Achievement motivation, the scholarship of teaching and learning, mentorship models for undergraduate and graduate students, and professional support of all students, with special emphasis for those from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM and beyond

Dr. Abts received his Bachelor’s of Science in 1973 from Brown University. In 1982, he graduated with his Doctorate in Engineering from Brown University. As a graduate student he co-founded with his thesis advisors Micro Pure Systems® in 1978 which was acquired by The Rexnord Corporation in 1984. In 1988 he founded the Johns Hopkins University Venture Capital company, TRIAD® Investors. In 1992, he helped to found FutureHealth® Corporation, a patient risk-management company, which was acquired by Nationwide Insurance in 2006. In 2000, he returned to Johns Hopkins as the Executive Director of the NSF Engineering Research Center for Computer Integrated Surgery. Since 2005, Dr. Abts has worked with others on a national grassroots effort to develop an AP® for Engineering Design. Dr. Abts has served on the Steering Advisory Committee to the Congressional STEM Caucus since 2004. In 2007, Dr. Abts joined the University of Maryland (UMD) at College Park faculty where he has a joint appointment as a Research Associate Professor in the A. James Clark School of Engineering and the College of Education. Dr. Abts has received funding from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, Department of Energy and the Kern Family Foundation concentrating his research efforts on a potential Advance Placement in Engineering and the transition through college readiness for the high school to college transition. Dr. Abts is currently developing a web-based application for design, MyDesign® through funding provided by NSF and UMD.

SELECTED INVITED PRESENTATIONS:

Abts, L. “Energy 101 by Design: Designing a Sustainable World and Designing Quantitative

Solutions for Energy,” Department of Energy Webinar, June 26, 2014.

Abts, L. “A hybrid Model for blended, online Mathematics, Science and Engineering Instruction and

Assessment based on Design,” AERA Presidential Session: New Ways to Evaluate Mathematics and

Science Education, Philadelphia, PA, April 5th, 2014.

Abts, L. “Demystifying and Applying the Design Process to Impact Curriculum, Instruction and

Assessment,” Advance Distributed Learning Initiative National Meeting, March 13, 2014.

Abts, L. Ball, E. and Reshetar, R. “Portfolio and Rubrics for Assessing STEM Learning,” presented at

the AP Annual Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, July, 2013.

Abts, L., “Harnessing the Power of Engineering to Improve STEM Education in K – 12 Schools,”

Congressional Briefing, hosted by ASME and Discover Magazine, Rayburn Building, Congressional

Office Building, Washington, D.C., June 12, 2013.

Abts, L. “Designing a Sustainable World: A new I-course,” Engineering Sustainability Workshop,

University of Maryland, April 22, 2013.

Abts, L. “Designing a Sustainable World,” Department of Energy, Energy 101 Webinar, April 10,

2013.

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Abts, L. and Reshetar, R. “Development of a Portfolio Assessment System for a Potential AP for

Engineering Design,” Association of Testing Professionals Innovation in Testing, Ft. Lauderdale,

Florida, February, 2013.

Abts, L. “A Soft Systems Approach to Complex Educational Enterprise Problems – Educational

Engineering,” Presentation Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate, October 3, 2012

Abts, Leigh, Goldberg, Gail, and Miller, M. “AP Engineering Design.” Working meeting at College

Board, Newtown, PA, July 24, 2012.

Groves, J., Reshetar, R. Schroll, M, and Abts, L., “The Development and Implementation of a

Potential AP for Engineering Design Using a Rubric-Based e-portfolio,” UTeachEngineering,

University of Texas at Austin, July 28, 2012.

Groves, J., Reshetar, R. Schroll, M, and Abts, L., “The Development and Implementation of a

Potential AP for Engineering Design Using a Rubric-Based e-portfolio,” Engineering Deans Annual

Meeting, Birds of a Feather Session Kauai, Hawaii, April 16, 2012.

Groves, J., Reshetar, R. Schroll, M, and Abts, L., “The Development and Implementation of a

Potential AP for Engineering Design Using a Rubric-Based e-portfolio,” Engineering Deans Annual

Meeting, Main Plenary Session, Hawaii, April 16, 2012.

Abts, L. Analysis of the Barriers, Constraints, and Issues for Dual Credit and /or Advanced

Placement® Pathway for Introduction to Engineering / Design,” University of Virginia Workshop,

Charlottesville, Virginia, December 1, 2011.

Abts, L. “Scientific Reasoning and the Design Process,” Harford Community College Faculty,

Harford, Maryland, October 28, 2011.

“The Critical ‘Vowel’ in STEM Pipeline,” A. James Clark School of Engineering Dean’s Advisory

Council, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, August, 19, 2010.

“Engineering Studies: Preparation for AP® Mathematics and Science – Bridge between Scientific

Reasoning and the Design Process,” Tennessee Technology Teacher Institute, TN, July 17, 2008.

“STEM Literacy: Pathways to Education, Workforce and Innovation,” Oak Ridge Associated

Universities, Oak Ridge, TN, March 5, 2008.

“STEM Literacy: Pathways to Innovation,” Woodrow Wilson Foundation Early College Convening,

Princeton, NJ, February 7, 2008.

“Scientific Reasoning and the Design Process: Pathways to Innovation and Invention,” Lemelson

Foundation, Portland, OR, October 24, 2007.

“What is STEM Education,” University of Maryland Leadership Meeting, College Park, MD,

October 12, 2007.

“A Framework to Learn and Teach Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) as a

Metadiscipline,” American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), August 3, 2007.

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“Secondary School and Beyond – Inspiring all Students,” Third Annual Partners for Rigor through

Relevancy Conference, Montgomery County District Headquarters, April 21, 2007.

“SEEK – 16 Pre-AP Workshop,” University of Maryland, April 18, 2007.

“Advance Placement Research Project,” Engineering Founders Society, Washington, DC, February

20, 2007.

“Advance Placement in Engineering Research Results,” The College Board, New York, New York,

December 22, 2006.

“Advance Placement in Engineering Research Project,” American Society of Chemical Engineers,

December 12, 2006.

“Advance Placement in Engineering Overview,” Carnegie Mellon University, November 9, 2006.

“Advance Placement in Engineering Expert Interviews,” Carnegie Mellon University, November 9,

2006.

“Trans-disciplinary Collaborations and Partnerships: Making the Whole Greater than the Sum of the

Parts,” Training Institute on Climate and Health in the Americas – Interdisciplinary Team Formation

and Partnerships, Kingston, Jamaica, November 11, 2005.

“O’Where, O’Where have all the Engineers Gone?” Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering

Alumni Meeting, Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 24, 2005.

“The Art of Collaboration: Making the Whole Greater than the Sum of the Parts,” Center for

Computer-Integrated Surgical Systems and Technology Engineering Research Center, Johns Hopkins

University, June 8, 2005.

“Bridging Education, Engineering, Research and Diversity Across Disciplines,” Keynote Address,

Maryland Technology Education Annual Meeting, Columbia, MD October 14, 2004.

“Bringing Education, Engineering, Research and Diversity Across K to G,” National Science

Foundation Engineering Directorate, August 2, 2004.

“REUTINA: Linking Engineering, Information Technology and Healthcare through a Research

Experience,” American Indian Higher Education Consortium, March 2003.

“REUTINA: Linking Diabetes Education and Research through Engineering,” National Tribal

College Meeting, December 2002.

POSTER SESSION

Yang, M. Abts, L., Goldberg, G., Schroll, M., Miller, M. “Increasing the Engineering Education

Pipeline with a Rubric-Based Scoring System,” American Psychological Profession, Division 5

(Evaluation, Measurement and Statistics), Hawaii, July, 2013.

PATENTS:

Provisional Patent, “Internet, Cloud and Private Network based Apps and System for Problem-

Solving Learning Environments and Design (PSELD) Thinking Activities and Projects leading to

Academic and Workforce Recognition,” filed October 7, 2015.

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Continuation in Part, Patent Pending, “Quality Management System and Problem Solving Learning

Environments and Design for 21st Century Skills,” filed on April 4th, 2014.

PCT International Continuation in Part, Patent Pending, “Quality Management System and Problem

Solving Learning Environments and Design for 21st Century Skills,” filed on April 4th, 2014.

Patent Pending, “Quality Management System and Problem Solving Learning Environments and

Design for 21st Century Skills,” filed on February 26th, 2014.

PCT International Patent Pending, “Quality Management System and Problem Solving Learning

Environments and Design for 21st Century Skills,” filed on February 26th, 2014.

Provisional Patent, Quality Management System (QMS) and Problem Solving Learning

Environments and Design for 21st Century Skills referred to as University of Maryland Invention

Disclosure IS-2013-022.

U.S. Patent No. 4,112,773 – Covers basic ultrasonic transmitter receiver unit directing its

signal across the flow.

U.S. Patent No. 4,237,720 – Continuation of 4,112,773

U.S. Patent No. 4,214,484 – Covers the moat type means for a transducer unit.

U.S. Patent No. 4,339,944 – Covers a damping method means comprising a surrounding sidewall

arrangement such that the lateral waves do not directly reflect to the transducer.

U.S. Patent No. 4,365,515 – Covers a plug type method of an ultrasonic transducer having its own

three -dimensional lens.

U.S. Patent No. 4,381,674 – Covers a method of identification of identifying particles in an oil

recovery system.

U.S. Patent No. 4,398,424 – Covers an energy-damping collar for a transducer unit.

U.S. Patent No. 4,455,873 – Covers a probe with an ultrasonic transmitter – receiver attached.

U.S. Patent No. 4,112,773 – Covers a method of determining the concentration of oil in a recirculated

flow of an oil recovery system.

Over 10 foreign patents issued

PUBLICATIONS:

Abts, L. R., Analysis of the Barriers, Constraints and Issues for Dual Credit and / or an

Advanced Placement® Pathway for Introduction to Engineering / Design, American Society

of Engineering Education, Vancouver, 2011.

Abts, L. R., et al. Microparticle Detection with Focused Ultrasound, Journal of Acoustical Society of

America, 1976.

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Abts, L. R., et al. Detection of Microparticles in Flowing Blood using focused Ultrasound, American

Society of Artificial Internal Organs Abstracts, 1977.

Abts, L. R., et al. Low Heparin Levels and Microemboli: Effects on the Johnson and Johnson Arterial

Line Filter, American Society of Extracorporeal Technologists, 1977.

Abts, L. R., et al. The Efficiency of Removal of Microparticles by the Johnson and Johnson Arterial

Line Filter, American Society of Extracorporeal Technologists, 1977.

Abts, L. R., et al. Microparticle Detection in a Flowing Stream, International Congress on Acoustics

Proceedings, Madrid, 1977.

Abts, L. R., et al. An Equation of State for Muscle, Federation American Society of Experimental

Biologists Proceedings, Atlantic City, 1977.

Abts, L. R., et al. Computerized Discrimination of Microemboli Extracorporeal Circuits, American

Journal of Surgery, April 1978.

Abts, L. R., et al. Reflections from Microparticles in a Flowing Liquid, Journal of Acoustical Society

of America, 1978.

Abts, L. R., et al. The Detection of Microparticles, Electrochemical Society of Japan, 21st Annual

Meeting, Tokyo, 1981.

Abts, L. R., et al. The Detection of Microcontaminants in Semiconductor Process Fluids using an

Acoustic Technology, Solid State Technology, September 1982.

Abts, L. R. Application of Acoustics to Detect and to Classify Contaminants within Liquids in Sealed

Containers, Spring Symposium of the Food and Pharmaceutical Industries of the Instrument Society

of America, Indianapolis, April, 1986.

Abts, L. R. Acoustic Inspection of Sealed Food Cans for Foreign Materials, Advances in

manufacturing Automation in t he Food and Pharmaceutical Industry Sponsored by the Instrument

Society of America, Philadelphia, April 1987.

Abts, L. R., et al. An Acoustic Inspection Method to Detect and Classify Particles within Sealed

Plastic Containers, International Conference on Liquid Bourne Particle Inspection and Metrology of

the Parenteral Drug Association Proceedings, Washington D.C., May 1987.