Undergraduate Research Examines How Precarious Populations Weather Hurricanes
TAMPA, Fla. (July 20, 2009) – The University of South Florida’s Office of Undergraduate Research will present a series of new research projects Wednesday examining the impact of hurricanes on children, the elderly, the impoverished and the infirm in the third year of the unique National Science Foundation-funded program.
Centered on the theme of “The Social Impact of Hurricanes on Vulnerable Populations,” the Hurricane Studies Research Experience for Undergraduates symposium begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Marshall Student Center, Room 2709. The projects are the work of 10 undergraduates from a variety of disciplines and who hail from colleges and universities nationwide.
The symposium is the culmination of an intensive, nine-week program where students working with faculty mentors focused on hurricane hazards and social vulnerabilities of individuals and communities. During the program, students immersed themselves in understanding how individuals, communities and institutions prepare for, experience and recover from hurricanes and visited local emergency operations centers, the NOAA National Weather Service, and MacDill Air Force Base, home of “Hurricane Hunter” airplanes.
“Mentored by some of USF’s outstanding faculty experts, our students have worked very hard over these past two months not only to master important research skills, but to apply them in projects that will lead to better hurricane preparation, response and recovery in the future,’ said Naomi Yavneh, Director, Office of Undergraduate Research.
“They have also received training in such areas of humanitarian intervention as psychological first aid and Red Cross sheltering certification, so that they are prepared to improve both immediate and long-term hurricane outcomes. It has been a privilege to work with such intelligent and compassionate students and professors. ”
The following is a list of projects to be presented:
Interdisciplinary Group Projects:
“Shooting at Hurricanes: Framework and Methods”
Jacob Norlund
Language and International Studies
College of Saint Scholastica, MN
“Shooting at Hurricanes: Preparedness and Pets”
Aly Collins
Mass Communications
University of South Florida
“Shooting at Hurricanes: Perceptions and Programs”
Samuel Cramer
Atmospheric Science
Cornell University, NY
Mentors: Graham Tobin, Ph.D., Geography & Margarethe Kusenback, Ph.D., Sociology
“A Preliminary Study of the Effects of Social Networks on Hurricane Evacuation”
Danielle Daniels
Sociology
University of South Florida
Second presenter:
“Social Network Influence on Transportation and Travel Distance During a Hurricane Evacuation”
Marie-Louise Callahan
Geography
Plymouth State University
Mentors: Jennifer Collins, Ph.D., Geography & Beverly Ward, Ph.D., Anthropology
Individual Projects:
“SAVED: Assessing the Needs and Desires of Older Black Adults for Hurricane Services”
Alison Brooks
Environmental Studies
Elon University, NC
Mentor: Lisa Brown, Ph.D., Psychology
“The Effectiveness of Hurricane Preparedness Training for Children in Decreasing Anxiety and
Increasing Coping.”
Jenny Burges
International Relations
University of South Florida
Mentor: Jennifer Baggerly, Ph.D., Education
“Evacuation Policies and Practices for Sexual Offenders: A Study of Four Florida Counties”
Danielle Edwards
Sociology
University of South Florida
Mentor: Robin Ersing, Ph.D., Social Work
“Evolution of the National Response Framework: Meeting the Needs of Limited English Proficient
and Non- English Speaking U.S. Citizens”
Taushia Brooks
Psychology
College of Saint Scholastica
Mentor: Tom Mason, Ph.D., Public Health
“Evaluation of Community Response Teams in Hillsborough County, Florida: A Pilot Study”
Matthew Devitt
Meteorology
Pennsylvania State University
Mentor: Robin Ersing, Ph.D. School of Social Work
-USF-
Vickie Chachere
News Manager
University Communications & Marketing
813-974-6251
vchachere@admin.usf.edu
