Spring Honors College Forums to Explore Concepts Ranging from Cybersecurity to Modern Libraries

Peter Aaron

Next semester, honors students will have the opportunity to examine standard cybersecurity tactics and techniques as well as study current innovations in library function and design. These 75-minute, one-credit-hour Honors College forums bring star faculty and top administrators together with honors students on a weekly basis to discuss timely topics.

"This semester, honors students can take two deep dives into growing areas of concern," said John Treat, director of interdisciplinary and curricular learning. "Cybersecurity will make students conversant in an area where most of us have more anxiety than knowledge. Twenty-first-century libraries will let students think deeply about the future of information dissemination and its impact on education. Both courses will leave students better prepared to navigate the world they will live in."

These spring forums do not require an application, but seats are limited. Interested honors students are encouraged to register as soon as possible to guarantee getting a seat.

Spring 2023 Honors College Forums

Cybersecurity: Chris Farnell, managing director and test engineer for the National Center for Reliable Electric Power Transmission at the U of A College of Engineering, will lead this course on cybersecurity. Throughout the course, students will analyze the standard tactics, techniques and procedures used for both offensive and defensive cybersecurity operations. Students will also examine how supervisory control and data platforms, along with industrial control systems, allow operators to collect data and modify systems in real time. The class will feature demonstrations that represent real-word scenarios in cybersecurity. Several cybersecurity experts will also be invited to visit the course to provide their insights.

21st Century Libraries: Jay McAllister, Engineering and Honors College librarian at the U of A, will lead this forum focused around the current state of American libraries and imagining their futures. With libraries serving as an integral part of every city, this course aims to broaden perspectives on libraries and assess their need for a possible jumpstart, renovation or update. Students will design their own 21st century libraries and consider what features and policies are needed to serve their pubic audiences. The class will also feature various field trips and speakers, including a trip to the Clinton Presidential Library, to incorporate voices from many backgrounds around key concepts in library design and function.