University of Texas at Austin

A grant to the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law at the University of Texas at Austin will continue to support the development of an interdisciplinary, integrated cybersecurity studies program. It will pioneer new educational approaches that integrate insights from computer science, engineering, law, business administration, and public policy (including security studies and civil liberties) into a unified academic program that (a) develops model curricula and educational materials designed for open online access (targeting students as well as law professors and other professional educators) and (b) produces policy-relevant research that draws on similar interdisciplinary perspectives. (Strategy: Talent Pipeline)

Project SANA — the Self-Managed Abortion Needs Assessment Project — at the University of Texas at Austin brings together a diverse group of researchers to examine the “who, what, and why” of self-managed medication abortion in the United States. While self-management has risen to prominence in the past year due to the implementation of state-level abortion bans, it was prevalent prior to the Dobbs decision because many in the U.S., and particularly people with low incomes and people of color, the right to choose abortion was already a right that existed on paper only. Project SANA’s research has consistently shown that when states implement restrictive abortion policies and move in-clinic care further out of reach, demand for self-managed abortion increases. (Strategy: U.S. Reproductive Equity)

The Strauss Center at the University of Texas at Austin pioneers innovative approaches to interdisciplinary cybersecurity training, aiming to improve mutual understanding across the fields of computer science, law, engineering, policy, business, and more. With direct encouragement and involvement from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the University of Texas at Austin and the Mayor’s Office for the City of Austin are launching a first-of-its-kind partnership to provide pro bono cybersecurity services to local small businesses and nonprofits, with the city’s “311” dial-in system used to facilitate intake, and with university students obtaining unique, career-launching practical educational experiences while providing said services under professional supervision. This grant will support the pilot project. Once operational and successful, DHS CISA will support efforts to propagate the university-city partnership model across the country. (Strategy: Talent Pipeline)