Congratulations Panagiotis Papadimitratos to the IEEE Fellow award
Panagiotis Papadimitratos, professor at the Division of Communications, has been awarded the prestigious IEEE Fellow for his contributions to wireless mobile network security and privacy.
How does it feel to get this recognition within your research field?
"It is awesome! I am grateful for the recognition by my colleagues in the selection committee, who are all excellent scientists with leading achievements. My gratitude also goes to the esteemed colleagues that nominated me and supported the nomination. I was extremely pleased to see the announcements of the IEEE Communications Society and the IEEE Computer Society. It is a true honour, being part of a highly selective group. Among the 282 members of the Class of 2020, about one dozen of us work on security or privacy. I was the only IEEE Fellow based in Sweden this year. I am curious to find out which Sweden-based IEEE Fellows have a security or privacy citation."
What kind of tasks come with being appointed Fellow?
"The recognition brings additional motivation and responsibility, to further pursue ambitious research goals, foster new initiatives within and around our organisation, reach out, and engage in the international research and academic community. It is exciting that I am, at the same time, a Fellow of the Young Academy of Europe.
Thinking more specifically in the IEEE context: a Fellow gets the privilege to nominate or support nominations of other researchers, or may evaluate nominations. I may also serve as a lecturer in programs by specific societies which is a very interesting opportunity to interact with sections, researchers and students around the globe. Needless to say, I am at the disposal of the IEEE Sweden Section and Chapters for any help I can give."
What do you think is the most exciting research going on right now within your field?
"Security and privacy have been “hot” for several years. Everyone is increasingly aware of their importance. But the more open, decentralised and large-scale our information systems become, the more the challenges. More vulnerabilities and more attacks; increased risk for unprotected systems and their users, tougher constraints for deploying defence mechanisms.
The scope of research on security and privacy has been constantly expanding. This makes it hard to single out the one most exciting topic or theme. Look at, for example, crypto-currencies, machine learning security and privacy and quantum (and post-quantum) cryptography. But keep in mind the ever-contemporary need for more versatile and practical cryptography, safeguarding of existing and new network infrastructures, securing the Internet of Things, securing smartphones and protecting users’ privacy. A great challenge lies ahead, as everything is being digitised. We need to manage the complexity of securing emerging networked systems and protecting the privacy of their users. We need effective and usable technologies, together with up-to-date policies and law, and modern security and privacy curricula."
