News & Events
Northeastern Students Capture 1st Place and $10,000 prize in 6th Annual National Security Innovation Competition
"Next Generation Millimeter-Wave Body Imaging for Concealed Threat Detection" recognized by the National Homeland Defense Foundation. Northeastern captured the top prize of $10,000 for their entry “Next Generation Millimeter-Wave Body Imaging for Concealed Threat Detection” in the 2012 National Security Innovation Competition (NSIC) held at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS). Read More...
Students, Apply Today!
DHS HS-STEM Career Development Program at Northeastern University - ALERT is seeking applications from academically talented graduate engineering students who are interested in pursuing rewarding careers in Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) and related security threat detection fields upon graduation. Read More...
ALERT Research in Chemistry World
ALERT research, led by Prof. Louisa Hope-Weeks at Texas Tech University, could make the sensitive materials used in highly explosive detonators safer for mining and military use, as well as less harmful to the environment. Ionic Polymers Open Door to Greener, Safer Explosives.
NSF CAREER Grant Awarded to ALERT Researcher
NSF has awarded ALERT Researcher, Prof. Ashkan Vaziri the Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program award. This will be carried out by developing predictive theoretical and computational methods to understand the mechanical deformation of biomimetic systems and by performing detailed experiments at the micro and nano- scale.Read more...
RICC Presentations & Posters Now Available for Download
Selected presentations and posters are now available for viewing on the RICC website
Center Researchers are Awarded Prestigious College Appointments
Professor Akram Alshawabkeh has been appointed as a George A. Snell Professor of Engineering at Northeastern University and Professor Carey Rappaport has been appointed as a College of Engineering Distinguished Professor at Northeastern University. Selected from a highly competitive pool of candidates, these appointments recognizes the scholarship, technical and professional leadership, university citizenship, positive example, and strong contribution to the reputation, impact, and success of the College and University of both individuals. Our congratulations to Akram and Carey!
"Bomb Squad Plants"
ALERT researcher Samuel Hernández-Rivera and team have their work investigating the ability of three Caribbean plants - Rubia tinctorum, Lippia dulcis and Spermacoce remota - to remove TNT featured in the November Issue of UK Royal Society of Chemistry's "Chemistry World News". Read Article...
Research-Industrial Collaboration Conference
This year's RICC on October 13,2010 focused on Research to Reality - transitioning university research to the field. Student Research Posters are currently available for viewing on the RICC website and conference presentations will be posted shortly.
Northeastern President meets with Homeland Security Secretary
One week after opening the George J. Kostas Research Institute for Homeland Security, Northeastern President Joseph Aoun traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. Please visit the Northeastern news website to learn more.
Michael Silevitch quoted in FoxNews article, Northeastern News
ALERT co-director Michael Silevitch was quoted in a September 8th Fox News article "After 9/11: Ten Years of Tech Made Airports Safer, Experts Say". In the article, Prof. Silevitch discusses some of the recent ALERT work in crowd behavior and novel sensors - read more here.
This coverage dovetails with his recent Q&A with Northeastern News, available here.
See video of ALERT Researcher Carey Rappaport discussing his suicide bomber detection technique
Carey Rappaport is researching the next wave of technologies that can detect explosives being concealed on a person's body. Go to Northeastern's Youtube Channel to see the video.
Xi-Cheng Zhang wins IEEE Photonics Society William Streifer Scientific Achievement Award
Congratulations to ALERT researcher, Dr. Xi-Cheng Zhang, as the recipient of the 2011 IEEE Photonics Society William Streifer Scientific Achievement Award. This prestigious award is given to recognize an exceptional single scientific contribution which has had a significant impact in the field of lasers and electro-optics in the past 10 years. Dr. Zang's award will be given "for exceptional contribution of terahertz (THz) air photonics, especially free-space coherent detection of ultra-broadband THz waves."
May 2011 - 3Qs: Train safety on track, but at what cost?
news@Northeastern interviews Prof. Carey Rappaport on the feasibility and effectiveness of a nationwide rail security system and discusses potential public reaction. Read article...
ADSA05 - May 3 & 4th, 2011
The fifth workshop in the Algorithm Development for Security Applications (ADSA) series, this workshop will focus on fusing orthogonal technologies for detecting explosives for aviation applications.This event is by invitation only. For details about this event: ALERT Offices, alert-info@coe.neu.edu
This focus was chosen for the following reasons, which were articulated by the participants at the first four ADSA workshops:
- A single modality does not exist to meet all the DHS's future detection requirements
- There are algorithmic and operational issues when technologies are fused
The technologies that will be covered are:
- X-ray diffraction (XRD), along with diffraction enhanced and index of refraction imaging
- Quadrupole resonance (QR)
- Raman scatter
- Explosive trace detection (ETD) and sampling schemes
- Terahertz imaging and spectroscopy (THZ)
April 2011- Research heads meet in D.C. with homeland security cabinet secretary
news@Northeastern features ALERT co-Director's visit to Washington D.C. for the Department of Homeland Security's University Network Summit.Read article...
Open Call for Proposals has Concluded
CT Segmentation Project has ended the open call for proposals. Detailed information...
March 2011
President Aoun urges protection of Homeland Security research funding
As president of a university that is home to one of the country's Department of Homeland Security Centers of Excellence, Aoun is urging Sens. John Kerry and Scott Brown to oppose proposed federal budget cuts. Read article...
NOPP Names "Marine Mammal Detection and Monitoring" Funding Award Winners
Gordon-CenSSIS Researcher Purnima Ratilal is one of five individuals awarded multiple-year funds for marine mammal detection, classification and localization by the National Oceanographic Partnership Program. Dr. Ratilal's proposal topic: "Instantaneous Passive and Active Detection, Localization and Monitoring of Marine Mammals over Long Ranges". Read article...
R2R breakout sessions on Gordon-CenSSIS YouTube Channel
Streaming Video from Civil Infrastructure and Assessment Track and Biomedical and Biological Track available on the Gordon-CenSSIS YouTube Channel
2nd Safety Awareness Education Program Course - October 27, 2010
The next safety course has been scheduled for 10/27/10 from 10:30am ET to 1:00pm ET (2.5 hours). The host institution is Texas Tech University led by Profs. Brandon Weeks and Louisa Hope-Weeks.
This is a closed course for ALERT research participants - All students involved with ALERT working with energetic materials are expected to attend. WebEx connections to this meeting are available for those wanting to attend remotely. Contact the ALERT offices for more information alert-info@coe.neu.edu. The agenda is as follows:
- 10:30-11:30 - Presentation by Jared Martin(TTU Office of Environmental Health and Safety) on Lab Safety at Texas Tech
- 11:30-12:00 - Presentation by Bill Koppes & Alex Schuman on Synthesis Safety and Fire-set Safety
- 12:00-1:00 - Presentation by Jimmie Oxley on Lessons Learned
Gordon-CenSSIS/ALERT: Research & Industrial Collaboration Conference - October 19, 2010
This year's conference will focus on Research to Reality (R2R), or transitioning university research to the field. The day will begin with keynotes from program managers at NSF and DHS, who can speak to each agency's perspective on R2R. For more information, please visit, www.censsis.neu.edu/RICC/2010
ALERT ADSA4 Workshop - October 5-6, 2010
Time: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: Inn at Longwood, 342 Longwood Avenue, Boston MA 02115
This workshop focused on reconstruction algorithms for CT-based explosives detection systems for checked and carry-on baggage.
Contact for details about this event: ALERT Offices, alert-info@coe.neu.edu
Nature interviews researcher X.C. Zhang
Searching for terahertz waves - Abstract: A scheme for the remote sensing of terahertz waves over distances of tens of metres could have important applications in security and biology. Xi-Cheng Zhang from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute spoke to Nature Photonics about his group's latest work in this field. Nature Photonics 4, 662 (2010) [Posted: Sept. 2010]. Read Interview...
A Revolutionary Breakthrough in Terahertz Remote Sensing
Unique THz "fingerprints" will identify hidden explosives from a distance - A major breakthrough in remote wave sensing by a team of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute researchers opens the way for detecting hidden explosives, chemical or biological agents, and illegal drugs from a distance of 20 meters. RPI News [Published: July 12, 2010] Read article...
Algorithm Development for Security Applications (ADSA) Workshop 3: Application to Advanced Imaging Technology (Whole Body Imaging)
APRIL 27 & 28, 2010, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
By invitation only. Contact Carey Rappaport to be considered for invitation.
Event Details...
Safety Awareness Education Course
APRIL 23, 2010, distributed to various locations via WebEx Meeting Center
This is a closed event and advanced registration is required. Please contact Mariah Nobrega for registration or more information via email: mnobrega@coe.neu.edu or by phone at 617-373-3031. This course will be held on a semi-annual basis, contact Mariah Nobrega for future dates. Event Details...
Q & A on preventing terrorism with imaging techniques
ALERT Co-Director, Michael Silevitch, speaks with news@Northeastern on research being done within ALERT and The Bernard M. Gordon Center For Subsurface Sensing and Imaging Systems(Gordon-CenSSIS) to help prevent future acts of terror.Read Article
Center of Excellence, START, releases Background Report On the Fifteenth Anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing
The report includes information on the Oklahoma City bombing and data and graphs on terrorist attacks and behavior. Read Announcement...
ALERT Researcher, Carey Rappaport is interviewed in "Seeing Below the Surface to Advance Safety", Northeastern News, Nov. 16, 2009 issue
Professor Rappaport talks of his work involving ALERT, Gordon-CenSSIS and VOTERS in an interview for Northeastern News. Read full interview...
An ALERT Short Course, Dynamic Compression & Fracture of Materials
AUG. 17-21, 2009 AT NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
Understanding and modeling the response of materials to dynamic loading, characterized by high stresses and short time scales, is central to mitigation strategies against explosive loading and/or high velocity fragment impacts. A unique feature of material fracture under dynamic loading is that compression always precedes tension. Hence, understanding material response under both dynamic compression and tension is important. This course has been developed to provide the attendees a comprehensive learning experience regarding the dynamic compression and fracture of materials. The course will consist of three main elements: fundamentals of large amplitude stress wave propagation (60 percent); use of pulsed power drivers for achieving shock wave and shockless compression (20 percent); dynamic fracture (20 percent). Each part will be taught by an expert possessing a strong in-depth understanding of the subject material. The course will emphasize fundamentals, contemporary developments, and future challenges. Significant time will be set aside for discussion between the speakers and the attendees. The course content will be at the level of a graduate course in physical sciences and engineering.
The short course will be taught by Prof. Y.M. Gupta of Washington State University, with guest lecturers Dr. M.D. Knudson of Sandia National Laboratory and Dr. G.T. Gray of Los Alamos National Laboratory.
To register for this course or for further information, contact Mariah Nobrega at 617-373-3031 or
mnobrega at coe.neu.edu
Course Outline:
Fundamentals of Large-Amplitude Stress Wave Propagation
> Overview
> Plane Shock Waves in Compressible Media (Fluids and Elastic Solids)
> Wave Instabilities and Multiple Waves (Phase Transformations and Elastic-Plastic Deformation)
> Overview of Experimental Methods and Numerical Simulations
> Scientific Challenges and Future Directions
Shock Wave and Shockless Compression Using Pulsed Power Drivers
> Pulsed Power Drivers
> Shock Wave Compression to Very High Pressures
> Shockless Compression of Condensed Matter
Dynamic Fracture
> Material Fracture under Quasi-Static and Dynamic Loading
> Role of Microstructure and Loading Conditions
> Material Design to Resist Dynamic Fracture
Cost:
This short course is free of charge to ALERT-affiliated individuals.
Accomodations:
Best Western Longwood - Boston
www.innatlongwood.com
Rate: $165/night + tax
Reference: ALERT Short Course
Hotel reservations: (617) 731-4700
Sponsored by:
Awareness and Localization of Explosives-Related Threats, A Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence www.neu.edu/alert
ATTENDANCE IS LIMITED - PLEASE REGISTER ASAP TO GUARANTEE YOUR SPACE
ALERT Researchers Win Multi-million Dollar Grant to Develop Critical Infrastructure Sensing Technology
Northeastern University has been awarded a $9 million federal research grant to develop new multi-sensor technology systems for cars and trucks that will allow for real-time assessment of road and bridge infrastructure across the country. Northeastern will lead the five-year VOTERS (Versatile Onboard Traffic Embedded Roaming Sensors) project along with a range of government, industry, and academic partners. Read Article...
STATEMENT OF CONGRESSMAN EDWARD J. MARKEY (D-MA) IN RECOGNITION OF NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY'S LEADERSHIP OF ALERT PROGRAM:
"As a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and longstanding advocate of improved explosive detection technologies, I am proud of the contributions that academic research institutions including Northeastern University are making to counter explosive-related threats. Northeastern's designation as a Center of Excellence by the Department ofHomeland Security is particularly impressive, and it recognizes the university's leadership and strength in the field of sensing and imaging. I look forward to seeing the results of this vital research, which could lead to important advances in our country's ability to thwart attacks involving explosives and mitigate damage if such attacks do occur." - October 30, 2008.
DHS Center of Excellence Ribbon Cutting at the Gordon-CenSSIS RICC
The launching of the new Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence for Awareness and Localization of Explosives-Related Threats (ALERT) took place during the Gordon-CenSSIS Research & Industrial Collaboration Conference (RICC), on October 29-30, 2008, at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. Admiral Jay M. Cohen, Undersecretary of Science and Technology for the Department of Homeland Security helped launch Northeastern's newly funded Center of Awareness and Localization of Explosives-Related Threats (ALERT), a Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence. Read Northeastern Article...