An Wang, assistant professor of Computer & Data Sciences, and Brian Gran, Professor of Sociology and Law, co-instructed a course titled “Socio-Technology of Cyber Security” in the Spring 2023 semester. They received a grant from New America’s Public Interest Technology-University Network (PIT-UN) for this course, which is prompted by and organized around the four pathways of the Think Big Initiative’s North Star. Gran’s time as a Jefferson Science Fellow with the Department of State influences his approach to the course.

Recently, Wang, Gran and their students visited Washington, D.C. with the overarching objectives of learning how officials in government and the private sector “do” cyber security and about opportunities to pursue internships and careers in cyber security.

The group attended the Zero Trust Summit conference, which included federal officials and leaders of private sector firms that work on zero trust architecture.

They also visited the Library of Congress to attend a “Live at the Library” event and the Harry S. Truman Building to meet with those who work with the Department of State’s Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy.

Additionally, the group met with officials of the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to learn how officials from State, CISA, Department of Defense and other parts of government recognize boundaries while collaborating.

To round out the trip, the students visited the Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Memorial, and then the National Museum of the American Indian.