Berkeley Cybersecurity Clinic Information Session

The UC Berkeley Cybersecurity Clinic is the first public interest cybersecurity clinic of its kind. The clinic provides interdisciplinary teams of students with hands-on experience developing and implementing cybersecurity practices for organizations susceptible to ideologically based attacks.

Join us in South Hall or via Zoom to learn more about the Cybersecurity Clinic, meet the staff and former students, discuss enrollment in the course, Information 289 or Cybersecurity 289*, and learn what to expect when taking the course.

Food will be provided for in-person guests.

* Cyber 289 is open to MICS students only.

Why Join the Clinic?

Our clinic gives you a rare opportunity to work on real‑world cybersecurity projects for a variety of value‑driven organizations — including NGOs and other social sector organizations. It’s open to anyone, even if you don’t have a technical background, because success here depends on interdisciplinary collaboration, clear communication, and an understanding of how technology shapes — and sometimes harms — people’s lives. By joining, you’ll be part of a team that tackles potential sensitive topics responsibly and makes a tangible difference for clients on the ground.

Program Highlights

Real‑world impact: Work on tangible projects for value‑driven clients, including those in the social sector, where your contributions will be highly regarded.

Broad cybersecurity exposure: Explore a wide range of security topics—some involving sensitive data or clients—and see firsthand how technology can both protect and be weaponized against organizations on the ground.

Policy and societal context: Gain an introduction to tech policy and understand how technology creation, use, and regulation intersect with people’s lives and broader social impacts.

Interdisciplinary collaboration: Partner with students from MIMS, public policy, human rights, data science, journalism, and cybersecurity backgrounds, fostering complementary skill development beyond pure technical work and creating a more complete consulting team and experience.

Leadership opportunities: Lead future cohorts, contribute to research initiatives, and help shape the program’s direction.

Examples of student projects include...

• Improving the safety of human rights advocates during high-risk investigations
• Protecting communities from online extremist groups
• Understanding government surveillance of indigenous communities in Latin America
• Strengthening the digital defenses of reproductive rights and immigrant support organizations