After years of planning and conflicts with faculty and local residents, UMBC's research park (bwtech@UMBC) finally took a huge leap forward in early 1997 when the university acquired a laboratory owned by Martin Marietta (above) south of the campus. The property not only became the foundation for the research park project, but it allowed a revised plan that was eventually accepted by all parties and carved out significant green space in the plans that eventually became the Conservation and Environmental Research Areas (CERA).