Celebrating Two Decades of START Research and Education

As we celebrate START’s 20th anniversary, we are proud to reflect on two decades of research and education. Since our founding, START has worked to fill a critical gap in rigorous, data-driven research on the human causes and consequences of terrorism, and today we are proud to be included as one of the global leaders in the field.

Our research, including the widely used Global Terrorism Database, has informed policymakers, journalists, and practitioners around the world. We are proud to have partnered with approximately 100 other organizations, including universities, nongovernmental organizations, and small and large businesses, to advance the social scientific understanding of terrorism and apply that knowledge to policy and practice. Our educational programs have trained many students and professionals who now serve across sectors committed to global and national security.

While the threat landscape continues to evolve, so does our mission. START will continue to study the causes and consequences of terrorism. We have also expanded our research to include targeted violence, irregular warfare, and other asymmetric threats. We remain focused on producing actionable research and preparing the next generation of experts to advance homeland and national security. Thank you for supporting START and contributing to the progress we continue to make.

Amy Pate
START Executive Director

20 Years in Review

For 20 years, START has advanced research and education on the human causes and consequences of terrorism. Explore the key milestones that shaped our journey.

Forward Focus: What’s Next in START Research

Understanding Resilience in Anti-Occupation Resistance Movements

A new partner research initiative at START seeks to understand why some anti-occupation movements withstand repression. The project will analyze campaigns from the post-WWII era to 2020 to shed light on irregular warfare and the strength of resistance movements.

READ THE FULL STORY

Homeland Security Today

From Insight to Impact: The Future of START with Dr. Amy Pate

START Executive Director Dr. Amy Pate spoke with Kristina Tanasichuk, Executive Editor of HSToday, to mark START’s 20th anniversary. Listen in as they discuss START’s mission, its contributions to understanding terrorism and targeted violence, and how START’s work has informed national and international policy on terrorism.

WATCH THE INTERVIEW

Spotlight: START Voices

Anthony Busani

Anthony Busani, an intelligence analyst in the Army National Guard and a current student in START’s MPS and graduate certificate programs, shares how his passion for terrorism studies and military service intersect. Read the spotlight >

Phillip Livingston

Phillip Livingston, a START MPS graduate with experience in the military and government reflects on how his career shaped his academic journey and how the program helped him achieve his goals. Read the spotlight >

EXPLORE ALL SPOTLIGHTS

Online Graduate Studies: Go Further This Fall

Master of Professional Study (MPS) Security and Terrorism Studies

Explore the complex social, political, economic, and psychological underpinnings of terrorism and asymmetric security threats.

Graduate Certificate Terrorism Analysis

Gain advanced insights into domestic and international terrorism through a flexible, research-informed certificate program.

Graduate Certificate Insider Risk Management and Mitigation

Learn to assess and respond to insider risks and insider threats with this specialized online certificate.

Questions? Contact the Education Team at education-start@umd.edu.

Invest in 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 policymakers. 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.

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