2026 LLCipher students apply critical thinking to topics in cryptography
In early August, twenty-six high school students from across the country spent one week at the Beaver Works Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for the annual Lincoln Laboratory Cipher (LLCipher) summer workshop. The course is taught by Lincoln Laboratory staff and introduces concepts in theoretical cryptography through lectures and hands-on exercises that explore the problems that cryptography aims to solve. The course is geared toward students with an interest in cybersecurity and mathematics and is free for those who apply and are selected to participate.
Luca Watts, a rising junior from New York City, says he found the program while looking for a summer opportunity to apply mathematics and computer science to an unfamiliar topic. The hands-on encryption challenges were the highlight of his week. "They were fun and collaborative, and gave us a chance to actually apply the knowledge that we learned," says Watts.
Emma Liu, a rising junior from New Jersey, is interested in studying cyber security and is part of a club at her school that competes in cyber security competitions. She applied to LLCipher in order to dig more into the fundamentals behind the types of challenges and topics that she and her team encounter.
"I really appreciate how this program pushes you to think creatively and encourages critical thinking," she says.
Liu plans to bring what she learned back to her club to plan new exercises with her peers.
Contact [email protected] for more information about the program.
