A consortium of researchers dedicated to improving the understanding of the human causes and consequences of terrorism

START News: Human smuggling routes identified; Countering CBRN at sea; Communities on the front lines to fight terrorism

 
 
FEATURED RESEARCH

Probable pathways for human smuggling and trafficking along U.S.-Mexico border
Using a pilot geospatial simulation program, START researchers identified 13 chokepoints that intersected with more than 70 percent of human smuggling and trafficking routes along the U.S.-Mexico border. Read more.
 
Countering CBRN at sea
New START research explores the detection and interdiction of illicit trafficking of CBRN weapons and materials at sea. The research team also sought to articulate ways to improve the future design of international maritime security initiatives to ensure that the infrastructure that supports trade at sea is prepared to deter and respond to CBRN terrorism. Read more.

 


DISCUSSION POINT

Communities on the front lines against terrorism
In this editorial piece, START Researcher Alejandro Beutel discusses a recent ISIS pamphlet posted online and how studying the document can provide policymakers, researchers, and community members with useful insights into community factors that inhibit recruitment into violent action. Read more.​
 


Media Effects: Do Terrorist Organizations Launch Foreign Attacks in Response to Levels of Press Freedom or Press Attention?
Conflict Management and Peace Science
Asal, Victor, and Aaron M. Hoffman
 
On the Value of Exposure and Secrecy of Defense System: First-mover Advantage vs. Robustness
European Journal of Operational Research
Nikoofal, Mohammad E., and Jun Zhuang
 
Effect of intelligence collection training on suspicious activity recognition by front line police officers
Security Journal
Regens, James L., and Nick Mould, Carl J. Jensen III, David N. Edger, David Cid, Melissa Graves
 
The Influence of External and Internal Correlates on the Organizational Death of Domestic Far-Right Extremist Groups
Studies in Conflict & Terrorism
Suttmoeller, Michael, and Steven Chermak, Joshua D. Freilich​

 


START recognized for expanding access for underrepresented students
The University of Maryland’s President’s Commission on Ethic Minority Issues (PCEMI) recently honored START’s education team with an award for its work promoting diversity. In the past few years, START’s Terrorism Studies Program has raised its racial and ethnic minority representation from approximately 20 percent to nearly 40 percent, thereby reaching similar levels of minority student representation as is characterized by the University as a whole. Read more.
 
START hosts conference on mental health, education and countering violent extremism
START recently hosted a conference focused on identifying best practices for CVE-related prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation programming based on existing knowledge and practices from mental health and education fields. The conference also sought to identify strategies for dissemination of this information and training to potential CVE practitioners from mental health, education and law enforcement. Read more.
 
Armed with nationally competitive awards, START students travel globe
As another academic year comes to a close, a round of exciting futures are beginning for START students as they move on to travel different parts of the world, representing University of Maryland through their well-earned scholarships and awards: Boren Scholarships, Fulbright Fellowship, Critical Language Scholarship, Do Good Challenge Award. Read more.
 
Researcher Spotlight: John Stevenson
An expert in subjects relating to political violence, Dr. John Stevenson contributes to START’s Strategic Multilayer Assessment-funded projects as a lead investigator and senior researcher and teaching in the Graduate Certificate in Terrorism Analysis program. Read more.
 
Survey findings on Canadian attitudes toward terrorism and counterterrorism
Researchers from the Canadian Institute of Identities and Migration (CIIM) stopped by START on their Washington, D.C., tour and discussed anxiety trends among Canadian citizens before and after global and domestic terrorism threats. Read more.
 
Lessons from India
START Director Dr. Gary LaFree was recently invited by the U.S. Department of State to spend three weeks in India lecturing about ongoing START research and education programs with members of think tanks, military personnel, law-enforcement officials, journalists, forensic specialists and students. Read more.
 
Gary Ackerman, Steve Sin represent START at 2015 CBRNe USA Conference
Ackerman and Sin contributed to the ongoing discussion of CBRNe (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high yield Explosives) response with other experts across the country at the Non-Conventional Threat CBRNe USA Conference in early May. Read more

 


EVENTS

START’s Graduate Certificate in Terrorism Analysis online information session 8 p.m. June 2, online.
 
“Anonymous Soldiers: The Struggle for Israel, 1917-1947,” a book talk by Bruce Hoffman 11 a.m. June 11, START Headquarters.
 
“The HEAD Game: High-Efficiency Analytic Decision Making and the Art of Solving Complex Problems Quickly,” a book talk by Philip Mudd 11:30 a.m. June 25, START Headquarters.
 
START Training in Risk and Crisis Communication.  July 18-19, START Headquarters.

 


OPPORTUNITIES

**START Experiential Education Manager** Apply by May 31.
 
**START Fall Internships** Apply by June 7.
 
**START Graduate Certificate in Terrorism Analysis** Apply by July 1.
 
DHS Border Patrol Agent Apply by May 31.
 
Call for Abstracts: Nice Global Forum HLS & Crisis Management Submit by Oct. 1.
 
Call for Papers: Journal of International Relations Research Submit by Oct. 1.
 
Call for Papers: Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Submit by Sept. 1, 2016
 
DHS S&T ‘National Conversation on Homeland Security and Technology’ Dialogue Series Participate Now.​

 


STUDENT BLOG
 

START IN THE NEWS
 

Associated Press: Legion of foreign fighters battles for Islamic State
START Executive Director William Braniff, Peter Neumann (director of the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation) and John Horgan (director of the Center for Terrorism and Security Studies) are quoted in this Associated Press story about foreign fighters joining the Islamic State. It appeared in multiple outlets. Read more.
 
Sinclair Broadcast Group: Is Russia becoming the next Iran?
START researcher John Stevenson spoke with the Sinclair Broadcast Group about current events in Russia and how they affect the West. Read more.
 
CBS News: Texas attack fuels fear of lone-wolf terror attacks inspired by ISIS
START Executive Director William Braniff was interviewed by the Associated Press' David Crary and Eric Tucker about lone-wolf terror attacks in the wake of a shooting incident at a Texas cartoon contest. The story was picked up by more than 20 outlets. Read more.
 

This is a selection of news clips from the past month.
A complete list of START’s media coverage can be found 
here.

SUPPORTING START

 
Help Support START Research and Education
The START Consortium is dedicated to generating knowledge of the human causes and consequences of terrorism. Applying rigorous standards to both research and education, START seeks to illuminate one of the most highly politicized and understudied phenomena in the social sciences for students, practitioners and policy-makers. Funded primarily through research grants to date, START is seeking to generate an endowment that will provide the flexibility and autonomy to ensure that it can continue to serve as an objective source of data and empirically based analysis into the future.  To donate, or for more information, please click hereCopyright © 2015 The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), All rights reserved.