In order to better understand the challenges of the semester design problem, students were asked to define topics of research related to natural disasters resulting from hurricanes.  The students defined the following as areas of study:

• What is a hurricane?
• Hurricanes past and future
• Hurricane resistant design
• Self sufficiency

These subjects not only provide students critical information on the character and nature of hurricanes, but also establish a foundation for the ways in which architecture can address the issue of this natural disaster both before and after the storm.