STAR-TIDES (Sharing To Accelerate Research – Transformative Innovation for Development and Emergency Support) is a global knowledge-sharing network focused on building sustainable resilience, supporting community and individual resilience to natural and man-made disasters, and promoting human security (“freedom from want“ and “freedom from fear”).
The 17th Annual STAR-TIDES Capabilities Demonstration took place on April 15th-16th, 2024 at George Mason University’s Mason Square campus in Arlington, VA.
The Demo showcased products and activities of the STAR-TIDES (Sharing To Accelerate Research – Transformative Innovation for Development and Emergency Support) global knowledge-sharing network.
The network includes thousands of members engaged in building sustainable resilience, promoting human security, and creating life-changing social and economic activities. STAR-TIDES is coordinated through GMU’s Center for Resilient and Sustainable Communities (C-RASC).
This year’s theme was “Adapting to Climate Change,” emphasizing collaborative cross-sector approaches (e.g., energy and communications) to help communities adapt to the “new normal” of climate change in their region. As Thomas Friedman has pointed out, “It’s not the strongest, fastest, or smartest that survives, but rather the most adaptable.”
The related TIDES event in the Pentagon Center Courtyard took place on April 17th-18th.
A student poster contest was held in conjunction with the Demo. The contest was open to students doing research in the areas of resilience, sustainability, disaster relief and recovery, emergency management, and related topics. Eleven students submitted an entry. Judges were recruited from among the exhibitors and a few of the attendees with strong backgrounds in these areas. None of the judges were affiliated with GMU.
The first-place winner was a Civil Engineering PhD student; the second-place winner was a team of Bioengineering undergraduates.
- First place: “High urban flood risk and no shelter access disproportionally impacts vulnerable communities in the USA,” by Alireza Ermagun, Virginia Smith, and Fatemeh Janatabadi
- Second place: “Usage of Hydrogel for Energy Efficient Desalination/Purification of Water,” by Amir Dani, Bijan Chamanara, Berk Kasimca, Peter Touma, and Eray Tulun
The 18th Annual STAR-TIDES Capabilities Demonstration will take place on April 13th-15th, 2025 at George Mason University’s Mason Square campus located at 3351 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22201.