Decrypting the Future: Our experience of Lancashire Cyber Education Week

Dr Isobelle Clarke and Dr. Sophie James share their experience of guiding students through exciting challenges that promote interdisciplinarity for Cyber Education Week as part of Lancashire Cyber Festival 2025, organised by the Lancashire Cyber Partnership.?

As Lecturers in Security and Protection Science at Lancaster University, we are committed to equipping the next generation of cyber professionals with the skills needed to navigate the rapidly evolving digital world. When the opportunity to co-organise and participate in the Lancashire Cyber Festival 2025 presented itself, we saw it as an ideal chance to share our expertise while inspiring and engaging young minds in innovative ways. In particular, we were excited to see how the festival helped bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world application, showing students that cyber security is far more than just a technical skill; it's a multifaceted domain requiring creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.

One of the highlights for us and the students was the ‘Cyber Escape Room’ – an interactive challenge that allowed students to step into simulated real-world scenarios. Designed to showcase the interdisciplinary nature of cyber security, the activity incorporated forensic linguistic analysis, gamification, social engineering techniques, and tech-based puzzles. As part of our team, Dr. Matthew Bradbury introduced complex elements such as Morse code and other tech-enabled tasks, encouraging students to engage with digital and linguistic tools to solve problems.

Watching the students work together to crack codes, untangle puzzles, and overcome obstacles throughout the day was a true testament to their talents and eagerness to learn. Furthermore, the students had the opportunity to analyse data from real-life forensic cases, immersing themselves in the intricacies of genuine forensic investigations. This experience provided students with a unique chance to engage with genuine case materials, reinforcing the importance of attention to detail and methodical analysis in both cyber security and forensic investigations.

As passionate advocates for interdisciplinarity in cyber security, we hoped to showcase how the field is most effective when we break down silos and bring in expertise from different domains; a holistic approach is essential we believe, for navigating the complexities of our hyper-digitised era. It was inspiring to see the students so absorbed and excited, learning in such a dynamic way; they didn’t just observe the work of cyber professionals, academics, and practitioners – they became a part of it.

Reflecting on the success of Lancaster University’s participation in The Lancashire Cyber Festival, we’re proud to have played a lead role in helping young students realise the scope of the cyber security discipline and the endless opportunities it offers.

By offering hands-on activities and real-world challenges, Lancaster University is not only educating but also igniting the curiosity that we believe drives the future of this essential field.

Dr. Isobelle Clarke is a Lecturer in Security and Protection Science in the Department of?Linguistics and English Language.

Dr. Sophie James is a Lecturer in Security and Protection Science in the Department of Marketing.

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