Fall 2009
Dynamic Robustness in Emergent Communication Networks
Speaker: Dr. Carter Butts, Department of Sociology and Institute for Mathematical Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Irvine
Date & Time: December 10, 2009, 11:30 AM-1:00 PM
Location: Taubman Building, Room 275
Presented in collaboration with the Taubman Center for State and Local Government and the Program on Networked Governance. Professor Butts examined the robustness of emergency responder communication networks during periods of disruption and instability, focusing on communication among responders to the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center disaster.
“Un-Natural Disasters” - The Toll of Human Occupancy of Hazardous Areas
Speaker: Edward A. Thomas Esq.
Date & Time: November 19, 2009, 3:00-4:30 PM
Location: Ash Center Conference Room (Room 226), 2nd Floor North, 124 Mt. Auburn
Mr. Thomas, a former senior administrator with FEMA, explored the mounting toll of misery caused by human occupancy of hazardous areas, the reasons why society encourages and enables this behavior, and the impediments to preventing it. He also led an interactive conversation on implementing change.
Seismic Safety in Emerging Nations: Making Schools Safer
Speaker: Brian Tucker, Executive Director of GeoHazards International (MPA ’91)
Date & Time: October 27, 2009, 5:00-6:30 PM
Location: Ash Center Conference Room (Room 226), 2nd Floor North, 124 Mt. Auburn
Brian Tucker founded GeoHazards International, a nonprofit organization working to reduce the risk of natural hazards in the world’s most vulnerable communities through preparedness, mitigation and advocacy. For his innovative work, Tucker was named a 2002 MacArthur Fellow. In this talk, Mr. Tucker discussed his organization’s efforts to improve seismic safety standards in developing countries.
Preparing for a Crisis: A Briefing on H1N1 Influenza
Speaker: Dr. Paul Biddinger, Associate Director, Center for Public Health Preparedness, Harvard School of Public Health
Date & Time: October 21, 2009, 2:30-3:30 PM
Location: Weil Town Hall, Belfer Building
Dr. Biddinger, Associate Director of the Center for Public Health Preparedness at the Harvard School of Public Health and Director of Operations in the Emergency Department of Massachusetts General Hospital, explored efforts to prepare for H1N1 influenza, the status of the response to the epidemic, and the implications for the future of emergency preparedness. Dr. Biddinger also answered questions on crisis management and health policy careers.
Organized by the HKS Crisis Management Student Group.
Preparing for Disaster: A Comprehensive Risk Management Framework
Speakers: Professor Herman B. "Dutch" Leonard and Dr. Arnold M. Howitt
Date & Time: September 29, 2009, 4:30-6:00 PM
Location: Ash Institute Conference Room (Room 226), 2nd Floor North, 124 Mt. Auburn
Professor Leonard and Dr. Howitt introduced students to a comprehensive risk management framework for analyzing and improving disaster mitigation, response, and recovery.
Real World Brown Bag Lunch
Speaker: Patrick Meier, Fellow, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI)
Date & Time: September 22, 2009, 12:00–1:00 PM
Location: Ash Center Conference Room (Room 226), 2nd Floor North, 124 Mt. Auburn
Patrick Meier, a Doctoral Research Fellow with the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative’s Crisis Mapping & Early Warning Program, discussed cutting edge technologies (SMS, Google Earth, Very High Resolution [VHR] satellite imagery, UAVs) in conflict early warning, crisis management, and humanitarian response.
Organized by the HKS Crisis Management Student Group.
Program on Crisis Leadership and Crisis Management Student Group Welcome Session
Date & Time: September 16, 2009, 4:30 PM
Location: Taubman Building, Room 275
Short presentations from faculty, staff, and student leaders. Featured groups included the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative; the Program on Crisis Leadership (including the Acting in Time Disaster Recovery Project); the Broadmoor Initiative (New Orleans); and the Crisis Management Student Group PIC.