51¶¯Âþ

About CINSER

Mission

CINSER accelerates human potential through technology by cultivating a robust ecosystem of academic initiatives, research synergies, and community alliances that translate curiosity into capability, fostering the expertise required to navigate and shape a world forged by critical and emerging technology.

Vision

To engender a global paradigm where technical capability is a universal language, fostering a resilient community of thinkers and creators empowered to solve the most intricate challenges of a world informed by rapid innovation.

Current Work

CINSER provides a gateway to critical technology innovation through creating and supporting programs at 51¶¯Âþ, providing career development opportunities for students, offering community engagement activities and conducting pure and applied research to address society's contemporary challenges through technology. Most activities have an aim to increase participation in critical and emerging technologies by fostering awareness of these technologies and by providing learning, career and research opportunities. CINSER has the following projects:  CARNATIONS, AI@PBI, Mic2ExL IC CAE, and ISWN.

CINSER Strategic Goals 2026 - 2031

Strategic Goal One — Build & Enhance Programs with Technology

Develop, launch, and continuously evolve programs in critical and emerging technologies that reflect high-fidelity advancements—ensuring they remain functionally ethical, practically grounded, and intentionally designed to enhance human flourishing and societal well-being. CINSER commits to developing and supporting programs and curricula that are rigorous, relevant, and responsive that are co-designed with industry partners, informed by research, and built to produce individuals who are prepared and ready to lead.

Strategic Goal Two — Open Every Door to Technology Careers

Create opportunities for exploring career pathways that connect learners from all backgrounds to meaningful opportunities in critical and emerging technology fields. Through internships, mentorship networks, industry partnerships, and professional development programming, CINSER removes the barriers that keep talented people on the sidelines of the technology economy.

Strategic Goal Three — Make Emerging Technology Visible and Accessible

Engage the broader community through programs, events, and initiatives that demystify emerging technologies and foster informed public participation that a technology-driven society requires. CINSER believes that understanding new technology should not require a degree — it should be available to anyone who is curious and ready to engage.

Strategic Goal Four — Conduct Research That Advances Technology and Addresses Real Problems

Pursue both pure and applied research that pushes the boundaries of what technology and safety can do and connects those advances to the challenges communities and industries face. CINSER's research agenda is driven by intellectual ambition and practical urgency.

Strategic Goal Five — Build the Partnerships That Make Everything Else Possible

Cultivate deep, sustained relationships with industry, government, nonprofit organizations, and peer institutions that expand CINSER's capacity to deliver on every dimension of its mission.

Strategic Pillars of Excellence

The work at CINSER is built upon four, mutually supporting pillars of excellence.

I. Research Synergies, Discovery and Innovation

Cultivating a robust ecosystem of external grant-funded inquiry that investigates the technological and social dimensions of critical and emerging technology. At CINSER, we prioritize collaborative research that transforms theoretical curiosity into practical, scalable capability.

II. Inclusive Community Advocacy

Building enduring alliances that ensure technology serves as a tool for universal human empowerment. At CINSER, we are dedicated to fostering technical agency and expertise for all people.

III. Academic & Curricular Evolution

Designing and supporting forward-thinking academic programs and activities that prepare a new generation of thinkers to navigate a world informed by rapid technical shifts. At CINSER, we emphasize problem-solving that addresses the most significant challenges of our global society.

IV. Secure & Intelligent Infrastructure

Providing the intellectual and technical framework necessary to navigate an increasingly complex global landscape. At CINSER, we focus on the configuration of systems, technologies and policies that promote security, integrity, and human potential in every technology-mediated interaction.

History

In 2014, 51¶¯Âþ (51¶¯Âþ) was awarded a grant to establish an Intelligence Community Centers for Academic Excellence ( IC-CAE). 51¶¯Âþ’s IC CAE is housed in the Center for Information & Security Education and Research (CINSER). CINSER is the only IC-CAE in Illinois and Great Lakes Region and it is established to offer educational programs and to perform research activities in the area of security and intelligence. In September 2019, the CINSER became a legacy IC CAE program. In 2024, CINSER gained active status with the award of a new grant from IC CAE.

CINSER Goals 2020 - 2025

• Goal One: Develop academic coursework and program offerings at the undergraduate and graduate levels in critical technologies and other emerging fields
• Goal Two: Prepare individuals for careers in critical and emerging technology fields 
• Goal Three: Provide co-curricular, community development and professional development activities to foster educator development, student enrichment, and community advancement 
• Goal Four: Conduct interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research related to emerging and critical technologies

CINSER Goals 2014-2019

• Goal One: Establish 51¶¯Âþ’s Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence (IC CAE) in Intelligence and Security Education and Research
• Goal Two: Develop undergraduate and graduate programs (minor, certificate, bachelor's and masters) in Security and Intelligence Studies
• Goal Three: Graduate students with proficiency in a strategic language such as Arabic, Hausa or Kiswahili
• Goal Four:  Conduct annual series of conferences, colloquia, seminars and workshops with higher education, government, and industry partners in the region to foster IC-CAE faculty development, student enrichment, and a security culture among the public
• Goal Five: Conduct multidisciplinary research to investigate threats, risks, safety, security, and individual privacy among communities in the Chicago region.