University researchers receive grants from the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative for cyber and arts and design research

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Six research projects led by George Mason University (Mason) faculty and one research project led by James Madison University (JMU) faculty received funding from the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) that will help further the expansion of autonomous systems, AI, 5G applications, and new approaches to security.

“These projects promise to impact the security of our infrastructure as well as the manufacturing enterprise and leverage expertise in AI, policy and economics to support security of our regional ecosystem. Our multidisciplinary, multi-institutional approach to these challenges will accelerate new defenses and strategies," said Liza Wilson Durant, CCI Northern Virginia Node Director.

Mason faculty also received funding as part of the CCI Building Bridges Arts and Design Collaboration Program that aims to engage the Virginia community of cyber researchers in arts and design to reimagine and depict the results of cybersecurity research either for scientific or creative arts purposes. 

"It is exciting to fund projects which collide art and design with engineering and computing,” said Durant, associate dean for strategic initiatives and community engagement at Mason. “The artists' perspective will surely broaden our understanding of the data and inspire us to be more creative and shift perspective as we seek solutions to our technical challenges."

"The portfolio of research initiatives funded in the Northern Virginia Node brings together the unique expertise of multiple nodes across the commonwealth to advance the goals of the CCI Northern Virginia Node's strategic plan,” said Luiz DaSilva, CCI executive director.