Connecting industry...
 
Notifications
Clear all

Connecting industry with academia a bit more

14 Posts
3 Users
0 Likes
630 Views
(@tootypeg)
Posts: 173
Estimable Member
Topic starter
 

Just curious what people thoughts are here. I operating in research in the DF/security area and I watch from a distance quite a lot, specifically when I see posts regarding project ideas from students. I can understand the issues that this causes, particularly when posts just come in and 'want someone to give them an idea', without looking about and doing some initial research.

That being said, from what I can see, there is a disconnect between academia and industry and often, what causes an issue in industry doesn't actually come across to academia that well, and even from my perspective can be frustrating. In terms of resources, academia can provide some valuable support I believe, and students will participate in a dissertation project where they will dedicate a lot of time to solving an issue tackled. Obviously not all will be successful, but some will.

Could I just ask then; is the problem (and im not saying that the issue is wholly great, but may differ between institutions and organisations etc)-

1) Communicating ideas to students/academia from industry then maintaining communication in order to get the results?
2) No effective way of communicating to academia?
3) No want to engage with academia?
4) No actual need to do so?

I am really interested to see if links between DF industry and academia can be improved and then how?

I was wondering whether developing a bespoke platform, specifically for managing this purpose may be something which would be valuable? I know that there is a project link in this forum, but it doesnt seem to get updated often. Is this an issue which a) can be solved, b) is worth solving and; c) industry practitioners like yourselves would actually participate and actively be involved in and why?

To provide a bit of info, academics usually supervise the projects requiring minimal input from industry, just the idea, and a bit of scope from which to get started. On closure, feedback and results can be given.

In addition, its not even just student levels where interest exist, but more advanced researchers would like to engage more often for projects which really do pose an issue to industry, myself included.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts

 
Posted : 27/07/2017 1:55 am
RolfGutmann
(@rolfgutmann)
Posts: 1185
Noble Member
 

Academia is welcome but coaching them is beyond time resources

 
Posted : 27/07/2017 2:01 am
(@tootypeg)
Posts: 173
Estimable Member
Topic starter
 

Academia is welcome but coaching them is beyond time resources

I agree, but as I said, if this process is managed correctly, support is provided by academic staff. What is only required is the initial idea/area/problem context from which to then pursue the research and construct a solution which can be fed back to the client.

Is this an issue people harbour - that they believe that in providing the idea, they become the supervisor?

 
Posted : 27/07/2017 2:06 am
RolfGutmann
(@rolfgutmann)
Posts: 1185
Noble Member
 

By providing the idea you naturally become the supervisor. Sometimes I feel that students are closer to Raspberry Pie and kind of closed in their expectations. They suffer from having a clear strategy for themselves. This then result in a lack of own ideas and motivation.

 
Posted : 27/07/2017 2:20 am
(@tootypeg)
Posts: 173
Estimable Member
Topic starter
 

By providing the idea you naturally become the supervisor. Sometimes I feel that students are closer to Raspberry Pie and kind of closed in their expectations. They suffer from having a clear strategy for themselves. This then result in a lack of own ideas and motivation.

Not necessarily, providing the idea is enough, students must then take this and effectively research and independently carry out the work. However I can understand concerns etc and obviously I dont know what past experiences have been like for people. If the process was managed correctly, ensuring minimal requirements from the practitioner, could it be valid and worthwhile?

 
Posted : 27/07/2017 2:23 am
RolfGutmann
(@rolfgutmann)
Posts: 1185
Noble Member
 

Students can bring in new fresh-minded thinking and often newest research know-how. From outside LEO there is a lack of understanding that for us its not so easy to open 'our doors'. Secrecy is the problem.

 
Posted : 27/07/2017 2:30 am
(@tootypeg)
Posts: 173
Estimable Member
Topic starter
 

Students can bring in new fresh-minded thinking and often newest research know-how. From outside LEO there is a lack of understanding that for us its not so easy to open 'our doors'. Secrecy is the problem.

I can understand privacy is an issue for some, but could an idea / problem area not be sanitised/generalised. context may not always be necessary in order to allow effective research to take place.

 
Posted : 27/07/2017 2:42 am
RolfGutmann
(@rolfgutmann)
Posts: 1185
Noble Member
 

Sanitized somehow misses the real issue internally. But there are plenty of ideas on the street. Forensics of AI, VR, cars, IoT, secure messaging, satellite hacking, GPS MITM, 5G Forensics…

 
Posted : 27/07/2017 2:47 am
(@tootypeg)
Posts: 173
Estimable Member
Topic starter
 

I can understand the issue. But I suppose what is required is some form of briefing. What the technology is and what issues it causes etc. Then it can be explored. There are equipment issues to also consider so also these must be factored in, but for an initial input, there is potential for an output which could be valuable.

I get the impression that engagement might be an issue, but could be overcome if it could be effectively implemented and managed?

 
Posted : 27/07/2017 2:27 pm
jaclaz
(@jaclaz)
Posts: 5133
Illustrious Member
 

Personally (and being outside BOTH the professional digital forensics AND academia) I find your idea/proposal very interesting ) .

From the outside I have noticed more or less the same issues, some were at the time expressed in the interview here, JFYI
http//www.forensicfocus.com/c/aid=65/interviews/2013/jacopo-forum-member-jaclaz/
And somehow discussed here
http//www.forensicfocus.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=10903/

I presume that the basic issues (which I have noticed in other fields also) are
1) a detachment of academia from "real life", accompanied - generally speaking - by some sort of superiority complex affecting academics towards "professionals"
2) the lack of connections between what is taught at UNI and what is actually required on the job
3) the "attitude" by actual employers (this is also "generic" enough and not specific to digital forensics) of using (clueless) HR firms for recruiting potential employees requiring besides a degree also extensive knowledge on a number of things that are not even thinkable a junior candidate can actually have, and surely not at the low entry level salary (often) offered, while. on the other hand, intern placements or similar are extremely rare

A project like yours could mitigate #1 and #2, and that would be of great help to better the overall scenario, including indirectly #3.

jaclaz

 
Posted : 27/07/2017 6:01 pm
Page 1 / 2
Share: