Technologically Speaking

Better, Faster, More Effective

Emergency Prevention and Response Director Luke Watko joins host Dee Saini to talk about how S&T gathers and prioritizes first responders’ technology needs and drives innovation to help them safely answer every call. You’ll hear about tech that helps firefighters find their way out of complete darkness, another that allows colleagues to pinpoint their location to within a centimeter if they are in trouble, and how artificial intelligence and virtual reality can support agency operations. Watko also shares how his journey from an Arizona mining town to the Air Force landed him at S&T and how responders on the front lines during the pandemic influenced the trajectory of his career.

We Take the Load Off of Them

In this episode host Brittany Greco joins National Urban Security Technology Laboratory Engineer Cassy Robinson for a conversation about her work with the Big City Fire Working Group, bringing together the national fire community to identify technology gaps S&T can fill. She explains how she went from growing peaches on the farm in rural South Carolina to operating search and rescue robots at Ground Zero on 911 and how this fascinating journey led her to the Department of Homeland Security.

Different Pieces and Systems

In the first Season 5 episode of Technologically Speaking, host Dee Saini chats with Russell Becker, director of S&T’s Office for Interoperability and Compatibility, about the technologies in place that power our communities’ emergency response channels. Learn about challenges agencies face when responding to emergencies that cross jurisdictional lines, or that require multiple agencies to respond, and what S&T is doing to help responders stay connected and keep lines of emergency communication open. 

Capture Various Forms of Fentanyl

Biochemical and forensic experts from the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) visited one of the nation’s busiest (and loudest) ports of entry in Mariposa, Arizona. With this as our backdrop, listen as the group discusses research and development of a novel fentanyl detector designed to improve screening for illicit drugs. S&T’s Dan Conway leads a conversation with Dr. Andrea Wiggins of S&T’s Chemical Biological Detection and Defense Program; Travis Brown, S&T Program Manager for Forensics and Criminal Investigation; Dr. Laura Parker, S&T Senior Advisor on Sensors and Detection; and PNNL Senior Research Chemist Dr. Robert Ewing about how this new technology was demonstrated and could soon be used and overall challenges with combating the flow of fentanyl.

From Zero to a Hundred in a Second

S&T and its National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) recently joined the U.S. Fire Administration and the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) for a workshop to address best practices and research needs for fighting lithium-ion battery fires. In this minisode, which was recorded at the FDNY Training Academy on Randall’s Island, you will hear from each agency about firsthand experiences firefighters are facing with electrification and how New York City serves as a model for other jurisdictions nationwide. In addition, S&T Acting Under Secretary Julie Brewer and NUSTL Division Director Orly Amir share how this issue is driving S&T research to support our first responders.

Putting the Platform Above

In this Tech Speak minisode, the Science and Technology Directorate reports from a field in Mississippi where we tested a new type of drone system—the Bellbird Communications Platform—over the summer with first responders from across the country. With a microphone and a powerful speaker, the Bellbird facilitates important emergency messaging between responders and crowds. Maintaining clear communication without putting people at risk is something that could ultimately help keep everyone safe in challenging situations. Hear from some of the responder evaluators about how this technology meets their needs, as well as S&T Program Manager Brenda Long and National Urban Security Technology Laboratory Test Lead Bhargav Patel about how and why we conduct these types of field tests.    

Ambassadors for Science

Host Brittany Greco has a fascinating discussion with Emily Saulsgiver, deputy director of S&T’s International Cooperative Programs Office (ICPO), which cultivates relationships with the partners that we need to advance science and technology around the world. ICPO identifies areas of mutual interest for cooperation, fosters scientific exchanges, and works with global counterparts to address shared challenges and spark innovation. Emily also lets us in on some of the lessons she’s learned along the way about the protocols of international negotiations and the best way to get to know a new country, and she answers an existential question: if you live out of a suitcase, is it easier to pack or unpack?   

Doing AI Before It Was Cool

S&T Senior Advisor for Advanced Computing Dr. Amy Henninger and host Brittany Greco get us up to speed on the Directorate’s work to address adversarial artificial intelligence (AI), a new (and potent) threat that is part of the emerging AI revolution in computing. She discusses how it can appear similar to cyberattacks yet is fundamentally different. She also offers her definition of AI—one that you may not have heard before. If you’ve wondered about deep fakes, phishing scams on steroids, and the broader social implications of not knowing what you can trust, give this episode a listen.

Energy that Blasts and Destroys

Technologically Speaking host Deepak Saini sits down with Program Manager Brent Talbot to talk about the science behind electromagnetic pulses, known as EMPs, and geomagnetic disturbances. He lifts the lid on the work S&T is doing to think through ways to protect against these energy waves that can knock out the electricity and render mobile devices inoperable. Hear how his background in signals intelligence and a love for solving puzzles led him down a path to S&T, where he works every day to anticipate the next big thing in technology to protect the homeland from emerging threats.

Detect Anything That’s Coming into the Country

In this episode, host Dee Saini chats with S&T Biometrics Program Manager and Ports of Entry Project Manager John Clemmensen about how Multi-Energy Portals (MEP) are securing our borders. John discusses how these cargo scanners work and what they detect—everything from narcotics to queso (yes, you read that correctly). He and Dee also touch on S&T’s support for U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) mission, reasons why CBP needed this technology, and some recent MEP successes. John also dives into his stints at the Department of Defense and CBP before coming to S&T and being a die-hard Philly sports fan.