PERFECT - Providing Environment and Resources for STEM 9th-12th Graders in Effective Cybersecurity Training
Abstract
Technology is pervasive in our lives in the twenty-first century, and we must be mindful of the risks that our technical devices, as well as the personal information that is stored, distributed, and processed on it, pose. Recently a common problem faced by several corporations like Walmart, Target, MySpace, Facebook, Marriott International, Yahoo, Facebook, First American Corporation, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), is the massive data breaches through cyber-attacks. With so many cases of corporate data protection breaches, personal information theft, and even cyber terrorism, it is easy to see why cybersecurity has become such a great topic in today s culture. Moreover, Cybersecurity job positions are among the fastest-growing career areas in the United States. According t o the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, cybersecurity employment will rise at a rate of 31% through 2029, more than seven times faste r than the national average of 4% [1]. Timely initiative from the Office ofNaval Research (ONR) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Program is an important exemplary step to protect our nation. As more technology is integrated into the learning process in classrooms around the world, schools have a responsibility to ensure their students online protection and prepare them for good digital citizenship. To do so, this Cybersecurity Awareness project intends to address the need for cybersecurity education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) 9th grade through 12th grade education while also encouraging school stu dents interest in technology and ethical computer use. With funding from the ONR Program, this project (PERFECT) aims to provide a competitive training environment for the STEM 9 thru 12 school students in secure computing practices so that the students can gradu ate with not only a basic academic basis, but also with knowledge of critical life skills such as cybersecurity. There are millions of unfilled cybersecurity positions across the world [2], and this number is increasing every day. In addition, a world-class STEM w orkforce is needed to maintain the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps technological superiority. The PERFECT project aims to fill the gap o f future cybersecurity workforces by designing an effective co-curriculum and providing early training in cybersecurity awareness fr om the school levelfocusing on 9th grade through 12th grade students. The main objectives for the PERFECT project are: (1) propose cybersecurity or secure computing components for 9 thru 12 students; (2) train schoolteachers and facilitators in secure computing p ractices, who will deliver the cybersecurity training to the 9 thru 12 students in local ISDs; and (3) train 9 thru 12 stude nts in cybersecurity awareness and secure computing practices. Approved for Public Release
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 22, 2021
- Source ID
- N000142112964
Entities
People
- Gahangir Hossain
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- Texas A&M University System
- United States Navy