The Office of University Programs of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security held its first annual Research and Education Summit on March 15 and March 16, 2007. More than 400 attendees, from federal agencies, the non-profit sector, and academia, participated in this event which featured presentations by several researchers associated with DHS's University Centers of Excellence program, including START.
Representatives of DHS's Science and Technology directorate also participated in the summit, with Under Secretary Jay M. Cohen providing a keynote speech outlining his vision of how university research can and does support the work of S&T. In addition to presentations by START researchers (listed below), students from throughout the START consortium were selected to present findings from their ongoing research projects.
A presentation by Elizabeth Dunn, a graduate student at the University of South Carolina's Department of Geography who works with START investigator Susan Cutter, was selected as one of the best student presentations by the leadership of the Science and Technology directorate. Dunn uses GIS-based tools to identify areas of concentrated terrorist activity and then explores how media in these areas of concentrated terrorist activity depict the groups engaging in terrorism. Additional information about the 2-day Summit is available at the Summit's website.
Presentations by START researchers included: Deborah Cai, University of Maryland: Coding Messages from al-Qa'ida Leaders for Reference, Target, and Persuasive Approaches Steve Weber, Program on International Policy Attitudes: Attitudinal Factors in Passive Support for Terrorism against American Civilians Victor Asal, University at Albany, State University of New York: Organizations and the Turn to Terrorism Gary Ackerman, University of Maryland: Who's Next? The Pursuit of CBRN Weapons Kathleen Tierney, University of Colorado: Preparedness Networks: Crossing Sectors, Joining Jurisdictions Dennis Mileti, University of Colorado: Public Warnings for Protective Action Monica Schoch-Spana, Center for Biosecurity of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: Engaging the Public in Preparedness Planning Susan Cutter, University of South Carolina: The Social Vulnerability Index: A County-Level Assessment of Communities and Implications for Preparedness Planning Hamilton Bean, University of Colorado: Working with the DHS University Network: A Student Perspective