UK-Australian partnership launches new security institute
La
Trobe
University
(Australia)
and
Sheffield
Hallam
University
(UK)
have
launched
a
new
joint
research
institute
to
help
societies
tackle
complex
global
security
challenges,
such
as
sophisticated
cybercrime
and
cyberterrorism,
the
growth
of
artificial
intelligence,
and
modern
slavery.
The
‘Global
Security
and
Society
Institute’
was
launched
at
Australia
House
in
London,
at
a
signing
ceremony
between
the
two
universities
attended
by
dignitaries
representing
the
UK
and
Asia-Pacific,
including
Dr
Karen
Salt,
Deputy
Director,
R&I
System
Diversity
and
Security,
UK
Research
and
Innovation
and
Anushya
Devendra,
Head
International
Engagement,
AUKUS
Taskforce,
Foreign,
Commonwealth
&
Development
Office
(Australia).
Building
on
a
well-established
partnership
between
the
two
world-leading
universities,
researchers
from
both
institutions
will
collaborate
to
bring
together
advanced
technical
expertise
with
humanitarian
and
social
science
perspectives
–
with
a
vision
to
develop
more
joint
research
and
training
in
global
security.
The
Institute
will
use
this
distinctive
perspective
to
work
with
governments,
intelligence
agencies,
industry
and
others
to
address
critical
global
security
problems
and
enhance
the
capability
to
respond
to
new
emerging
challenges.
The
partnership
will
also
build
extra
capacity
by
expanding
the
network
of
experts
and
training
the
next
generation
of
security
academics,
through
joint
international
PhD
programmes,
teaching
and
learning
at
undergraduate
and
postgraduate
level,
and
short
courses.
Academics
at
both
universities
bring
impressive
track
records
in
their
respective
fields.
Sheffield
Hallam
researchers
from
the
Centre
of
Excellence
in
Terrorism,
Resilience,
Intelligence,
and
Organised
Crime
Research
(CENTRIC)
work
with
agencies
and
governments
across
the
globe.
For
example,
they
developed
an
innovative
digital
tool
that
the
UN
is
using
to
keep
field
staff
safe
during
international
conflicts.
CENTRIC
also
advise
governments
and
others
on
the
use
of
surveillance
applications,
such
as
facial
recognition,
and
the
ethical
implementation
of
AI
in
security,
policing
and
justice.
La
Trobe
University’s
research
strengths
in
the
humanities,
most
notably
in
international
relations,
foreign
and
defence
policy
will
complement
Sheffield
Hallam’s
strengths
in
terrorism
and
international
conflict,
generating
new
ideas,
connections
and
opportunities.
For
example,
La
Trobe
Asia
and
its
director
Associate
Professor
Bec
Strating
lead
the
government-funded
‘Blue
Security’
project
focused
on
issues
of
maritime
security,
defence
and
governance
across
the
Indo-Pacific
region.
Other
areas
of
La
Trobe’s
research
that
will
align
with
the
new
Institute
include
political
sciences
through
research
on
mis-
and
dis-information
in
the
digital
age,
human
health,
performance
and
decision
making
in
high-pressure
environments,
alongside
multi-disciplinary
research
and
teaching
in
cybersecurity,
spanning
sectors
that
include
defence,
finance,
communications
and
energy.
“As
societies
across
the
globe
accelerate
into
the
age
of
AI,
big
data,
and
seamless
digital
connectivity,
it
is
imperative
that
we
come
together
to
pool
our
resources
and
consider
how
to
tackle
ever
more
complex
security
challenges,”
says
Professor
Sir
Chris
Husbands,
Vice-Chancellor
at
Sheffield
Hallam
University.
“I’m
delighted
that
we
are
working
with
our
partners
from
La
Trobe
to
do
just
that,
helping
communities
deal
with
these
problems
by
bringing
together
leading
expertise
from
both
institutions
to
work
with
governments
and
agencies.
“This
is
a
great
example
of
a
genuinely
internationally
leading
collaboration,
whilst
demonstrating
both
institutions
commitment
to
advancing
global
research
partnerships
between
the
UK
and
Australia.”
Professor
John
Dewar,
Vice-Chancellor
at
La
Trobe
University,
adds,
“Now,
more
than
ever,
it’s
imperative
that
transnational
communities
come
together
to
share
knowledge
and
expertise
on
pressing
global
security
issues
that
affect
us
all.
“Our
ambitious
new
Global
Security
and
Society
Institute,
led
jointly
with
our
strategic
partners
at
Sheffield
Hallam
University
in
the
UK,
will
bring
together
fresh
perspectives,
world-leading
research
expertise
and
thought
leadership
to
help
governments,
agencies
and
businesses
navigate
unprecedented
challenges
now
and
into
the
future.”
The
new
institute
is
part
of
a
wider
strategic
partnership
between
Sheffield
Hallam
and
La
Trobe,
which
was
reaffirmed
during
the
signing
ceremony.
About Author
