Computer academics and scientists from the Asia Pacific region, Europe and North America gathered at CityU, 11 to 16 December, to participate in the Croucher Advanced Study Institute (ASI) programme on “Cryptography and Wireless Security”. The event is hosted by CityU’s Department of Computer Science (CS) with financial support from the Croucher Foundation.

 

The Croucher ASI is a short study programme which focuses on the latest developments in cryptography and wireless security.  CS  invited nine internationally renowned computer scientists and leading experts to deliver talks and to share their experiences during the conference.  The Croucher ASI offers a unique and rewarding learning experience in areas ranging from theoretical cryptography to practical wireless security. 

 

Officiating the opening of the conference on 11 December were Mr Stephen Mak, Deputy Government Chief Information Officer, HKSAR; Mr Sin Chung-kai, Legislative Councillor; Professor David Tong, CityU’s Deputy President ; and Professor Frances Yao, CS Head.

 

Applauding the Croucher ASI a “timely conference”, Mr Mak took the opportunity to affirm the Government’s commitment to protect Internet security and update the audience on the latest development in the passing of the Electronic Transaction Ordinance and the implementation of the Smart ID card. He hoped that an international conference like the Croucher ASI would nurture useful exchange of ideas and applications in promoting information management security. His view was echoed by

Mr Sin, who emphasized the need for strengthening cryptography and wireless security, in the face of increasing number of criminal offences committed through cyber space.

 

While commending the convenience provided by Internet transactions, Professor Tong

addressed the need to make sure that such payments are secure and accurate. The Croucher ASI, the second time around at CityU, provided the necessary platform to promote discussion on the issue. Professor Yao extended her thanks to the Croucher Foundation and all the participants whose enthusiastic support have turned the idea of the conference a reality.

 

Distinguished speakers of the Croucher ASI include: Professor Agnes Chan from Northeastern University, USA; Dr Lily Chen from Motorola, USA; Professor Robert Deng from Institute for Infocomm Research, Singapore; Dr James Kempf from Docomo Labs, USA; Professor Silvio Micali from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA; Professor Adi Shamir from the

Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel; Professor Doug Tygar from University of California, Berkeley, USA; Professor Andrew Yao from Tsinghua University, mainland China; and Professor Wei Zhao from Texas A&M University, USA.  Professor Shamir and Professor Yao were honoured the prestigious Turing Award in 2003 and 2000 respectively.

 

Topics to be explored during the six-day study programme  include Camouflage Techniques for Computer and Communication Systems; Cellular System Security: Its Present and Future; Cryptography: State of the Science and Trends; Developments in Security Systems and Cryptographic Techniques; Lightweight Cryptography; Micropayments with Universal Aggregation; Quantum Cryptography; Secure Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks; Simple and Optimistic Fair Electronic Exchange; and Wireless Networking and Protocols: Challenges and Future Directions.