LOS ANGELES — The Sept. 11, 2001, attacks forever changed the way the United States views security and made the effort to stop the spread of terrorism a No. 1 priority for the U.S. government.
But now, that effort is moving into the academic world.
The University of Southern California (search) won a competition and a $12 million federal grant to create the first-ever Center for the Study of Homeland Security and construction is already underway so it can open in January.
"Our goal is to understand what the consequences are in terms of immediate impact and what it might mean in terms of loss of lives, property damage and also indirect impacts in terms of how it might affect the economy," said Randolph Hall of the USC center.
The Department of Homeland Security (search) says the center's creation is a clear indication of the Bush administration's commitment to protecting the homeland by engaging the entire intellectual base of this nation in responding to the homeland security mission.
The center, which will bring together professors and specialists from the university and other campuses across the nation, will emphasize how to best protect potential terror targets like water supplies, transportation systems and other critical infrastructures.
DHS hopes to eventually establish 10 to 12 similar centers throughout the country.
