The US Department of Homeland Security has selected Stevens Institute of Technology to lead a new Center of Excellence for Maritime, Island and Port Security. Stevens will partner with other universities to conduct research over 4-6 years with up to $2 million in funding annually. The Center will develop new technologies to strengthen maritime awareness and security for ports and islands. Stevens will focus on port security research while the University of Hawaii leads maritime and island security research.

1. US Department of Homeland Security selects
Stevens Institute of Technology to lead national
research effort in Port Security
T
he US Department of Homeland Security
has announced the selection of Stevens Institute
of Technology as one of 11 universities to serve as
important partners for conducting multi-disciplinary
research and creating innovative learning environments
for critical homeland security missions. These universities
will partner to lead one of five new Centers of Excellence
and each will receive a multi-year grant of up to $2 mil-
lion per year, over a period of four to six years.
The five new Centers of Excellence, located tire team at Stevens who have achieved this The winning proposal led by Stevens in-
across the country, will study border security
recognition, and who will make significant volves other universities including Rutgers
and immigration; explosives detection, contributions to research that will benefit University, the University of Miami, MIT,
mitigation, and response; maritime, island the nation’s maritime and port security infra- the University of Alaska, and the University
and port security; natural disasters, coastal
structure,” said Stevens’ Provost & Uni- of Puerto Rico.
infrastructure and emergency management; versity Vice President, George P. Korfiatis.
and transportation security. “This recognition is the “We look forward to initiating a range of
result of a highly selec- leading-edge research projects to address the
Stevens in Hoboken, N.J., This recognition is tive national competition complex security issues facing our nation’s
and The University of Ha- the result of a highly among research universi- ports and Marine Transportation System
waii in Honolulu , Hawaii, ties. Stevens’ long history of (MTS),” said Dr. Bruno. “Together with
will co-lead a new Center selective national maritime engineering and our partners, we will break new ground in
of Excellence for Maritime, competition among pre-eminence in the realm the integrated use of multi-scale sensors
Island and Port Security, of port and harbor security and computer simulation and forecasting
responsible for conducting
research universities. will guarantee for years models to equip our port security and first-
research and developing to come a steady flow of responder communities with the technolo-
new ways to strengthen maritime domain technology advances of national significance gies and processes needed to ensure the safe
awareness and safeguard populations and as part of the DHS program.” and efficient operation of the MTS, which
properties unique to US islands, and remote is responsible for the vast majority of the
and extreme environments. Stevens will “Investments in long-term, basic research nation’s international commerce. True to
lead research and education in port secu- are vital for the future of homeland secu- the Stevens tradition, we will weave these
rity and the University of Hawaii will lead rity,” said Jay M. Cohen, Under Secretary research activities into our education and
research and education for maritime and for Science and Technology. “These colleges professional training programs, to ensure
island security. and universities are leaders in their fields of that our students are equipped to contribute
study. They will provide scientific expertise, immediately to the solutions to these very
“Congratulations to the Dean of Engineer- high-quality resources, and independent complex problems.”
ing & Science Michael S. Bruno and the en- thought – all valuable to securing America.”
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