This is a renewal proposal with the main topic of digital forensics ? the relatively new science of examining evidence in digital form, such as that which exists on storage media and is communicated in network activity. The project continues to be a cooperative project among researchers and faculty in the Computer Science Department The University of Rhode Island. It aims to bring six to ten undergraduate students to computer forensics research during a 10-weeks REU site. The goals of the project include higher computer science retention rates, greater numbers of students who are women and from minority groups who will continue in computer science and related majors. It also aims to increase recruitment of graduate programs, and to develop skills which will prepare students in a variety of occupations.
This REU site was based in the University of Rhode Island’s (URI) Digital Forensics and Cyber Security Center – a cooperative university center with researchers from the URI Computer Science Department, URI Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, and URI’s Office of Information Technology. Undergraduate student participants engaged in self-contained research projects that were part of URI faculty projects funded from the U.S National Science Foundation, the U.S. Dept. of Justice, and the U.S. Dept of Homeland Security. These projects were in digital forensics – the science of examining evidence in digital form, such on hard drives and in network activity; and in cyber security – which involves protecting information systems from unauthorized access. Each student: undertook a seminar series to assist them in understanding the research process; chose a research project; prepared a research proposal that was peer reviewed by their colleagues and mentors; implemented the research project that they proposed; developed an oral presentation of their work; developed a written presentation of their work as a poster and a research paper; and several disseminated their research results through publication and presentation in Computer Science academic venues. Of the 25 students that participated in the REU site over its three years, there were primarily students from four-year undergraduate programs who would not normally be exposed to research, including students from typically under-represented groups. By actively engaging in research themselves and being assisted by formal research training, these students gained valuable experience in, and insight into, applications of scientific research within computer science and related fields. By collaborating with their mentors and peers, they gained confidence in their own abilities and experience intellectual interactions focused on scientific pursuit. Intellectual Merit. The publications that the REU students co-authored advanced knowledge and understanding in the critical national need areas of digital forensics and cyber security. In addition, the REU projects significantly contributed to two tools: RedLight a tool for law enforcement to detect illicit images, and Cloud Signature a tool for law enforcement to investigate crimes where evidence is in cloud-based applications. Similarly the REU projects formed the basis for the Open Cyber Challenge Platform, a tool to be released free to be used for cyber security education. The results of the REU projects provided the preliminary work for a project that is now fully funded by the NSF to produce the OCCP. Broader Impact. The outcomes of this project included higher computer science retention rates of undergraduates going to graduate school, development of students who are women and from minority groups to continue in computer science and related majors, and the development and use of research skills among those students who continue to careers in industry. The tools produced are helping law enforcement across the country combat crimes that has digital evidence. The OCCP project that emerged from the third year REU project has the potential to make a very wide-spread impact on the cyber security teaching.
