1. DeeDee Bennett
  2. Assistant Professor
  3. Minority SURGE Capacity in Disasters (SURGE)
  4. https://www.surgedisasters.com/
  5. University at Albany
  1. Nnenia Campbell
  2. https://hazards.colorado.edu/biography/nnenia-campbell
  3. Research Associate
  4. Minority SURGE Capacity in Disasters (SURGE)
  5. https://www.surgedisasters.com/
  6. University of Colorado Boulder
  1. Terri Norton
  2. https://www.bucknell.edu/academics/engineering-college-of/deans-office-staff/terri-norton
  3. Associate Dean and Associate Professor
  4. Minority SURGE Capacity in Disasters (SURGE)
  5. https://www.surgedisasters.com/
  6. Bucknell University
  1. Olivia Vila
  2. PhD Student
  3. Minority SURGE Capacity in Disasters (SURGE)
  4. https://www.surgedisasters.com/
  5. North Carolina State University
Public Discussion

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  • Icon for: DeeDee Bennett

    DeeDee Bennett

    Lead Presenter
    Assistant Professor
    May 13, 2019 | 08:45 a.m.

    Thank you for visiting our video. We have accomplished a lot in the first year, but are still hard at work. Last year, the students worked on natural science and debris management issues in St. Thomas, while learning about the human and built environment issues post-disaster. This year, with over 20 students, SURGE scholars will return to work on dedicated projects regarding food security, infrastructure mapping, construction management, and research data collection. Nearly two years from the initial impacts of the Hurricanes Irma and Maria, there is still so much work to be done. After we return from St. Thomas this year, the students will have a chance to present at the Natural Hazards Workshop in Colorado - https://hazards.colorado.edu/workshop/2019

    Learn more about our activities at https://www.surgedisasters.com/

    Please post any comments and join the discussion. 

  • Icon for: Jason Aloisio

    Jason Aloisio

    Researcher
    May 13, 2019 | 10:37 a.m.

    Hi SURGE team,

    I'm thrilled to see graduate-level programs that are focusing on issues around urban resiliency from a socio-ecological perspective.  I'm hopeful that alumni from Project TRUE (https://stemforall2019.videohall.com/p/1366) will be able be part of such programs as they advance in their careers.

     
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    DeeDee Bennett
  • Icon for: DeeDee Bennett

    DeeDee Bennett

    Lead Presenter
    Assistant Professor
    May 13, 2019 | 10:44 a.m.

    Hi Jason, 

    Thank you for viewing our video. Yes, we are interested in establishing a pipeline. Your program is great and could definitely offer proper preparation for new graduate students interested in this research. We should keep in contact. 

    -DeeDee

  • Icon for: Phillip Eaglin, PhD

    Phillip Eaglin, PhD

    Facilitator
    Founder and CEO
    May 13, 2019 | 04:41 p.m.

    How exciting that you are broadening participation of traditionally under-represented ethnic groups in STEM!  I am sure they will bring a perspective to solving problems in disaster recovery that addresses the needs of people in the communities they reflect!  Questions: Do the students have a chance to follow up with the people and projects they support in St. Thomas after they leave?  Are there ways for the students to continue to provide support (like data analysis, research) to those projects between visits?

  • Icon for: DeeDee Bennett

    DeeDee Bennett

    Lead Presenter
    Assistant Professor
    May 13, 2019 | 05:19 p.m.

    Hi Dr. Eaglin, 

    Thank you for viewing our video. Yes, this is year two for us and the students were able to learn about the needs specific to the area and develop relationships with on-site partners. This year (in June), the students are able to return to work on dedicated projects identified by researchers and community leaders on the ground. During the year (from 2018 to 2019), the students joined on conference meetings with the St. Thomas Recovery Team to learn and assist, as requested. We hope to develop remote projects that students can assist with virtually, going forward. 

    -DeeDee

     
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    Discussion is closed. Upvoting is no longer available

    Phillip Eaglin, PhD
    Terri Norton
    Danielle Watt
  • Icon for: Danielle Watt

    Danielle Watt

    Facilitator
    Director of Education, Outreach, Diversity
    May 14, 2019 | 02:46 p.m.

    Thank you for sharing your project on the importance of interdisciplinary research and having underrepresented STEM and social science students involved in solving problems in post natural disasters. Are the same students continuing the projects this year or new students? Do the returning students serve as mentors/project leads to familiarize/train new students? 

  • Icon for: DeeDee Bennett

    DeeDee Bennett

    Lead Presenter
    Assistant Professor
    May 14, 2019 | 03:07 p.m.

    Hi Danielle, 

    Thank you for visiting our video. The same students are continuing on the project this year. We held a kickoff in February to introduce the new students with the returning students. Together they met with our partners in St. Thomas and learned about research and service project needs on-the-ground at the kickoff. [Much of the video shows the activities during the kickoff].  The returning students have assisted in sharing the knowledge of the community partners and location (as well as the overall structure for the initiative). However, the projects were identified by our community partners and SURGE team leadership, based on student skillset, passions, and interest. The team decided on this structure based on our collective impact approach to involve all stakeholders, but we wanted to be sure the needs of our partners were prioritized. We want to extend the program to include undergraduates in the future - and plan to incorporate near-peer mentoring between graduate and undergraduate students.

     
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    Danielle Watt
  • Icon for: Nnenia Campbell

    Nnenia Campbell

    Co-Presenter
    Research Associate
    May 14, 2019 | 07:09 p.m.

    The first cohort of SURGE scholars remains in the program and is collaborating with the second cohort. They have not been formally assigned as mentors to the incoming students in terms of one-on-one mentor matches, but the intention is that they will bring knowledge and insights gained during the program's first year to bear on the activities that both cohorts of students undertake moving forward.

     
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    Discussion is closed. Upvoting is no longer available

    Danielle Watt
  • Icon for: Marcelo Worsley

    Marcelo Worsley

    Facilitator
    Assistant Professor
    May 13, 2019 | 11:16 p.m.

    This program provides important opportunities for students and the communities that they work with. One of the exciting things about this kind of work is considering how to support the communities after the award has come to an end. What are you current thoughts on this? Are there any plans to help the partners develop some of the skill sets are bringing, or to train local students that might continue to grow the important work that SURGE is doing?

  • Icon for: Nnenia Campbell

    Nnenia Campbell

    Co-Presenter
    Research Associate
    May 14, 2019 | 11:04 a.m.

    Thanks for your kind remarks, Marcelo! One of our students’ primary objectives for their boots-on-the-ground activities has been to utilize their collective academic lens to assess local needs and support efforts that are being driven by local groups. For example, in their meetings with representatives of the St. Thomas Recovery Team and the University of the Virgin Islands last summer, the students helped to conceptualize a food security project as a means of addressing broad concerns that emerged about the island’s heavy reliance on imported goods in the aftermath of the 2017 hurricane season. Our partners have since received an external grant to equip and promote home and community gardens tended by island residents. This summer, with local leaders at the helm of that newly stablished project, our students will provide data collection support and technical assistance for its implementation. They will work closely with our partners to share knowledge and ensure a cross-fertilization of ideas as an intentional departure from the “parachute research” approach that so often plagues disaster-stricken communities. We are continually inspired by their enthusiasm and mindfulness!

     
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    Molly Stuhlsatz
    Terri Norton
    Marcelo Worsley
    Danielle Watt
  • Icon for: Danielle Watt

    Danielle Watt

    Facilitator
    Director of Education, Outreach, Diversity
    May 14, 2019 | 02:50 p.m.

    Hello Nnenia, thank you for sharing your project. It's great that there has been an external grant to fund an idea conceptualized by the students. How are you assessing the impact of the program on the local community partners and sustainability model? 

  • Icon for: Nnenia Campbell

    Nnenia Campbell

    Co-Presenter
    Research Associate
    May 14, 2019 | 07:03 p.m.

    Hi Danielle,

    Thanks for your interest in our program! The first stage of partnering was assessed primarily using qualitative methods, including participant observation and interviews with local partners as part of the students' first trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands. The food security grant proposal incorporated plans for the local program manager to collect baseline data related to beneficiaries' food access, expenditures, and gardening knowledge with the idea that these data points could be used to measure progress toward program targets over time. The SURGE leadership team has not yet secured a funding mechanism to sustain ongoing student engagement beyond the INCLUDES grant period; however, we are hopeful that a proposal under review will provide a pathway toward this goal.

     
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    Danielle Watt
  • Icon for: Danielle Watt

    Danielle Watt

    Facilitator
    Director of Education, Outreach, Diversity
    May 16, 2019 | 02:38 p.m.

    Thank you for sharing and best on securing additional grants!

  • Icon for: Molly Stuhlsatz

    Molly Stuhlsatz

    Researcher
    May 15, 2019 | 10:57 a.m.

    Bravo! This is such an exciting project. I absolutely believe that building inter/trans-disciplinary teams and increasing diversity are the key to solving our most pressing challenges. Thank you so much for sharing your work. 

  • Icon for: DeeDee Bennett

    DeeDee Bennett

    Lead Presenter
    Assistant Professor
    May 15, 2019 | 11:54 a.m.

    Dear Molly,

    Thank you for viewing our video and your enthusiasm for our project. We are extremely excited to see how this type of engagement my both broaden participation and assist in solving our pressing challenges. 

    DeeDee

     

     
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    Molly Stuhlsatz
  • Icon for: Terri Norton

    Terri Norton

    Co-Presenter
    Associate Dean and Associate Professor
    May 16, 2019 | 10:27 a.m.

    Hi Molly, thank you for viewing our video! We firmly believe that diversity of perspective, expertise, and experience better enables our group to respond and contribute to the hazard mitigation and disaster recovery community.

  • Icon for: Salvador Huitzilopochtli

    Salvador Huitzilopochtli

    Graduate Student
    May 16, 2019 | 01:13 p.m.

    Great project!  I especially like the interdisciplinary approach.  Engaging community can be so tricky.  Do you have any advice or frameworks for others that might be interested in working in community? 

  • Icon for: DeeDee Bennett

    DeeDee Bennett

    Lead Presenter
    Assistant Professor
    May 16, 2019 | 06:47 p.m.

    Dear Salvador,

    Thank you for your kind words and taking the time to watch our video. You raise an excellent question. Based on very recent conversations, I believe that the SURGE team leaders may be able to contribute advice to other researchers working with community partners - and I think it's worth at least a journal article.  The first piece of advice is to listen to the community, they will tell you what is needed. Their priorities should drive your engagement, especially post disaster.

    DeeDee

  • Tricia Wachtendorf

    Researcher
    May 16, 2019 | 05:12 p.m.

     This is such a fantastic initiative! Our SURGE Fellows from the Disaster Research Center at the University of Delaware have had a wonderful experience. Thank you, SURGE Faculty, for doing so much to expand the diversity of participation and perspective in the disaster research field. 

  • Icon for: DeeDee Bennett

    DeeDee Bennett

    Lead Presenter
    Assistant Professor
    May 16, 2019 | 06:48 p.m.

    Dear Tricia,

    Thank you for your kind words, support of SURGE, and viewing our video! 

    DeeDee 

  • Wanda Bryant

    K-12 Teacher
    May 16, 2019 | 06:31 p.m.

    Thanks for sharing an interesting project.  I teach middle school in Detroit where my students are currently figuring out flood phenomena.  I look forward to check out the resource links provided to learn more.

  • Icon for: DeeDee Bennett

    DeeDee Bennett

    Lead Presenter
    Assistant Professor
    May 16, 2019 | 06:50 p.m.

    Dear Wanda,

    Thank you for viewing. We have links to key resources on disasters and post disaster reconnaissance on our website: www.surgedisasters.com

    DeeDee 

  • Icon for: Christopher Cappelli

    Christopher Cappelli

    Researcher
    May 17, 2019 | 09:05 a.m.

    Thank you for sharing your video!  This work is so important to move the field of disaster related research forward.  I was wondering if any part of your work is related to building internal capacity.  For example, in island nations especially, oftentimes it takes some time for first responders to arrive.  Is a part of their research coming up with ways that disaster-affected communities can respond to their immediate needs prior to the arrival of external assistance?  Thank you so much!

  • Icon for: DeeDee Bennett

    DeeDee Bennett

    Lead Presenter
    Assistant Professor
    May 17, 2019 | 02:09 p.m.

    Hi Christopher, 

    Thank you for your interest in our project and viewing the video. Our focus has primarily focused on long term recovery, due to timing and funding for this initiative. However, anecdotally we have learned of many uniques efforts that were undertaken by communities during response, which follows many lessons from disaster research about communities and disaster response.

    DeeDee

  • David McEntire

    Higher Ed Administrator
    May 17, 2019 | 02:23 p.m.

    We need the involvement of underrepresented groups in all aspects of society - but especially in terms of disaster research and the emergency management profession.  This SURGE project is not only invaluable, but of an urgent necessity due to rising vulnerability and risk.  I commend Dr. Bennett and all of the other faculty and students who are participating!

  • Icon for: DeeDee Bennett

    DeeDee Bennett

    Lead Presenter
    Assistant Professor
    May 18, 2019 | 07:08 p.m.

    Dear David McEntire,

    Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to view out video. This has been a team effort. In fact, two of our scholars took the lead on creating this video! They had all of the equipment ready and were eager to contribute.

    DeeDee

  • Further posting is closed as the showcase has ended.