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The PIT UNiverse Newsletter
March 2024
Cybersecurity is a basic community need and a cornerstone of public interest technology (PIT), as nearly every system we depend upon has at least some digital or online component. Cyberattacks can cause chaos for hospitals, school districts or an entire government. As global cyber expert Kathy Liu notes for the World Economic Forum, “Cybersecurity may not come with the same stark visuals of wildfires or floods, but these digital forest fires have devastating real-world ramifications.”
Our Network has launched and grown a wide range of cybersecurity projects, from community clinics where students get hands-on experience working with local organizations to cyber policy fellowships that diversify and strengthen the pipeline of public interest technologists entering government.
This month, Francesca Lockhart (UT Austin) urges us to widen the scope of cybersecurity training to consider how we can bring the clinic model to K-12 settings, and our PIT in Practice profile of Florida International University shows the importance of leaning into your strengths and cultivating strong relationships in the journey of institutionalizing public interest technology.
Just two weeks are left to apply for the PIT Career Fair RFP! Read on to hear from a 2023 grantee and finish your application. Our Resources this month include toolkits for starting a cyber clinic, and our March Events & Opportunities section is full of job postings, webinars and workshops you don’t want to miss.
Could Cyber Clinics be Adapted to K-12?
Cybersecurity clinics can instill passion for cybersecurity as a public good in any school setting – not just higher ed. Francesca Lockhart (UT Austin) and Sean McAfee (CISA) show how career and technical education could bring the clinic model to K-12 learners.
PIT in Practice
Florida International University has built a thriving public interest cyber program by leaning into its strengths: international training and network building. Learn how Randy Pestana has worked with colleagues to build a range of cyber programs for students, returning veterans and public officials.
There are only two weeks left to apply for PIT Career Fair funding! Here’s what Diane Taylor (Carnegie Mellon University) said about her experience in 2023:
We really enjoyed planning and executing our PIT Career Fair. It’s a great opportunity to meet student demand for tech and social impact careers, while strengthening your regional employer network!
In a hyperconnected world, everyone needs cybersecurity, not just the elite.
Cyber Collective is a nonprofit at the intersection of social justice, cybersecurity and privacy that helps people understand the impact of technology so that we can all protect ourselves online.
By answering everyday questions like “What to do if your account gets hacked?“, curating resources for staying safe online, and hosting online and in-person events, Cyber Collective is a great example of how to help people feel informed, empowered and energized to not only ask questions but demand better outcomes.
Looking to Start a Cybersecurity Clinic?
Cybersecurity clinics can offer people of any age or background exposure to foundational cyber skills while giving back to their community. Since launching with the help of a PIT-UN Challenge Grant, the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics has published a Clinic Development Toolkit, syllabi, client assessments, and more. Access the resources to get started today.
Cyber Upskilling for High School Teachers
Cybersecurity is a vital public interest issue that can offer well-paying jobs, yet hundreds of thousands of cybersecurity roles go unfilled every year. We_Teach Cyber aims to close this gap by increasing the number of high school career & technical education (CTE) teachers who can prepare students for cybersecurity careers.
Housed at the Texas Advanced Computing Center at UT Austin, it offers Texas high school teachers in-depth training, CompTIA Security+ certification test prep, a community of practice, and stipends for their time and effort. You can learn more about the program through the WeTeach_Cyber newsletter or by reaching out to Nikki Hendricks, Sr. Cybersecurity Education Specialist.
Organizing PIT on Your Campus? Write About It!
Public interest technology is interdisciplinary by nature, which means we have to break down silos and build new connections. To generate campus-wide discussion, Lawrence Susskind (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) launched The Public Interest Technologist, a bimonthly newsletter featuring interviews with faculty and students about the extent to which their work on a wide range of technologies is – or isn’t – in the public interest. Read the February/March 2024 issue, and reach out to pit (at) mit (dot) edu to connect with editorial staff Emilie Flamme.
Florida International University is hiring an Associate Director for Research Administration within the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy. This person will oversee the day-to-day research operations and objectives of the Cybersecurity program to promote the overall success of the program and meet goals and objectives. Learn more & apply by April 10.
New America will host a virtual discussion on how democracies can harness digital tools to nurture resilience and merit greater trust in government. Join the conversation on Partners for Democracy Day, Tuesday, March 19 at 11 a.m. ET.
The University of Georgia CyberArch program hosts monthly webinars on cybersecurity for local communities and businesses. Join the first webinar, “Elevating Data Protection,” on Wednesday, March 20 at 11 a.m. ET.
Tech to Gov is offering free resume reviews for people interested in working in government technology on March 26 and 28.
The Journal of Integrated Global STEM is publishing a special issue on public interest technology.
The Editors seek topics that span a range of issues, including but not limited to ethical design, citizen science community-centered technology, data governance, mitigating AI bias, technology for public good, tech equity and inclusion, and open-source science. Learn more & submit proposals here.
The Global Alliance for Ethics and Impacts of Artificial Intelligence (GAEIA) is taking applications for its international 2024 fellowship cohort, which examines ethical dilemmas associated with artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. Learn more & apply by March 18. See also, GAEIA: Building the Future of AI Ethics (Elise St. John, Cal Poly and Søren Jørgensen, Stanford).
UC Berkeley hosts the Cyber Civil Defense Summit on June 13 in Washington, D.C. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind gathering of cyber defenders, academics, and policymakers with the mission of protecting our most at-risk public infrastructure. Learn more & register here.
Interested in writing for this newsletter, or having your program featured?
We’re currently seeking writers and projects on Civic Engagement & Elections (April), Data Science (May), PIT & Humanities (June) and Artificial Intelligence (July). Fill out this form, and we’ll be in touch.
–Andreen & the PIT-UN Team