Press Release

May 19, 2010
CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE $3.3 MILLION IN DHS FUNDING FOR U. OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
Funding Will Be Used to Further Knowledge of Terrorism


WASHINGTON –


U.S.



Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and
Barbara A. Mikulski

(both D-MD) today announced that the

University
of
Maryland
, College Park (UMCP) will receive a $3.3 million U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Center
of
Excellence

grant to provide funding for the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START).


The START program, which is based at UMCP, was competitively selected by the DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate to use state-of-the-art theories, methods, and data from the social and behavioral sciences to improve the understanding of the origins, dynamics, and social and psychological impacts of terrorism. START has assembled a team of more than 65 researchers from institutions across the

United States
and around the world working on ways to disrupt terrorist networks, reduce the incidence of terrorism, and enhance the resilience of
U.S.

society in the face of the terrorist threat.


“We are at war with the terrorists who want to destroy our way of life,” said
Senator Cardin, chairman of the Homeland Security and Terrorism Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee.
  “The Univeristy of Maryland is at the forefront of groundbreaking research into terrorism that will help us prevent future attacks and ultimately defeat those who want to do us harm.”



 


“As a nation fighting a war on terrorism, we need to be safer, stronger and smarter so that we are able to better detect, prevent and respond to acts of terrorism,” said
Senator Mikulski, a member of Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee.
  “START is an incredible asset to the Department of Homeland Security in this effort and I congratulate the


University
of
Maryland

for this well-deserved recognition.”


 


The DHS is providing a sixth year of funding for the

Center
of
Excellence

grant program, totaling $49.3 million in funding for the University program. At the UMCP, START will continue to fund 20 projects, student social-science research initiatives at the graduate and undergraduate levels, among other activities.

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