The project ASPIRE at the Polytechnic University of New York prepares a cadre of SFS scholars who can integrate technical, legal, financial, and behavioral aspects into practical, cost effective solutions that people can depend on; who can help develop laws and public policies relating to information security and privacy that properly reflect the capabilities, limitations, and implications of technology. A graduate from the ASPIRE program is able to translate the foundational principles of security and privacy into information technologies based on a deep understanding of societal, economic, behavioral and public policy implications and requirements.
To ensure success of this vision, ASPIRE includes: an inter-disciplinary education and research agenda; training to identify and solve security and privacy problems from technical, legal, ethical, policy, and business perspectives; a sense of community by means of a buddy system, quarterly boot camps and weekly meetings; and a community service to mentor middle school students and to help non-profit organizations with their IT security problems. The ASPIRE team consists of researchers from NYU-Poly, and other schools in NYU with diverse expertise in areas that include Computer Science; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Public Policy; Law, Ethics and Politics; Economics and Business; and Psychology.
NYU has a large number (60%) of women students and ASPIRE partners with local and national minority institutions to recruit high quality fellows. The partners include the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, National Society for Black Engineers, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and the Society for Women Engineers.
The primary goal of the project was to prepare a cadre of SFS scholars who can tackle security and privacy issues that face the nation. 23 highly trained and motivated SFS scholars successfully graduated and entered the federal work force to help meet the security challenges facing our national infrastructure.6 of the students were from under represented minorities including 3 women. The success at job placement was partly due to a well-structured and coordinated program that was implemented through the project. Some of the highlights of the program included: 1) In addition to computer science and computer engineering students were also admitted from public policy and business and trained them in technology 2) In addition to training computer science and engineering students in the science and technology of security and privacy, it also trained them in looking at problems from multiple viewpoints, including technical, legal, public policy, economics and risk management. 3) Students were given a flexible policy with regards to the program of study of the students as they were from different majors and different backgrounds in the program. 4) Students were required to take part in an activity of their choice in addition to what they do in their coursework. The activities were coordinated in regularly scheduled meetings. 5) Students were required to choose any project and formulate goals for their professional and personal growth. In order to ensure they make progress that makes them better professionals and human beings. This included engaging in a research project, writing a blog, building a system, performing vulnerability analysis, compete in a national challenge or competition etc. The result was a group of students who had done more beyond their coursework and hence better positioned to find a suitable job in the federal government. 6) Students were required to write and to give presentations on a regular basis to improve their communication skills. 7) Each year the students volunteered in organizing NYUs Cyber Security Awareness Week (CSAW) at that includes contests open to students around the country. This provided the students with organizational, management and communications skills in addition to the technical expertise developed in creating and/or solving the challenges. 8) Students participate in the activities of the school's computer security club that forms teams to compete in events nationwide and also organizes a weekly seminar series.
