Hi everyone! My name is James Ross and I am a rising senior in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences studying History and Political Science while pursuing a certificate in Public and Professional Writing. As of now, I plan to pursue graduate study in Public Policy and International Affairs. In addition, I am a part of the student organizations TEDxPitt and Pitt ACLU and  recently completed a year long study abroad program at Trinity College in Dublin. 

This summer, I will be participating in the Summer Honors Undergraduate Research Experience- Electric Grid Security and Storytelling (SHURE-Grid). In its second year, this interdisciplinary program features a myriad of collaborators including: the Frederick Honors College, the Swanson School of Engineering,  the Office of Research. Furthermore, the program is funded by the Idaho National Laboratory, one of 17 national U.S. Department of Energy Labs. The program is especially geared towards the process of Cyber Informed Energy (CIE), a relatively new academic concept that seeks to implement cybersecurity into every part of the designing and engineering process. There are four teams of four students, with each student representing a different academic background: engineering, computer science, political science, and media studies. With these backgrounds, we work together to build educational material that will better illuminate CIE principles, by way of an interactive lab, policy guidelines, a case study of a real-life cyberattack upon critical infrastructure, and a 15 minute informative video that captures the storytelling component of the project. More specifically, my team is looking at the electrical grid cyber attacks on Ukraine in 2015 and the ways in which circuit breakers and substations play a pivotal role in maintaining grid stability. 

SHURE-Grid was highly appealing due to its strong interdisciplinary environment. By working with other students from a variety of academic pursuits, I am able to learn new perspectives and contribute my own knowledge within a highly engaging environment. Moreover, this is also reflected in the faculty working on the program as well, where I am able to consult with professors in engineering, broadcast and media, and business. Nevertheless, as a History and Political Science, entering the world of cybersecurity and CIE has presented a unique challenge. However, in the coming weeks, I look forward to utilizing the interdisciplinary environment, critically engaging with CIE, and delivering useful and informative educational materials on behalf of the Idaho National Laboratory.