Biology

The Western Kentucky University Disaster Science Operations Center (DSOC) has entered into a new partnership with EM1, a technology company that offers an AI-powered technology platform for emergency management. The advanced response system helps develop, evaluate, and streamline emergency management capabilities.

The collaboration, which was established at the recent International Association of Emergency Managers meeting, includes the donation of EM1 licenses, allowing DSOC to test its limitations, develop use cases, and help innovate its capabilities.

DSOC, housed within WKU’s Ogden College of Science and Engineering and the WKU Department of Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences (EEAS), provides a unique opportunity for experiential learning and offers support for a wide range of real-world events of varying sizes. Students have collaborated with regional and national partners, including Chicago Event Management, Beam Suntory, AT&T FirstNet, National Cherry Blossom Festival, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The integration of EM1 adds even more applied research and experiential learning opportunities for students.

“The EM1/DSOC partnership demonstrates yet another industry partnership that entrusts the research-to-operations integrity that DSOC provides,” said Dr. Josh Durkee, Professor in EEAS and University Meteorologist. “DSOC leads Kentucky as the state hub and resource for disaster resilience, innovation, and research, and is the flagship operation of the WKU Consortium of Disaster Science and Management.”

By incorporating tools like EM1, DSOC is expanding the resources available to emergency managers across the state.

“The future of emergency management is a critical lifeline for our country and our communities,” said Tyler Felous, Cofounder and CEO at EM1. “We are excited to partner with DSOC to put advanced AI technology in the hands of the next generation of leaders. Their research, creativity, and operational experience will help ground our tools in real-world challenges and accelerate innovation for agencies nationwide.”

Felous’s perspective aligns with DSOC’s mission to combine applied research with applied emergency operations and to serve as the hub for disaster science in Kentucky.

“This partnership with EM1 is another great example of how we are leading the state and the region in applied disaster science and innovation,” Dr. Leslie North, Chair of the WKU EEAS, said. “We are incredibly excited about what this collaboration means for our students, our faculty, and our partners, and are so proud to work alongside EM1 in advancing real-world solutions for emergency management. The partnership between EM1 and DSOC opens the door to new opportunities for experiential learning, disaster science research, and workforce development that can directly benefit Kentucky and beyond. I couldn’t be more optimistic about what the future holds for all those involved. ”

Graduate students working within DSOC expressed enthusiasm for the EM1 partnership, noting that it will significantly improve productivity, decision-making, and opportunities for hands-on learning. Harmony Guercio, a graduate student from Knoxville, Tennessee, pursuing a Homeland Security Science degree, said the addition of AI tools will help streamline essential tasks in the fast-moving environment of disaster science. “By using AI to automate repetitive chores and solve potential issues, I am able to manage my time better, which allows me to focus on analysis and the production of meaningful data,” she said. Guercio hopes to strengthen her skills in AI-assisted disaster analytics and real-time operational decision-making as she applies EM1 to DSOC’s monitoring and planning efforts.

For Thomas Payette, from Louisville, Kentucky, and also a Homeland Security Science graduate student, the partnership offers a new way to streamline emergency management workflows. “EM1 provides access to quality-controlled data that can be used to write our own plans and gain a better understanding of the emergency management workflow during a crisis or disaster,” he said. Payette emphasized that DSOC’s real-world, experiential opportunities allow him to apply his undergraduate degree in a decision support role at large-scale events.

Luke Ferguson, a graduate student from Ironton, Ohio, also studying Homeland Security Science, sees EM1 as an opportunity to expand DSOC’s innovation on a larger scale. “It will allow us to create tools and exercises that before would have taken considerable time and resources,” he said. Ferguson has already incorporated EM1 into his role as a teaching assistant, using it to generate tabletop exercises and learning activities. He said he believes the platform will help deepen his understanding of emergency planning, identify weak points in preparedness plans, and better serve Kentucky, a state that faces frequent disaster declarations. “The goal of our work in DSOC is to shift from a constant state of reaction to becoming proactive and better prepared for future disasters,” he said.

As DSOC continues to expand its leadership in disaster resilience, the partnership with EM1 represents a significant step toward integrating AI-driven tools into emergency management education, research, and operations. The collaboration will help shape the next generation of emergency management professionals equipped to support communities across Kentucky and the nation.

For more information on the WKU Disaster Science Operations Center, contact Dr. Josh Durkee at joshua.durkee@wku.edu.