Aston University’s Cyber Security Innovation (CSI) Centre has hosted a cyber security event for female students from four local schools.
The ‘Cyber Kali Explorer Day’ brought together leaders from both the cyber security industry and local government, as well as 100 female year 8 students from surrounding schools.
Experts at the event included Senior Cyber Consultant Vickie C, Senior Policy Advisor, Department for Science Information and Technology Daljinder Mattu, as well as CyberWomen@Warwick representatives. UK Cyber Security Council CEO Simon Hepburn also shared advice and discussed the opportunities the sector offers.
The day featured interactive workshops that highlighted the importance of online safety, explored cyber-hacking, and how to protect oneself from online threats.
The event was part of the Cyber Kali project, for which a team from Aston and Warwick Universities, led by Dr Anitha Chinnaswamy and Professor Vladlena Benson from the CSI, have been awarded funding by the UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
Dr Chinnaswamy said: “We would like to thank all who contributed to making ‘Cyber Kali Explorer Day’ a triumph, and we are confident that our efforts will bear fruit in the future.
“It is our responsibility to continue nurturing these bright young minds, providing them with the tools they need to succeed, and supporting them as they embark on their unique journeys.
“Our goal goes beyond this project, we work towards every opportunity inspire and empower the next generation of cybersecurity professionals, especially young women, to pursue their dreams and explore a field that has traditionally been male-dominated.
Professor Zoe Radnor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of the College of Business and Social Sciences at Aston University, added, “Through our Cyber Security Innovation Centre and other initiatives, we aim to create opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their background or identity, to excel in the field of cybersecurity and contribute to building a safer and more secure digital world.”
