This article is part of ‘Lost Science,’ an ongoing series featuring the poignant accounts of scientists whose critical work and funding were terminated following policy shifts. These interviews are edited for clarity and brevity to bring you their stories.
Michael Silevitch: SENTRY, a national research hub funded by the Department of Homeland Security, was dedicated to fortifying ‘soft targets’ across the nation. This included everyday places like local grocery stores, bustling sports arenas, schools, and cherished places of worship. Our focus was sharply honed on two monumental events scheduled for this summer: the 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey and the ‘America 250’ celebrations, marking the nation’s 250th birthday.
For the World Cup, we collaborated closely with NJ Transit, developing sophisticated strategies to manage the immense crowds expected at their stations. Furthermore, the America 250 festivities, spread across every state, presented numerous potential vulnerabilities, especially to drone attacks, which we were actively addressing.
Our research extended to optimizing crowd flow for emergency evacuations. Imagine a stampede or an active shooter scenario; our goal was to understand how to effectively calm a panicked crowd, guide them to safety, and significantly reduce potential harm during an evacuation. We achieved this by creating detailed ‘digital twins’ of venues, allowing us to simulate various emergency situations and refine our response protocols.
Beyond crowd management, our center pioneered a highly sensitive sensor capable of detecting chemical and biological threats, including anthrax. This portable, lightweight device, far more acute than a dog’s sense of smell, was on the brink of real-world testing.
We were also developing advanced, real-time command centers specifically for soft targets. These centers integrated video, radar, and other data streams to equip decision-makers with comprehensive intelligence, enabling them to preempt and neutralize attacks. Our investigations also delved into the optimal deployment of sensors, necessary security protocols, and even how architectural adjustments—like redesigning exits or stairways—could dramatically improve evacuation efficiency during a crisis.
Then, last April, our funding was abruptly terminated. The impact was devastating. Numerous vital tools, on the verge of deployment, were suddenly ‘nipped in the bud.’ The moment we received the termination notice, all work ceased. Students were let go, faculty were forced to seek alternative funding, and our staff numbers were drastically cut.
Now, it feels almost too late to adequately prepare for the World Cup and America 250. The frustration is immense because we know we possess the expertise to help, yet without funding, our capabilities are paralyzed.
We’ve explored avenues for industry support, and I personally used discretionary funds to sustain our students through the end of last June. We’ve since pivoted our research direction in a desperate bid to secure new funding, but our deepest hope remains for a reinstatement of our original mission.
The loss isn’t just about the science; it’s also about the erosion of confidence that the government truly values our contributions. These cuts were made with the blunt force of a sledgehammer, not the precision of a scalpel. The stated reason for our termination—that we were no longer relevant to Homeland Security’s mission—was demonstrably false. Homeland Security is fundamentally about protecting our nation, and our work was directly safeguarding its most vulnerable public spaces.
Michael Silevitch is the director of SENTRY (Soft Target Engineering to Neutralize the Threat Reality) at Northeastern University in Boston.