The Big Data Show aims to reach 600 P7 pupils from across Dundee in next months
An immersive theatre experience that uses storytelling, gaming and digital art to educate young people on the importance of cybersecurity is being held at the Abertay cyberQuarter over the next few months.
The Big Data Show, delivered by Digital Theatre creators Civic Digits in collaboration with QA, SSE and the Scottish Government, aims to reach 600 P7 pupils from across Dundee in May, June and September of this year.
Using the true story of a group of teenage hackers who hacked into the late Prince Philip’s email account in 1984, The Big Data Show follows two young hackers from today, Cy and Bug, as they bite a bit off more than they can chew and land themselves in digital hot water.
Taking place over the course of one day, the show blends storytelling, gaming and digital tricks to expose some eye-opening truths about living in the digital age. It is comprised of two practical workshops and an interactive digital show that introduces the pupils to cyber safety and digital citizenship.
At the end of the experience, the pupils will receive an SQA credit for “An Introduction to Cyber Resilience and Digital Citizenship.
Jenny Gilruth MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, said:
Primary school children in Dundee will benefit hugely from working with the team behind The Big Data Show at the Abertay cyberQuarter this summer. The ability to use digital technology safely and securely is a fundamental skill for learning and for future life, and this kind of immersive, accredited experience should set our young people up to be digital global citizens of the future.
The Abertay cyberQuarter opened in June 2022 and has already welcomed its first 15 partners – a mix of global industry players, start-ups, national tech and entrepreneurship hubs, trade organisations and public sector bodies.
The cyberQuarter has also generated new jobs for the Tayside region, with the NHS Scotland Cyber Centre of Excellence creating 30 roles and 25 Abertay Ethical Hacking students working part-time on real-world projects with Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland, alongside their studies.
Director of Abertay cyberQuarter, Professor Lynne Coventry said:
The growing and changing landscape of complex cybersecurity threats coupled with recent advances in AI mean it’s more important than ever before that we educate our young people and encourage a diverse range of young people into careers in the cyber industry. The Big Data Show is an ideal way to engage with pupils in a fun and hands-on way which will not only lead them to better manage their own cybersecurity, but also to learn how they can pass on that knowledge to their friends and family.
The cyberQuarter is part of the wider Tay Cities Region Deal – a partnership between local, Scottish and UK governments and the private, academic and voluntary sectors which seeks to create a smarter and fairer Angus, Dundee, Fife and Perth & Kinross.
The Scottish Government and UK Government will each invest up to £150 million in the Tay Cities Region Deal over 10 years, subject to final approval of robust business cases.
As of September last year, over £74m of Government investment has been released and almost 700 jobs have been created.
This central investment from both Governments has the potential to lever in £400m of investment over 15 years, of which more than £123m has been secured by Projects.