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The Polytechnic Institute of New York University plans to launch a graduate program that will educate engineers and scientists in addressing the growing complexity of IT security and privacy issues. The program is funded through a $2.85 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
“Traditionally, engineers are taught to evaluate projects by technical standards alone, a narrow approach that is out of touch with today’s connected society,” said the initiative’s team leader, Nasir Memon, professor in the Department of Science and Engineering and director of the Information Systems and Internet Security Lab. “For the scientists of tomorrow, social context will be a critical aspect of innovation.”
In an effort to expand the educational curriculum past merely technical aspects, the teaching faculty for the new program will include professors from Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development and John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
However, only Courant and NYU-Poly will grant degrees. The program, called INSPIRE (Information Security and Privacy): An Interdisciplinary Research and Education Program looks to provide engineers and scientists with an understanding of the interplay between security, public policy, law, psychology and economics.
“Information systems are indispensable components of every aspect of our personal and professional lives,” said Kurt Becker, NYU-Poly associate provost for research and technology initiatives. “Protecting their integrity by authenticating content and ensuring seamless, fast, reliable and secure transmission of data and information is critical in areas including national security, personal safety and comfort, commerce and business.”
