Quality information is critical to society. Corporate titans like Google, Facebook, Apple, and Amazon gather it to tailor behavior and ads, medical researchers use it to develop new treatments, and governments use it to make policy.
“Over the last 20 years, an increasing importance has been placed on data-driven decision making, which depends on trustworthy data,” said Dr. Zachary Ives, Adani President’s Distinguished Professor and Chair in Computer and Information Science at Penn Engineering. “As we collect this data, we also want to ensure we aren’t eroding personal privacy. Cybersecurity is often associated with protecting computer systems from hackers, but now the focus is shifting to protecting the integrity and privacy of data.”
“The new center will help to grow our strengths in computer science topics like cryptography, security, and privacy—and also enable researchers across campus to work together—in areas like sociology, communications, law, and political science—to understand their impact on our society. Data-driven technologies should promote positive outcomes, such as the open exchange of information, without being overwhelmed by ‘fake news,’ ” said Ives.
The Schlein Center for Cybersecurity will combine data science, security, and privacy into one convenient hub on Penn’s campus. The interdisciplinary nature of Penn is a natural fit for a center that will bring together world-renowned schools in engineering, medicine, education, and law, among others, with existing data science efforts.
Over the past 35 years working on cybersecurity solutions, I have learned that combating threats to our businesses, institutions, and personal privacy requires constant innovation of our cyber defenses.”Ted Schlein , C’86, PAR’20
“The future is in security analytics and assessing risk through machine learning and algorithm development,” said Schlein.
On campus, leading faculty will collaborate to discover new insights and strategies, using techniques like differential privacy—a system of publicly sharing information about a group while protecting individual data. As a major new project at Penn Engineering, the Schlein Center for Cybersecurity will be housed in the forthcoming Data Science Building, to be located at 34th and Chestnut—which will serve as a nexus connecting students and faculty from many disciplines across Penn’s campus, as well as the larger Philadelphia community.
“Penn Engineering’s new Data Science Building will be a perfect environment to accelerate these advancements, to help make the world a safer place, and to make Penn a leader in one of the most important topics of the next generation,” Schlein said.
