"This Science and Technology Directorate Strategic plan defines how the Directorate identifies priorities, goals, objectives and policy for coordinating the Federal Government's civilian efforts to identify and develop scientific solutions and technological countermeasures to address a wide variety of terrorist and natural threats to the homeland. It illustrates the conduct of this Science and Technology management program through daily collaboration with national laboratories, organic laboratories, and numerous other agencies of government, academia, and the private sector, both domestic and international."--P. 3.

Vulnerabilities abound in U.S. society. The openness and efficiency of our key infrastructures â€" transportation, information and telecommunications systems, health systems, the electric power grid, emergency response units, food and water supplies, and others â€" make them susceptible to terrorist attacks. Making the Nation Safer discusses technical approaches to mitigating these vulnerabilities. A broad range of topics are covered in this book, including: Nuclear and radiological threats, such as improvised nuclear devices and "dirty bombs;" Bioterrorism, medical research, agricultural systems and public health; Toxic chemicals and explosive materials; Information technology, such as communications systems, data management, cyber attacks, and identification and authentication systems; Energy systems, such as the electrical power grid and oil and natural gas systems; Transportation systems; Cities and fixed infrastructures, such as buildings, emergency operations centers, and tunnels; The response of people to terrorism, such as how quality of life and morale of the population can be a target of terrorists and how people respond to terrorist attacks; and Linked infrastructures, i.e. the vulnerabilities that result from the interdependencies of key systems. In each of these areas, there are recommendations on how to immediately apply existing knowledge and technology to make the nation safer and on starting research and development programs that could produce innovations that will strengthen key systems and protect us against future threats. The book also discusses issues affecting the government's ability to carry out the necessary science and engineering programs and the important role of industry, universities, and states, counties, and cities in homeland security efforts. A long term commitment to homeland security is necessary to make the nation safer, and this book lays out a roadmap of how science and engineering can assist in countering terrorism.

This report describes many ways in which science and engineering can contribute to making the nation safer against the threat of catastrophic terrorism. The report identifies key actions that can be undertaken now, based on knowledge and technologies in hand, and, equally important, describes key opportunities for reducing current and future risks through longer-term research and development activities.

Advanced technologies and systems in the hands of dedicated people throughout the United States are the nation's asymmetrical advantages in safeguarding our security. U.S. leadership in science and technology is vital to the security of the homeland as well as the safety of our allies, coalition partners and friends worldwide. "Now, more than ever," then-Secretary of State Colin Powell remarked in 2004, "American science must enlighten American statecraft." This fundamental perspective guides the strategies, plans and programs of the Science and Technology (S & T) Directorate in the Department of Homeland Security. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 which established the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires that the Department plan, coordinate and integrate all U.S. government activities relating to homeland security, including border security, intelligence, critical infrastructure protection, emergency preparedness and response, and science and technology. Underscoring the critical role of science and technology to America's security, the Act gave the Science and Technology Directorate the responsibility to advise the DHS Secretary on S & T requirements, priorities and programs that support the Department's vision and mission. The 2002 Act also charged the S & T Directorate to carry out basic and applied Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT & E) for America's homeland security needs. And, among other initiatives and mandates, the Act called for a specialized Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA, patterned after the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) within the S & T Directorate to: ... support basic and applied homeland security research to promote revolutionary changes in technologies; advance the development, testing and evaluation, and deployment of critical homeland security technologies; and accelerate the prototyping and deployment of technologies that would address homeland security vulnerabilities.

Vulnerabilities abound in U.S. society. The openness and efficiency of our key infrastructures â€" transportation, information and telecommunications systems, health systems, the electric power grid, emergency response units, food and water supplies, and others â€" make them susceptible to terrorist attacks. Making the Nation Safer discusses technical approaches to mitigating these vulnerabilities. A broad range of topics are covered in this book, including: Nuclear and radiological threats, such as improvised nuclear devices and "dirty bombs;" Bioterrorism, medical research, agricultural systems and public health; Toxic chemicals and explosive materials; Information technology, such as communications systems, data management, cyber attacks, and identification and authentication systems; Energy systems, such as the electrical power grid and oil and natural gas systems; Transportation systems; Cities and fixed infrastructures, such as buildings, emergency operations centers, and tunnels; The response of people to terrorism, such as how quality of life and morale of the population can be a target of terrorists and how people respond to terrorist attacks; and Linked infrastructures, i.e. the vulnerabilities that result from the interdependencies of key systems. In each of these areas, there are recommendations on how to immediately apply existing knowledge and technology to make the nation safer and on starting research and development programs that could produce innovations that will strengthen key systems and protect us against future threats. The book also discusses issues affecting the government's ability to carry out the necessary science and engineering programs and the important role of industry, universities, and states, counties, and cities in homeland security efforts. A long term commitment to homeland security is necessary to make the nation safer, and this book lays out a roadmap of how science and engineering can assist in countering terrorism.

This volume presents the papers and summarizes the discussions of a workshop held in Goa, India, in January 2004, organized by the Indian National Institute of Advanced Science (NIAS) and the U.S. Committee on International Security and Arms Control (CISAC). During the workshop, Indian and U.S. experts examined the terrorist threat faced in both countries and elsewhere in the world, and explored opportunities for the U.S. and India to work together. Bringing together scientists and experts with common scientific and technical backgrounds from different cultures provided a unique opportunity to explore possible means of preventing or mitigating future terrorist attacks.