About STARTNational Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to TerrorismSTART_c072e354-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ecThe National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism -- better known as START -- is a university-based research and education center comprised of an international network of scholars committed to the scientific study of the causes and human consequences of terrorism in the United States and around the world.University of MarylandA Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence headquartered at the University of Maryland, START supports the research efforts of leading social scientists at more than 50 academic and research institutions, each of whom is conducting original investigations into fundamental questions about terrorism, including: * What is the nature of terrorism in the world today? How has terrorist activity evolved over time? How does terrorism vary across geographies? And what do these trends indicate about likely future terrorism? * Under what conditions does an individual or a group turn to terrorism to pursue its goals? What is the nature of the radicalization process? * How does terrorism end? What are the processes of deradicalization and disengagement from terrorism for groups and individuals? * What actions can governments take to counter the threat of terrorism? * What impact does terrorism and the threat of terrorism have on communities, and how can societies enhance their resilience to minimize the potential impacts of future attacks?Homeland Security ProfessionalsSTART experts apply a range of research methods to the exploration of these questions in order to deliver findings based on the best available open-source evidence and data. At the heart of START's work are the principles that the research it is conducting must be both scientifically rigorous and directly relevant to homeland security professionals.StudentsSTART is committed to the widespread dissemination of its research findings not only to homeland security professionals through tailored research, education and training efforts, but also to students of all levels and to the general public.The General PublicInstructorsSTART has developed educational materials and programs specifically designed for instructors and students at the secondary, university, and graduate levels. Educational resources available through START include relevant teaching tools and a range of unique data sources that can be integrated into an array of courses to deepen students' understanding of the dynamics of terrorism.InternsSTART also has internships and funding opportunities available to undergraduate and graduate students engaged in terrorism research.University of Maryland StudentsIn addition, START has developed educational programs, including an Undergraduate Global Terrorism Minor Program available to students at the University of Maryland and an online Graduate Certificate in Terrorism Analysis Program, available to qualified students around the world.Department of Homeland SecuritySTART is a part of the collection of Centers of Excellence supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate and also receives funding and support from a variety of Federal agencies, private foundations, and universities. All of START's research is conducted using non-classified materials and its findings are those of individual researchers and do not reflect the official position of any START funders.Homeland Security Policy-MakersHomeland Security PractitionersSTART PeopleSTART has built a team which reflects our multidisciplinary approach, bringing together individuals from a wide range of academic and methodological backgrounds. In addition to conducting research, the START headquarters team provides administrative support and transition and outreach opportunities for the Consortium researchers. The organization's leadership includes:Gary LaFreeDirector, START; Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice -- Since its launch in 2005, START has been headed by Dr. Gary LaFree, a professor of criminology at the University of Maryland, and START's work is managed by a small staff of terrorism experts and university administrators at Maryland, who work closely with the collection of scholars and students that comprise the START Consortium.William BraniffExecutive Director, START; Professor of the Practice, University of Maryland; Professor of the Practice, University of Maryland; Editorial Board, International Centre for Counter-Terrorism-The HagueSTART Headquarters StaffGary AckermanDirector, Unconventional Weapons and Technology Division, STARTMarkus BinderProject Manager/Researcher, STARTSalma BouzianiProject Manager/Researcher, STARTMarcus A. BoydSenior Researcher, GIS, STARTJulie CallisAssistant Director of Administrative Services, STARTRon CappsResearcher & Simulation Developer, ICONS Project, STARTEva CollExperiential Education Specialist, STARTAbby CotsalasBusiness Services Specialist, STARTCory DavenportSenior Researcher, STARTLiberty DayTraining ManagerEamon DiabIT Program Manager, STARTMichael DistlerSenior Researcher, STARTRebecca (Becca) EarnhardtResearcher, STARTDevin EllisPolicy & Research Program Director, ICONS ProjectBenjamin EvansFaculty Research Assistant, Global Terrorism Database, STARTSarah FisheringResearch Transition Manager, STARTRachel GabrielResearcher and Project Manager, STARTBrandi GoffTraining Project Manager, STARTThomas GuarrieriSenior Researcher, Unconventional Weapons & Technology (UWT) Division, STARTJames HalversonResearcher, STARTJoshua HouseGIS Coordinator, STARTIrina A. IlesSenior Researcher, STARTKatherine Worboys IzsakEducation Director, STARTMichelle JacomeProject Manager/Researcher, STARTPatrick JamesProject Manager/Researcher, STARTMichael JensenSenior Researcher, STARTBo JiangGraduate Research Assistant, STARTAlexander JonasWeb Developer, ICONS Project, STARTWilliam KammererSenior Faculty Specialist, STARTSheehan KaneFaculty Research Assistant, STARTBarnett S. KovenSenior Researcher, START; Affiliated Scholar, The Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy at Florida International UniversityAlexis LiSimulation Coordinator, ICONS Project, STARTBrooke LiuAssociate Professor of Communication and Director, Risk Communication & Resilience Program, STARTJacob LoewnerGraduate Research Assistant, STARTErin McGrathNSF Post-doctoral Research Associate, Computational Social Science, STARTCindy MenjivarBusiness Coordinator, STARTMary MichaelResearch Assistant, STARTErin MillerGTD Program Manager, STARTJoseph OudinSenior Faculty Specialist, Global Terrorism Database, STARTTunde OyinloyeGIS Project Manager/Researcher, STARTKarina PanyanResearch Assistant, Global Terrorism Database (GTD), STARTAmy Pate Research Director, STARTKieran QuinlanFaculty Research Assistant, STARTJoyce RasingGraduate Education Program Coordinator, STARTJessica RiviniusCommunications Director, STARTHolly RobertsProgram Manager, Risk Communication & Resilience Program, STARTAaron Safer-Lichtenstein Graduate Assistant, STARTGrace SewlallDirector of Administrative Services, STARTSteve SinSenior Researcher, START; Subject Matter Expert Instructor, National Center for Security & PreparednessDaniel SmithSenior Research Specialist, STARTHerbert TinsleySenior Researcher, STARTLiz WasdenUndergraduate Education Coordinator, STARTPeter WeinbergerSenior Researcher, STARTJonathan WilkenfeldDirector, ICONS Project, START; Professor of Political Science and International Relations Brian WingenrothResearch Software Architect, STARTSTART Partner InstitutionsAmerican UniversityBar Ilan UniversityBilkent UniversityBrandeis UniversityBryn Mawr CollegeCatholic University of Sacred HeartMilan, ItalyDartmouth CollegeEastern Michigan UniversityEuropean University InstituteGeorge Mason UniversityGeorgia State UniversityInternational Institute for CounterterrroismJohn Jay College of Criminal JusticeCity University of New YorkJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthCenter for Health SecurityKing's CollegeMarquette UniversityMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMichigan State UniversityMonterey Institute of International StudiesMorehouse CollegeNanyang Technological UniversitySingaporeNaval Postgraduate SchoolNorth Dakota State UniversityPalantir TechnologiesPennsylvania State UniversityPurdue UniversityRutgersThe State University of New JerseySan Diego State UniversitySeattle UniversitySt. Andrews UniversityStanford UniversityState University of New York(SUNY) PurchaseThe Ohio State UniversityTufts UniversityUnited Nations Department of Safety and SecurityUniversity at AlbanyState University of New YorkUniversity of ArizonaUniversity of ArkansasUniversity of BuffaloUniversity of California, IrvineUniversity of California, Los AngelesUniversity of ColoradoUniversity of DenverUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoUniversity of MacedoniaUniversity of MarylandUniversity of Massachusetts, LowellUniversity of MinnesotaUniversity of Missouri - Kansas CityUniversity of Nebraska OmahaUniversity of New HavenUniversity of New MexicoUniversity of North FloridaUniversity of OklahomaUniversity of Oklahoma Health Sciences CenterUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of South CarolinaUniversity of SofiaBulgariaUniversity of Surrey(UK)University of TexasUniversity of Wisconsin - MadisonWellesley CollegeWesleyan UniversitySTART Affiliated Programs & CentersCenter for Advanced Study of LanguageUniversity of MarylandCenter for BiosecurityUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical CenterCenter for International Development & Conflict ManagementUniversity of MarylandCenter for Nonproliferation StudiesMonterey Institute of International StudiesCenter for Risk Communication ResearchUniversity of MarylandCenter for Technology and Systems ManagementUniversity of MarylandCenter for Terrorism and Security StudiesUniversity of Massachusetts, LowellCenter for the Study & Prevention of ViolenceUniversity of ColoradoHazards and Vulnerability Research Institute (HVRI)University of South CarolinaInstitute for the Study of Violent GroupsUniversity of New HavenInternational Center for the Study of TerrorismPennsylvania State UniversityInternational Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political ViolenceKing's CollegeInter-university Consortium for Political and Social ResearchUniversity of MichiganLLIS.govLessons Learned Information SharingMonterey Terrorism Research & Education ProgramMonterey Institute of International StudiesNational Center for Disaster Mental Health ResearchDartmouth CollegeNatural Hazards CenterUniversity of ColoradoProgram on International Policy AttitudesUniversity of MarylandRAND CorporationSouthern California Injury Prevention Research CenterUniversity of California, Los AngelesThe Center for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence (CSTPV)St. Andrews UniversityUCLA Center for Public Health and DisastersUniversity of California, Los AngelesSTART FundersThe National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) is a Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) Center of Excellence (COE) headquartered at the University of Maryland. Funding is provided through a grant from the DHS S&T Office of University Programs COE program as well the funders listed below. The work of individual researchers should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of START or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or any other agency or department of the United States Government.START funders include:Air Force Office of Scientific ResearchBureau of International Security & NonproliferationCombating Terrorism Technical Support OfficeDepartment of DefenseDefense Advanced Research Projects AgencyDomestic Nuclear Detection OfficeUnited States Department of Homeland SecurityNational Institute of JusticeNational Institutes of HealthNational Science FoundationOffice of Naval ResearchOffice of University ProgramsScience and Technology Directorate,United States Department of Homeland SecurityResilient Systems DivisionScience and Technology Directorate, United States Department of Homeland SecuritySandia National LaboratoriesU.S. Department of StateNational Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationU.S. Department of CommerceU.S. Department of JusticeU.S. Federal Emergency Management AgencySTART will provide homeland security policy-makers and practitioners with the highest quality, data-driven research findings on the human causes and consequences of terrorism in an effort to ensure that homeland security policies and operations reflect these understandings about human behaviors._c072e430-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ecTo advance science-based knowledge about the human causes and consequences of terrorism and serve as a leading resource for homeland security policymakers and practitioners._c072e566-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ecResearchBring a holistic understanding to the study of terrorism, counterterrorism and community resilience._c072e908-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ec1START prides itself on the diversity of research conducted across the Consortium to bring a holistic understanding to the study of terrorism, counterterrorism and community resilience. START researchers based throughout the United States and around the world bring varying perspectives, experiences, and academic disciplines to their analysis. The resulting portfolio is informed by research in areas such as adversary modeling, criminality, deviant behavior, geospatial modeling, international and civil conflict, law, natural disasters, public health, public policy, risk communication, social movement theory, and many others. Collectively, the START Consortium develops unique approaches to complex issues and drives the scientific study of terrorism and counterterrorism forward. To help organize its broad portfolio of research, START has grouped its projects according to the following themes and schemas:Terrorism & Violent ExtremismStudy terrorism and violent extremism_c072e9da-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ec1.1Terrorism and Violent Extremism, which encompasses the areas of: * Individual Behavior * Violent Groups and Movements * Terrorism and Society * Crime and TerrorismCounterterrorismStudy counterterrorism and countering violent extremism_c072eaa2-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ec1.2Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism, which encompasses the areas of: * Counterterrorism * Countering Violent ExtremismRisk Communication & ResilienceStudy risk communication and resilience_c072ebb0-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ec1.3Risk Communication and Resilience, which encompasses the areas of: * Community Resilience * Risk CommunicationRadicalization & DeradicalizationStudy radicalization and deradicalization_c072ec5a-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ec1.4Radicalization and Deradicalization, which encompasses the areas of: * Radical Beliefs and Behavior * Deradicalization * DisengagementUnconventional Weapons & TechnologyStudy unconventional weapons and technology_c072ed22-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ec1.5Unconventional Weapons and Technology, which encompasses the areas of: * Chemical and Biological Threats * Radiological and Nuclear ThreatsEducationTrain and mentor scholars and analysts capable of examining questions related to terrorism, counterterrorism and community resilience._c072ee1c-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ec2START is dedicated to training and mentoring a new generation of scholars and analysts capable of examining questions related to terrorism, counterterrorism and community resilience.ApproachesSupport a variety of approaches to education_c072eeee-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ec2.1START emphasizes a variety of approaches to education from traditional undergraduate courses at the University of Maryland campus, to fully online synchronous graduate courses, to courses abroad.Learning TypesProvide educational opportunities exist for all types of learners_c072efd4-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ec2.2Educational opportunities exist for all types of learners at the undergraduate and graduate level as well as for the non-degree seeking student or professional.Teaching Tools & FundingAdvance homeland security and terrorism-related education at all colleges and universities_c072f0ba-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ec2.3In addition, START seeks to advance homeland security and terrorism-related education at all colleges and universities through teaching tools and funding for course development.TrainingOffer practitioner-focused trainings_c072f196-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ec2.4START also offers practitioner-focused trainings, which are designed to advance the empirical basis for understanding terrorism, counterterrorism, and community resilience and to support real-world application of research findings.Online CourseMaintain a Massive Open Online Course_c072f268-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ec2.5To expand the reach of START research and education even further, START has created a Massive Open Online Course with the University of Maryland and Coursera, "Understanding Terrorism and the Terrorist Threat," which offers year-round enrollment.BlogsPost student blogs about about their research experiences_c072f394-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ec2.6In furtherance of its educational and professional development mission, START invites its students to write about their research experiences with the Consortium. Their work is featured on the START Student Blog.Career OpportunitiesPost career opportunities_c072f470-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ec2.7START also posts additional opportunities on the Education Blog available to individuals interested in pursuing a career in the realm of terrorism research, law enforcement, and security studies.TrainingBuild skills to support the integration of research into policy and practice._c072f54c-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ec3START's practitioner-focused trainings are designed to advance the empirical basis for understanding terrorism, counterterrorism, and community resilience and to support real-world application of research findings. Training content is based on objective data and analyses resulting from cutting-edge, original research conducted by START's multidisciplinary network of scholars. Through these trainings, START improves participant knowledge using factual baselines and proven methodologies while building new skills to support the integration of research into policy and practice.UnderstandingAdvance the empirical basis for understanding terrorism, counterterrorism, and community resilience_c072f646-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ec3.1ApplicationsSupport real-world application of research findings._c072f722-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ec3.2Publications_c072f7fe-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ec4http://www.start.umd.edu/publications_c072f920-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ecData & ToolsCollect and disseminate valuable datasets_c072fa1a-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ec5To propel the scientific study of terrorism, counterterrorism and community resilience forward, START seeks to collect and disseminate valuable datasets so that academics, analysts, and practitioners can take these objective baselines as their starting point for future analysis and decision-making.Knowledge ToolsProduce interactive knowledge tools to help visualize data, integrate data and organize data for greater utility. _c072fb00-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ec5.1START also produces interactive knowledge tools to help visualize data, integrate data and organize data for greater utility. Data files for publicly available databases can be downloaded directly from our website or from START’s Dataverse page, and knowledge tools can be accessed through the START website as well.News & MediaServe as a bridge between academia, government and the general public to improve the understanding of terrorism, counterterrorism, and community resilience._c072fbfa-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ec6Headquartered at the University of Maryland, START is an international consortium of leading researchers and institutions dedicated to serving as a bridge between academia, government and the general public to improve the understanding of terrorism, counterterrorism, and community resilience. As START is committed to the widespread dissemination of its research findings, it makes reports, datasets and analyses available to the public on its website. Additionally, START researchers and staff work with journalists to provide information and data for news reports, as well as offer expert commentary. The following sections are designed to help members of the news media and the public learn about START's research, people and events. START News This section features findings from START research projects as well as human interest stories about START researchers and students. Additionally, the section features editorial pieces, Discussion Points, penned by scholars to foster thoughtful reflection and discussion by professionals and students alike about terrorism and other complicated and often politicized topics. Events This section provides a listing of events and activities hosted by START and its partners. Most events are free and open to the public. Newsletters This section provides links to START monthly newsletters. START in the News This section provides a compilation of news clips featuring START data and research, as well as START investigators. Media Contact Requests from the news media can be made in this section by filling out the form or contacting the START Communications Director directly. Search Experts Search START's vast network of terrorism and counterterrorism experts from more than 50 institutions worldwide.Reports, Datasets & AnalysesMake reports, datasets and analyses available to the public on our website._c072fcf4-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ec6.1Reports & CommentaryWork with journalists to provide information for news reports and offer expert commentary_c072fdee-c5d1-11e7-90e9-a6b0dcc2b6ec6.2Additionally, START researchers and staff work with journalists to provide information and data for news reports, as well as offer expert commentary.2017-11-10http://www.start.umd.edu/about/about-startOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net