In 2006, the ESPRIT Lab conducted social policy research on behalf of the The Social Eye of the Storm Association (SESA). SESA   is a simulated non-profit organization dedicated to examining and educating the public on how a number of social factors including race, class, gender, and poverty contribute, as well as determine the severity of damage and death caused by natural disasters. ESPRIT Interns developed policy recommendations and proposals that take into account ecological perspectives and these interlocking social factors, and developed an analysis that showed that many "natural" disaster are anything but natural. The ESPRIT Interns made the argument that society has the power to control the outcome of natural disasters by considering these social factors when creating evacuation, and relief/recovery programs.

The ESPRIT Interns completed a series of tasks that developed their understanding of the process of analyzing social problems. In addition. They made policy recommendations and proposals that took into account a number of social factors which determine the severity of damage and death caused by a natural disaster.