Cyber-Arcade: An Innovative Approach to Promote Cybersecurity
and Engage Women to Pursue STEM Careers
Participants
Dr. Pauline Mosley
Dr. Li-Chiou Chen
Prof. Andreea Cotoranu
Students
Norissa Lamaute
Siobhan Kiernan
Kaitlyn Bestenheider
Adriana Alvia
Elizabeth Molloy
Presentation at the Women in Cybersecurity Conference
(WiCys), Tuscon, Arizona. March 31-April 2, 2017
Research Foci
Idea #1 The need to encourage women and underrepresented
minorities to pursue STEM careers is particularly pressing, as
their numbers in STEM fields are significantly (National Science
Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering
Statistics, 2015).
Idea #2 Student interest in STEM careers is declining (University
of the Sciences [USciences], 2012). This decline appears to be
due in part to a lack of awareness of the wide range of STEM
careers.
Goals
• Engage and recruit 75 high school students to explore
the concepts of cybersecurity through a set of five
challenges: cyber jeopardy, raspberry pi puzzle,
cryptography with cipher wheel, mini-drones, and
password strength.
• Promote STEM awareness and cybersecurity interest
while developing problem solving, critical thinking, and
communication skills.
