On May 6, US Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) UO’s visited campus to hold a roundtable with UO computer and information science faculty members, students, and local tech sector companies on cyber security and privacy. The event showcased the UO’s Center for Security and Privacy, a hub for UO cyber security activity, led by UO faculty member Jun Li. The UO was designated as a federal National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Research last year. The topics ranged from privacy concerns around government access to iPhones, protecting against national security threats, and developing workforce to meet growing cyber security needs.

Also on May 6, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) held a conversation with entrepreneurs, business leaders, and higher education leaders on innovation at the UO’s White Stag Block in Portland. This roundtable discussion was part of coordinated efforts to update the Innovation Agenda, which was first introduced by Democratic House Leadership in 2007. Democratic members of Congress throughout the country are convening listening sessions with key leaders, thinkers, and innovators in both the public and private sectors to create an innovation agenda 2.0. Bonamici is a member of the US House Science Committee.