2024 HC2P participant blog posts

Jane Ngan

A sojourn to Canada, quantum mechanics, and interdisciplinary research

As a researcher in financial crime and regulation, I had not foreseen that “superposition”, “qubits”, and “entanglement” would feature in my academic vocabulary; and so it was with some bewilderment that I found myself part of a Canadian research team investigating the threats and opportunities in quantum computing this year.

With support from SPRITE+ and the University of Montreal, I joined postgraduate researchers from universities across Canada at the Human-Centric Cybersecurity Partnership (HC2P) summer programme. The HC2P challenges conventional wisdom that people are the weakest link in cybersecurity. It argues that practical policy and design interventions to address cybersecurity risks depend on a relentless focus on interdisciplinarity to address the complex interactions between humans, machines, and their environments.

With this interdisciplinarity in mind, researchers from backgrounds as diverse as law, psychology, computer engineering, and criminology were brought together under the programme – and this year, for the first time, joined by a small UK contingent of three supported by SPRITE+. Expert presentations and mentorship from leaders in cybersecurity research, government and industry partners supported our work in three separate cybersecurity research clusters: quantum computing, AI and misinformation.

The two-week programme took us from Montreal to Ottawa, and on visits to an AI research lab, an immersive cyber attack experience, and to CSIS, Canada’s foreign intelligence and security agency. The programme culminated in a live-stream presentation held at the University of Ottawa, and a forthcoming research report.

In “superposition”, a quantum system can exist in multiple states or configurations until it is observed. This feature endows quantum computing with powers to perform parallel calculations of complex mathematical problems – a palpable risk for current encryption standards. At the same time, the nature of superposition is perhaps also a rough metaphor for the promise of research: the possible solutions to the risks we face today and in our futures can be found not only in linear progression of disciplinary mastery, but also from overlapping multitudes of experience and expertise brought together by the kind of intensive interdisciplinary work I was privileged to become a part.

The HC2P Summer Research Programme 2024 presentation is available here. Jane’s work, which focused on gaps in current risk assessments on quantum computing threats, can be found at 59:24 of the recording.

Cassidy Weeks

I had the privilege of attending the HC2P Summer School 2024 in Montreal and Ottawa, in partnership with SPRITE+. Reflecting on this experience, I am incredibly grateful to have had this opportunity and feel I benefitted in several ways from the programme. I am a Psychology PhD student based in the UK, with an interest in cybercrimes and online harms. The HC2P programme appealed to me as a brilliant opportunity to expand my knowledge about cybersecurity, from a human and societal perspective.

Throughout the programme, we had the opportunity to work with leading experts in the fields of AI, misinformation, quantum computing, cybersecurity, and national security. Particularly exciting was our visit to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service HQ, where we learned about how online threats can affect national and international security, and how these can be managed. We also took part in a Cyber Range Activity whereby we posed as ‘ethical hackers’ attempting to access secure files relating to a hypothetical terrorist attack.

In addition to these sessions, I worked alongside other participants on the programme to produce a report and presentation about cybersecurity and online misinformation. It was a fantastic opportunity to work with peers from a variety of disciplines whilst utilising my psychological background to bring a new perspective to these issues.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the HC2P Summer School and would highly recommend for anyone interested in researching online harms, and a huge thank you to SPRITE+ for enabling my involvement on the programme!

Yara Alsiyat

This summer, I had the privilege of participating in the Human-Centric Cybersecurity Partnership (HC2P) Summer Program in Canada. It was an extraordinary experience that combined hands-on learning, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and unparalleled networking opportunities. Over two weeks, I worked alongside professionals, academics, and industry leaders to address some of the most pressing challenges in cybersecurity. 

One of the program’s standout moments was our time at the IBM Cyber Range. Here, we stepped into the shoes of both attackers and defenders, working through simulated cyberattacks. Tasks like exploiting servers, decrypting sensitive emails, and configuring tools such as Metasploit gave us a real-world understanding of the vulnerabilities organizations face daily. The intense, fast-paced nature of the simulations reinforced the importance of adaptability and teamwork in cybersecurity. I even had the unique opportunity to step behind the scenes and help film a cyberattack scenario that is now used in their training sessions. Mimicking a ransomware attack, this scenario demonstrated not only the technical but also the psychological dimensions of cybersecurity crises.

Equally impactful was the collaborative work we did on our team report, which focused on AI and trust in digital identity management. This project allowed us to explore the intersections of artificial intelligence, digital security, and societal impact. Together, we analyzed challenges like bias in AI, privacy concerns, and regulatory gaps, and proposed actionable recommendations for improving trust in these systems. The diversity of perspectives within our team was a tremendous asset, enabling us to craft a report that was both comprehensive and insightful. Presenting our findings to representatives from organizations like Google and IBM was a proud moment and a testament to the hard work and synergy of our group.

What truly set this program apart, however, was the networking. I connected with professionals across domains—law, public policy, psychology, and technology—gaining insights into how cybersecurity is approached from different perspectives. These conversations enriched my understanding of the field and emphasized the importance of collaboration across industries.

The HC2P Summer Program wasn’t just a learning experience; it was a platform for growth and innovation. It deepened my technical expertise, strengthened my collaborative skills, and opened doors to new professional opportunities. Most importantly, it reinforced my passion for uncovering hidden truths in cybersecurity and creating solutions that are as inclusive as they are effective.