The Maryland Autonomous Technologies Research Innovation and eXploration (MATRIX) Lab hosted part of a Congressional visit to Southern Maryland by U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer and Sarah Elfreth. On May 19, the members of Congress, plus U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks, toured the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, the USMSM SMART Building, and the MATRIX Lab at the University of Maryland (UMD) to learn about how different sectors collaborate to teach students in-demand skills, strengthening the region’s workforce and its economy.

“I am proud of our outstanding federal and state representatives for all they do to provide access and opportunities for our students across the state of Maryland,” said Reza Ghodssi, Distinguished University Professor of Engineering at UMD, a member of the UMD Center of Excellence in Microbiome Sciences, and the Executive Director of Research and Innovation at the MATRIX Lab. “Education and research are always the backbones of what makes the U.S. the world’s leader in science and technology. Thank you to Senator Van Hollen, Representative Steny Hoyer, and Representative Sarah Elfreth for touring the MATRIX Lab during their visit to Southern Maryland and meeting our students and researchers.”

Speakers represented USMSM, the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance (SMNA), St. Mary’s County Economic Development, the Patuxent Partnership, UMD, and the College of Southern Maryland (CSM).

These organizations and many more work together to promote STEM education through field trips, camps, and other activities and give students the hands-on experience they need to succeed through apprenticeships and internships. The organizations also strengthen the technical workforce through promoting educational and professional pathways and creating lifelong learning and development opportunities. When all of these sectors are in constant communication, they empower the community with in-demand skills that real-world employers are looking for.

After the briefings, the members of Congress toured the lab spaces and were able to meet and speak with the researchers and students using the building’s state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge equipment.

“The UMD MATRIX Lab is a national leader in research and innovation and an important driver of economic growth and workforce development across Southern Maryland,” said Senator Van Hollen from Maryland’s 8th District. “Seeing their work firsthand and hearing from students and researchers about its impact is not only inspiring, but also highlights the power of partnership in the region between academic institutions, the military, and across the public and private sectors. I’ll continue working to support the critical work being done by UMD and its partners.”

Representative Hoyer of Maryland’s 5th District appreciated the collaboration across sectors that he witnessed on the tour.

“Ensuring Maryland and America stay competitive in the 21st-century global economy requires encouraging academia, government, and the private sector to collaborate together more closely than ever before. I was pleased to see that cooperation at work in Southern Maryland,” he said. “The researchers and innovators at the UMD MATRIX Lab and its partner institutions are helping our state and country get ahead, which is why I will continue to do everything I can to support their vital work.”

Representative Elfreth of Maryland’s 3rd District was impressed at the innovative research coming out of Ghodssi’s lab.

“The innovation at the UMD MATRIX Lab is second to none,” she said. “Senator Van Hollen, Congressman Hoyer, and I had the opportunity to meet with their scientists and learn more about their groundbreaking research on ingestible capsules, autonomous aerial refueling, underwater systems, and more. In Congress, Team Maryland will continue to advocate for university research funding to keep our state at the forefront of research and innovation.”

—Story by A. James Clark School of Engineering