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August 23, 2002

Media Contacts:
Division of Physical Sciences: Kim McDonald (858) 534-7572
San Diego Supercomputer Center: Rex Graham (858) 822-5408

HOMELAND SECURITY WEB SITE PROVIDES INFORMATION AT UCSD RELATED TO ANNIVERSARY OF SEPT. 11 TERRORIST ATTACKS

A Web site where the news media and others can obtain information about homeland-defense-related research and other related activities at the University of California, San Diego is now available at http://homelandsecurity.ucsd.edu

The site compiles graphical and video materials on UCSD's homeland security research activities, as well as news releases, a searchable database of experts capable of fielding questions from the news media on issues related to terrorism and antiterrorism technology, and other background materials related to the September 11th terrorist attacks. The site also provides information for reporters about a September 4 media briefing at UCSD on homeland security research, as well as information about an all-campus reflection and other events to be held at UCSD on the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

Thirteen UCSD scientists will speak at the September 4 media briefing, which begins at 10 a.m., and will highlight some of their recent findings on a variety of homeland-defense-related topics, from airport security and blast protection to wireless sensors and dust-sized chips of "smart" silicon that detect chemical or biological agents. Research on disaster communications infrastructure, cyber attacks via the Internet, and international policy will also be discussed. The one-hour briefing at the San Diego Supercomputer Center auditorium will be webcast live via the homeland security Web site. A question-and-answer session and media availability will follow the briefing.

The university's research efforts are expected to generate technological applications and emergency responses to a variety of security concerns and disaster scenarios. "San Diego is a busy port city and tourist destination on an international border with large military installations and a nearby nuclear power plant-all of which make us a microcosm of the nation," said Mark Thiemens, Dean of UCSD's Division of Physical Sciences. "This briefing is the first of our progress reports explaining how we at UCSD are mobilizing to provide the tools needed to respond to terrorist threats."

Media representatives planning to attend the briefing and question-and-answer session are encouraged to approach the campus in La Jolla, if coming from the south, via northbound Interstate 5, exit at Genesee Avenue and turn left onto Genesee, turn left onto North Torrey Pines Road, turn left onto North Point Drive, and follow signs to a designated parking area.

Fran Berman, director of the Supercomputer Center, and Thiemens will welcome and introduce the following researchers:

• Dr. Sam Bozzette, School of Medicine, Bioterrorism research at UCSD and the region
• Peter Cowhey, Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, A security strategy for responding to terrorism
• Dr. James Dunford, School of Medicine, Medical first response to terrorist attacks
• Bill Hodgkiss, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Environmental sensor networks
• Erin Kenneally, San Diego Supercomputer Center, Fact versus fiction: measuring cyber security risk
• John Kosmatka, Jacobs School of Engineering, Extremely lightweight and strong materials for bridges, reconnaissance drones, and other homeland defense applications
• Jamie Link, Division of Physical Sciences, Development of "smart dust" to detect biological and chemical attacks
• Stefan Savage, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, The rise of denial-of-service and other Internet attacks
• Tom Perrine, San Diego Supercomputer Center, The Internet: terrorist tool or target?
• Ramesh Rao, California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology, Communications infrastructure for disaster response
• Frieder Seible, Jacobs School of Engineering, Secure and robust telecommunications networks for crisis management
• Mark Thiemens, Division of Physical Sciences, Using atmospheric aerosols to detect bioterrorist attacks
• Mohan Trivedi, Jacobs School of Engineering, Three "smart vision" projects to detect terrorist activity

http://homelandsecurity.ucsd.edu/experts.asp (homeland security experts)
http://homelandsecurity.ucsd.edu/newsreleases.asp (news releases)
http://homelandsecurity.ucsd.edu/imagegallery.asp (downloadable image gallery)
http://homelandsecurity.ucsd.edu/multimedia.asp (downloadable multimedia)