About Mathletics

Mathletics is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and designed to immerse middle grades youth (current 6th, 7th, & 8th graders) in the rapidly growing world of sports data analytics and build their knowledge of statistical concepts and the data science process. The program is particularly focused on engaging African American and Latinx youth, in an effort to deepen their STEM knowledge and introduce them to STEM fields. The 2024 Mathletics program will run only for the summer, July 8 through July 26.

The program is hosted by the Coppin State University Mathematics and Computer Science department.

Activities are led by Coppin faculty, local math teachers (high-school or college level) and Coppin undergraduate students majoring in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) field. Students not only learn practical skills, such as how to collect data and perform statistical analysis of the data but also engage in an end-of-camp, personal statistics project in a field of interest to them. The program exposes students to campus recreational activities, athletic coaches, and data collection and its use in decision making by sports teams.

Program Activities

• Mini sports combine and other informal sports activities for students where they engage in various sporting events, followed by performing statistical measurements on their times and measurements compared to other Mathletes
• Field trip to Washington Mystics basketball game where students collect statistical measurements of professional basketball players, followed by comparison of their measurements to those taken by the professional statisticians of the teams playing
• Recreation time at various local recreational facilities
• Trip to University of Maryland, College Park basketball arena Xfinity Center
• Interactions and presentations from athletic coaches on the importance and use of mathematics in athletics and coaching
• Gather and analyze survey data from Coppin students on campus

Apply to Mathletics

Applications now closed

Mathletics is open to students currently in grades 6, 7, or 8. The application is required and there is a $25 refundable registration cost to participate. The fee is due immediately after the student is accepted to the program.

Apply to Mathletics (Application Closed)

2024-2025 Cohort Dates

The Laboratory for Environmental Contaminants (LEC) conducts research to advance knowledge in Monitoring and characterizing contaminants to fully understand their health impacts. Our research involves occurrence, fate, and transport of contaminants of emerging concern. We use socio-environmental synthesis approach and advanced analytical methods to study complex dimensions of water quality, social health, and air quality issues. Through our research we enhance academic programs and foster citizen education in such areas as contaminant science, environmental sustainability, and urban ecology.

Lab activities focus on research and education related to environmental contaminants including, but not limited to, the following areas:

• Monitoring concentration of contaminants in the soil and water systems
• Conducting laboratory and field studies on the fate of toxic substances in the environment and develop innovative technologies for the remediation of contaminated environments
• Foster relationships and ensure the exchange of data and information with local government agencies, institutions and neighboring community
• Advocate for citizen education on environmental health issues

Researchers

Lead Investigator

Mintesinot Jiru, Ph.D.

Mintesinot Jiru holds a PhD in Applied Biological Sciences from Gent University and is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Natural Sciences at Coppin State University. He has over 20 years of teaching and research experience in areas of climate change and environmental systems. Dr. Jiru has done extensive work on land degradation, food security, and water management issues in Africa. Dr. Jiru’s research focuses on understanding the socio-environmental and biophysical issues encompassing water quality in Baltimore’s watersheds. Currently he is leading a research program on emerging environmental contaminants with a focus on microplastics, toxic heavy metals and pharmaceuticals (mainly estrogen in water). Dr. Jiru serves as the chief editor for the American Journal of Experimental Agriculture. He also serves as a member of the External Advisory Board for the National Socio-environmental Synthesis Center. Dr. Jiru served on various panels and task forces including Maryland governor’s task force to develop a proposal for graduate programs in alternative energy in historically black colleges and universities in Maryland.

Current Student Researchers

Annalyse Belton

Annalyse Belton is an undergraduate student at Coppin State University, majoring in Biology and Life Science with a Pre-Medical concentration and minoring in Chemistry. She aspires to become a medical physician specializing in oncology; however, her goal does not stop at patient care but extends to research into cancer health disparities. Her career journey has drawn her to the Lab for Environmental Contaminants as a student researcher. Annalyse’s research entails quantifying estrogen levels in Baltimore’s watersheds and correlating its effects on fish and the ecosystem as a whole. She has set her heart on making an impact in the world around her and always looks for new insight.

Muyang Chunga

Muyang Chunga is a Biology & Life Sciences Major with a Pre-Physician's Assistant concentration and a Chemistry Minor. Originally on a Bio-Medical track, she has fully immersed herself in her deep-founded love for Biosciences, since she began to work with Dr. Jiru as a student-researcher in the Laboratory of Environmental Contaminants. That is along with the opportunity to participate on an airborne and oceanographic research with NASA researchers as a member of the inaugural Student Airborne Science Activation cohort. Muyang is working towards pursuing a career as a researcher in Environmental and Chemical Science.

Tochi Iwuji

Hello! My name is Tochi Iwuji and I am a Biology and Life Sciences major with a concentration in Pre-Medicine and minor in Chemistry. My future aspirations in life involve becoming and obstetrician gynecologist, while gaining as much laboratory experience as I can and broadening my skills along the way. In the Laboratory for Environmental Contaminants, my research involves characterizing and analyzing phosphate and nitrate concentrations in various Baltimore watersheds. I also plan to conduct methods for the neutralization of these contaminants in water, and showcase their environmental impact.

• Nijah White (B.S. in Biology)
• Brenasia Lynn (Graduating senior - Biology)
• Ta’Shana Maddox (Graduating senior – Biology)

Recent Publications

• Vester M, Sobhi HF, Jiru M (2018) Disinfection Byproducts in Chlorinated Drinking Water. Int J Water Wastewater Treat 4(2): dx.doi. org/10.16966/2381-5299.156
• Richard Schulterbrandt Gragg, Aavudai Anandhi, Mintesinot Jiru and Kareem M. Usher. A Conceptualization of the Urban Food-Energy-Water Nexus Sustainability Paradigm: Modeling From Theory to Practice. Frontiers in Environmental Science. 6:133, 2018
• William Ghann, Tyler Harris, Daiyaan Kabir, Hyeonggon Kang, Mintesinot Jiru, Mohammed M Rahman, Meser M Ali and Jamal Uddin. Lipoic Acid Decorated Gold Nanoparticles and Their Application in the Detection of Lead Ions. Journal of Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology. Volume 10, Issue 6, 2019
• Aaliyah McCullough, Jasmynn George & Mintesinot Jiru. Detection and Quantitation of Estrogen in Watersheds. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 8, Issue 7, July 2018
• Mintesinot Jiru. Coal-fired Power Plants and Their Impact on Ecosystems Health. Physical Science International Journal, ISSN: 2348-0130, Vol.: 16, Issue: 4, 2018
• Jiru, M. North-Kabore, J. Roth, T. Studying Water Quality Using Socio-Environmental Synthesis Approach: A Case Study in Baltimore’s Watershed. Hydrology. Vol 4, 32, 2017,
• Mintesinot Jiru. Understanding Causes of Reservoir Water Quality Deterioration Using Socio-environmental Synthesis Approach Teaching Issues and Experiments in Ecology, Vol. 12, 2017
• Herald T. Douglas, Raymond L. Petersen, Mintesinot Jiru and Tatiana Roth. The role of dipteran larvae in controlling Euglena concentrations in the pitchers of Sarracenia purpurea L. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications. Vol 6, 2016.
• Amadi, L., Jenny, S.S., Ahmed, A., Brown, N., Yadav, S., Brown, D., Ghann, W., Gayrama, A., Jiru, M. and Uddin, J. Creation of Natural Dye Sensitized Solar Cell by Using Nanostructured Titanium Oxide. Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, 3, 25-35, 2015
• Jiru, Mintesinot. and Van Ranst, E. Increasing water productivity on Vertisols: implications for environmental sustainability. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 90 (13) 2276–2281. 2010

The Freshman English Composition (FEC) Program is guided by a commitment to assisting learners of all levels and backgrounds advance their core competencies in three primary areas: Composition and Organizational Skills, Rhetorical Modes of Discourse, and foundations of Standard English Grammar.

Our program is dedicated to helping students understand writing as a process and focuses on the continual revision of written work. Students produce multiple drafts for each project and develop the ability to critique their own writing as they learn to critique the work of others.

We encourage students to explore various topics and perspectives to develop their writing skills and to communicate effectively in a wide variety of modes and environments. Students read and evaluate texts that are culturally diverse and relevant to contemporary problems facing urban and global populations in order to gain insights into the complex nature of ideas and issues. Our students learn to evaluate arguments and narratives, analyze claims and methods, scrutinize reasoning, and draw their own well-informed conclusions.

The Freshman English Composition Program requires a two-semester sequence for first-year students. The first semester (ENGL 101: Freshman Composition I) focuses on the principles and practices of effective reading and writing, with individualized attention to the fundamentals of Standard English Grammar, compositional and organizational skills, and the creation of a portfolio illustrating mastery of several rhetorical modes of discourse. The second semester (ENGL 102: Freshman Composition II) continues to build on these skills and emphasizes the use of research for effective arguments.