May News: Hands-on opportunity to design CVE program; ‘Three Pillars of Radicalization’ book launch event June 5; New Handbook of Terrorism

New online course offers interactive, hands-on opportunity to design CVE program

START will launch the first iteration of its new online course June 10-July 1 that will teach community members how to build public engagement programs and initiatives to counter violent extremism by using the design thinking process – a five-pronged creative problem solving technique. Students will go through the six-week, instructor-facilitated course as a cohort, allowing for greater levels of interaction. Read more.

You’re Invited: ‘The Three Pillars of Radicalization’ book launch

Arie Kruglanski, Jocelyn Belanger and Rohan Gunaratna will launch their book, “The Three Pillars of Radicalization: Needs, Narratives, and Networks,” with a talk at START headquarters at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 5. The Hon. Juan Zarate, former deputy assistant to the president and deputy national security adviser for combating terrorism, will give a keynote address. UMD Provost Mary Ann Rankin will offer remarks and START Founding Director Gary LaFree will moderate the panel. All are welcome to attend but an RSVP is required.

Oxford Handbook of Terrorism features new work by many START scholars

Already hailed as a gap-filling, authoritative, state-of-the-art contribution, this new book edited by Erica Chenoweth, Richard English, Andreas Gofas, and Stathis N. Kalyvas, discusses the state of research on terrorism and counterterrorism from before and after 9/11, and includes chapters by START researchers, including:

• “The Study of Terrorism: Achievements and Challenges Ahead,” by Erica Chenoweth and Andreas Gofas
• “The Evolution of Terrorism Event Databases,” by Gary LaFree
• “Sociological and Criminological Explanations of Terrorism,” by Daren G. Fisher and Laura Dugan
• “Geographical Approaches in the Study of Terrorism,” by Megan M. Farrell, Michael G. Findley, and Joseph K. Young
• “Single-issue Terrorism,” by Gary Ackerman and Anastasia Kouloganes
• “Terrorist Organizational Dynamics,” by Brian J. Phillips
• “Suicide Terrorism,” by Rashmi Singh, and;
• “The Rise and Fall of Terrorism,” by Susan Fahey and Erin Miller.
• “Constructing the Field of Terrorism,” by Martha Crenshaw

Postdoctoral Research Associate: START’s Unconventional Weapons and Technology Division is seeking a postdoctoral research associate who is well-versed in decision science/operations. The position is open with respect to academic disciplines within social sciences; mathematics; operations or systems engineering; or theoretical computer science; however, the candidate must have an understanding and research interests in the counter weapons of mass destruction and improvised threat network (CWMDITN) issue area(s). Apply by May 31.   Assistant Research Scientist: START’s Geospatial Research Unit is seeking an assistant research scientist with demonstrated expertise in spatial sciences or allied fields (information/data science, computer science, engineering, etc.). Those in traditional social science fields (sociology, political science, etc. will be considered if they can demonstrate expertise in spatial sciences). Apply by May 31. Graduate Education Coordinator: START is hiring a graduate education coordinator to provide administrative and programmatic support to students, faculty, and staff in START's existing graduate certificate program and to support the development of future graduate programs. Required qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, at least three years of experience coordinating educational programs, and experience working in an academic department or admissions office. Apply by June 10.

Boren Scholars, Barack Obama Presidential Awardee, Student Commencement Speaker among START students

START students will take flight across the globe this summer after earning national and university accolades: three START students earned Boren Scholarships from the Department of Defense, one earned the UMD Barack Obama Presidential Award, and one was selected to be the student speaker at this spring’s commencement ceremony. Read more.

START researcher Michele Gelfand to be inducted to American Academy of Arts and Sciences

START researcher and Distinguished University Professor of Psychology Michele J. Gelfand will be inducted to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honorary societies. Distinguished Scholar-Teacher and professor of government and politics Frances E. Lee will also be inducted with Gelfand in October 2019. Read more.

DARPA-SIGMA+ interns get a great start at START

START’s DARPA-SIGMA+ interns love the work they do on their project, so much so that their only complaint has been that they want to do more. The team of four interns came to START to work on the DARPA-SIGMA+ project, a Department of Defense-funded initiative to further efforts in creating new tools that proactively detect and identify plots involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNe) weapons. Read more.

START undergraduate wins second place at international conference

At the International Crisis and Risk Communication conference this spring, START student Lauren Cain earned the second place award for her poster, "‘You Are Here’: Assessing the Inclusion of Maps in Campus Emergency Alert Systems," and walked away with some finely tuned career ambitions. Selected by conference attendees – including academics and government and industry representatives – Cain was the only undergraduate student to win an award among a pool of graduate students and professionals. Read more.