UF experts available to comment on fifth anniversary of Sept. 11 attacks

August 10, 2006

More experts will be added to this list as they become available.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The following sources at the University of Florida are available to speak to the news media on a variety of topics related to the upcoming anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, as well as the war on terrorism and U.S. relations with Iraq.

Rebuilding World Trade Center site (added Aug. 16)

Martha Kohen, professor and director of UF’s School of Architecture, can comment on the process of reconstruction at the World Trade Center site, including the competitions held, the public involvement with the architectural ideas and the proposals that were presented and selected. 352-392-0205, ext. 204. mkohen@ufl.edu.

Foreign relations, terrorism

Ido (pronounced EE-do) Oren – an associate professor of international relations in UF’s political science department, Oren grew up in Israel and can discuss U.S. foreign policy in general. 352-392-0262, ext. 252.

Anti-terrorism planning

Richard H. Schneider – professor of urban and regional planning, Schneider specializes in crime-prevention planning and has worked on anti-terrorism planning and design projects for the U.S. Department of Defense. One of his current interests is the connection among land use, urban design and growth-management planning and anti-terrorist strategies. 352-392-0997, ext. 430, rschnei@ufl.edu.

Disaster psychology

Brenda Wiens – is a research assistant professor expert in the psychological effects of disasters in adults and children, including post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. Wiens is the co-author of “Triumph over Tragedy,” a manual to help community leaders manage trauma following disaster and terrorism. Contact: Jill Pease, 352-273-5816 or 352-273-5810, jpease@phhp.ufl.edu.

Forensics

Anthony Falsetti – an associate professor of anthropology and director of UF’s C.A. Pound Human Identification Laboratory, Falsetti is a well-known forensic scientist. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Forensic Anthropology, and a fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. He served as the 2000-01 chairman of the Physical Anthropology Section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and is a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Forensic Sciences. Falsetti was called in to assist with identifying remains at the World Trade Center after Sept. 11 due to his prior experiences in the Oklahoma City bombing and TWA Flight 800 incidents. 352-273-8320 or 352-273-8270, falsetti@ufl.edu.

International affairs

Dennis Jett – dean of UF’s International Center, Jett spent 28 years as a career diplomat and was ambassador to Peru and Mozambique. His dissertation was on peacekeeping, but Jett also has extensive knowledge of U.S. foreign policy and issues related to Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. 352-392-5323, ext. 501.

Computer security

Praveen Pathak – an assistant professor of decision and information sciences, Pathak can discuss post-Sept. 11 computer issues, specifically network security and its implications for national security. 352-392-9599, praveen@ufl.edu.

International law, human rights

Berta Esperanza Hernandez-Truyol – a professor of law with expertise in international law and human rights, including race, gender, culture, language, and sexuality in both domestic and international contexts, Hernandez-Truyol can also comment about international and domestic law interaction. 352-273-0928, Hernandez@law.ufl.edu.