Cybersecurity Outreach for Young Minds: UWE Bristol’s Annual Unlock Cyber Taster Day for Schools

By Jonathan White, Senior Lecturer in Cyber Security

Last month, UWE Bristol was proud to host the annual Unlock Cyber Taster Day. Taking place in the School of Engineering building on the Frenchay campus, the day was attended by approximately 350 students aged 12 to 14 from schools across the region.

The event was run by Unlock Cyber, an employer-led initiative established by UWE Bristol to build a community of young cyber security enthusiasts with the right skills to follow a career into the sector. 12 industry partners come together for the day to provide a wide range of cyber security related activities in which the students participate. UWECyber demonstrated a new event this year using Lego Funfairs and Raspberry Pi’s to simulate attacks and mitigations against Cyber Physical Systems.

The significance of cyber security outreach initiatives like the Unlock Cyber Taster Day is manifold:

• Raising awareness of the risks and importance of cyber security: Students can gain knowledge regarding various cyber threats, online safety practices and the significance of protecting their digital lives.
• Developing interest and curiosity: By engaging in hand-son activities, demonstrations and workshops, students can develop a genuine interest in the subject area, potentially inspiring them to pursue careers in cyber security or related fields.
• Skills development: By providing interactive sessions where children can learn practical skills such as coding, ethical hacking, or data protection, they are introduced to fundamental concepts and tools used in the industry, thereby being better able to protect themselves and others from cyber threats.
• Fostering critical thinking and problem-solving abilities: The events often require analytical thinking, problem-solving and creativity and participating in these activities can enhance these abilities, which can support students in a wide variety of aspects in life, not just cyber security.
• Promoting diversity and inclusion: Like many STEM fields, cyber security has traditionally been male dominated. Inspiring children, especially females and underrepresented groups can help break down barriers and encourage diversity in the industry. By showcasing successful role models and providing for inclusive environments, these events can inspire children from all backgrounds to pursue a career in cyber security.