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

April News: New MPS in security & terrorism studies, online summer courses and more

NEWS

START launches new master’s degree program in security and terrorism studies
START has launched a new, fully online Master of Professional Studies (MPS) degree in Security and Terrorism Studies this month. The new MPS prepares students to examine the complex social, political, economic and psychological underpinnings of terrorist and other asymmetric security threats. The program focuses on the theoretical and methodological skills necessary to pursue advanced research opportunities, or be successful in a professional role where analysis and critical thinking are paramount.

START Director provides testimony to Maryland General Assembly on domestic extremism
Last month, START Director William Braniff provided testimony to the Maryland General Assembly on the topic of domestic violent extremism. Drawing on various START datasets, Braniff highlighted the relatively higher threat from domestic terrorism than international terrorism, and highlighted the importance of accounting for ideologically-motivated hate crime as well as terrorism when addressing domestic violent extremism.

Register now: Department of Homeland Security Centers of Excellence Summit 2021
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Centers of Excellence (COE) Summit will take place virtually May 17 – May 21. During the Summit, Global Terrorism Database (GTD) Program Manager Erin Miller will participate in a panel titled “Domestic Extremist Threats to US: A Research Agenda.” START Cyber Intelligence Researcher Rhyner Washburn will also participate in a pre-recorded panel on "Countering Developing Risks to the U.S. Maritime Transportation System," and START Graduate Director Marcus Boyd will provide an information session on START’s new MPS in Security and Terrorism Studies.

Study online with START this summer
START offers fully online summer courses, which are open to any current degree-seeking student or non-degree seeking individual. Current University of Maryland students may register through Testudo. Non-University of Maryland students must apply as non-degree seeking students, visiting students, or students with Golden ID Cardholder Status through the University of Maryland’s Office of Extended Studies. Course topics for summer 2021 include simulations and wargaming, understanding insider threat, violent non-state actors in Latin America, and geospatial analysis of terrorism.

FEATURED RESEARCH

Ongoing study will inform resiliency best practices for the first responder community in wake of COVID-19
Calling all first responders! If you are a member of a first responder organization responding to COVID-19 (including law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency medical services), please take a moment to complete this short questionnaire (about 6-8 minutes). A few minutes of your time now can help first responders facing pandemics in the future. This research is part of a larger study funded by the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate to measure the impact of COVID-19, identify best practices organizations can put in place to protect themselves in the short term, and identify strategies to make first responder organizations more resilient. 

EVENTS

Virtual Information Session: MPS in Security and Terrorism Studies
6 p.m. ET May 11, Online
START's Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Security and Terrorism Studies prepares students to examine the complex social, political, economic, and psychological underpinnings of terrorist and security threats. Students are exposed to the theoretical and methodological skills necessary to pursue advanced research and/or be successful in an analytic career. RSVP to education-start@umd.edu for login information.
 
Department of Homeland Security Centers of Excellence Summit 2021
May 17 – May 21, Online
The Department of Homeland Security Centers of Excellence Summit will take place virtually from Monday, May 17 to Friday, May 21. During the Summit, GTD Program Manager Erin Miller will participate in a panel titled “Domestic Extremist Threats to US: A Research Agenda,” organized by the National Counterterrorism, Innovation, Technology and Education (NCITE) Center of Excellence.

Virtual Information Session: MPS in Security and Terrorism Studies
6 p.m. ET June 15, Online
START's Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Security and Terrorism Studies prepares students to examine the complex social, political, economic, and psychological underpinnings of terrorist and security threats. Students are exposed to the theoretical and methodological skills necessary to pursue advanced research and/or be successful in an analytic career. RSVP to education-start@umd.edu for login information.
 
Virtual Information Session: MPS in Security and Terrorism Studies
6 p.m. ET July 15, Online
START's Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Security and Terrorism Studies prepares students to examine the complex social, political, economic, and psychological underpinnings of terrorist and security threats. Students are exposed to the theoretical and methodological skills necessary to pursue advanced research and/or be successful in an analytic career. RSVP to education-start@umd.edu for login information.

START IN THE NEWS

USA Today: Hateful mass shootings terrorize the US. So why aren't more shooters charged with hate crimes or terrorism?
START researcher Erin Miller is quoted in this article on the difference between mass shootings and terrorist acts.
 
TIME: The Capitol attack was the most documented crime in history. Will that ensure justice?
START Director William Braniff is quoted in this article about the investigation of the Capitol insurrection.
 
VICE: A huge QAnon conference is happening in a Dallas hotel owned by the city
This article about a QAnon conference in Dallas uses data from the Profiles of Individual Radicalization in the United States (PIRUS) QAnon dataset.
 
Voice of America: FBI Director concerned about QAnon's potential for violence
START researcher Michael Jensen is quoted in this article about the FBI investigating QAnon.
 
The Guardian: Millions of Americans think the election was stolen. How worried should we be about more violence?
START researcher Michael Jensen is quoted in this article about violence motivated by conspiracy theories.
 
Washington Post: Post-riot effort to tackle extremism in the military largely overlooks veterans
START researcher Arie Kruglanski is quoted in this article about radicalization in the military.

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 here.

Copyright © 2021 The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), All rights reserved.

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The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START)

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College Park, MD 20740