About
The Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence - Natural Disasters, Coastal Infrastructure and Emergency Management (DIEM) is one of 13 centers authorized by Congress and chosen by the Department's Science & Technology Directorate through a competitive selection process. Each center represents a collaborative effort with partners from other institutions, agencies, laboratories, think tanks, and the private sector. The Homeland Security Centers of Excellence bring together leading experts and researchers to conduct multidisciplinary research and educational initiatives. For more information about the current Center’s of Excellence, please see http://www.dhs.gov/xres/programs/editorial_0498.shtm.
DIEM is comprised of 19 universities and partners and is currently engaged in 21 research projects within four primary research areas – 1) Coastal Hazard Modeling; 2) Engineering to Enhance the Resilience of the Built and Natural Environment; 3) Disaster Response and Social Resilience; and 4) Planning for Resilience (please see center overview and current research for more information).
Partners include: California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo; Georgia State University; Jackson State University; Louisiana State University; Medical University of South Carolina; Mississippi State University; NOAA National Weather Service Severe Storms Laboratory; North Carolina State University; Renaissance Computing Institute; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Rice University; Texas Southern University; University of Connecticut; University of Delaware; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; University of North Carolina at Charlotte; University of Oklahoma; University of Texas at Dallas; and the U.S Army Corps of Engineers.
DIEM is comprised of two co-leads—the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (center administration and research) and Jackson State University (education)