6-9 to the concepts of teamwork and basic design skills, creating an interest in science and technology. The goal: provide an experience that will begin to transform youngsters and open their eyes to the possibilities of improving the world around them through thought, planning, and technology. CCI faculty and students coach Jr.FLL teams who work on an annual challenge. The completed projects are showcased at the Jr.FLL Expo, sponsored in 2008 by KeyCorp.  Contact: Jennifer Goodall

NYS Public/Private Sector Cyber Security Workgroup
Private- and public-sector executives who represent critical industry sectors -- such as telecommunications, financial and economic, utilities, public safety, health, and food -- are concerned with maintaining the continuity of critical infrastructure. The NYS Public/Private Sector Cyber Security Workgroup is examining the current state of cyber readiness of the entities within each sector, assessing vulnerabilities, and identifying mitigation strategies. Peter Bloniarz, Dean of the College of Computing and Information serves on this workgroup.  Contact: Peter Bloniarz

TechConnex /CCI Innovation Forum
In partnership with the Center for Economic Growth (CEG), the College of Computing and Information (CCI) has launched a new series of Innovation Forums, designed to highlight ways in which information technologies are making a difference in business and industry. This new series encourages people to think about ways in which IT can have a transformational and sometimes disruptive influence on their lives and their activities. It emphasizes areas that are relevant to the development of the IT industry in Tech Valley, and ones in which UAlbany and other educational institutions in the area can play a role.  Contact: Linda Bearup

NYS Council for Universal Broadband
All New Yorkers, including those in under-served rural and urban area, should be able to obtain high-speed Internet service. The New York State Council for Universal Broadband will recommend ways to extend high-speed access beyond traditional methods and to extend broadband connections throughout the state. Tim Lance, Professor of Informatics, Chairs the Broadband Network Infrastructure Access Action Team. Peter Bloniarz, Dean of the College of Computing and Information serves on the Governmental Initiatives Action Team.  Contact: Tim Lance, Peter Bloniarz

• CCI Women in Technology

Technology Leaders of Today Speaker Series
CCI's Women in Technology (CCIWIT) program reaches out to encourage girls and women to pursue undergraduate and graduate studies in fields related to computer science, informatics, and information science. Technology Leaders of Today presents women in various aspects of computing who speak about their work and experiences. Lectures are free and open to the community.  Contact: Jennifer Goodall

• Department of Computer Science

Center for Information Forensics and Assurance
It's easy to hack into your computer and use it without your knowledge to conduct malicious activity or steal your information. The Center for Information Forensics and Assurance (CIFA) focuses on training and educating citizens and public employees in information privacy, security, and assets and infrastructure protection. The Center emulates the classic teaching hospital, where real problems allow students and practitioners to hone their skills under expert guidance. A joint project of UAlbany the New York State Police and the New York State Office of Cyber Security & Critical Infrastructure Coordination, CIFA is affiliated with the Department of Computer Science. It is a co-host of the Annual New York State Cyber Security Conference. Contact: George Berg

Internships
The College of Computing and Information (CCI) partners with libraries, government, corporations and other organizations to identify internship opportunities that are mutually beneficial for our students and partners.  In addition, the Master’s degree program in Information Science requires that students hold an internship in an information organization. Interns have worked on such varied community projects as helping the Albany school district develop a “Safe Internet” curriculum for middle schoolers and creating an innovative “Skateboarding Discussion Group” that helped the Albany Public Library engage young adults in its literacy programs.  Recent placements include interns for the ISO New England, the United Nations and the State of New York. Contact: CCI Dean's Office - general inquiries; Frances Reynolds - IST inquiries.

Research to improve web-based public participation
See entry under the Institute for Informatics, Logics and Security Studies.

Social Robotics Consortium of the Capital Region
See entry under theInstitute for Informatics, Logics and Security Studies.

• Department of Informatics

GIS Internship Program
Partnership with Department of Geography and Planning. See description on the Energy and the Environment page.

Internships
See entry under the Department of Computer Science.

National Transportation Information Systems Planning
See description under the Department of Geography and Planning.

Program for Financial Market Regulation
Recent upheavals in the mortgage and financial markets have drawn attention to issues about how they are regulated. The Program in Financial Market Regulation educates students and conducts research in financial market regulation. It is a cooperative project of the financial services industry, regulatory organizations, and major law firms with the College of Computing and Information, School of Business, and Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany, and Albany Law School.  Contact: David McCaffrey

Regional Bibliographic Databases
Students and faculty from the Informatics Department conducted an evaluation of the Capital District Library Council's (CDLC) Regional Bibliographic Databases Program. In addition they facilitated a series of meetings with members of the CDLC Regional Automation Advisory Committee. The project culminated with the publication in January, 2008 of their report: “Charting the Future of CDLC's Regional Bibliographic Databases Program.” Contact: Deborah Andersen

Remote Sensing
Partnership with Department of Geography and Planning. See description on the Energy and the Environment page.

Research to improve web-based public participation
See entry under the Institute for Informatics, Logics and Security Studies.

Social Robotics Consortium of the Capital Region
See entry under theInstitute for Informatics, Logics and Security Studies.

• Department of Information Studies

Internships
See entry under the Department of Computer Science.

Management of IBM's Library
One of the largest corporations in the world, IBM maintains state-of-the-art library and information services. For the past ten years they have been managed by Professor Vincent Aceto with a staff of two professional information officers and two graduate assistants. They provide on-line database searches on the web, profiles for current awareness services, automated circulation services, and other related activities. Contact: Vincent Aceto

Web Development for K-12 Education
Since 2002, Professor Joette Stefl-Mabry and her students have collaborated with local public schools to create Web-based learning modules. The students form development teams that include teachers from Albany City School District, school librarians, and K-12 students to design, develop, deploy, and evaluate Web-based learning modules for use by K-12 students. Driven by teachers' identified curricular needs, over 30 projects have been developed covering topics such as oceanography, music, black history, and geography. Contact: Joette Stefl-Mabry

Website assessment for NYS Education Department
When people visit the New York State Education Department website <www.nysed.gov>, which contains approximately 600,000 pages, can they efficiently access the information they need and conduct the business they desire? Jenny Yuan, Professor of Information Studies, is conducting a series of usability studies to measure the quality of a user's experience when interacting with specific sections of this website. The studies will determine whether users can accomplish their respective tasks and measure the overall effectiveness of the resources available. Contact: Jenny Yuan

School of Business

Advisory Council
The School of Business Advisory Council consults corporate leaders on a variety of issues related to the School, its academic programs and students. The Council also helps improve the visibility and enhance the reputation of both the school and university in the region’s business community. Contact: Don Siegel

Capital Region Cyber Crime Partnership
As technology has been incorporated into everyday activities to make life easier, it has also been leveraged to facilitate and commit crimes. Criminal cases where a computer or other electronic device plays a pivotal role are increasing and we need to build to capacity to support the analysis of and prosecution with this electronic evidence. The Capital Region Cyber Crime Partnership is a consortium made up of eight district attorneys in the Capital Region, the New York Prosecutors Training Institute, the New York State Police and the University at Albany. It has enabled these partners to pool their expertise and resources to improve law enforcement and prosecutorial efforts related to cyber crime.  Contact: Sanjay Goel

Center for Technology in Government

The Center for Technology in Government (CTG) at the University at Albany (UAlbany) is a university-wide applied research center that works with government to develop well-informed information strategies that foster innovation and enhance the quality and coordination of public services. We carry out this mission through applied research and partnership projects that address the policy, management, and technology dimensions of information use in the public sector. CTG's research interests and expertise are focused on government problems or issues that are complex, cross-boundary, and multi-dimensional. Current thematic focus areas are inter-organizational information sharing and integration, international digital government research, digital preservation, and IT-enabled innovation and value generation in the public sector.

Since 1993, CTG has conducted applied research projects in active partnership with dozens of state and local government organizations in New York. These projects have included ground-breaking work in government use of the World Wide Web; interorganizational information sharing to support human services, public finances, and criminal justice; and exploration of new ways to connect state agencies and local governments in their joint responsibilities for services to citizens. The Center has won 17 research awards from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the US Department of Justice, the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, and the Library of Congress, among others, totaling more than $7 million.

The results of CTG research are widely known and well-respected, and the Center's unique philosophy and innovative research methods are regarded as the most effective in the world for working in the digital government domain. For more information go to: www.ctg.albany.edu.

Institute for Informatics, Logics and Security Studies

ILS is a multi-disciplinary organization conducting advanced research and Ph.D. level graduate education in various aspects of computational informatics. The Institute's mission is to increase the University at Albany's reputation and visibility as a center of excellence in information technology research and education, contributing to various University-wide initiatives such as bio-informatics, information science, information assurance and security. Through collaboration with key members of academia, government, and industry, the Institute is working to develop educational programs, advance pioneering research, create innovative technologies, transfer valuable knowledge and expertise, and foster an environment of cooperation and trust among its partners. The Institute is sponsoring a computational informatics seminar series, and serves as a host for visitors from industry, academia, and research-sponsoring government agencies. Contact: Lynne Casper

Research to improve web-based public participation
Citizens who comment on proposed government regulations should be able benefit from each other’s comments, and have their comments understood by the public servants who proposed those regulations. While the Internet has made it easier to provide and collect comments, their increased volume has made it harder to find related comments and synthesize what they mean. With their grant from the National Science Foundation, Nick Webb and Jennifer Stromer-Galley are developing methods to improve web-based public participation. This is a partnership among the Departments of Computer Science and Informatics, and the Institute for Informatics, Logics, and Security Studies.  Contact: Nick Webb, Jennifer Stromer-Galley

Social Robotics Consortium of the Capital Region
The demand for computer scientists is outstripping the supply. To build student interest, this consortium uses Social Robotics as a platform to deliver computer science education. Students utilize robots as a platform to learn key computer science concepts, begin to program, and learn about both hardware and software and the interplay between the two as part of a multi-school effort to deliver a unique educational experience for the Capital Region. This National Science Foundation award brings together researchers and educators from UAlbany's ILS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Schenectady County Community College, Union College and the Schenectady Museum and Suits-Bueche Planetarium. This is a partnership among the Departments of Computer Science and Informatics, and the Institute for Informatics, Logics, and Security Studies.  Contact: Nick Webb

Office of Technology Development

The Office of Technology Development (OTD) is responsible for campus intellectual property issues. The OTD works with campus faculty, staff, and students to identify, protect, and license intellectual property (such as inventions and original works of authorship) that has potential for commercial application or broader use outside the university. The OTD also helps to ensure equity and clarity of roles and responsibilities in relationships with companies and other external organizations. The OTD is particularly interested in working with companies who can develop new technology emerging from U Albany research to grow their businesses in New York State. The OTD negotiates Confidential Disclosure Agreements, Material Transfer Agreements, Option Agreements, License Agreements and other agreements related to intellectual property. Contact: Theresa Walker

University Libraries

UAlbany's libraries are among the top 100 research libraries in the country. They include the Science Library, Thomas E. Dewey Graduate Library for Public Affairs and Policy on the Rockefeller College campus and the University Library. The libraries serve as a major community resource. Any member of the general public may visit the University libraries on both the uptown and downtown campuses and, on site, use any of the 2 million volumes of books and periodicals, the 450,000 item U.S. Government Document collection, the 2.7 million microforms, and thousands of interactive media, CDs, maps and charts, electronic databases and online journals. Community users have access to UAlbany's online catalog, information literacy tutorials and guides, and a structured subject approach to web sites. The web reference site connects users to many open-access, full-text sites which are available from remote locations. Contact: Frank D'Andraia

Borrowing privileges
Borrowing privileges are provided to University at Albany students, faculty, staff, and alumni, students and staff from all SUNY institutions and other academic institutions in the Capital District, and New York State Employees. Others may purchase an unaffiliated user card. Contact: Kabel Stanwicks

Capital District Library Council
The Council is a multi-library consortium that strives to improve information access and library services for residents of a ten-county service area in Northeastern New York. It does so by providing a forum for library interests, encouraging collaboration among member libraries and library systems, and using new technologies to enhance library service in the region. All of the University's libraries are members of the Council. The University's participation in this consortium allows its libraries to offer a level of services to the Capital District that would normally be restricted to the University community. Interlibrary Loan allows borrowers to request materials through their local libraries. Contact: Suzanne Turner

Education
During the 2006-2007 school year, librarians welcomed approximately 150 students from 9 different high schools. These students received library tours, instruction, and access to library materials. Many of them were participants in Albany High School's International Baccalaureate Program, an advanced diploma program. Contact: Greg Bobish