CIPHER-AI · AALAC 2026

AALAC Workshop · July 9–10, 2026 · Swarthmore College

CIPHER‑AI

Cybersecurity, Information Privacy, and Human-centered Ethics in the Age of AI

A gathering of liberal arts faculty to build a research community at the intersection of security, privacy and AI.

Attend View the schedule
When July 9–10, 2026
Where Swarthmore College
Who AALAC Faculty

About the Workshop

As AI-enabled technologies become pervasive, they bring unprecedented opportunities alongside significant risks to cybersecurity and individual privacy. This interdisciplinary workshop addresses the urgent need for liberal arts colleges to develop comprehensive approaches to understanding — and teaching about — AI-powered cyber threats, privacy protection mechanisms, and the ethics of AI governance.

Liberal arts institutions, with their emphasis on critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and interdisciplinary inquiry, are uniquely positioned to contribute to the national dialogue on responsible privacy and security practices as AI is integrated into daily life.

Goals and Outcomes

  • Meet and build relationships with LAC faculty working in security and privacy.
  • Build a sustainable research community that can co-develop projects and co-write grant proposals and papers.
  • Share concrete resources for both teaching and research (syllabi, assignments, datasets, tools).
  • Establish structures and norms to keep the community active and connected well beyond the workshop.

Schedule

Day 1 · Thursday, July 9

Research Community and Collaboration

  • 8:30–9:15

    Welcome and Framing

    Coffee and light breakfast available.

  • 9:15–10:15

    Speed Introductions

    Structured "speed dating" — 4-minute paired rotations.

  • 10:15–10:30

    Coffee Break

    Coffee, informal follow-up from speed dating conversations.

  • 10:30–11:30

    Fireside Chat

    Speaker, TBA.

  • 11:30–12:00

    Organize Into Breakout Topics

  • 12:00–1:00

    Lunch

  • 1:00–2:15

    Research Breakout Round 1

    Deep-dive research discussions.

  • 2:15–2:30

    Coffee Break

  • 2:30–3:45

    Research Breakout Round 2

    Deep-dive research discussions.

  • 3:45–4:30

    Reconvene and Wrap-Up

    Each room facilitator gives a 3-minute readout: key themes, collaboration ideas, open questions.

  • 5:30–7:30

    Group Dinner

Day 2 · Friday, July 10

Teaching, Curriculum, and Sustaining the Community

  • 9:00–9:30

    Coffee & Check-in

    Reflections and thoughts going into Day 2.

  • 9:30–10:30

    Teaching Session: Sharing What Works

    Structured round-robin: each participant gets 3 minutes to share one course, module, assignment, or lab at the intersection of security/privacy/AI.

  • 10:30–10:45

    Coffee Break

  • 10:45–11:45

    Teaching Session: Curriculum Design Workshop

    Small groups (4–5 people) tackle concrete design challenges. Each group produces a 1-page resource sheet.

  • 11:45–12:30

    Building Community: Town Hall

    Open discussion: How do we keep this community alive? What infrastructure do we need? Commitments for co-writing proposals, sharing syllabi, peer-reviewing grants.

  • 12:30–1:00

    Mentorship Network Formation

    Structured matching based on research overlap and interests.

  • 1:00–2:00

    Lunch

  • 2:00–3:30

    Crum Woods Hike (optional)

    Group walk through Crum Woods (no travel arrangements required). Easy/medium options available.

  • 3:30

    Farewell & Departures

Organizing Committee

Get Involved

Convening 20–25 AALAC faculty in security and privacy. Apply below.

Attend Email the organizers