May 9, 2023
WHAT: The University of Rhode Island will host the CS4RI Cyber Summit, which will bring more than 350 Rhode Island school students to the Kingston Campus for a day of activities that will excite and inspire them about the possibilities of computer science and cybersecurity in their futures. CS4RI (Computer Science for Rhode Island) was started in 2016 as a state initiative of the Office of Gov. Gina Raimondo to bring high quality computer science education to all students. At the event, students will take part in fun activities such as academic demonstrations from collegiate students as well as a presentation and hands-on workshop from URI and the Community College of Rhode Island members. In addition, high school students will present their projects on computer science and cybersecurity. In the past, those have included projects from advanced placement courses, websites, robotics demonstrations and circuit playgrounds. Awards will be presented for Academic Excellence, Collegiate Division; Academic Excellence, High School Division (2); and Academic Excellence, Fan Favorite (2), which will be voted on by the students attending.
WHO: Hosting the event are the URI Department of Computer Science and Statistics; Lisa DiPippo, chair of the department; and Victor Fay-Wolfe, professor of computer science and undergraduate chair of the department, and Michael Kelly, CCRI cybersecurity program director. More than350 high school students representing a dozen Rhode Island schools, most of which offer cybersecurity courses in their computer science curriculum. (Cumberland, Woonsocket, Coventry, Smithfield, Narragansett, Chariho, Bishop Hendricken, Cranston East, and Barrington high schools; along with Davies Career & Technical High School, Providence Career & Technical Academy, The MET School, and the South Kingstown School District are participating)
Funding for the event comes from the National Security Agency through an initiative to encourage collaboration of Cybersecurity Academic Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE). URI, which became a center of excellence in 2008, and CCRI, which became a center of excellence in 2019, are proud to collaborate on this event to encourage students across the state to become interested in computer science and cybersecurity.
WHEN: Wednesday, May 10, from 9 a.m. to noon.
WHERE: Events will be held in the Memorial Union Ballroom, 50 Lower College Road, and the Higgins Welcome Center, 45 Upper College Road, Kingston.
TO COVER THE EVENT: Please contact Tony LaRoche, URI Communications and Marketing, if you intend on covering this event. Reach him at 401-874-4894; cell, 401-837-8275; or anthony_laroche@uri.edu.