July 21-25, 2025 | Gen Cyber Camp for Rising 9th - 12th Graders
The GenCyber program, funded by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the National Science Foundation, aims to equip the next generation with vital digital security skills.
Event Details
Date: July 21-25, 2025
Time: 8:00 am - 3:30 pm
Location: TBD
Register: https://www.uaht.edu/gencyber/
Forge Institute is excited to announce that applications are now open for 50 coveted spots in its upcoming GenCyber Student Camp. This grant supported week-long camp, running from July 21-25, 2025, is designed to ignite interest in the rapidly growing field of cybersecurity among rising 9th to 12th-grade students. the camp will be held locally and lunch is provided.
The GenCyber program, funded by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the National Science Foundation, aims to equip the next generation with vital digital security skills. Students attending the Forge Institute GenCyber Student Camp will explore core cybersecurity concepts such as Defense in Depth, Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability, thinking like an adversary, and keeping it simple. The curriculum will also cover topics like cryptography, cryptanalysis, and ethical hacking principles through hands-on training, interactive activities, and engagement with industry experts. Students will make and take their own raspberry pi computer. Register Now
June 10, 2025 | Igniting Ingenuity: Lab Insights with Dr. Chris Farnell
Join us for this virtual session presented by Dr. Chris Farnell.
Chris received his Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Arkansas in 2020 and is an IEEE Senior Member. His research interests include Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure, Embedded System Design, FPGA Design, Advanced Control Algorithms, Machine Learning, and Power Electronics. He is currently serving as an Associate Director for the National Center for Reliable Electric Power Transmission (NCREPT) located at the University of Arkansas. This 12,000 square-foot laboratory provides the equipment, technical staff, and instrumentation to test and evaluate power electronic circuits and systems at realistic industrial and distribution voltage levels up to 6 MVA power ratings. Chris is the current chair for the IEEE Ozark Section, treasurer for the newly formed IEEE Computer Society Chapter, the CyberHogs Registered Student Organization (RSO) faculty mentor, and remains active in K-12 outreach activities.
Event Details
Date: June 10, 2025
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: VIRTUAL
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1376213384279?aff=oddtdtcreator
Join us for this virtual session presented by Dr. Chris Farnell.
CYBERSECURITY FOR OPERATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
Chris received his Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Arkansas in 2020 and is an IEEE Senior Member. His research interests include Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure, Embedded System Design, FPGA Design, Advanced Control Algorithms, Machine Learning, and Power Electronics. He is currently serving as an Associate Director for the National Center for Reliable Electric Power Transmission (NCREPT) located at the University of Arkansas. This 12,000 square-foot laboratory provides the equipment, technical staff, and instrumentation to test and evaluate power electronic circuits and systems at realistic industrial and distribution voltage levels up to 6 MVA power ratings. Chris is the current chair for the IEEE Ozark Section, treasurer for the newly formed IEEE Computer Society Chapter, the CyberHogs Registered Student Organization (RSO) faculty mentor, and remains active in K-12 outreach activities.
Igniting Ingenuity: Lab Insights with Rita Foster of Idaho National Labs
Overview of machine learning concepts linked to data, math, and purpose with examples from INL’s award winning Annotated Translated Disassembled Code (@DisCo) will be discussed.
Join us March 11 for this Virtual Event.
Topic: Machine Learning/AI as related to Energy Systems
Part 1: What is AI/ML? Which ML concept is appropriate for data and purpose? INL’s Infrastructure Secure team adopted machine learning pillars to ensure explainable and trustworthy results. Overview of machine learning concepts linked to data, math, and purpose with examples from INL’s award winning Annotated Translated Disassembled Code (@DisCo) will be discussed.
Part 2: Who’s Who in the Zoo? Tired of dealing with AI vertigo? Leaders in AI/ML industry trends, use cases in the energy sector and changes in skill sets will be presented. This discussion will provide context to the AI/ML developments impacting critical infrastructure.
Rita Foster's current role at INL includes over 19 years of experience in cyber security of critical infrastructure identifying research aligned with strategic direction, providing capstone analysis, mentoring, and thought leadership in areas of protection and defense in the energy sector. She has managed multi-discipline teams bringing together controls system engineers, network engineers, cyber security researchers, machine learning, data scientists and subject matter experts for infrastructure security. Prior to her role in infrastructure security, Rita worked and additional 23 years building control systems and communication networks including life safety double and triple redundant systems.
Rita holds a Computer Information Systems Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Idaho State University; augmented with over 20 non-matriculated graduate level courses from University of Idaho.