Episode 280 | Just Understanding Human Responses to IED Attacks

In episode four of our Domestic Radicalization season, Just Science sat down with Dr. William Parkin, Senior Research Analyst at RTI International, and Dr. Rainer Hilscher, Senior Research Data Scientist at RTI International, to discuss what people do when an improvised explosive device, or IED, detonates in a public space. 

When an IED unexpectedly explodes in a crowded space, people can react in many ways including freezing, fleeing, helping, or hiding. Using information from past attacks, researchers can predict the way people will behave after an explosion, which informs the way first responders are trained for these events. Listen along as Dr. Parkin and Dr. Hilscher describe what they learned from case studies like the Boston Marathon bombing, how they use software to model human decision-making during a crisis, and the unique challenges of conducting this kind of research. 

This episode is funded by RTI International’s Justice Practice Area.  

 Some content in this podcast may be considered sensitive and may evoke emotional responses, or may not be appropriate for younger audiences.