Enhancing School Safety
With a new academic year about to begin, it’s an excellent time to consider the many risks our students face while at school. This new guide series, created by the U.S. Secret Service, uses a threat assessment model to suggest comprehensive actions schools can take to limit exposure to targeted violence, such as active shooters. The series includes a full report, a model brief, a quick reference guide and related resources.


Open Science by Design
Many researchers recognize the benefits of open science, however, longstanding academic and publishing practices often stand in the way of efforts to make research, data, and other science tools and technology freely available. The National Academies recently released this report to recognize progress that’s been made in open science, and suggest a framework for transitioning from current practices to one that allows for more effective research and collaboration.


Countering False Information on Social Media in Disasters and Emergencies
Social media can be a great way to communicate useful information quickly in an emergency, but it can sometimes spread misinformation just as quickly. This report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate provides ways for emergency communicators to counteract such situations when they occur. The paper offers understanding of the motives that drive miscommunication, examines case studies of false information dissemination, and looks at best practices to correct it.


FEMA Podcasts
Those interested in emergency management topics can now tap into the insights of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in their car or at the gym. The new podcast series from FEMA, available on iOS and Android platforms, covers a wide range of agency knowledge, including subjects such as the National Flood Insurance Program, disaster planning, the latest agency report releases, historical disaster perspectives, and current event updates.


Global Volcanism Program
The high-profile volcano events of the past several months are enough to send many looking for a crash course in the workings of volcanoes and volcano disasters. This site from the Smithsonian Institution is a good place to land. The program has information on more than 7,000 reports of volcanic activity, baseline data on many active volcanoes, resources for understanding volcanoes and associated seismology, and frequently asked questions.

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