Disaster Research 466
November 17, 2006
Table of Contents
- 2006 Hazards Workshop Abstracts and Summaries Available Online
- START Launches "Research Brief" Series
- 2007 Harvard Fire Executive Fellowship Program
- Ready Campaign Public Service Advertisements (PSAs)
- East Asia and Pacific Summer Institute
- IIASA Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP) 2007
- Some New Web Resources
- Conferences, Training, and Events
- Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
1) 2006 Hazards Workshop Abstracts and Summaries Available Online
In July 2006, hazards researchers and professionals, including federal, state, and local government officials; representatives from nonprofit organizations and private industry; and other interested individuals, convened in Boulder, Colorado, for the Natural Hazards Center's 31st Annual Hazards Research and Applications Workshop. Participants debated, explored, and shared information on a wide range of issues.
To share some of the ideas and discussions presented during the workshop, the Center publishes brief summaries of each session, abstracts of the research presented, and descriptions of the projects and programs discussed. This is a valuable resource for those who were unable to attend, as well as for those who were. Session summaries, abstracts, and other workshop materials are available online at www.colorado.edu/hazards/workshop/archives/2006/.
2) START Launches "Research Brief" Series
The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terror (START) announced on November 10, 2006 the launch of a new online publication series, "START Research Briefs." The Research Briefs are designed as a mechanism to present interim findings from ongoing START research projects to a broad audience. New entries in this series will be added on a regular basis.
The first publications in this series address the following topics:
- Efficacy of counterterrorism approaches
- Public Schools preparedness for disasters
- Public risk communication
- Predictors of support for anti-Western terrorism
The full-text of each brief can be downloaded from the Publications section of the START website at: www.start.umd.edu/publications/research_briefs/
3) 2007 Harvard Fire Executive Fellowship Program
Application procedures have been announced for the 2007 Harvard Fire Executive Fellowship Program. The program is once again sponsored through a partnership between the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Department of Homeland Security - United States Fire Administration (USFA). Each organization will fund the tuition costs of two individuals for a total of eight fellowships.
Eight senior fire executives will be awarded fellowships to attend Harvard's annual Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government. The 3-week program is conducted on the Harvard campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Selected Fellows would be assigned to attend one of the two session dates: June 10-29, 2007 or July 8-27, 2007 and must be available to attend either session.
The following criteria and guidelines have been established for the 2007 program:
- Application is open to senior fire executives who have demonstrated significant career accomplishments and who have the potential to impact and initiate change. Attainment of a senior position is less important than demonstrated experience in facilitating significant change within a public sector setting.
- Preference may be given to applicants who are graduates of the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program, although program completion is not a prerequisite. Preference may also be given to applicants who have completed graduate-level degree programs or course work.
- Individuals whose organizations have been represented in the Harvard Fellowship Program during 2004, 2005 or 2006 will not be considered. The program is available to international participants.
For questions regarding application procedures only, please contact Ms. Kathleen Carter (kathleen.carter@dhs.gov), U.S. Fire Administration, at (301) 447-1349. For more information, visit the USFA website at: www.usfa.dhs.gov/about/media/2006releases/110706.shtm or the Harvard University Web site at: ksgexecprogram.harvard.edu/program/SL/overview.aspx.
4) Ready Campaign Public Service Advertisements (PSAs)
In order to encourage Americans to prepare themselves, their families and their communities, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in partnership with The AdCouncil, has sponsored public service advertisements (PSAs) that educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to all kinds of emergencies. The Ready Campaign asks individuals to do three key things to prepare for the unexpected: get an emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan, and be informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses.
The Campaign has television, radio, print, outdoor and internet advertisements directed toward individuals and families; radio, print, outdoor and internet advertisements directed toward owners and managers of small and medium-sized business; and television, radio, print, outdoor and internet advertisements for Spanish speakers. All of the Ready ads are PSAs, meaning they run in donated media space only.
On November 14, 2006, the campaign released new PSAs for individuals and families which take a documentary style approach using real people with honest, unscripted answers in regards to their family's emergency preparedness plans as well as a new ad featuring Mrs. Laura Bush. To view these new television PSAs, click on the links at the bottom of the following website: www.ready.gov/america/about/psa.html.
5) East Asia and Pacific Summer Institute
The East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes provide U.S. graduate students in science and engineering first-hand research experience in Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand or Taiwan. The program provides an introduction to the science and science policy infrastructure of the respective location, as well as orientation to the society, culture and language. The primary goals of EAPSI are to introduce students to East Asia and Pacific science and engineering in the context of a research laboratory, and to initiate personal relationships that will better enable them to collaborate with foreign counterparts in the future. The institutes last approximately eight weeks from June to August. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) co-sponsor the Summer Institute in Japan.
Interested U.S. graduate students in the biological sciences, computer and information science and engineering, cyberinfrastructure, education in science and engineering, engineering, environmental research, geosciences, mathematical and physical sciences, polar research, or social, behavioral, and economic sciences must submit applications by December 12, 2006. The institutes last approximately eight weeks from June to August.
For more information, contact the EAPSI program manager at (703) 292-8704; e-mail: eapinfo@nsf.gov; and visit www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5284.
6) IIASA Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP) 2007
IIASA is an international institution, supported by the U.S. and sixteen other governments, that engages in scientific research aimed at providing policy insight on issues of regional and global importance. Each year, IIASA sponsors a fellowship program for graduate students who are studying in fields relevant to the Institute's work. About 50-60 graduate students from around the world spend the summer working closely with IIASA senior researchers, on projects relevant to each student's thesis topic. They end the summer with an international network of colleagues interested in various aspects of global change issues, and often have produced a paper that can be published.
The YSSP program is unlike any other in offering graduate students in a broad range of natural and social science, mathematical, and engineering fields an opportunity to work in an international setting on projects that allow them to explore the policy implications of their work. IIASA's projects all look at one or another aspect of global change. However, they range from very technical systems modeling work in the Dynamic Systems program and mathematical ecology in Evolution and Ecology, to integration of policy, economics, and demography in the Population Program and the Risk and Vulnerability Program in addition to natural science-based projects like Forestry and Land Use. Moreover, there are energy and technology modeling programs, and the Atmospheric Pollution Program, whose models have been used in air pollution treaty negotiations in Europe and Asia.
The Summer Fellowship will be in Austria from June 4 to August 31, 2007. The application deadline is due January 15, 2007. Each applicant must submit the on-line application form, including 2 references and descriptions of research interests. The application form can be found at: www.iiasa.ac.at/Admin/YSP/reg-info/more_about_the_program.html.
7) 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 www.colorado.edu/hazards/resources/.]
Revamping of Ready.gov
DHS has revamped the Ready.gov Web site to include updated emergency
preparedness information for individuals, families and businesses,
including new sections for people with disabilities and special needs
and information for older Americans as well as pet owners.
Influenza Research at the Human and Animal Interface
On November 2, 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a
working group meeting report. According to the report, the meeting,
which was held in Geneva on September 21-22, 2006, convened 22
laboratory directors and senior scientists leading research on
influenza in animals and humans, with emphasis on H5N1 strains. Meeting
participants were asked to interpret their research in terms of its
implications for public health policy.
Danger Need Not Spell Disaster, But How Vulnerable are We?
This research is extracted from a book proposed for publication by
United Nations University Press in 2006 that examines our vulnerability
to hazards of natural origin, and explores the opportunities for
adopting a pre-emptive rather than a reactive approach to natural
disasters.
Library Disaster Plan Template
The California Preservation Program has a website, CalPreservation.org
that includes a template disaster plan for libraries. It is a
downloadable Word doc that can be edited to suit the needs of any type
of library, archive or cultural institution. There is other useful
information on this site, including a generic disaster plan, resources,
and a disaster plan exercise.
October 2006 New Orleans Recovery Report Card
The Center for Social Inclusion (CSI) announces the release of the
October 2006 New Orleans Recovery Report Card. The Report Card is a
useful advocacy tool that provides a grade for each New Orleans
neighborhood based on the ability of former New Orleans residents to
rebuild their lives. The grade is based on five categories: utilities,
economy, health, housing, and public education.
Earthquakes and a Brave New China
A new report for the Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre's (BUHRC)
Issues in Risk Science series entitled "Earthquakes and a Brave New
China" by Dr. Paul Burton and Steve Cole is now available on the BUHRC
website. The report covers China's increased exposure to seismic
threats due to the rapid urbanization and building construction
currently underway throughout the country.
U.S. State Government Pandemic Flu Resources
The Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy (CIDRAP) at
University of Minnesota has provided an updated list of pandemic flu
resources for every state in the U.S.
100th Anniversary Earthquake Conference Captured on Video
The 100th Anniversary Earthquake Conference Commemorating the 1906 San
Francisco Earthquake was held on April 18-22, 2006, and featured a
prominent lineup of speakers from federal, state, and local government;
academia; and commercial industry. The conference plenary sessions were
recorded and video highlights are now available featuring discussions
about accomplishments in the past century, best practices, successful
risk management practices in the public and private sectors, and new
research results in science, engineering, and emergency management.
National Service Responds: The Power of Help and Hope After Katrina
The Corporation for National and Community Service released a 26-page
report entitled "National Service Responds: The Power of Help and Hope
After Katrina" that chronicles the initial response and ongoing
recovery activities of national service volunteers through text,
photographs, vignettes, and maps. While documenting the powerful
contributions made through national service, it also points out the
challenges of disaster volunteering and the long road to recovery
ahead.
Emergency Management in County Government: A National Survey
The National Center for the Study of Counties at Carl Vinson Institute
of Government at University of Georgia prepared a 50-page survey for
the National Association. This survey of Counties examines key aspects
of county emergency management, including its organizational structure,
budgets and funding, personnel and training, use of technology, and
ways counties collaborate with other government entities and
nongovernmental organizations.
8) Conferences, Trainings, and Events
[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 Web site: www.colorado.edu/hazards/resources/conferences.html.]
2006 Emergency Preparedness and Prevention & Hazmat Spills Conference—Valley Forge Convention Plaza, Pennsylvania: December 3-6, 2006. Organizer: EPA Region III Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office. This is a four-day conference with dynamic educational workshops and training sessions that look at how to strengthen our preparedness and be better prepared in our responses. This is a conference for local emergency planning committee representatives; environmental, emergency and safety staff from federal facilities; environmental, health and safety, and operations representatives from industry; first response personnel from fire, emergency medical, and law enforcement agencies; state emergency response commission members; hazmat response teams; emergency managers and planners; regulatory compliance specialists; emergency medical personnel; medical, safety and environmental personnel from hospitals; maritime industry personnel; transportation and distribution industry personnel; power and utility industry staff; safety and environmental personnel from colleges and universities; counter-terrorism professionals and specialists. For more information, visit www.2006conference.org.
2007 Annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Conference & Exhibition—New Orleans, Louisiana: February 25-March 2, 2007. Organizer: Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is the healthcare industry's membership organization exclusively focused on providing leadership for the optimal use of healthcare information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of human health. HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through its advocacy, educational and professional development initiatives designed to promote information and management systems' contributions to ensuring quality patient care. The sessions at this conference include risk management, interoperability, and information security. For more information, visit www.himss07.org/.
All-Hazards Planning and Emergency Management Institute—Boston, Massachusetts: March 5-7, 2007. Organizer: Academic Impressions. This institute is to help you learn and apply tools for developing or revising a successful all-hazards emergency management plan. Participating in these working sessions and their engaging activities will help you identify the resources you need, the crucial stakeholders, and the best tactics available as you develop, test, and refine the emergency plan at your institution. You will leave the institute with a work plan in hand that details what you can do at your campus in order to develop your all-hazards emergency plan. For more information, visit www.academicimpressions.com/conferences/0307-emergency-planning.php.
17th World Conference on Disaster Management—Toronto, Canada: July 8-11, 2007. Organizer: The Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness (CCEP). The theme will be "Emergency Management and Business Continuity Working Together." The conference program includes speakers from many parts of the world and provides excellent opportunities for training and networking with experts and practitioners in Emergency Planning/Management, Business Continuity, Emergency Communications, Emergency Response, Disaster Management Research, Risk Management, Security, IT, HR, Environmental, Community Planning and the organizations which supply and service these professions. The deadline for abstract submission is December 3, 2006. To access the call for papers and to see a more detailed description of the program, visit www.wcdm.org.
The Center for Governmental Services at Auburn University is introducing a new distance education certification program: Emergency Management for Government and the Public Sector. The courses are designed to meet the specific needs of governmental managers and leaders, elected officials, individuals employed by governmental entities, and other individuals employed in the public sector; all interested individuals are welcome to register for courses. Additional information about the Emergency Management certificate program and about registration can be found by visiting the CGS website at www.auburn.edu/outreach/cgs, or by calling the Center at (334) 844-4899.
The Fritz Institute has launched a Certification in Humanitarian Logistics(CHL) Program in an effort to build a global community of professional logisticians able to meet the increasing demands of effective disaster response. Well-trained logistics managers are absolutely critical to support a rapid and effective frontline response. The goal of this program is to build a community of competent, professional humanitarian logisticians. Developed in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK (CILT-UK), with partial funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), CHL uses a distance learning model with carefully designed materials, a real-life case study environment and interactive coaches. Designed for working professionals in the field, students need only access to a computer and periodic emails to complete the program." To access information concerning this program, visit www.fritzinstitute.org/prgSC-CERT_program.htm.
9) Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
Useful Job Sites:
International Association of Emergency Managers
www.iaem.com/resources/Career/Job_bulletin_board/cgi-bin/dcboard.pl
National Emergency Management Association
http://nemaweb.org/jobs/
DisasterManagementJobs.com
www.disastermanagementjobs.com/
USAJOBS
www.usajobs.gov/
The Chronicle of Higher Education
http://chronicle.com/search/jobs/
PublicServiceCareers.org - NEW!!
http://publicservicecareers.org/
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Program Director, Infrastructure Management and Hazard Response Program
Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI)
The Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI) within the Engineering Directorate (ENG) at the National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing a nationwide search for an individual to serve as Program Director for the Infrastructure Management and Hazard Response (IMHR) Program at the National Science Foundation (NSF). Applications for this position will be accepted through December 15, 2006.
The IMHR program focuses on multidisciplinary issues concerning the impact of natural, technological, and human-generated hazards upon critical infrastructure systems and society. The program seeks to integrate research from engineering, social, behavioral, political and economic approaches to foster improved engineering decision making. Research related to preparedness for, response to, recovery from, and mitigation of disasters resulting from natural, technological and human-generated hazards is supported. The goal of the program is to support fundamental research related to risk and vulnerability faced by the nation's civil infrastructure in order that they may be reduced and costs of threats and hazardous events maybe lessened. These factors include the interdependence of engineered infrastructure, and the relationships between disasters, the performance of the built environment, and human institutions and behaviors. The Program Director coordinates research support on hazards with programs across the foundation.
Qualification requirements include a Ph.D. in a relevant social science or engineering discipline, plus six or more years of active research in the field, research administration and/or substantial managerial experience in academe, industry, or government. The successful candidate is expected to pursue a multi-disciplinary approach to research in the program areas. Also important are knowledge of natural, technological and man-made hazards, hazards preparedness, response, recovery, mitigation and infrastructure management, as well as effective communication skills (written and oral).
NSF Program Directors bear the primary responsibility for carrying out the Foundation's overall mission to support innovative and merit-reviewed activities in research and education that contribute to the nation's technological strength, security, and welfare. To discharge this responsibility requires knowledge in the appropriate disciplines and a commitment to high standards, a considerable breadth of interest and receptivity to new ideas, a strong sense of fairness, good judgment, and a high degree of personal integrity. The focus of this search is to identify a scholarly, mentoring and open-minded person to join the present diverse and intellectually integrated CMMI team.
This position may be filled under one of the following appointment options: Visiting Scientist Appointment. Appointment to this position will be made under the Excepted Authority of the NSF Act. Visiting Scientists are on non-paid leave status from their home institution and appointed to NSF's payroll as Federal employees. NSF withholds Social Security taxes and pays the home institution's contributions to maintain retirement and fringe benefits (i.e., health benefits and life insurance), either directly to the home institution or to the carrier. Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA). Individuals eligible for an IPA assignment with a Federal agency include employees of State and local government agencies or institutions of higher education, Indian tribal governments, and other eligible organizations in instances where such assignment would be a mutual benefit to the organizations involved. The individual remains an employee of the home institution and NSF provides funding toward the assignee's salary and benefits.
For additional information on NSF's rotational programs, please see "Programs for Scientists, Engineers, and Educators" on the NSF website at www.nsf.gov/about/career_opps. Applications and questions concerning this Program Director position should be directed to: Dr. Douglas Foutch (dfoutch@nsf.gov), Chair IMHR Search Committee.
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Disaster Operations Program Specialist
Regional and Disaster Support Unit in the Mitigation Division at FEMA
The person in the position will serve as a Disaster Operations Program Specialist with primary responsibility for coordinating Mitigation's disaster operations and maintaining the Division's disaster readiness, facilitating, and integrating operations across the Division, between Headquarters and the Regions, and between the Mitigation, Response and Recovery Divisions. In addition, the person serving in this position will represent the Mitigation Division in FEMA disaster planning activities, such as reviewing the National Response Plan, developing disaster Concept of Operations and standard operating procedures, and participating in Agency disaster operational reviews. Please see the link below for a full description of duties.
The salary range for this position is $77,353 - $118,828 and medical and other federal benefits are offered.
Please make sure that the application is received by November 28, 2006. Also, please make sure that all selective placement factors and KSAs are addressed in the application. This is a government application and if any of these are not addressed, Human Resources will not consider the application further - despite a stellar resume.
More detailed information can be found at: www.fema.gov/career/publicForward.do?action=View%20Posted%20Job% 20Listing&from=RepeatGroups&jobId=22176.
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Climate Change Associate Research Scientist
The International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI)
The International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) is seeking an outstanding individual that possesses a solid understanding of the physical climate system and its variability as well as excellent statistical skills to advance research and development of climate information and forecasts for decadal to multi-decadal timescales. The IRI mission is to enhance society's capability to understand, anticipate and manage the impacts of seasonal climate fluctuations to improve human welfare and the environment, especially in developing countries. In pursuit of this mission the IRI undertakes research designed to unravel the direct and indirect factors that lead to climate-related socio-economic outcomes and thereby provide the best evidence available to inform policy and decision-making about climate-related risk.
Working with a team of applied social and physical scientists, the successful candidate will play a leading role in the development and application of methodologies appropriate to providing information on low-frequency climate variability, including the effects of both natural and anthropogenic climate change over the next 10 to 30 years, relevant to decision makers in sectors ranging from health to water resource management.
Candidates must have a Ph.D. in meteorology, oceanography, statistics, geography, environmental science or equivalent and at least two years of relevant postdoctoral experience. They must have experience with modern (Bayesian), computationally intensive methods of inference for spatial and temporal analysis of observed and GCM datasets and be able to design and write appropriate code. Successful candidates will demonstrate a strong understanding of the factors driving climate variability across time scales and the attributes and limitations of existing methods/tools used for prediction. Experience in connecting climate information to decision support would be an advantage. Candidates must be a team player, able to work collaboratively within a skilled multi-cultural research environment, with a demonstrated ability to communicate statistical information to a general scientific audience. Excellent organizational habits are required.
Columbia University benefits accompany appointment. Salary is commensurate with experience. This position is located in Rockland County, NY at the Lamont Campus of Columbia University. Prospective candidates please select 'apply now' to submit: contact information; letter of application including position reference number # LD 670 06 040; statement of research interests; statement of career objectives; curriculum vitae; and contact information for three references. Search will remain open for at least 30 days after it appears and until position is filled. Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. Women and Minorities are encouraged to apply.
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Emergency/Disaster Management Faculty Position
Southern Connecticut State University
The successful candidate will be expected to participate in interdisciplinary graduate-level curriculum development for a proposed MPA in Emergency-Disaster Management and in emergency-disaster workshop/certificate development. Participation in Connecticut-based community service workshops for small and minority business owners is expected. Student advisement and mentoring are integral to the position. The appointment includes opportunities for program development, grant writing, research and teaching.
Required Qualifications: Applicants must have at least ABD. If, ABD, the candidate must have an earned doctorate in emergency-disaster management or a related field by the time of appointment or by the end of the first year of appointment. The successful applicant will have a strong background and work experience in the field of emergency-disaster management. Graduate-level teaching experience is required. Experience in curriculum development, grant writing and workshop design is expected.
Preferred Qualifications: A doctorate in emergency or disaster management is preferred. Teaching experience utilizing distance education and/or web-conferencing is preferable. Familiarity with private and public funding sources for emergency-disaster program development will strengthen the application.
Application Process: Please submit a Letter of Interest, current Curriculum Vita, Official Graduate Transcripts and three letters of recommendation to: Dr. Bernadette Madara, Public Safety Program Director, Jennings Hall-135-C, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT 06515.
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Climate/Global Change Assistant Professor (Tenure Track)
California State University, Fresno
The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences seeks a broadly trained geologist who applies diverse modern approaches to conducting research in the areas of Atmosphere, and Climate or Global Change, including related fields (e.g., Glaciology or Palynology). Teaching responsibilities include: undergraduate courses in environmental sciences and graduate courses specializing in the environmental aspects of the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, and their interactions. Other expectations include developing a sustainable, externally funded research program, supervising thesis research, and mentoring students at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Additional information about the department is available at: www.csufresno.edu/geology/. An earned doctorate (PhD) in a field of Environmental Sciences or related fields is required. Please send a CV, statement of research and teaching interests, recent publication(s) and at least three letters of recommendation to Professor John Suen, Search Chair, California State University, Fresno, 2576 East San Ramon Avenue M/S ST 24, Fresno, CA 93740-8039.
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Search for New Editor for "Spectra"
The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) is seeking applications and nominations for journal Editor of "Earthquake Spectra" to serve a five-year term, starting in January 2008. The Editor, with the support of the Editorial Board and the Managing Editor, has responsibility for both the printed and online editions. The Editor makes publication decisions based on recommendations of the Editorial Board and reviewers, and has ultimate responsibility for ensuring that manuscripts meet the high-quality professional standards established for technical content, format, and timeliness. As chair of the Editorial Board, the Editor has responsibility for overseeing journal publication policies, developing recommendations for theme issues, identifying nominees for the Editorial Board, and developing consensus recommendations for Outstanding Paper Award nominees for consideration by the Honors Committee.
All individuals interested in either nominating someone or applying for this position are encouraged to contact a member of the EERI Executive Committee (Craig Comartin, Thalia Anagnos, Farzad Naeim, or Marshall Lew).
Questions for the readership and contributions to this e-newsletter are encouraged. Questions and messages should be indicated as such and sent to hazctr@colorado.edu.