Call for Abstracts: Diversifying the Cybersecurity Workforce

[lmbcissp]

Do you have models, data, systematic review, cases, or instructional designs that suggest how our nation can succeed in diversifying the cybersecurity workforce?

Call for Abstracts for the Cybersecurity Skills Journal's (CSJ) Special Issue: Diversifying the Cybersecurity Workforce is now open:  https://nationalcyberwatchcenter.wildapricot.org/event-4157377

Little is known about the factors that influence the interest, engagement, development, recruitment, retention, and advancement of broadening participation in cybersecurity functions and roles that could expand and enhance the cybersecurity talent pool. In this Special Issue, CSJ invites practitioners, scholars, and educators to propose or report systematic and rigorous investigations of the contributing causes, mediating or moderating influences, and evidence-based solutions for diversifying the cybersecurity workforce with a paper proposal or draft abstract that conforms to the structured abstract format specified in the Cybersecurity Skills Journal Author Guidelines.

If you have questions about CSJ or are uncertain what next steps to take to produce a structured abstract, please attend the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and Abstract Development Workshop on February 17, 2021 at 4:00 pm (EST). Free registration at https://nationalcyberwatchcenter.wildapricot.org/event-4163604

CSJ (https://csj.nationalcyberwatchcenter.org) seeks to raise the capability maturity of the cybersecurity workforce through open and free dissemination of research on evidence-based practices and private access to digital tools and practice guides, utilizing a unique constructive process in which large peer reviewer panels assist authors in developing their research towards a scholarly rigorous, practically relevant publication in CSJ.

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Full disclosure: I'm on the Editorial Board of CSJ.

[lmbcissp]

REMINDER: While CSJ is accepting submissions until July 1st, 2021, early submission ensures that your abstract receives the most support and assistance from peer reviewers. 

If you are considering submitting to CSJ, we highly recommend that you attend a Paper Development Workshop.

In the Paper Development Workshop (PDW), you will have an opportunity to work with members of the Cybersecurity Skills Journal Editorial Board and Peer Review Panel members in virtual breakout rooms during which prospective authors may present an idea for, or draft of, a manuscript reporting evidence-based practices, theoretical frameworks, or case studies of skilled application or instruction of cybersecurity tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). Our focus for this year's PDW sessions is developing manuscripts for publication in the 2021 Special Issue on Diversifying the Cybersecurity Workforce.

The purpose of the PDW is two-fold. First, we aim to provide participants insights into the actionable steps they should take to make their research more relevant for cybersecurity practitioners, instructors, and/or researchers. Second, we provide practitioner and scholar authors with developmental feedback on their current projects related to advancing the assessment, development or implementation of cybersecurity skills.

While we hope that the papers will eventually be submitted to CSJ, the purpose of the PDW is broader, namely to improve the quality of cybersecurity research, to help develop and disseminate effective practices, and to bring practitioners and scholars into the conversation around skilled performance in cybersecurity.

Register for an upcoming Paper Development Workshop on March 17th or March 19th at 4:00 PM (EDT):

https://nationalcyberwatchcenter.wildapricot.org/event-4191725

Additional PDW dates in April will be announced soon!

[JackSussmilch]

"If everyone is thinking the same,  someone is not thinking " - General George S Patton

Whilst many organisations focus on particular attributes of diversity - Gender, LQBTQIA+ for example,  and they do this for all the right motives,  the repeated focus on particular aspects of Diversity and Inclusion can,  and does adversely effect other forms of diversity and Inclusion.  Likewise,  many organisations assume that the correlation between having a diverse workforce and improvements in areas like innovation will just happen.  This often cannot occur due to a lack of psychological safety,  which is often assumed.

Would the target audience have an interest in the fostering of innovative and inclusive cultures and how the idea of Neurodiversity provides a crucial piece of the Diversity and Inclusion landscape?

I have been doing some lectures to MBA cohorts on Neurodiversity which has been extremely well received and resulted in some extremely positive changes in their work environments as a result (nothing empirically measurable,  but the feedback is resoundingly encouraging).  It speaks to and supports all forms of diversity and inclusion by turning the focus more on understanding,  selecting and fostering more diverse thinking within the organisation.

This is of particular importance to organisations which need independent, creative and innovative solutions to drive outcomes.  In this context it is not surprising that the idea has been been a driver behind some cryptography and cyberwarfare groups around the world.

With more than 23% of medical professionals being neurodivergent,  I am convinced that the cybersecurity domain will have a high concentration of neurodivergent people (many of whom will not have any idea how differently they think and learn to most people).  Of course,  most people have no idea what Neurodiverstiy actually is.

Would this be of interest?

[lmbcissp]

Yes, this general topic is of interest!  And CSJ will publish three types of papers: Articles, Notes, and Dialogues, as described in the Special Issue's Call - it sounds like you have a Note!

I highly recommend you attend a Paper Development Workshop *before* submitting your idea, as CSJ requires a structured abstract for all types of submissions. The next Paper Development Workshop is scheduled for this Friday (3/19) at 4 PM (EDT), but there are additional dates in April. You can register for the Workshop here: 

https://nationalcyberwatchcenter.wildapricot.org/event-4191725

Also, you can read more about the structured abstract in our Author Guidelines here:

https://www.nationalcyberwatch.org/csj-author-guidelines

[JackSussmilch]

Thanks,

  I have registered for this mornings' workshop,  I am just waiting for the host to start the zoom call right now