Structurally Sound - Institute for Homeland Security

The new world screwworm is a nasty pest that's back in Texas for the first time in decades. Monitoring and communication are key - but so is old-school technology to eradicate the parasite without pesticides. Also, the Institute for Homeland Security is headed to Brownsville this week to help strategize hurricane preparations and response. We're bringing along an interactive "Simtable" and our resident meteorologist as well.

We're joined by Dr. Monty Dozier, the program director for disaster assessment and recovery at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service; Heberto Villarreal, the project manager for the transportation systems sector at the Institute for Homeland Security; and, Dr. Robert Gauthreaux, assistant professor of practice in the Department of Media & Communication.

Information is everywhere. Do you have a plan to cut through the noise in a crisis? This week, we chat about information overload and effective communication strategies with Sam Houston State's Dr. Robert Gauthreaux, an assistant professor of practice of journalism and emerging media, and Dr. Tony Yao, an assistant professor of emerging media.

There's always some subjectivity in security assessments, but translating that expertise into business speak and statistical equations can make a world of difference in corporate security. This week, we chat with Brandon Martin, the executive director of the Energy Security Council, about his organization and lessons learned from his years in law enforcement and the private sector. 

Generative artificial intelligence has the potential to upend most industries - but it only works if you know how to work with it, not hide behind it. This week, we look back on last month's INFORMS Analytics+ conference with Daniel Windle, director of sales operations at Trinity Industries; Andrew Hartley, a data analyst with Navy Federal Financial Group; and David Stone, a research associate with the Institute for Homeland Security.

Imagine a ladle on a stick. Now imagine you're dipping in untreated waste water. How many viruses would you pull up - and what could those pathogens say about local health? This week, we chat about wastewater monitoring, viral DNA and public health with Dr. Michelle Crum, the interim chair of the department of preventative medicine and population health at the University of Texas at Tyler, and Dr. Blake Hanson, assistant professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center.

How do you plan for mass casualty incidents, especially in healthcare? Tabletop exercises and planning are a good start - especially when they prompt unexpected or innovative questions. This week, we chat with Donald Berger, Administrative Director of Safety Operations at University Medical Center and El Paso Children’s Hospital, and Dr. Joel Hendryx, the recently retired chief medical officer at University Medical Center of El Paso, about the importance of adapting and developing MCI training.

Who do you trust? Who would you call right now if your industry took a sudden left turn? If a name isn't springing to mind, then you might want to work on building your trust network. This week, we chat with Dr. Jason Davis and Mike Maloney about the importance of trust, how to build likeability and memorability, and the importance of strong and weak ties.

Everyone notices when something expensive breaks. Smaller issues, like water leaks and electrical issues, can fly under the radar - but those charges really add up. They can also fall under different terms or onto different expense reports, making them harder to track and prevent. This week, we chat with Dr. Robert Emery, the vice president for safety, health, environment & risk management for The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and professor of occupational health at the University of Texas School of Public Health, about keeping a safety eye on small expenses and the wordswe use to emphasize and categorize them.

Effective communication is all about cutting through the noise and providing accurate information - especially during a crisis. This week, we chat about agricultural crises, trust networks and a bit of farm economics with Blair Fannin, the media relations manager and disaster assessment and recovery public information officer for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

A few months ago, when the Iranian government faced major nationwide protests, they turned off the internet for most of the population. Could that happen in the United States? This week, we chat with Dr. Karpoor Shashidhar and Dr. Cihan Varol of the computer science department at Sam Houston State about internet infrastructure at home and abroad. We also talk with Scott McHugh, program executive for the private sector at the Institute for Homeland Security, about the geopolitics of internet disconnection and access.