Astrophysics
UMBC hosts the Center for Space Science & Technology (CSST). CSST is the administrative unit for UMBC’s participation in the CRESST (Center for Research and Exploration in Space Science & Technology) consortium, in which the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) and the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) are UMBC’s partners. CRESST is a cooperative agreement between the three partner institutions and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) 25 miles south of the UMBC campus in Greenbelt, Maryland. The CRESST consortium currently has over 55 PhD astronomers and astrophysicists working within the Astrophysics Science Division at GSFC.
CSST was formed in 2006 and currently has over 20 UMBC research faculty. The research conducted by the members of CSST focuses on (i) Astrophysical Data Reduction, Interpretation & Archiving, (ii) Space Science Technology: Development & Calibration, and (iii) Theoretical Astrophysics: Simulations & Software.
Atmospheric Physics
UMBC hosts the Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology (JCET). This center is a cooperative agreement with the Earth Sciences Division of NASA/GSFC.
JCET was formed in 1995 and currently has over 50 research faculty, some of which are affiliated with the physics department. The research conducted by members of JCET focuses on (i) Atmospheric radiation, (ii) Atmospheric observations, (iii) Clouds & precipitation and (iv) Interdisciplinary atmospheric studies.