Our colleague, Dr. Ana Oskoz, professor of Spanish, has accepted an appointment as vice provost for Faculty Affairs. She will assume the role on Monday, November 27.

See the official announcement here. 

Congratulations, Ana! 

Check out our colleague's Carlos A. Romero Talamás exciting Grit- X talk:  

"The Fusion Energy Solution – Why Engineering Simplicity Matters"

Congratulations Carlos! 

INCS-CoE Expert Community Seminar on Cybersecurity Issues in Transportation

8-9:00 am ET Tuesday, 28 November 2023 via Zoom

Host: Dr. Karl V. Steiner, UMBC VP for Research & Creative Achievement

GraphCAN: Graph-Based Controller Area Network Security

Dr. Riadul Islam, UMBC, Baltimore, MD, USA

Vulnerabilities and security threats associated with the widely adopted vehicular Controller Area Network (CAN) will be examined. Novel techniques for the creation of graphs from CAN data will be introduced. Subsequently, various methods, encompassing statistical analyses, machine learning algorithms, and graph neural network approaches, will be presented as potential means to enhance the security of CAN networks. Furthermore, the challenges related to processing extensive sensor data within a stringent timing budget will be addressed, emphasizing the significance of implementing intrusion detection algorithms on edge devices with a focus on cost-effectiveness.

Advancing Cyber-Resilience in the Age of Autonomous Vehicles

Dr. Rolando Martins, University of Porto, Portugal

The adoption of autonomous vehicles requires shifting cyber-physical infrastructures. They are high-value targets, and while Zero Trust is vital, it is insufficient against modern cyber threats. The traditional firewall-based "fortress" approach falls short against advanced adversaries. This situation has reignited interest in Intrusion Tolerance, underutilized since the '90s due to its complexity. We will showcase work at the UP Cybersecurity and Privacy Centre (C3P)'s on cybersecurity, focusing on autonomous vehicles.

From Skyjacking to Carjacking: Challenges and Opportunities in Securing Modern Navigation Technologies

Dr. Aanjhan Ranganathan, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA

Modern transportation systems rely heavily on accurate positioning and navigation technologies, which have become increasingly vulnerable to security threats. In this talk, we will explore the security challenges associated with secure positioning and navigation in modern vehicles, including the impact of GPS spoofing on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and the security problems of instrument landing systems used in aviation as one of the primary means of navigation aid for landing. We will also discuss the security problems of automotive radar, where we will show how easily radio frequency radar signals can be manipulated to fake distances and velocities, compromising the safety of the vehicle and passengers. We will see how even with cryptographic primitives, the challenges to securing positioning, navigation, and timing technologies is no trivial task. The talk will aim to highlight the fundamental limits that exist in securing current technologies and a call for designing secure alternatives.

It's a short week here on campus, but the semester is continuing its march towards finals in a few weeks. If you are celebrating this week, we hope that you will have a safe and happy holiday, and will look forward to seeing you again after the long weekend! 

Please note that UMBC's campus and offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, Nov 23-24, in observance of the holiday. 

Conference Applications Now Open

The organization International Student Conferences facilitates three academic and cultural exchange programs organized by university students in the U.S., Japan, Korea, and China. The conferences distinguish themselves from other programs in that they are entirely student-led: students manage the logistics and implementation of each annual gathering. At the end of each Conference, delegates elect an Elective Committee tasked with planning and executing the next conference. 

The programs are premised on the belief that students are not passive observers of international diplomacy but rather are concerned citizens charged with the responsibility of guiding the direction of the world as leaders in U.S.-Asia relations.

Who Can Apply for These Conferences?

The Japan-America Student Conference

The Japan-America Student Conference (JASC) is a student-led exchange program initiated in 1934 by university students concerned about the breakdown of bilateral relations before the Second World War. Today, an equal number of students from the U.S. and Japan are competitively selected each year to spend one summer month together, studying and analyzing Japan-U.S. relations while visiting three diverse regions in the host country. 

The 76th Japan-America Student Conference will occur from August 3rd to August 24th, 2024, in Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Washington, DC. JASC 76 will convene with the theme: “Visions: Perspectives reflected from the past - together understanding, contributing for the future.” Applications are OPEN until December 24, 2023. Apply here!

The Korea-America Student Conference

The Korea-America Student Conference (KASC) is a student-led academic conference that was established in 2008 with the goal of supporting the deep bilateral relationship between the U.S. and South Korea. This conference brings together up to 30 students studying in the United States and the Republic of Korea for an academically rigorous, three-week-long summer program, during which students live, travel, and conduct original, peer-reviewed research together. KASC is unique among ISC conferences in its two-country model, in which students travel to both the U.S. and South Korea each year. 

The 17th Korea-America Student Conference will travel to New York City, Washington, DC, and Seoul, South Korea, from June 23rd to July 11th, 2024! The KASC 17 Executive Committee chose the theme: “Embracing Complexity: Navigating the Intersections in Global Diplomacy for a Shared Tomorrow.” Applications are OPEN! Apply by December 23, 2023 at this link!

The China-America Student Conference

The China-America Student Conference (ChASC) is a 2-week academic and cultural interchange program that brings together an equal number of students representing the United States of America and China for off-the-record discussions on the future of the bilateral relationship. ChASC was established in 2020, making it the newest of the ISC conferences. 

The 4th China-America Student Conference will convene from June 3rd to June 15th in Chicago and Washington, DC! ChASC 4 will focus on the theme, “From Reflection to Connection: Lessons from the Past, Visions For the Future” and welcomes American students, Chinese students, and Chinese students studying in the United States! Please apply by December 31, 2023, at this link!