26 November 2003
Homeland Security Cites University-Based Research Initiative
Academic scholars to pursue homeland security related research
A November 25 fact sheet says the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will establish university-based Centers of Excellence to support research by the nation's best and brightest academic scholars in pursuit of homeland security-related disciplines, such as agro-bioterrorism countermeasures and behavioral research on terrorism.
Following is the text of the fact sheet:
(begin fact sheet)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Science and Technology
November 25, 2003
FACT SHEET: OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS
The Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology division is harnessing the nation's scientific knowledge to protect America and our way of life from terrorists and their weapons of mass destruction. The Office of University Programs is furthering this mission by engaging the academic community to create learning and research environments in areas critical to homeland security.
Through the Homeland Security Centers of Excellence the Department is encouraging universities to become centers of multi-disciplinary research where these important areas of inquiry can be analyzed, debated and shared. The future of homeland security science is also being advanced by the development of the next generation of scientists in the Homeland Security Scholars and Fellows Program, which benefits students with intellectual pursuits that align with the Department's missions.
President Bush demonstrated his commitment to the Department's efforts with academia when he signed the first Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill on October 1, 2003. This measure included $70 million in fiscal year 2004 for the Science and Technology division's Office of University Programs.
Engaging the academic community:
-- The academic community will play a critical role in securing America. To facilitate this involvement, the Department will establish university-based Homeland Security Centers of Excellence (HS-Centers), to support relevant research of the nation's best and brightest academic scholars in pursuit of homeland security related disciplines. The HS-Centers will provide a dedicated capability that will enhance our ability to anticipate, prevent, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks.
-- The Office of University Programs and outside advisors reviewed more than 70 proposals to establish the first HS-Center. This two-stage merit based review process included evaluations by Department officials and outside experts. In early August the Department issued a Broad Agency Announcement, by which interested universities were invited to submit White Papers. Selected universities were then invited to submit full proposals in September. The process concluded with site visits to a small number of institutions in early November.
-- On November 25, 2003, the Department of Homeland Security announced that the University of Southern California was chosen as the first HS-Center. The Department and the University of Southern California are currently undergoing grant negotiations to formalize this partnership. The Department anticipates providing the University with $12 million over the course of the next three years for the study of risk analysis related to the economic consequences of terrorist threats and events.
-- The Department plans to establish a number of additional HS-Centers across a spectrum of short- and long-range research and development areas such as the physical, information, engineering, life, and social sciences. Areas of support include but are not limited to agro-bioterrorism countermeasures, behavioral research on terrorism and countermeasures, public and health safety technology transfer and research and development of needed response technologies and operations. The Science and Technology division will release a Broad Agency Announcement in early December to establish Homeland Security Centers of Excellence, focusing on agro-terrorism.
Harnessing the future of science:
-- The Department established the Homeland Security Scholars and Fellows Program in order to support the development and mentoring of the next generation of scientists as they study ways to prevent terrorist attacks within the U.S., reduce America's vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage and recovery efforts from attacks that do occur.
-- The program provides Scholarships for undergraduate and Fellowships for graduate students pursuing degrees, including physical, biological, social and behavioral sciences to ensure the future supply of individuals skilled in these critical areas. After graduation, students are encouraged to consider employment with the Department of Homeland Security; state and local operational offices, or laboratories, universities or other facilities affiliated with the missions of the Department.
-- In September 2003, Secretary Ridge announced the Program's inaugural class of 100 recipients. The students receiving these highly competitive awards began their studies this fall and will complete internships this summer. Fifty undergraduate Scholars and 50 graduate Fellows are among the 2003 class. The group includes students in engineering, math and computer science, social science and psychology, life sciences and physical sciences who are attending colleges and universities across the United States.
-- Students from engineering disciplines comprised about one-third of the awards followed by computer science and math, psychology and social sciences. Men and women were almost equally represented as award recipients.
-- As part of the program, undergraduate Scholars receive tuition and fees, plus a $1,000 stipend per month for up to 18 months. Graduate Fellows receive tuition and fees, plus a $2,300 stipend per month for up to 36 months. With satisfactory academic performance, undergraduate students may be eligible for a scholarship for up to two years and graduate students may be eligible for a fellowship of up to 3 years.
-- The Department received nearly 2,500 applications for review by over 100 experts selected from a variety of fields that included physical, biological, social and behavioral sciences, engineering, mathematics, and computer science.
-- In 2004, the Science and Technology division plans to increase the number of scholarships and fellowships enhancing the internship offered and initiate post-doctoral programs in the areas of greatest interest to homeland security.
(end fact sheet)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
This page printed from: http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2003&m=November&x=20031126124017rellufj0.8635523&t=usinfo/wf-latest.html
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