Cybersecurity, Data Science and AI
Upcoming Event - Free Cybersecurity Clinic!
UH Cybersecurity Clinic for Small Businesses in Hawaii
Small business owners are encouraged to register to attend free cybersecurity training at Kapiʻolani Community College that also comes with a free dinner.
“Led by industry experts, this training covers crucial topics like password security, system updates, employee awareness, and data protection strategies—ensuring your organization is resilient against cyber risks. Don’t miss this opportunity to fortify your defenses,” according to Kapiʻolani CC Assistant Professor David Stevens.
- Location: Kapʻiolani Community College, Kōpiko Bldg., Room 126
- November 18 or 19, 2024, 5:30 - 7:30 PM HST
- Click here to RSVP
- View PDF Flyer for event
- Limited to 20 persons per session!
- Dinner included from Oli's Kitchen
- For more information, contact Asst. Prof. David Stevens at dsteven3@hawaii.edu
Center for Cybersecurity Education and Research (CCER)
The University of Hawaii Maui College (UHMC) has achieved the distinguished status of a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) through the academic year 2029. This designation was first achieved in 2019 and has been renewed in 2024 for a period of five years. This prestigious designation has been awarded for the validated program of study for the Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Applied Business and Information Technology (ABIT) Degree. Details about the ABIT BAS here. This acknowledgment serves to highlight UHMC's commitment to excellence in cultivating the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. For details about the CAE in Cybersecurity Community click here.
The Center for Cybersecurity Education and Research (CCER) was inaugurated at the University of Hawaii Maui College in 2015, with the objective of furnishing the local residents and students with comprehensive cybersecurity education, training, and advisory services. The CCER's mission is to deliver expert cybersecurity guidance, training, and workforce development initiatives to the community at large, including K-12 students and educators, in addition to the student body of UHMC. Present research endeavors at the CCER encompass the application of advanced methodologies in data science and artificial intelligence to address the distinct challenges posed by cyber threats and vulnerabilities.
Points of Contact:
Dr. Debasis Bhattacharya, JD, DBA
Director of CCER
NCAE-C Point of Contact
Professor and Program Coordinator
Applied Business and Information Technology (ABIT)
808.984.3619 or debasisb at hawaii dot edu
Kaaike 114 (map)
@uhmcabit | LinkedIn
Key Information Security Information from UH ITS
- UH ITS Help Desk, available 24x7x365 - Check here
- UH ITS Internal Cybersecurity news - Check here
- Latest External Cybersecurity News from CISA - Check here
- Students – Check here for important information
- Faculty and Staff – Check here!
- Information on UH Security Policies, Personal Identifiable Information etc. – here
- For key security hygiene, resources and awareness, check here
- For the current list of Security Alerts with UH, check here
Latest Grant News!
NSA Workforce Development Award in Cybersecurity - 2024-2026
UH Maui College landed a partnership agreement with the University of New Haven (UNH) to develop a sustainable, skills-based, competency-focused workforce development program to educate and train existing and future workforce in four critical infrastructure sectors – energy, government facilities, finance and telecommunication. UNH has awarded Maui College $500,000, funded from the US National Security Administration, to cover Hawaiʻi’s at-large region, complementing the Good Jobs Hawaiʻi initiative to create introductory and immersive cybersecurity certificates for state and local employees, small business and nonprofits. For more information, please contact PI Dr. Debasis Bhattacharya at debasisb at hawaii dot edu
NSA GenCyber Consortium Grant - 2024-2026
UH Maui College was awarded a grant of $412,794 by the NSA GenCyber Program to lead a consortium of colleges to conduct teacher and student cyber camps in 2025. The consortium includes University of Hawaii Manoa, University of Hawaii Information Technology Services (ITS), Kapiolani Community College and Leeward Community College. The award involves conducting a virtual intermediate teacher camp for Hawaii DoE teachers in the summer of 2025, as well as in-person student camps on Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Maui and Hawaii County. For more information, please contact PI Dr. Debasis Bhattacharya at debasisb at hawaii dot edu
UH Cybersecurity Clinic - 2024-2029
UH was selected to receive $1 million in grant funding and wraparound support from Google’s Cybersecurity Clinics Fund to establish the University of Hawaiʻi Cybersecurity Clinics. It is one of 15 new clinics set to launch at higher education institutions across the country, thanks to a collaboration between Google and the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics.
Beginning in January 2025, the University of Hawaiʻi Cybersecurity Clinics will offer a free online course in introductory cybersecurity topics to 500 UH students over five years. It will provide information and access to internships and career opportunities in cybersecurity. UH faculty will work with the students and provide mentoring and guidance through the process.
The University of Hawaiʻi Cybersecurity Clinics will be primarily based at UH Maui College but will collaborate with other campuses throughout the UH System. The project will also work with various organizations across the state, such as the CIO Council and local employers, to train workers to secure the critical infrastructure in Hawaiʻi.
For more information, please contact PI Dr. Debasis Bhattacharya at debasisb at hawaii dot edu
NSF ATE Award (#2300867) - 2023-2026
Cyber Data Analytics Education, Curriculum, and Workforce Development
The University of Hawaii Maui College has recently been awarded a $650,000 grant by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technology Education (ATE) program to develop a pathway to train cyber security technicians in data analytics and AI. For more information, please contact PI Dr. Debasis Bhattacharya at debasisb at hawaii dot edu. Details here!
Presentations, Workshops and Conferences
- GeyCyber 2024 Fall Meeting, Online November 1, 2024. Presentation on Virtual Intermediate Teacher Camps in Hawaii during Summer 2024.
- 2024 NSF ATE PI Conference, October 23-25, 2024, Washington DC. Presentation PFD 1 and Presentation PDF 2
- SIGITE 2024, October 10-12, 2024, El Paso Community College, TX. Presentation on Risks to Critical Infrastructure in Hawaii - Small Biz Perspective. PDF Paper PDF Presentation
- Postsecondary International Network (PIN), Kahului, HI 96732. Presentation on GenAI in Education. Part 1 of 3 PDF Part 2 of 3 PDF Part 3 of 3 PDF
- HI-TEC 2024, July 29-August 1, 2024, Kansas City, MO. Pre-Conference Presentation on Impact of GenAI in Education. Details Session Presentation of AI Programming Assistant. Details
- Faculty Presentation to Borough of Manhattan CC of City University of NY, June 21, 2024. Presentation to BMCC Faculty
- Cybersecurity across the Disciplines (CyAD), Moraine Valley CC, June 12-13, 2024. Presentation on AI Asst in Classroom and Presentation on Gen AI in Education
- CAE Symposium and GenCyber Meeting, April 15-19, 2024. Details
- Hawaii ACTE Conference, Honolulu, HI, April 11, 2024. Details.
- EPNC Site Visit to Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, April 9-12, 2024. Details
- Hawaii Student Success Institute (HISSI), March 8, 2024, Honolulu, HI. Presentation on AI in Education
- National Cybersecurity Capabilities and Careers Symposia (3CS) Session Proposal Development Workshop, February 1-3, 2024, Tampa, FL. Details
- EPNC Strategy Summit, January 30-February 1, 2024, Dunedin, FL
- Western Academy Support and Training Center (WASTC) - 2024 ICT Educators' Winter Conference, January 4-5, 2024. Details.
Faculty Bio: Dr. Debasis Bhattacharya (Debāśiṣ Bhaṭṭāchārya, দেবাশীষ ভট্টাচার্য, देवाशीष भट्टाचार्य) serves as a faculty member with tenure at the University of Hawai’i Maui College, where he also holds the position of Program Coordinator for the Applied Business and Information Technology Baccalaureate Program. Bringing over three decades of combined expertise in software development and higher education, Dr. Bhattacharya’s career encompasses significant roles at leading technology firms, including Oracle and Microsoft, spanning a period of 15 years. Since relocating to Hawaii in 2002, his research has been focused on addressing the information security challenges faced by small to medium-sized enterprises, a pursuit that began in earnest in 2008. His firsthand experience as a former small business owner grants him a unique perspective on the critical importance of information security and the operational challenges inherent in maintaining a thriving enterprise.
Dr. Bhattacharya’s academic credentials include degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Columbia University, the University of Phoenix, and the NW California University School of Law. His research interests are broad and interdisciplinary, covering areas such as computer science education, cybersecurity, cryptocurrencies, blockchain technology, and artificial intelligence. Dr. Bhattacharya is a Senior Member of both the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), as well as a member of the Academy of Management (AoM). This blend of practical experience, academic achievement, and professional affiliation underscores his contribution to the field and commitment to advancing the intersection of technology and business.
Contact Info:
Dr. Debasis Bhattacharya, JD, DBA
Professor
UH Maui College
808.984.3619
debasisb at hawaii dot edu
Kaaike 114 map
@uhmcabit | Linkedin
Faculty Bio: Tom Blamey is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Hawai’i. Maui College, and Math Program Coordinator for the STEM department. Mr. Blamey has been working in the Data Science and higher education industry for 33 years, having worked for large corporations such as Liberty Mutual and SAIC for 15 years. A resident of Hawaii since 2015, he has been actively supporting Maui Nui and the University of Hawaii. As a former corporate actuary, he understands the needs and demands of companies, as well as keeping a business profitable. Mr. Blamey holds a BS degree in Mathematics, and a MS degree in Statistics, and has a passion for helping his students succeed in their academic and workforce endeavors.
Partial support for this work was provided by the following National Science Foundation grants:
– Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program under Award No. 2300867
–STEM + Computing (STEM+C) program under Award No. 1738824
– Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program under Award No. 1700562
– Scholarship for Service (SFS) program under Award No. 1437514
– Scholarship for Service (SFS) program under Award No. 1516178
– Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program under Award No. 1204904
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. University of Hawaii Maui College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.