Dr Sophie James, a member of the Centre for Consumption Insights (CCI) and an Associate Fellow for the Research Institute for Sociotechnical Cyber Security (RISCS), attended the prestigious RISCS Fellows Meet-Up Event at The President's Suite at No. 11 Cavendish Square in London. The two-day event brought together experts from a range of fields, sparking valuable discussions on cybersecurity, data science, sociology, political science, and digitalisation.

During the event, Dr James presented the upcoming Cybernetic Culture Workshop, which is scheduled for April 2025. The workshop will explore the intersection of digital culture, consumption, and cybersecurity, aiming to bring together scholars and practitioners to address some of today’s most pressing issues in these areas. More information on the workshop can be found here: Cybernetic Culture Workshop 2025.

The meet-up also provided an opportunity to strengthen ties between the CCI, Security Lancaster, and RISCS, with the hope of fostering future collaboration. One exciting outcome of the event was the potential for RISCS members—an institute funded by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)—to visit Lancaster University next year, further enriching the exchange of ideas and research across disciplines.

The diverse expertise within RISCS and the CCI we hope, will provide a rich basis for interdisciplinary discussions about the challenges and opportunities that arise at the intersection of consumption, culture, and cybersecurity.

The CCI encourages scholars to submit abstracts for the Cybernetic Culture Workshop 2025, offering a unique platform to share research, engage with a dynamic community, and contribute to critical discussions about the future of digital consumption and cybersecurity.

Several exciting abstract proposals have already been submitted, and the CCI is eager to receive more contributions from a wide range of perspectives.

For more information or inquiries about abstract submissions, please contact Professor James Cronin, Director of the CCI and/or Sophie James, Event Lead for the workshop.