Experts Matter. Find Yours.

Think your city is ready for a cyber-attack? Think again according to our experts

There is no way around it; every day there are new cybersecurity threats to not only individuals, but governments at all levels as well. There have been some high-profile breeches that involve major cities like Atlanta and Baltimore. But those attacks are going to all levels, and recent research has shown most municipalities and cities are ill-prepared for cyberattacks. Research conducted by Donald Norris, PhD, and Laura Mateczun, JD, of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County along with William Hatcher, PhD, Wesley Meares, PhD, and John Heslen, PhD, of Augusta University, found various reasons why local governments struggle with cybersecurity. The research shows local governments recognize the need for cybersecurity but are not taking crucial next steps to ensure cybersecurity by integrating policies into daily management practices. Not just that, some local governments were unaware how often they were under cyberattack. Throw in budgetary constraints, and it leads local governments to be in a tough situation.  That, unto itself, is a major sticking point, but the burden could be lessened. “Effective cybersecurity is expensive and too much of a strain on the budgets of many cities and counties,” said Hatcher, chair of the Department of Social Sciences in Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Augusta University. “This is why we suggest regional solutions to the program, so multiple governments carry the cost.” Meares, associate professor and MPA director in Pamplin College, added it’s not just the financial aspect, but said there’s a shortage of cybersecurity talent nationwide, which compounded with limited budgets, makes it tough to compete. In the quest for talent between private and public sector, usually the private sector can offer more to entice a cybersecurity expert to come work for them. There’s also an issue of many local governments using dated technologies, which may be easier for cyber criminals to attack. “Local government is increasingly being more digitally connected, with vital infrastructure, data and services connected which creates more opportunities for cyber-attacks. Additionally, local governments tend to lag in updating critical technology due to limited resources (both human and financial resources),” added Meares. None of this comes as a surprise in the lack of cybersecurity training. “It’s an expensive service for local governments to provide. This is why we suggest more budgetary support for the training,” said Heslen, assistant professor in Pamplin College. “We’re also unsurprised because local governments often struggle to fund professional training in other areas.” But researchers say there are ways to improve upon safety of critical data most notably adopting dedicated cybersecurity budgets funded at an appropriate level in all local governments. Those resources can help address many limitations in local government cybersecurity programs, from staffing and hardware and software deficiencies to awareness training for all parties in local governments. They also recommend the adoption and implementation of cybersecurity policies to manage and regulate actions taken by all that affect the organization’s cybersecurity. By taking the recommended actions, local governments will have a better chance to provide high levels of cybersecurity and protect their information assets more effectively. This is an important topic and if you are a journalist looking to know more about the importance of being ready and able to react if and when a municipality comes under threat from a cyber-attack - then let us help/. William Hatcher and John Heslen are both available to speak with media - simply contact them now to arrange an interview today.

“Three-Dimensional” Warfare Adds to Uniqueness, and Danger, of an Israeli Offensive in Gaza

In the weeks following the attacks perpetrated by Hamas in Israel, all signs indicate that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are planning a ground offensive within the Gaza Strip. An incursion into the strip, where Hamas is headquartered, would be distinct by nature; Israel has engaged within Gaza only a handful of times since 2005, when it dismantled its own settlements there. But according to Frank Galgano, PhD, an associate professor of geography and the environment at Villanova University and an expert in military geography, any ground offensive in Gaza would be unique—and dangerous—given the geography of the territory. “It's not a traditional geography of a conflict,” Dr. Galgano said. “Gaza is basically the size of Philadelphia. When you go into it, you’re fighting in a city, or a densely populated urbanized area, and it becomes three-dimensional warfare.” By “three-dimensional,” Dr. Galgano is referencing the ability of Hamas combatants to engage by ground, from high up inside or on top of buildings and from below, using the vast network of tunnels Hamas has constructed throughout Gaza. These dimensions complicate planning and add to the danger for Israeli soldiers. Conversely, they provide a serious advantage to Hamas militants. “It's also a very confined area,” he said. “It's so densely populated and heavily urbanized. That's the operational environment… With all operations in urban environments, you’re dealing with cultural features, too. In Gaza, you’ve got mosques, schools, museums; you have civilian population integrated into the battlefield. That makes things very difficult. Hamas will take advantage of that urban geography.” That population density, which is among the highest in the world with more than 2.2 million people on 140 square miles of land, significantly impacts the strategy and abilities of Israeli ground forces. Galgano contrasted it with other operational environments, such as the Palestinian-controlled West Bank. “There are movement corridors, ridges, valleys, avenues of approach and communication—all this stuff that makes sense from moving units around the battlefield,” Dr. Galgano said. “It is not the same in Gaza. It’s highly condensed in that vein.” There are other unique factors at play, too. Hamas reportedly has nearly 200 hostages from their October 7 attack. Dr. Galgano believes they are being strategically held throughout Gaza. “[these hostages are] probably in subterranean areas and bunkers well underground,” he said. “That, or they will put them in their headquarters [as a deterrent to Israeli strikes]. Israel probably knows exactly where some of these hostages are, [but] what do they do?” Dr. Galgano also considers the battle inexperience of IDF reservists as well. The IDF are “very well trained,” he said, and have many professional standing units, but in an offensive like this, “they need manpower and that’s going to be their reservists. “In 1967, 1973 and 1983, when Israel called up their reservists, [many] were war veterans already. Now, it’s different. They haven’t fought a ‘big’ war since 1983, so there is an inexperience level at play too.” Ultimately, Galgano thinks that if the IDF enter Gaza, they are going to “go up the middle and split the Gaza Strip in half… They are going to take out Hamas infrastructure in [Gaza City and Khan Younis], their two centers of gravity.” He thinks they will be able to do so, barring something unforeseen, “fairly easily.”

Preparing the clean hydrogen workforce

The University of Delaware will play a leading role in workforce development efforts associated with the Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub (MACH2), which has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to receive up to $750 million in funding through the historic Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program. MACH2 was chosen as one of seven hydrogen hubs, totaling up to $7 billion in grants, announced by the Energy Department on Oct. 13. In stiff national competition, MACH2 ranked among the most pro-labor and greenest hubs in the nation, according to the Delaware Sustainable Chemistry Alliance (DESCA), which brokered the proposal, involving industries, academic institutions, local governments and community partners from across Delaware, southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, and the Energy Department is working to accelerate its use as a clean energy source and as a means to decarbonize heavy industry, transportation and energy storage to meet President Biden’s goal of a 100% clean electrical grid by 2035 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with the regional hydrogen hubs leading the way. MACH2 will encompass a network of hydrogen producers, consumers, local connective infrastructure for hydrogen deployment, and the education and training needed to develop the region’s clean energy workforce. UD will lead the higher education component of MACH2’s workforce development with Cheyney University, Rowan University and the University of Pennsylvania. MACH2 is projected to create 20,000 well-paying jobs in the production, delivery and use of zero-emission hydrogen to repower the region’s industrial facilities, transportation systems and agriculture sectors. What kinds of jobs will MACH2 help prepare people for? There will be a need for technicians for hydrogen-powered vehicles, construction workers for installing hydrogen pipelines, fuel cell power system operators, hydrogen production plant managers, and directors of research and development (R&D) programs, to name a few. Some of these roles may require a high school diploma and an apprenticeship or specific credential; others may require a college degree, from bachelor’s to master’s to Ph.D. Yushan Yan, the Henry Belin du Pont Chair in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at UD, will direct the hub’s higher education workforce development efforts. This work will complement high school, vo-tech and community college training programs in energy and construction that will be expanded through the hub, along with pre-apprenticeship programs, particularly those that recruit from underserved communities, offered by building trade unions. “The University of Delaware and our collaborators at Cheyney, Rowan and Penn are well-poised to prepare students for rewarding careers in the new hydrogen economy,” Yan said. “Several engineering, energy and hydrogen programs are already in place at our institutions and will be expanded through the hub, offering students exciting opportunities.” UD will enhance hydrogen technology training at the master’s level through a new “4+1” master’s degree in electrochemical engineering, which would allow highly qualified undergraduate students to earn a bachelor’s degree in an area such as chemical and biomolecular engineering or mechanical engineering and then continue on to earn a master’s degree in electrochemical engineering in the fifth year.

Potential health crisis in the wake of deadly storm and flooding in Derna, Libya

The number of fatalities and missing persons continue to mount after a storm caused massive flooding in the town of Derna, located in the northeast region of Libya. While search and rescue will remain the most urgent priority in the near term, addressing acute health needs will be a major factor in the wake of this disaster, said Jennifer Horney, founder and director of the epidemiology program at the University of Delaware. The collapse of two dams are likely to cause long-term water borne diseases of all types. With little existing health infrastructure in the area, treating and managing health will be extremely difficult. Safe food and water will be scarce. There is a strong possibility of infectious disease outbreaks and the spread of communicable disease. Other experts from UD's Disaster Research Center who can comment on the flooding in Libya: Tricia Wachtendorf: Disaster relief and donations, and alignment post-disaster – i.e., making sure donations that aren't needed don't flood the supply chain. Wachtendorf can also discuss evacuation decision-making, volunteer efforts, disaster response and coordination. Sarah DeYoung: Dealing with unsolicited infant formula donations, and infant and maternal health. Can also discuss pets in emergencies, infant feeding in disasters and decision-making in evacuation. Jennifer Trivedi: Long-term recovery and challenges for people with disabilities during disaster.

Expert explainer - Storm Daniel and the Libya flooding

Expert: Dr Kiran Tota-Maharaj Reader in Civil & Environmental Engineering (Water and Environmental Engineering) College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Aston University 1/ Do we have any basic measures on the volume of precipitation that triggered the collapse of the two dams that flooded Derna? How much rain over what period of time? Are there adequate records to put that in historical context? Were any records broken? Storm Daniel has the characteristics of a tropical depression, approximately 170 millimetres (6.7 inches) of rainfall occurred fell in Libya. Torrential rains of between 150 - 240 mm caused flash floods in several cities, including Al-Bayda, which recorded the highest rainfall rate of 414.1 mm. 2/ Do we know anything about the dams that failed? Where they old, near the end of their expected lifespan? Were they known to be fragile in any way? To what extent, in other words, might this have been a disaster waiting to happen? Flash floods, which is considered as one of the worst weather-related natural disasters are highly unpredictable following brief spells of heavy rain. This region in Libya is subjected to flash floods, where floods from the mountains causing heavy damage to hydraulic structures and features of Dams. These floods are made up of sudden, unexpected and heavy rains or a strong surge of water, which usually hit the steep sloped mountainous catchments and have inundated many regions in Libya. The sweeping flash floods also led to the death of many residents and great losses of property. Entire neighborhoods in Derna disappeared, along with their residents swept away by water after two ageing dams collapsed making the situation catastrophic and out of control, the city of Derna is surrounded by mountains, so the flash flooding occurred quite rapidly, taking over with surface-water levels rising as high as 3 metres (10 feet). Engineers have previously issued warnings about the risks of these dams bursting and the urgent need to strengthen their defenses, which unfortunately didn’t occur. Early Warning Systems (EWS)- which are effective ways to reduce the risks of flash floods have not been properly implemented. When EWS are issued before a flash flood event, additional time is created to take action and save lives and infrastructure. The unexpected arrival of a flash flood in Libya, combination with its force, limited understanding of the risks and small space-time scales provide explicit challenges for the development and implementation of an EWS system for flash floods. 3/ There is speculation about many thousands of deaths. Is this attributable almost entirely to the failed dams? Or was there massive and deadly flooding beside that? Thousands of people’s lives have been sadly lost after the massive flood ripped through the city of Derna as a result from the heave storm conditions and excessive rainfall. There have been several areas severely affected by widespread flooding, damage to infrastructure, and loss of life. The disastrous flooding event is likely the cause of the two dams’ collapses, making thousands of residents of the valley and the city of Derna, Libya vulnerable as a result of the storm. Entire neighbourhoods of Derna by the bank of the swollen river had been ravaged and washed away. For further details or to interview Dr Tota-Maharaj, contact Nicola Jones Press and Communications Manager, Aston University, Birmingham, UK n.jones6@aston.ac.uk or Mobile: (+44)7825 342091

Immediate and long-term recovery in post-earthquake Morocco

Sunday's earthquake in Morocco – the strongest to hit the center of the country in more than a century – has taken the lives of more than 2,500 people so far and leveled countless homes and businesses. Experts from the University of Delaware's Disaster Research Center can discuss various topics related to the tragedy. Tricia Wachtendorf: Disaster relief and donations, and alignment post-disaster – i.e., making sure donations that aren't needed don't flood the supply chain. Wachtendorf can also discuss evacuation decision-making, volunteer efforts, disaster response and coordination. Rachel Davidson: Can discuss building damage, and conducts research on natural disaster risk modeling and civil infrastructure systems. Davidson looks at lifelines (e.g., electric power, water supply) and risk from a regional perspective during and after earthquakes and other disasters. Jennifer Horney: Environmental impacts of disasters and potential public health impacts for chronic and infectious diseases. Sarah DeYoung: Dealing with unsolicited infant formula donations, and infant and maternal health. Can also discuss pets in emergencies, infant feeding in disasters and decision-making in evacuation. Jennifer Trivedi: Long-term recovery and challenges for people with disabilities during disaster. Click on the profiles below to contact any of these experts and set up an interview.

Ga. Department of Public Health awards $10M to Georgia Southern to continue COVID-19 fight in Georgia’s confinement facilities

Georgia Southern University’s Institute for Health Logistics and Analytics (IHLA) and the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) have once again joined forces to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in confinement facilities across the state. DPH has awarded the IHLA a contract worth $10 million to complete a second year of work. “Throughout the pandemic, COVID-19 was a significant cause of illness and death among confinement facility residents and employees,” said Jessica Schwind, Ph.D., director of IHLA. “SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is still circulating and we need to continue to support these facilities in reducing viral transmission.” With the funding, the IHLA assists with the purchase and coordination of allowable COVID-19 mitigation items for enrolled facilities across the state of Georgia. The focus in year two of the project is to improve air quality and offer a seamless process for confinement facilities. Recipients do not incur any direct costs and the paperwork and the procurement process is handled entirely by Georgia Southern. “We work with each facility to determine what they need,” said Kathryn Stewart, budget manager at IHLA. “We then handle the ordering, payment and delivery. For facilities that need fairly standard supplies, we have an easy order form process. For those with complex requests, we work with them individually to make sure they receive the best solution for their particular needs.” Facilities in Georgia are eligible to receive $25,000 to $250,000 of COVID-19 mitigation supplies. The amount awarded is determined by the number of detainees each facility is licensed to hold. Eligible items include portable HEPA filter units to improve air quality, personal protective equipment and cleaning and disinfecting supplies. “We are really proud of the work this institute has accomplished,” said Carl Reiber, Ph.D., Georgia Southern’s provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Not only has the IHLA maintained a focus on public impact research, it is a shining example of the significant role Georgia Southern is taking on improving health across the state.” All eligible correctional confinement facilities, which includes adult prisons and jails, youth detention centers and holding cells in the state of Georgia, are encouraged to enroll, even if they received funding in the previous cycle. This project is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Detection and Mitigation of COVID-19 in Confinement Facilities Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Grant Program, which provided a financial assistance award to the Georgia Department of Public Health. For more information and to enroll in the program visit the project's website: The IHLA at Georgia Southern provides comprehensive solutions to improve and advance the health of populations around the world. The institute specializes in planning, evaluation, capacity building and research services to enhance the health infrastructure in organizations and communities. To learn more or to speak with Jessica Schwind, Ph.D., director of IHLA - simply contact Georgia Southern's Director of Communications Jennifer Wise at jwise@georgiasouthern.edu to arrange an interview today.

ChristianaCare Chief Information Security Officer Anahi Santiago Receives Prestigious Routhy Award

ChristianaCare Chief Information Security Officer Anahi Santiago, EMBA, CISM, has been recognized with the Routhy Award, which honors one cybersecurity professional each year who delivers a profound impact within health care and the information security profession. Health-ISAC awards the Routhy. The organization is a global, member-driven non-profit that offers health care stakeholders a trusted community and forum for coordinating, collaborating and sharing vital physical and cyber threat intelligence and best practices with each other. “Anahi is a one-of-a-kind CISO,” said Randy Gaboriault, MS, MBA, chief digital and information officer and senior vice president at ChristianaCare. “Deeply committed to information security, Anahi shares her wide breadth of experience and knowledge with peers throughout the country as a gifted speaker, mentor and content expert. She is expert in the field of cybersecurity. “Through her deep commitment to patient safety and information security she has led the implementation of some of the most progressive cybersecurity safeguards within ChristianaCare. This is a well deserved recognition and we are thrilled to see Anahi receive this prestigious award.” Santiago is recognized as one of the nation’s foremost cybersecurity experts. With over 20 years in Information Technology, Santiago has extensive experience in areas of cybersecurity, privacy, regulatory compliance, program management and infrastructure services. “We are so pleased to have the opportunity to recognize Anahi for her years of leadership and selfless contributions to the community of Health-ISAC, affiliated associations, and the health care sector,” said Denise Anderson, Health-ISAC president and CEO. “She has been instrumental in sharing with her peers, participating in initiatives, and mentoring others in the sector. She is absolutely deserving of the Routhy Award. Congratulations, Anahi, and thank you!” Santiago has overall responsibility for the organization’s information security program and strategic direction. She leads a team of high performing information security professionals in supporting ChristianaCare’s strategic initiatives. Santiago does this by partnering with the business leaders and managing risks, implementing policies and controls, and generating overall awareness. “For years, I’ve watched people that I admire receive this award,” Anahi Santiago said. “I want to credit this amazing Health-ISAC organization for advancing cybersecurity in health care, protecting patients and bringing cybersecurity professionals together to share, innovate and protect.”

Empowering a reliable, cost-effective electricity grid today while paving the way for a renewable future

Extreme heat is stretching the United States' electricity infrastructure to maximum capacity, and the reported disjointedness of the country's three electric grids has made it more difficult to deliver wind and solar power as reinforcements. Willett Kempton, professor of marine science and policy at the University of Delaware, led the development of a way to use electric car batteries to make grids more stable and resilient. Kempton advocates using electric storage through V2G technology to make electricity more reliable at a lower cost today and to enable the grid to use more renewable energy in the future. Kempton, associate director of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology for UD's Center for Research in Wind (CReW), pioneered technology for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) vehicles, which are capable of absorbing excess energy when demand for power is low and returning some back to the electric grid when the demand for power is high.

Electric vehicles are hitting the streets, but there are potholes to avoid

No doubt about it, electric vehicles are coming and coming fast. Production of EVs has ramped up in the last couple of years but there are many issues that need to be addressed before they become the everyday choice for consumers. Richard Franza, PhD, professor of management at the Hull College of Business at Augusta University said the timing of EVs is contingent on a few things. “It’s not a question of if they’re coming, but how fast will they be here,” said Franza. “One is the speed at which there is infrastructure built for them. There are still not a lot of places to charge a car. We need more charging stations. Eventually, EVs will be predominant.” Franza added a second hurdle is how fast the federal government moves on emissions requirements that will cause consumers to phase out fossil fuel vehicles. Georgia has become one of the leaders in luring EV manufacturers to call the state home. Not just that, but the state is also drawing in companies that supply batteries and other components. “Any time you build a manufacturing or assembly facility, you automatically get the suppliers around them. Even before Georgia got the vehicle manufacturers, we already had a battery manufacturer, so Georgia already has a good network for the automobile industry,” said Franza. Amazon has already made a major investment in EVs and Franza expects other companies like FedEx and UPS, companies that have a fleet of vehicles, to make the switch to EVs as well, since they have more ability to set up charging networks. The biggest question remains: how long it will take before EVs become more prevalent on the streets? Franza said the answer could depend on who you listen to, but other factors come into play. “Right now, electric vehicles account for less than 1% of the vehicles on the road. So I see two leading indicators – the number of gas stations vs. the number of charging stations, and the production of combustion engines vs. electric vehicles. Look for when the ratios of those really start to change, but it’s not black and white. There are several factors that will go into that and it could take longer than people are saying,” Franza said. Covering EVs and the auto industry? Then let us help. Richard Franza, PhD, is available to speak with media about trending issues like inflation, small business and the economy – simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.