Louisiana Tech University’s chapter of the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society will host a discussion titled “Cyber Storm: Hacking Our Way to Cyber Security Awareness,” at 6:00 p.m. January 9 as part of the society’s Science Café series The place is Log Cabin Grill & Market, 1906 Farmerville Hwy., Ruston; the event is free and open to the public. Limited appetizers will be provided, and guests can purchase their own drinks and meals from the restaurant. Associate professor and W.W. Chew Endowed Professor Jean Gourd, program chair of computer science and cyber engineering at Tech will discuss cyber security and the University’s annual hacking competition, Cyber Storm. Tech is the first University in the nation to offer a four-year undergraduate degree in cyber engineering. Since its inception in 2007, the program has been awarded more than $20 million in grants. Recent headlines about data breaches at public and private entities highlight the importance of this new field. “The more we all begin to understand, accept, and embrace this booming 21st-century industry, the better it is for our state and for Louisiana universities and residents,” Gourd said. Sponsored by Sigma Xi at Louisiana Tech, Science Café is a series of public “chats” with researchers held during the fall, winter and spring academic quarters where members of the campus and local communities can have a conversation with scientists about their work. “Cyber Storm: Hacking Our Way to Cyber Security Awareness,” is the second installment in the annual series; read about the first one here: “Meet a ‘real’ scientist at the 2017-18 Science Café Series” Science Café seeks to promote scientific communication about the diversity of research happening at Louisiana Tech. For more information about:

• Cyber Engineering
• Cyber Storm
• Science Café at Louisiana Tech, contact Terri Maness at tmaness@latech.edu.