Center of Excellence for Behavioral and Social Research on Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism to be established

The US Department of Homeland Security has announced the selection of the University of Maryland (UMD) to lead the new Homeland Security Center of Excellence for Behavioral and Social Research on Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism. Homeland Security anticipates providing UMD and its partners with a total of $12 million over the course of the next three years to address these topics. Following this announcement, Homeland Security and UMD will begin grant negotiations to formalise their partnership.

“An essential aspect of fighting terrorism is understanding terrorism,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, “and this Center adds a crucial new resource of academic expertise to the Homeland Security mission of a safer America. The better we understand terrorist behaviour, the better we can counter terrorism through prevention, detection, preparedness, and response.”

The research and development focus of this new Homeland Security Center of Excellence will span both international and domestic issues. Areas of work will include the sources of and responses to terrorism, the psychological impact of terrorism on society, and increasing the American public’s preparedness, response, and resilience in the face of threats. Academic and policy experts will examine the motivation and intent of terrorists in order to develop strategies and tools to improve counteractions, such as understanding and forecasting the magnitude of the terrorist threat and formulating effective response strategies. The Center will also consider the impact of terrorism on the public, and will develop risk communications techniques and relevant educational programs.

The University of Maryland has assembled a team of experts from across the country and around the world. The major partners include the University of California at Los Angeles, the University of Colorado, Monterey Institute of International Studies, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of South Carolina. Scholars and researchers from Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, and other countries will also be involved in the research efforts.

•Date: 11th January 2005 • Region: N.America •Type: Article •Topic: Terrorism
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