Every year, the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Division’s annual Stakeholder Meeting brings together researchers, industry leaders, and public safety professionals to discuss the latest features and future capabilities for first responder communications technology.
This year, PSCR 2021 will take place virtually June 21-24. Anyone interested can tune in for free and watch plenary sessions, on-demand content, and technology demonstrations on topics such as security, wildfires, and commercialization of technologies to benefit public safety. Additionally, each on-demand session will have a corresponding LIVE question and answer session, taking place June 22-24. During these ten-minute sessions, participants can connect with researchers and speakers to ask questions and provide feedback.
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) is excited to join PSCR 2021. Throughout the four-day conference, our team will be exploring standards work, innovation challenges, how the pandemic changed the way public safety protects and serves, and how we’re working with public safety to advance technology and capabilities.
Register for PSCR 2021 here, and join us for the following sessions:
KEYNOTE ADDRESS: With FirstNet Authority Board Member Paul Patrick
On Monday, June 21 from 12-1:15 p.m. ET, FirstNet Authority Board member Paul Patrick will deliver the keynote address to kick off the conference. Hear how first responders have adapted over the past 18 months in response to the pandemic and what that means for the future of public safety.
PLENARY SESSION: Impacts of the PSCR UAS Program & Results from The Last Drone Standing Competition
On Wednesday, June 23 from 12-1:15 p.m. ET, FirstNet Authority User Experience Domain Lead Travis Hull and Senior Public Safety Advisor Chris Baker join other experts to highlight the PSCR Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program. Find out how drones are being used by public safety, and hear about some of the challenges competitors faced in developing a drone that can fly continuously for 90 minutes or longer.
PLENARY SESSION: Public Safety’s Female Innovators
On Thursday, June 24 from 12-1:15 p.m. ET, Jennifer Harder, FirstNet Authority Director of Roadmap Domains, will join other female leaders working to advance technology for first responders. Learn how these women are making an impact in traditionally male-dominated fields and learn about the exciting work they are doing related to virtual reality, the Internet of Things, and more.
ON-DEMAND SESSION: Saving Lives One Pixel at a Time: PSCR’s Enhancing Computer Vision Challenge
In this recorded session, FirstNet Authority System Test Engineer Vihang Jani and Senior Public Safety Advisors Chris Baker and David Cook discuss the PSCR Enhancing Computer Vision for Public Safety Challenge with other leading subject matter experts. Find out more about this innovation contest, how computer vision can benefit public safety, and how winners are creating datasets to advance research and development for diagnosing camera issues.
This session is available within the User Interface/User Experience Portfolio beginning June 21.
ON-DEMAND SESSION: Launching the Mobile Fingerprint Capture for Public Safety Challenge
In this recorded session, Jonathan Lewin, FirstNet Authority Senior Public Safety Advisor, helps introduce the latest PSCR innovation challenge focused on mobile fingerprint capture. Meet the challenge team, learn about the research conducted in this area by NIST, and find out how to participate.
This session is available within the Security Portfolio beginning June 21.
ON-DEMAND SESSION: Tech to Protect Winners in the FirstNet App Catalog
Bill Schrier, FirstNet Authority Senior Public Safety Advisor, highlights how winners from the Tech to Protect Challenge worked with public safety experts to list their apps in the FirstNet App Catalog in this recorded session. Discover how the developers scaled their solutions and worked to ensure the apps met the needs of first responders.
This session is available within the Commercialization Portfolio beginning June 21.
ON-DEMAND SESSION: A Standards Update – 5G, Mission Critical Services, & Security
In this recorded session, FirstNet Authority Senior Director of Standards Dean Prochaska provides an overview of the latest standards impacting first responder communications. Learn about what this means for 5G and mission critical services, and hear how these new standards will provide new security protections.
This session is available within the Security Portfolio beginning June 21.
ON-DEMAND SESSION: R2 Network: Enabling Entrepreneurship and Public Safety Innovation
FirstNet Authority Investment Lead Karlin Younger joins a panel of representatives from PSCR and the U.S. Economic Development Administration in this recorded session to discuss how collaboration helped create the R2 Network. Hear about the features available through the R2 Portal, learn how entrepreneurs can connect with public safety, and discover what the future holds for R2.
This session is available within the Commercialization Portfolio beginning June 21.
Don’t forget to join us in the conversation on social media with #PSCR2021. The FirstNet Authority looks forward to engaging virtually and hearing from some of the leading researchers, subject matter experts, first responders, and industry leaders on the future of public safety communications technology!
