Understanding Cyberwarfare: Stuxnet

Follow this link, or click on the icon above to view an excellent video prepared by The Cyber Security Forum Initiative group on the threat posed by Stuxnet. For those of you unfamiliar with Stuxnet, it is a computer worm believed to have been developed in Belarus, which is designed to reprogram SCADA controls. These PCLs are used to control sensitive systems for utilities and other industrial systems, many of which are considered critical infrastructure. Stuxnet has raised the bar on cyber warfare, and confirmed that nation-states are actively using computer attacks against each other. The systems affected, appeared to have been nuclear systems in Iran, but similar attacks could, and probably are being used against other nations and industries, for the purposes of offensive cyber-warfare and industrial espionage.

2010 Moms Night Out

2010 Iowa Moms Night Out

to Raise STEM Awareness

Event Purpose: A fun night that will inspire and educate moms/parents about the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education and the vital role they play with their children.
*Note: Free childcare (ages 2 and up) will be provided with advanced registration

Location:
Putnam Museum and IMAX Theatre
1717 W. 12th Street
Davenport, Iowa

[map]

Date: This coming Monday!

October 18, 2010
7:00 – 8:30 PM

Register:

On-line at (preferred method):

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/D2N8LZB

For further information for Moms Night Out at the Putnam:
Phone number 563-324-1933

Keynote Speaker:
Joanne Howard, Manager Energy & Climate Strategy at John Deere, who will be discussing the importance of the STEM courses and how those lessons are used around the world.

Event Sponsor:

The state-wide sponsor for Moms Night Out for STEM is John Deere with generous support from Iowa Public Television and Hy-Vee.

The Moms Night Out satellite event is part of numerous other events scheduled across the nation during October in celebration of the first USA Science and Engineering Festival, to be held in Washington D.C. on October 23-24, 2010. The Moms Night Out event is being held on October 18 simultaneously at 20 locations in Iowa including Muscatine, Ottumwa, Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Des Moines, Ankeny, and Iowa City. You can register free for any of the sites per the link above.

Further Information on Mom’s Night Out for STEM:

Flyer for Moms Night Out Event at Putnam:

http://www.qcesc.org/MomsNightOut-putnam5.pdf

Moms Night Out on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Moms-Night-Out-for-STEM-IOWA/126911334024570

Iowa Mathematics and Science Education Partnership (IMSEP):
http://www.iowamathscience.org/moms_night_out/

USA Science & Engineering Festival:
http://www.usasciencefestival.org/

National Science Festival

National Science & Engineering Festival

October 10-24, 2010

We are in the middle of the National Science & Engineering Festival, October 10-24, 2010. As a part of that, and as a science educator, I encourage everyone to find, volunteer for or sponsor science and engineering related events. Don't feel discouraged that October is flying by so fast; try to find opportunities to participate in science events, even after this festival ends! This is a nationally sponsored activity, to raise awareness, but enthusiasm about science and engineering should continue, year-round!

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM), and the theme this year is, "Our Shared Responsibility". If you are part of the cyber security industry, or someone with knowledge to share, this is a good time to raise the topic of computer security. Visit the link above, by clicking on the NCSAM image.