The sudden collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March of 2024 placed tremendous strain on the Mid-Atlantic's economy and transportation networks. This impact was most acutely felt by the communities closest to the bridge, where residents suddenly found immovable barriers between themselves and their workplaces, grocery stores, doctors, and loved ones. As policymakers and engineers work to mitigate the fallout of this disaster and build the bridge's replacement, it is necessary to ensure that the experiences of those most closely affected are documented and shared.

Dr. Di Yang, a researcher at the SMARTER Center and professor at Morgan State University, has been at the forefront of this effort. Within hours of the bridge collapse, he and his colleagues at Morgan State and other universities around the region have began working tirelessly to conduct comprehensive studies on the disaster's impact on local residents, traffic, infrastructure, and the economy.

Join us Tuesday, September 17th at 2pm as we discuss academics' role in disaster response, the challenges of authentically engaging with communities, the role of emerging technologies in processing data, and more.