HC2P Summer School 2025 - participant blog

SPRITE+ provided grants to 3 PhD students based at UK universities, covering registration, travel and accommodation to attend the Human-Centric Cybersecurity Partnership’s 2025 Summer Program.

Taking place from 9th – 20th June 2025 at the Université de Montréal and the University of Ottawa, Canada, the program combined directed learning, practical experiences and hands on research, focusing on human aspects of cybersecurity from the following three perspectives:

• Society and Human Centric Cybersecurity

• Regulation and Human Centric Cybersecurity

• Behaviour and Human Centric Cybersecurity 

Read on to hear from PhD students Monira Nazmi Jahan and Ammara Yasin about their experiences of attending the HC2P 2025 Summer School.

Monira Nazmi Jahan

Cyber Resilience and Public–Private Partnerships: Lessons from HC2P Summer School 2025

In my world of researching online sexual violence and harm, I never imagined discussing "homomorphic encryption". Yet this summer's transformative experience at the Human-Centric Cyber Security Partnership (HC2P) Summer School 2025 introduced me to an entirely different realm of digital research. With SPRITE+ support and hosted by Université de Montréal and the University of Ottawa, I had the privilege to join as one of only three UK participants in this prestigious programme.

Over two intensive weeks in Montréal and Ottawa, I engaged with leading experts from academia, government, and industry who helped reshape my cybersecurity thinking. Our schedule featured hands-on workshops, site visits, and mentoring sessions with professionals from the RCMP, IBM Cyber Range, Statistics Canada, and the National Bank of Canada. My own project focusses on resilience and public–private cooperation, exploring strategies to build trust, share intelligence, and respond faster to cyber threats. Some key findings are that; legal complexity, trust deficits, and resource constraints, particularly for SMEs, create persistent barriers, while recent legislative uncertainty has complicated collaboration among public and private stakeholders. Effective collaboration demands robust legal frameworks, secure technological platforms, and sustained incentives that make sharing benefits outweigh risks, transforming information sharing into a strategic advantage for national cybersecurity.

Beyond academic rigour, the experience was culturally enriching. Networking dinners and conversations with brilliant minds from across Canada and beyond created an environment where ideas could spark, and collaborations could form naturally. These informal moments proved as valuable as structured sessions.

I left Canada with an expanded understanding of cybersecurity through a human-centred lens, a stronger global network, and new directions for research. The HC2P Summer School was not merely an academic exercise; it was a catalyst for ideas, partnerships, and lasting impact. As I wrap up this deep dive into cybersecurity collaboration, there's one thing I can guarantee with absolute certainty: the ice cream at ‘Iconoglance’ shop will be the best you've ever tasted; no encryption required to unlock that flavor."

Ammara Yasin

Beyond Disciplinary Boundaries: Reflections from the HC2P Summer Programme

As a researcher navigating the intersection of technical and social sciences—equipped with a BSc in Computer Science and an MSc in Science, Technology and Society, now working under dual supervision from Engineering and STS—I rarely encounter programs that embrace interdisciplinary thinking. The Human-Centric Cybersecurity Partnership (HC2P) summer programme was a remarkable exception, offering two weeks of intensive collaboration between lawyers, engineers, sociologists, and computer scientists, that felt tailor-made for my research trajectory.

HC2P fundamentally challenges the traditional narrative that humans represent cybersecurity's weakest element. Instead, it positions interdisciplinary understanding as essential to addressing the intricate relationships between people, technology, and their operational contexts. This philosophy resonated deeply with my own approach to research, where technical solutions must be understood within their broader social and political frameworks.

The programme transported me across a country I had never explored before. Montreal and Ottawa became more than research destinations; between wandering through local art galleries, discovering authentic Vietnamese cuisine, and catching spontaneous live music performances, we visited the institutions our research would influence and be influenced by: financial centers, government agencies, and academic institutions. Beneath all these explorations lay a core purpose: expanding my understanding of cybersecurity beyond purely technical considerations.

My research, which explores the security and privacy implications of circumventing network shutdowns, found new dimensions through the programme's emphasis on human-centric approaches. The cybersecurity frameworks I encountered provided fresh analytical tools that complemented my existing knowledge while challenging me to reconsider assumptions about digital resistance and infrastructure vulnerability. I take particular pride in co-authoring our team's report on cybersecurity within international development contexts, which tackled nuanced and shifting geopolitical dynamics that rarely receive attention in purely technical literature. My contribution, "Canada's Electricity Interoperability: How Changing Geopolitical Dynamics Affect Infrastructural Resilience," allowed me to apply STS methodologies to examine socio-technical vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure. This work exemplified exactly the type of contextually rich, interdisciplinary analysis that drives my academic passion.

As one of just three participants from UK institutions, I felt conscious of the unique opportunity before me. This awareness motivated me to embrace every aspect of the experience—from sampling vegan poutine (delicious) to deciphering Québécois colloquialisms (fascinating), but most importantly, to cultivate meaningful relationships with fellow researchers. Months later, I remain in regular contact with friends I made on the programme, a testament to the connections forged through shared intellectual curiosity and the occasional research challenge that pushed us beyond our comfort zones.

The HC2P summer programme represented far more than a learning opportunity—it was an experience that enriched me academically, intellectually, culturally, and socially. It demonstrated how meaningful progress on complex security challenges emerges not from isolated expertise, but from the dynamic intersection of diverse perspectives working toward common goals.

Anyi Liu

This program is highly recommended for students who are interested in cybersecurity in Canada.

The program lasted for 14 days and was conducted in two major Canadian cities—Montreal and Ottawa. It is a very comprehensive and enriching experience. During the program, I had the opportunity to meet and collaborate with students from various Canadian universities. Together, we worked on a project focused on the disruption of online fraud and cybercrime, specifically exploring AI-enabled phishing. Our final report approached the issue from multiple perspectives, including engineering, human-computer interaction (HCI), and Canadian legal frameworks.

We also participated in daily morning mentoring sessions, where we engaged in insightful discussions with cybersecurity professionals, gaining a deeper understanding of real-world challenges and practices. A highlight of the program was our visit to the cybersecurity headquarters of the Bank of Canada, which offered us a unique insider’s view of national-level cybersecurity operations. The headquarters is located at the top floor of a high-rise office building, providing a stunning panoramic view of the beautiful city of Montreal. Engaging in conversations with cybersecurity professionals in such a setting was truly a rare and valuable experience.

Additionally, this program offered us the opportunities to visit two major Canadian universities located in Montreal and Ottawa. This gave us the chance to experience the local culture and explore the distinctive charm of both cities. During our free time, I enjoyed discovering these cities with new friends I met through the program. Montreal and Ottawa each have distinctly different local cultures and atmospheres. Montreal is a region where French is the predominant language, and by visiting its Old Town, one can feel the old-world charm and romantic French flair reflected in its architecture. In contrast, Ottawa, as the capital of Canada, feels more modern and urbanized. Both cities feature unique castle-like buildings that offer visitors a truly special experience.

Overall, it was a truly joyful and fulfilling experience. We gained valuable knowledge, built strong friendships, and expanded our international academic network.