START recently hosted the seventh annual "U.S. Perspectives on Contemporary Security Issues and U.S.-Australia Cooperation" study tour between June 16-27, 2024. A joint initiative between UMD's National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) and Macquarie University’s Department of Security Studies and Criminology, the program brought more than 20 graduate students to UMD for a series of site visits, lectures/presentations, panels, and networking opportunities. Students had the opportunity to engage with scholars and practitioners in cyber security, government relations, energy/environment, military, public/cultural diplomacy, intelligence, disinformation, and terrorism/extremism across government and international organizations, think tanks, and universities. Additionally, students engaged with START teams, learning more about START research and tools available to them to support their own academic and professional endeavors.
The program featured a series of sessions with prominent figures and organizations across Washington, DC, including Dr. John Blaxland from The Australian National University, representatives from the Australian Embassy, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the Strategic Multilevel Assessment (SMA) team at the Pentagon, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Counterterrorism division, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The students participated in a VIP tour of the Library of Congress, led by Travis Hensley of the John W. Kluge Center. Participants gained valuable insights into contemporary security issues and the U.S.-Australia cooperation framework.
The students also spent a day in New York City, visiting the Australian Mission to the United Nations, the United Nations Headquarters, and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. His Excellency Mr. James Larsen, Australia’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, addressed the participants during the visit to the Australian Mission to the UN, adding a significant highlight to the event.
For inquiries about START international exchange opportunities, please contact education@start.umd.edu.
