Global Resilience Institute

What can we do when power grids fail us?

As winds pick up and the ground stays dry, Pacific Gas and Electric has announced another power shutoff in Northern California to prevent wires from sparking fires. But to put a stop to further damage, the key may be grids that don’t need shutting off: community networks of resources and democratic energy.

by Aria Bracci November 19, 2019

To solve the world’s problems, start small

TORONTO—A group of experts and civically engaged Canadians tackled issues such as the refugee crisis, climate change, and fake news at the Experience Solution Sprint on Northeastern’s Toronto campus.

by Molly Callahan November 15, 2019

Town employees of Emerald Isle work to clear the road after a tornado hit the beach town in North Carolina as Hurricane Dorian moved up the East coast on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019. AP Photo/Tom Copeland

How to prepare for the next Hurricane Dorian

Scientists, engineers, and city planners need to work together in order to prepare communities to withstand and recover from natural disasters of this magnitude, says Stephen Flynn, who directs the Global Resilience Institute at Northeastern.

by Roberto Molar Candanosa September 17, 2019

Special Police, Army, and other units move toward the scene in Paris suburb Saint-Denis on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015. Heavily armed police surrounded a suburban Paris apartment in a raid targeting the suspected mastermind of the Paris attacks. Credit: KAMIL ZIHNIOGLOU/Sipa via AP Images

When corporations respond to terror attacks with acts of kindness—and when they don’t

When governments or communities are targeted by terrorism, businesses tend to respond with charitable support. But the story changes when companies themselves are at risk, Northeastern researchers have found.

by Ian Thomsen August 19, 2019

She bought a one-way ticket out of Moscow and never looked back

Over the past six years, Northeastern student Elina Mariutsa has found a home in many different cities around the world. But while the people of every one of those places were welcoming to her, she has found that the governments have been generally hostile toward each other. This discord is what ultimately propelled her passion for diplomacy.

by Khalida Sarwari July 5, 2019

Trump agreed to reopen the government. What does that mean for the Coast Guard?

Stephen Flynn, who served in the Coast Guard for 20 years before retiring in 2002, says that he is relieved that President Trump agreed to temporarily lift the shutdown. But Flynn, founding director of the Global Resilience Institute at Northeastern, expressed concern about the long-term impact the shutdown will have on young officers and new recruits.

by Khalida Sarwari January 25, 2019

How can the rest of the country prepare for wildfires like those in California?

The combined forces that brought about the blaze are growing more and more present in the Northeast, said Stephen Flynn, founding director of Northeastern’s Global Resilience Institute.

by Molly Callahan November 15, 2018

Is North America ready for the 2026 World Cup?

The 2026 World Cup is coming to North America, and the security, transportation, and energy infrastructure in each host city will need to achieve peak performance to accommodate the influx of athletes, fans, and journalists. Two doctoral students at Northeastern have developed a tool that could be used to test whether each city is prepared.

by Molly Callahan June 21, 2018

Scholars’ ‘flash talks’ explore resilience, from health to media innovation

More than a dozen faculty members, doctoral students, and visiting scholars gave lighting-fast overviews of their community resilience research on Monday afternoon as part of a TED-style event hosted by Northeastern’s Global Resilience Institute. Here, we share some highlights.

by Jason Kornwitz November 9, 2017

Harvey brings out ‘hidden capacity in civil society’ to respond

As widespread damage and the effects of Hurricane Harvey continue to mount in Houston and across Texas and Louisiana, two Northeastern professors—Stephen Flynn and Daniel Aldrich—underscored the importance of leveraging volunteer help in response to the storm and examined what key issues will unfold in the days ahead.

by Greg St. Martin August 29, 2017