The Research Improvement in Minority Institutions (RIMI) program was designed to increase the participation of minorities in scientific and engineering research. The program provides support to strengthen the research environments and capabilities of institutions that have substantial minority student enrollments. Eligible institutions must also have graduate programs in science or programs in engineering. The principal investigator at North Carolina Central University will use RIMI support to study geophysical and manmade hazards and how geographic information systems (GIS) may be utilized to determine the causes, consequences, prevention, and mitigation of such disturbances. Investigators will analyze rainfall patterns, flucitations in surface temperatures, flooding, and factors that affect ground water chemistry. In addition, studies will examine the indirect social and economic effects of hazards and what mechanisms may be used by humans to cope when these events occur. This project will help address the research goal of an urban institution that is attempting to build its research and education base in the sciences. The principal investigator is a well-trained geographer who publishes regularly in refereed journals. Minority faculty and students will have their research capabilities strengthened by their performance of meritorious research using GIS and modern instrumentation.
