Pittsburgh Hosting International Student Summit on Cyber Security and Civil Liberties Sept. 17 - Webcast Available

International Student Summit - Cyber Security and Civil Liberties
September 17, 2010
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. EDT
Cornell High School, 1099 Maple St., Coraopolis, PA 15108

On the occasion of Constitution Day, Cornell School District, the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, the National Flag Foundation, and Allegheny Intermediate Unit 3 will present an International Student Summit on Cyber Security and Civil Liberties for high school students around the world.

The Student Summit will connect students in the Pittsburgh region to students in countries around the world through video conference and webcast, engaging them in a dialogue exploring the tensions between cyber security and civil liberties issues.

Students worldwide may participate in the Student Summit through the interactive webcast. Students will be able to pose questions and share their ideas in real time.

Over the past few months, popular international magazines, news channels, and blogs have alerted audiences to the threat of cyberwar. The recent creation of the United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) and NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defence (CCD) Centre of Excellence show just how seriously national governments and international bodies are taking this new threat.

As the world becomes increasingly dependent on the Internet, cyber attacks could affect technological infrastructure such as power grids and banking systems. However, no formal definition exists for cyberwar. How can countries distinguish between hacking and an outright act of war? As governments debate how to grapple with this new security threat, how can an international dialogue contribute to meeting this new global challenge?

History shows that times of war have called for special security measures, sometimes at the expense of civil liberties. What are militaries, governments, and corporations doing to protect the internet? And what effect will cyber security measures have on civil liberties?

These are just some of the issues to be debated during the Student Summit.

International Student Summit: Cyber Security and Civil Liberties Details:

* Participation at Cornell High School or via video conference or webcast.
* Panel discussion and Q & A session with leaders who will share their perspectives on key cyber security and civil liberties issues, including free speech and privacy.
* Interactive breakout sessions facilitated by local experts in which students will analyze and discuss a cyber security scenario.
* Debriefing session for groups to share their approaches to the scenario.

Tentative Schedule

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Panel Presentation and Q & A Session

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Breakout Session

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Debriefing Session

Register Now!
Registration for the Cornell High School and video conference sites is open to students in grades 9-12. Students of all ages may participate in the webcast. To participate at Cornell High School or via video conference or webcast, please use the links below to register.

Participation at Cornell High School
Cornell High School can accommodate up to 350 student participants from throughout the Pittsburgh region. Registrations will be accepted on a rolling basis until the program is filled. Due to space constraints, each school will initially be limited to 30 participants. Additional students will be placed on a waiting list. Click here to register.

Participation via Video Conference
A limited number of schools can register to participate via video conference. Schools in the Pittsburgh region will be paired with international sites during the breakout session. Video conference equipment is required. Click here to register.

Participation via Webcast
Students throughout Pennsylvania, in other parts of the United States, and in other countries worldwide may participate in this International Student Summit through the interactive webcast of the panel from 9:00-10:30 a.m. Students will be able to pose questions and share their ideas in real time. Click here to register.

Click here to watch the live webcast on Friday, September 17, 2010.

Questions? Please contact Amiena Mahsoob or Allyce Pinchback at the World Affairs Council at amiena@worldaffairspittsburgh.org or allyce@worldaffairspittsburgh.org, or call (412) 281-7970.

A preparation guide is available for teachers to stimulate student thinking about cyber security and civil liberties issues prior to the event.