Luke Frost contributed to this article.

At The City University of New York (CUNY), students are actively utilizing U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) ACCESS allocations to solve mathematical problems in cryptography, the science of securing information so only authorized people can access and share it. Specifically, CUNY students are accessing Jetstream2 at Indiana University to learn how to use a virtual Ubuntu Linux environment that hosts WeBWorK, an open-source online homework platform. 

“Approximately 150 CUNY cryptography undergraduates benefit from this resource and we are grateful for the support provided by the National Science Foundation,” said Hunter Johnson, CUNY cryptology and cryptanalysis professor. “Without it, we would not be able to afford the high cost of obtaining and maintaining a local high-performance computer.”

Thanks to NSF ACCESS allocations on Jetstream2 at IU, our students are able to complete mathematical cryptography assignments through a reliable online platform capable of supporting multiple people at once.

–Hunter Johnson, CUNY

Prior to utilizing Jetstream2, the team was running WeBWorK on an old desktop computer in an instructor’s basement, leading to frequent connectivity issues and requiring significant personal maintenance. “The move to Jetstream2 provides a more reliable hosting environment, reduces maintenance and enables a software upgrade to improve the system further,” Johnson said.

WeBWorK gives students practice problems that are typically more open-ended than traditional homework to help them understand the mathematics behind cryptographic algorithms. 

WeBWorK provides immediate feedback, allowing students to learn from mistakes and strengthen their understanding of cryptography. For example, undergraduates may work with intentionally weak versions of RSA encryption, such as a 64-bit modulus, to learn why modern cryptographic systems require much larger key sizes to remain secure. Students welcome the rigorous assignments.

“In my experience, students enjoy the challenge of the problems presented to them via WeBWorK on Jetstream2,” Johnson said. “By building a strong mathematical foundation in cryptography, our use of NSF ACCESS resources helps prepare students for careers in cybersecurity.”

Resource Provider Institution(s): Indiana University (IU)
Resources Used: Jetstream2
Affiliations: The City University of New York (CUNY)
Funding Agency: NSF
Grant or Allocation Number(s): CIS260616

The science story featured here was enabled by the U.S. National Science Foundation’s ACCESS program, which is supported by National Science Foundation grants #2138259, #2138286, #2138307, #2137603, and #2138296.