January 2019
ALERT NEWSLETTER
Developing the Next Generation of Airport Scanners
ALERT researcher, Dr. Joel Greenberg, and his research team at Duke University, recently received a $5.83 million contract from the Department of Homeland Security to design and develop a new hybrid X-ray scanner that combines the best features of two types of screening technologies—multi-view transmission and X-ray diffraction tomography. Over the course of the next three years, the Duke University research team will collaborate with researchers at the University of Arizona; ALERT industrial member, Smiths Detection; and Quadridox, Inc.
NEWS & EVENTS
ALERT Researchers Selected as IEEE Fellows
Please join us in congratulating the newly elevated IEEE Fellows for the Class of 2019! We are especially proud of ALERT researchers Mario Sznaier of Northeastern University, and David Castañón and Venkatesh Saligrama of Boston University for this significant achievement. IEEE Fellow is a distinction reserved for select IEEE members whose extraordinary accomplishments in any of the IEEE fields of interest are deemed fitting of this prestigious grade elevation.
Save the Date: ADSA20 Workshop and ALERT Technology Showcase & Research Review
The twentieth Advanced Development for Security Applications Workshop (ADSA20) will be held May 15-16, 2019 at Northeastern University (Boston). The title of the workshop will be "Design, Development, Testing, Deployment and Operation of Effective Systems." Prior to the workshop (May 14), ALERT will also be hosting a Technology Showcase and Research Review featuring presentations and demonstrations of ALERT research results and tools from select ALERT projects.
Infographic: Year 5 Accomplishments
As we begin the New Year, we are also looking back on the previous year! Check out our newest infographic on ALERT’s Year 5 (2017-2018) Accomplishments!

STUDENT & RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
Fundamentals of Explosives Course
(April 4 - May 2 at University of Rhode Island)
ALERT researcher, Dr. Oxley, will be holding a Fundamentals of Explosives short course at the University of Rhode Island from April 4 - May 2, 2019. This course examines the chemistry of explosives, the physics of detonation waves and their initiation, and issues related to safe handling and characterization.
Conference on Modern Challenges in Imaging (August 5-9 at Tufts University)
Tufts University, an ALERT partner university, will be hosting the Conference on Modern Challenges in Imaging: In the Footsteps of Allan MacLeod Cormack on August 5-9, 2019. Cormack was a Tufts University professor from 1957 to 1995. During this time, his work provided the mathematical foundations of computed tomography (CT), making it possible to “see into” an object without physically breaking it open. Cormack won the 1979 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for this work. 40 years later, the international conference on Modern Challenges in Imaging will honor the achievements of Tufts University's only Nobel Laureate and keep his thriving legacy up by gathering top international researchers in mathematics, engineering, science, and medicine.
ALERT is supported by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate through the DHS Office of University Programs.