Feb. 28 SciCafe: Cyber Crime

Contact: Emily Stehle, APR
(727) 803-9799, ext. 207
cell (727) 688-7993
estehle@pieraquarium.org
www.pieraquarium.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cyber Crime: Is Your Cell Phone Being Hacked?
(For Adults Only)

St. Petersburg, FL (Jan. 19, 2012) – Cyber hacking is not new news; we've just been hearing more about it . The Rupert Murdoch's News of the World scandal has us all wondering if it could happen to us.

Join us for the Feb. 28 SciCafé with our guests Stephen Pearson, managing partner of the High Tech Crime Institute (HTCI), a global leader in the field of computer crime investigation and computer forensics, and Chris McClure, cyber crime detective with the St. Petersburg Police Department.  The free science conversation for adults will be moderated by Rob Lorei, news director of WMNF 88.5 Community Radio.

In the past year, 905 business have suffered at least one security breach, and more than half had at least two. The business of protecting computers and servers from intruders has been growing nearly 10% since 2006. This year, experts predict, will be the busiest yet with companies spending an estimated $75.6 billion, surpassing last year's record $63 billion.

Mr. Pearson brings more than 29 years of law enforcement experience with in-depth expertise in today's most pervasive Internet and computer technologies and can speak about all facets of computer crime investigations. He is recognized as an expert witness in DOS file structures and has consulted on numerous high profile investigations.

His ground-breaking Cyber Squire Internet child safety program for the United States Army at Fort Leonard Wood became the local school system's standard program. Now a law enforcement investigator, Mr. Pearson most recently was directly involved in the development and implementation of computer crime and forensics training for the Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Detective McClure, who has been the Cyber Crimes Detective for the St. Petersburg Police Department for five years, previously worked as a detective in Crimes Against Children. His interest in cases involving computers and additional training in computer forensics have enabled him to conduct the digital forensics on media found in cases of fraud, online child pornography, network intrusions and malicious e-mails.

Cyber Crime: Is Your Cell Phone Being Hacked?
A free science conversation for adults

When: 6-7:30pm Tuesday, Feb. 28
Where: The Hangar Restaurant & Flight Lounge
              540 First St. SE, St. Petersburg
Moderator: Rob Lorei, news director, WMNF 88.5 Community Radio

Speakers: Stephen Pearson, managing partner, High Tech Crime Institute, Inc.
                    Chris McClure, cyber crime detective, St. Petersburg Police Department

Table seating starts at 5:30pm.
Please RSVP to ensure your seat: www.pieraquarium.org/cybercrimecafe

This science cafe is presented by The Pier Aquarium.
Sponsors:

ABOUT THE SCIENCE CAFÉ
The science café is an international program that piques curiosity and brings the discussion of science into the mainstream. The Pier Aquarium endorsed the concept in 2009 during The Year of Science as we pride itself on providing community marine education. Our mission "to enhance the public’s understanding of the value and fragility of the local and global marine environment through research, education and personal experiences” speaks to the important role we play in translating science information to the community.

As home to the marine science cluster of more than 1,600 working scientists and researchers, it was time for a science café in St. Petersburg.

The science café movement is growing rapidly in pubs, coffeehouses and other casual public venues throughout the world. No one organization "controls” or claims credit for creating the Science Café concept in the United States but many science cafés were inspired by Café Scientifique, based in the United Kingdom.

Sciencecafes.org, created in 2006 by NOVA scienceNOW in association with Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, brings together all science café resources into one single U.S. Web site.

SCIENCE CAFÉ FORMAT
A science café’s casual meeting place, plain language and inclusive conversation create a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere for people with no science background. Each meeting centers on what we hope will be an interesting topic. Our scientists and moderate begin the conversation and talk about 30 minutes. There is a short break, and then the café resumes with audience involvement.

To make a donation to support SciCafé programs, please click here: www.pieraquarium.org/scicafesupport.