Our next staff Kent Diamond is Jason Nurse. Jason is responsible for educating students, professionals, policymakers and our global community about cyber security. Hear from Jason:
“My name is Jason Nurse, and I’m a Reader in Cyber Security in the School of Computing, and an operational lead in the Institute of Cyber Security for Society (iCSS) here at Kent. I joined from the University of Oxford back in 2018, and I’m also an Associate Fellow at RUSI, the world’s oldest and the UK’s leading defence and security think tank. At the heart of everything I do is a genuine passion for getting people, students, professionals, policymakers, as excited about cyber security as I am. Through my roles at Kent and RUSI, I get to contribute to industry and policy conversations that touch the lives of millions of people globally, and honestly, it’s hard to imagine a more rewarding way to spend my working days.”
Tell us about your role at Kent and how you make an impact.
“Like many of my colleagues, my role involves wearing quite a few hats, but there are two areas I’m particularly proud of when it comes to impact. The first is research. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel the world presenting research conducted at Kent, at conferences, science festivals, and government briefings. I’ve been interviewed by BBC News, ITV News, The Telegraph, and the Washington Post, and have written for publications like the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, and The Conversation. The focus of these efforts varies but they broadly target raising awareness of key technological issues facing society (e.g., the security and privacy implications of AI) and championing new advances in our research that can have a tangible impact on how organisations function.
The second area is teaching. For the past eight years, I’ve led the first cyber security module undergraduate students take at Kent. Because it’s that gateway experience, I see my role as more than just conveying knowledge, it’s about igniting enthusiasm and showing students what a career in this field can look like. I like to think it works! One of my favourite pieces of student feedback ever was: ‘A good mix of genuine passion for the subject and good humour, leading to an easy to follow and informative learning experience.’ It warms my heart to this day!”
At the graduate level, I also serve as the early career research lead within my school and institute, supporting our emerging researchers and working to build a positive and genuinely nurturing research environment within Kent. Environments like this is where researchers can do their best work.”
Tell us about how your research into communicating effectively after a cyber incident has benefited organisations and society
“Cybercrime is one of the defining challenges of our time, and it touches all of us in some way. One thing that struck me and my colleagues was that despite how frequently cyber-attacks were happening, very few organisations had a clear plan for how to communicate when one occurred. We developed a framework specifically to address that gap, offering practical, detailed guidance on how to plan ahead, what to say, how to adapt messaging as a situation evolves, and how to engage both publicly and internally.
Since its release, the framework has had much more of an impact than we could ever have imagined. It has been recommended by government bodies from Scotland to New Zealand, adopted and tailored by organisations across different sectors including higher education and local governments, and recognised as best practice guidance in industry. What drives me most, though, is the human dimension. When an organisation communicates well after an attack, people feel less anxious and more informed. That is the outcome we set out to achieve.”
What are some of your favourite things about the University?
“Kent feels like an international community of people who are genuinely motivated to make the world better through ideas, initiatives, and real-world impact. The world-leading cyber security and AI research happening here is a big part of what makes Kent stand out to me, and it continues to be something I am proud to be part of. Given how digital our society has become, and with AI accelerating that further, the work happening here couldn’t be more timely. And then there is the setting. Green spaces, nature walks, historic sites, beaches right next door, London close by, and arguably the most beautiful cathedral in England on our doorstep. It is a hard place not to love.
Who helps make the Kent community special for you?
“Honestly, it is the people. My colleagues are incredible, and there is a real culture of taking on hard problems together while also knowing when to step back and simply enjoy each other’s company. That kind of collegiate atmosphere is not something you can manufacture, and it is not something I take for granted. I also have to mention my students. Their drive to learn, to ask the difficult questions, and to challenge both their thinking and mine is exactly what being at a research-led institution is all about. I once had a student group actively seek me out to supervise their final year project, not because it would be easy, but because they knew it would challenge them. Together, we worked through a problem that had stumped many experienced professionals. Moments like that are why I do what I do.”
What advice would you give to current Kent students?
“The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” (Plutarch)
“I’d say that your time at university is not about absorbing a fixed body of knowledge and reproducing it. It is about learning to think, to question, to build on what came before, and to contribute something of your own. We are at an extraordinary moment, with AI (including platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude) reshaping virtually every field and creating opportunities that simply did not exist a few years ago. Do not just observe that change from a distance. Engage with it, understand it, and position yourself to shape it. That is what a university education at its best can help you do. Make the most of it.”
The Kent Diamonds campaign recognises the students, staff and alumni that make Kent shine. Learn more about our Kent Diamonds and our other 60th Diamond Anniversary celebrations.