Vid/Terp Winners

Winners of the University of Maryland 2008 Vid/Terp student video competition have been announced. Students created three-minute videos to show their research, academics, activities and creativity. Topics ranged from robotic aircraft to an alternative spring break trip, to a fictional day in the life of a student.

The competition was supported by Apple, and by www.doflick.com and research.usa.org, video Websites started and operated by University of Maryland former and current graduate students.

A panel of judges chose the winning videos in three categories: Science/Engineering/Technology, Student Life, and Arts/Humanities/Society. Judges were Mike Goldfein, science reporter, Belo Productions; Emilie Lorditch, producer, Discoveries and Breakthroughs in Science ; Kent Norman, associate professor, department of psychology; Ming Leong, producer, WJLA, ABC News 7; Lisa Tropea, manager, Hoff Theater; Joe Williams, Undergraduate Admissions; students at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Greenbelt .

Vid/Terp Winners
Click on the photo or title to see the video on doflick.com or researchusa.org (Rate the videos yourself on researchusa.org.)

Science/Engineering/Technology

1st place Research in the Autonomous Vehicle Lab
Aerospace engineering graduate students Joe Conroy and Andrew Hyslop explain how flying robots imitate insects. Faculty advisors Darryl Pines, Sean Humbert

2nd place Team FastR
A Gemstone team demonstrates their project to instantly update the campus map for people in wheelchairs. Caitlin Hickey, Jake Cigna, Jessie Holzberger, Laura Slivins, Bryan Haver, Siwei Kwok, Emily Ryan, Jeff James, Pratik Dave, James Czisny, Megan Kuhn, faculty advisor Jim Purtilo

Runner Up My Passion for Cancer Research
Inspired by her uncle's death from cancer, an undergraduate already has begun her career in cancer research. Victoria Seng, cell biology & molecular genetics, Osirelis Sanchez, physiology and neurobiology

Honorable Mention

Introduction to Plasma
Great visuals and a clear explanation of the fourth state of matter. Michael Sweatt, Bobby Bruce, materials science engineering, faculty mentor Gottlieb Oehrlein

Fire Protection Engineering: Understanding Fire Phenomena
Why things burn, with super video of flame. Haiwen Ding, Jeff Keslin, fire protection engineering, faculty advisor James Quintiere

Cell Mechanics
What you should know about cells, with some original animation. Ed Dechaumphai, mechanical engineering, Jonathan Chung, bioengineering, faculty mentor Teng Li

Arts/Humanities/Society

1st Place Community Roots
Students and kids in the University of Maryland's Community Roots outreach program, in an inspiring video about their work. Daniel Lewkowicz, history, Kyla-Lauren Pitts, environmental science and policy

2nd Place  Alternative Spring Break
Instead of hitting the beach on spring break, undergraduates learn about the Chesapeake Bay watershed, from Tangier Island to Hyattsville. Christian Melendez, linguistics

Student Life

1st Place Life as a Terp, with Hugo Minera
A fictional - and humorous - day in the life of undergraduate Hugo Minera, who hasn't quite mastered his magic or musical skills. Edward Fanning, studio arts

2nd Place Campus Tour
Only on video can you move this fast around campus. Daniel Ottalini, education, Matt Wolfrom, letters, arts and sciences, Todd Mathers, studio arts

Runner Up Acting
Computer science major Purvish Bhatt shows that even as a technical major, he can have fun acting on campus.