The Computing Community Consortium (CCC), together with the National Science Foundation (NSF), is co-sponsoring a limited-participation visioning workshop on computing for disaster management. Led by Robin Murphy (Texas A&M University) and Trevor Darrell (University of California, Berkeley), the workshop will identify ways in which fundamental computing research in the broadest terms can advance the field of emergency response and recovery. The workshop will take place in Washington, DC, on April 23-24, 2012.

From the call for participation (following the link):

Disasters are often viewed as an application for computing and there are many instances where existing research streams can be leveraged to improve the enterprise. However, the unique attributes of disasters (extreme temporal and spatial scales, unpredictability, compromised wireless and physical information infrastructures, lack of access to the disaster sites, distributed sources of information and expertise, etc.) pose hidden computing challenges in real-time data sensing, visualization, analysis and prediction capabilities for on-the-fly decision-making, that can serve to not only advance emergency response and recovery but also drive forward the field of computer and information science and engineering broadly speaking.

 

The workshop will identify (1) fundamental research questions for individual computing disciplines and (2) cross-cutting research questions requiring novel, multi-disciplinary solutions. The workshop will include U.S. leaders in academia, the public sector, and industry. Results of this workshop will be presented to the NSF by June 20 in order to inform possible future initiatives.

 

The workshop will include presentations from invited thought-leaders and agency representatives, brainstorming, and case studies and focus group sessions with disaster professionals.  Participants will meet and engage with scientists and practitioners outside their areas in order to share and identify multi-disciplinary opportunities.

 

Travel, meals, and lodging expenses for up to 35 approved participants will be reimbursed by the CCC. Attendees must commit to participation for the entire workshop. Due to space limitations, we can seat only 35 participants. We encourage interested experts from academia, government, industry, and the non-profit sector to submit a short proposal for participation via email including:

 

1. Name, affiliation, and contact info; and
2. Two to three broad research ideas relevant to the workshop goals outlined above.

 

Proposals must be under two pages in plain text or .rtf format. We especially encourage researchers still in the early stages of their careers to apply.  In addition, we are seeking four graduate students to assist with the workshop; their travel and expenses will be funded as well.  They should attach a letter of recommendation from their advisor in addition to the materials above.

 

Please email your proposal by this Sunday, March 25th to cdmworkshopchairs@googlegroups.com. Selected applicants will be notified by Wednesday, March 29th.

To learn more, visit the workshop website.

(Contributed by Erwin Gianchandani, CCC Director)