DISASTER RESEARCH 382

January 24, 2003

1. Second Call for a Great Opportunity!
2. New Emergency Management Journal Looking for Contributions
3. Call for Applications to the 2003 WIIS Summer Symposium
4. Post-doctoral Research Opportunity
5. Call for Papers I
6. IRCD Solicits Program Suggestions
7. Corporate Social Responsibility and Disaster Reduction
8. ISDR Request for Risk Vulnerability Tools and Practices Assistance
9. Call for Papers and Reviewers - Disaster Management in Public Health
10. Two Reader Requests
11. Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
12. Some New Web Resources
13. Conferences and Training

1) Second Call for a Great Opportunity!

To All Hazards Scholars,

We have issued a call for applications for 16faculty fellowships involving a creative program to foster research on the social science aspects of natural hazards and other extreme events. These fellowships will be offered to newer faculty at research universities who have obtained their doctorates since January 1, 1999, in the social sciences or allied fields.

This project is an education and training program aimed at developing and enabling a new generational cohort of researchers who will investigate the social science aspects of natural hazards and other extreme events. These areas of inquiry are at a critical stage in development for which a clearly identified need is to foster a new generation of researchers. This initiative responds to this need by developing a comprehensive, creative program of mentoring junior faculty at research universities. It also fulfills an important mission of the National Science Foundation in enabling individuals to contribute to solving the nation's problems.

The education and training activity is modeled after similar initiatives in other areas of the social sciences. The format is to bring bright, newly appointed faculty members into sustained contact over an 18-month period with seasoned researchers. The faculty panel consists of eight individuals with strong publication and research records in decision sciences, economics, geography, planning, political science, psychology, public health, and sociology. This panel will mentor up to 16 junior faculty who will be competitively selected. The project will involve a set of workshops, one-on-one mentoring, and research and proposal-development activities. Two workshops will be held, the first a summer workshop, July 25-29, 2003, at Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and the second a summer workshop, July 16-20, 2004, at Estes Park, Colorado.

We are requesting that you nominate individuals who you believe will be interested in this project. We ask that you consider both recent graduates from your program and junior faculty members. Please respond with your nominations by e-mail to Raymond Burby at burby@email.unc.edu. Include contact information for those you nominate. The deadline for applications is March 1, 2003, and appointments will be made shortly after that date.

More detailed information on the program can be found at http://enabling.unc.edu, including application materials. Please contact me with any questions, at the e-mail address above.

Sincerely,
Raymond Burby
Professor of City and
Regional Planning

2) New Emergency Management Journal Looking for Contributions

The Journal of Emergency Management (JEM), a new quarterly journal that covers a wide range of emergency situations, is considering papers for publication related to research, theory, and current issues in emergency management. Specifically, the journal is positioned as a vehicle for academics and practitioners to share field research. In addition to scientific studies and program descriptions, the editors will also consider letters to the editor, guest editorials, and book reviews.

JEM's goal is to provide original, relevant, and timely information from diverse sources, and to write and publish with absolute integrity. Individuals desiring to contribute should not hesitate to make topic-related inquiries, or ask about specific journal-based procedures for writing and submitting manuscripts. The editorial staff is pleased to reply to any inquiries received. Electronic manuscript submission is preferred. Manuscripts should be between 1,500 and 2,500 words. They will be peer-reviewed. Send manuscripts to the Managing Editor, Journal of Emergency Management, 470 Boston Post Road, Weston, MA 02493; e-mail: donn_vaillancourt@pnpco.com. Complete and detailed manuscript guidelines are available as well.

3) Call for Applications to the 2003 WIIS Summer Symposium

Women In International Security (WIIS) is currently accepting applications for its flagship program, the "Summer Symposium for Graduate Students in International Affairs." The program, located in Washington, D.C., consists of six days of seminars and panel discussions on security issues, career development workshops, a crisis simulation, student research presentations, and unique networking opportunities. This year's symposium will focus on "The Changing Nature of Peace and War" and examine the major issues shaping the pursuit of peace and security for the coming decades, such as changes in technology and military tactics, the impact of highly destructive groups and individuals, the nature of peace-building, the new actors, and the steps for effective conflict prevention. WIIS covers all costs for room, board, and the program. Limited fellowships are available for travel. More information and application materials are available on the WIIS website, http://wiis.georgetown.edu. The application deadline is March 2, 2003.

4) Post-doctoral Research Opportunity

Vaisala, a company specializing in systems and equipment for meteorology, environmental sciences, traffic safety and industry, announces a program to co-sponsor postdoctoral research fellowships in support of improved global numerical weather prediction through studies that seek to assess the value and effectiveness of: 1) earth-based atmospheric observing strategies, 2) existing and new earth-based, in-situ observing systems and remote sensing systems, or 3) the interplay between earth-based and space-based observing systems.

Research studies will be carried out under the oversight of the World Weather Research Program (WWRP) and THORPEX-A Global Atmospheric Research Programme. Qualifying scientists must be postdoctoral researchers not more than four years beyond award of the Ph.D. degree. Proposing scientists may be either the postdoctoral scientist or the research supervisor. The proposers are expected to be scientists from weather prediction centers, academia, and non-profit research institutions.

A review panel will evaluate the proposals, and each award will be made for a period not to exceed two years. Detailed information about the scope and types of proposals being solicited, along with their required elements and other information, is available at http://www.vaisala.com/.

Letters of intent, along with a 100-word abstract, are due by March 15, 2003. Letters of intent should be submitted electronically to vaisala.thorpex@vaisala.com.

5) Call for Papers I

Making Safety Second Nature, an international symposium to be held on October 28-29, 2003, at Texas A&M University, is soliciting papers. The symposium focuses on present and future areas of research and activity at the university's safety center. Topical areas include: regulatory issues; consequence modeling; learning from incidents; risk assessment (quantitative analysis, case studies, and reliability data); and process control.

Mannan, Chemical Engineering Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843; (979) 862-3985; e-mail: mannan@tamu.edu; http://process-safety.tamu.edu.

6) IRCD Solicits Program Suggestions

The International Research Committee on Disasters(IRCD) of the International Sociological Association is beginning to plan for its portion of the 16th World Congress of Sociology, to be held in Durban, South Africa, July 23–29, 2006.

IRCD is currently inviting ideas and suggestions for possible panels, panel organizers, or paper topics. Those who agree to organize sessions or to present papers also will need to agree to be present in Durban. Send your ideas, suggestions, and proposals to Robert A. Stallings: rstallin@usc.edu.

7) Corporate Social Responsibility and Disaster Reduction

Interest in the role of business in sustainable and equitable development has grown in recent years, but disaster mitigation and preparedness have scarcely featured in the debate. There have been some calls for greater private sector involvement, but little attempt to explain what role it might play

A research team managed by the Benfield Greig Hazard Research Centre has just completed a study of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in this area. It found little business engagement and many factors inhibiting business commitment, but concludes that further development is possible if a pragmatic, experience-based, and long-term approach is taken.

The project's outputs are online, at: http://www.bghrc.com/DMU/DMUSetup/Projects/corp.htm. The output spans seven research reports (a global overview, and six studies from five disaster-prone South Asian countries), and includes a set of conclusions and recommendations for future action.

If you have specific questions about this project, or are interested in building upon this work through further research or practical initiatives, contact John Twigg, Benfield Greig Hazard Research Centre, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom; e-mail: j.twigg@ucl.ac.uk.

8) ISDR Request for Risk Vulnerability Tools and Practices Assistance

At this stage of their work, WG3 is looking for information on existing assessment tools or practices that are currently in use. These include assessment systems, methods, or tools; training materials; case studies or materials to aid in the assessment of methods and tools; and conceptual work related to risk-vulnerability assessment methods.

All materials gathered will be appropriately credited to the institute or organization of origin. For more information about this project, or to contribute materials or information, contact Esteban Leon, United Nations Human Settlement Programmes (UN-HABITAT); P.O. Box 30030, Nairobi, Kenya; tel: (254-2) 624191; e-mail: esteban.leon@unhabitat.org; http://www.unhabitat.org/.

9) Call for Papers and Reviewers - Disaster Management in Public Health

The "Family and Community Health Journal" is calling for papers that document the role of public health in disaster preparedness and response. Papers may cover the impacts of disasters on the health of communities, activities of public health preparedness, or public health preparedness and its relationship to community health outcomes following a disaster.

Topics of interest include the breadth of public health responsibility, activities of community preparedness, agency efforts, environmental impacts, impacts on children and families, laboratories, mental health, planning and preparedness training, workforce development, and worker safety. Articles with scientific findings are encouraged. All papers will be peer reviewed.

Submissions, including a cover letter, must be received by March 31, 2003. For detailed submission or reviewer information, or to submit an article, contact Linda Landesman, Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, 10 Marlette Place, White Plains, NY 10605; e-mail: lindalandesman@aol.com.

10) Two Reader Requests

_______________________
Good Day,

I am searching for ANY writings or research on how Native Americans responded to hurricanes prior to the encroachment of European settlers. In particular I am researching the tribes of South Florida (the Miccosukee and Seminole nations). However, other geographic areas are acceptable as well. Research from all discourse communities is welcome.

Thank you,

Bradley H. Martin
Miami University
School of Interdisciplinary Studies
112 Ardmore Drive
Oxford, OH 45056
513-664-4973 (phone)
e-mail: bhigginsmartin@yahoo.com

_______________________
Hello,

I am trying to locate any data or statistics that would show the following: where the general public goes to get information after a disaster (tornado, earthquake, bombing, etc). Do they go to the TV (local or national), radio, FEMA, Red Cross, police, fire department, Internet, etc. I have located one dissertation but it was done in 1974. I would appreciate any assistance.

Thanks for any help,
Linda

Linda Doerre
Knowledge Management Specialist
Chicago Department of Public Health
Room 2139 DePaul Center
333 South State Street
Chicago, IL 60604
312-747-9814 (phone)
e-mail: Doerre_Linda@cdph.org

11) Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

[Below are a few recent job vacancies that are related to some of the myriad activities in which DR readers engage. Please contact the organizations directly for more information.]

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Western Carolina University

The Department of Criminal Justice invites applications for a 9-month, tenure track position of assistant/associate professor of emergency management, effective fall 2003. Emergency management is a newly approved undergraduate program, and the successful candidate will actively participate in developing the curriculum. Strong candidates will possess a master's degree in a related field, with a doctoral degree preferred. Possession of Certified Emergency Manager designation desirable. Previous relevant emergency management experience and effective communications skills are required, with prior teaching experience highly desirable.

Western Carolina University is located in the picturesque Cullowhee Valley, between the Great Smoky and Blue Ridge mountains. Applicants should send a letter of interest, a curriculum vitae, and three letters of reference to: EMGT Search Committee, Department of Criminal Justice, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723. Review of applications will begin on March 1 and continue until the position is filled. For more information about the department, see http://www.wcu.edu/aps/cj/index.htm.

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NYC OEM Unpaid Internship

The New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) announces a policy analyst intern position that will run from June 1, 2003, through August 14, 2003. The intern will be responsible for preparing a daily digest of federal legislative and regulatory activities that are relevant to emergency mangers, identifying items of interest to OEM, conducting research, preparing and conducting briefings, and attending and summarizing legislative hearings. The intern will also gain valuable experience in a wide variety of emergency management areas. OEM is responsible for providing interagency coordination in the event of a natural, technological, biological, chemical, terrorist, or other emergency in the City of New York. It also assists federal, state, and city officials and their respective constituents with disaster response and mitigation measures.

Interested candidates should fax or e-mail a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to MaryAnn Marrocolo, Recovery and Mitigation, Office of Emergency Management, City of New York; fax: (718) 422-4871; e-mail: mmarroco@oem.nyc.gov. The application deadline is April 15, 2003.

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NSF Decision, Risk, and Management Science Director

The National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Social and Economic Sciences, is seeking a program director for the Decision, Risk, and Management Science (DRMS) program. The director will manage the review of proposals submitted to NSF, recommend and document actions on the proposals reviewed, deal with administrative matters relating to active NSF grants, maintain regular contact with the research community, and provide advice and consultation to persons requesting it. The director will also engage in NSF-wide initiatives and interagency collaborations.

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Risk Communication Officer

Ideal candidates will have strong verbal and written communication skills with proven experience in consensus building. Requirements include a bachelor's degree and three years of professional experience in health education or health communications, with an emphasis in media relations, public relations, risk communication or social marketing in a public health setting; or a master's degree with one year of professional experience as a health educator or health communications specialist.

Applications are due by January 27, 2003. Submit cover letter and resume to the City of Kansas City, Missouri, Human Resources Department, 12th Floor, 414 East 12th Street, Kansas City, MS 64106; fax: (816) 513-2639; e-mail: jobs@kcmo.org.

12) Some New Web Resources

[Below are some new or updated Internet resources we've discovered. For an extensive list of useful Internet sites dealing with hazards, see http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/sites/sites.html]

http://html.adrc.or.jp/dbs/trans2.asp?lang=en
The Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC) offers an on-line glossary of natural disaster-related terms in English, French, Spanish, and Japanese. The glossary is intended to be an information sharing tool.

http://ppri.tamu.edu/homeland_security/
The Public Policy Research Institute (PPRI) at Texas A&M University has unveiled a new Homeland Security website. The Disaster and Emergency Management Information Network (DEMIN) is a database of domestic security and emergency management data and bibliographic resources. It aims to provide access to emergency management and homeland security web-based resources from across the country and around the world.

http://fpmtaskforce.water.ca.gov
In California, approximately 30 local, state, and federal stakeholders active in floodplain management participated in a bipartisan committee to reduce flood losses. The series of working group meetings and public participation sessions resulted in policy recommendations for the Department of Water Resources and the governor's office. The final report is available on this site.

13) Conferences and Training

[Below are some recent announcements received by the Natural Hazards Center. A comprehensive list of upcoming hazards-related meetings and training is available from our World Wide Web site: http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/conf.html]

The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program at Twenty-Five Years: Accomplishments and Challenges - A Natural Disasters Roundtable Forum. Washington, DC: February 20, 2003. Sponsor: The National Academies. The Natural Disasters Roundtable seeks to facilitate communication and the exchange of ideas among scientists, practitioners, and policymakers concerned with issues related to natural disasters. This forum provides the opportunity for interested parties to exchange views and perspectives on the impact of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) since its creation in 1977. To register on-line, go to http://www7.nationalacademies.org/ndr/, click on "events" and select Roundtable #7; (202) 334-1964; e-mail: pkershaw@nas.edu.

IAEM 2003 Mid-Year Meeting. Sponsor: International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM). Alexandria, Virginia: February 22-25, 2003. The program includes governmental affairs activities, briefings on national issues, and IAEM committee work. For more information contact IAEM, 111 Park Place, Falls Church, VA 22046; (703) 538-1795; e-mail: iaem@aol.com; http://www.iaem.com.

2003 Preparing for the Inevitable. Sponsor: Association of Contingency Planners. Fort Lauderdale, Florida: February 28, 2003. An overview of contingency planning topics will be presented, including the human side of crisis management, wide area network re-direction capabilities, protecting the nation's critical infrastructure, and more. Registration information is available from Laura Mallet, Southeast Florida Chapter, Association of Contingency Planners, P.O. Box 291214, Davie, FL 33329; (954) 727- 8361; e-mail: RecoveryAdvice@att.net.

2003 Homeland Security Summit: Scenario-Based Preparedness Planning and Grants Funding Opportunities for First Responders. Sponsors: Law Enforcement Development Center and Performance Institute. Washington, D.C.: March 4-6, 2003. This summit will help local responders learn the impacts of federal decisions and restructuring. To register, contact the Performance Institute, 1515 North Courthouse Road, Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22201; (703) 894-0481; http://www.homelandsecurityweb.org/hss03/.

ICLR/IBC Earthquake Conference. Sponsor: Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) and the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). Vancouver, British Columbia: March 12, 2003. The event will bring together a range of participants from the private sector, government, and academia to discuss aspects of earthquake research and earthquake mitigation. To register contact Tracy Waddington, ICLR, 151 Yonge Street, 18th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5C 2W7;(416) 362-6112; e-mail: twaddington@iclr.org; http://www.iclr.org.

Local Response to Terrorism: Lessons Learned from the 9-11 Attack on the Pentagon. Sponsors: International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Office for Domestic Preparedness (U.S. Department of Justice), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the International City/County Management Association. Arlington, Virginia: March 19-21, 2003. Hosted by the Arlington County Fire Department, the conference has been specifically designed to bring together teams of high-level policymakers from local jurisdictions to learn from Arlington County's experiences responding to the terrorist attack on the Pentagon and to analyze the response capacity within their own jurisdictions. For more information, contact Melinda Watters, Arlington-RPI, 3877 Fairfax Ridge Road, Suite 200, North Fairfax, VA 22030; (703) 383-4580; e-mail: mwatters@titan.com; http://www.arlingtonafteraction.com.

7th U.S./Japan Workshop on Urban Earthquake Hazard Reduction. Sponsor: Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI). Maui, Hawaii: March 24-27, 2003. This workshop will provide an opportunity to continue to build cooperative research and practice through exchange of information and personnel; focus on changes in mitigation and emergency management practices resulting from recent disasters; and examine reconstruction in Northridge, Kobe, Chi Chi, Kocaeli, Bhuj, and New York City. For information, contact EERI, 499 14th Street, Suite 320, Oakland, CA 94612; (510) 451-0905; e-mail: eeri@eeri.org; http://www.eeri.org/news/Meetings/abstracts.html.

Critical Incident Stress Management Conference. Sponsor: International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc. (ICISF). Des Moines, Iowa: March 27-30, 2003. Participants will receive training in the ICISF-model, network with practitioners from around the world, and discuss stress management issues with others. For registration information, contact ICISF, 3290 Pine Orchard Lane, Suite 106, Ellicott City, MD 21042; (410) 750-9600; http://www.icisf.org/registration.

2003 Emergency Preparedness Conference. Sponsor: New Jersey Emergency Preparedness Association (NJEPA). Atlantic City, New Jersey: April 29-May 2, 2003. Registration materials and conference details are available from Eileen Unger; (609) 704-0266; http://www.njepa.org/.

2003 ASDSO West Regional Conference. Sponsor: Association of State Dam Safety Officials. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: May 7-9, 2003. This educational conference is geared toward dam safety officials, engineers, and owner/operators in the West. For more information, contact Cecil Bearden, Oklahoma Water Resources Board; (405) 530-8800; http://www.damsafety.org/.

The 3rd Canadian Conference on Geotechnique and Natural Hazards. Sponsors: Geotechnical Society of Edmonton and the Canadian Geotechnical Society. Edmonton, Alberta: June 8-10, 2003. This conference will highlight recent advances in geohazard risk assessment and mitigation throughout Canada, with the goal of promoting interdisciplinary discussion and networking among Canadian geoscience practitioners. For registration information, contact Nigel Goldup EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd., 14535 118 Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta T5L 2M7 Canada; (780) 451-2121; e-mail: ngoldup@eba.ca; http://www.geohazards2003.eba.ca.

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