Bill Buchanan (computer scientist)
{{Short description|Scottish computer scientist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Bill Buchanan
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE|FRSE|FBCS}}
| image = Bill_Image_Award.jpg
| caption =
| birth_place = Scotland
| education = PhD, Edinburgh Napier University, 1996
| occupation = Professor
| employer = {{nowrap|Edinburgh Napier University}}
| known_for =
}}
Bill Buchanan is a Scottish computer scientist. He is a professor at Edinburgh Napier University, where he leads the Blockpass ID Lab, and the Centre for Cybersecurity, IoT and Cyberphysical.{{Cite web|url=https://www.napier.ac.uk/people/bill-buchanan|title=Bill Buchanan|website=Napier|access-date=2 August 2018}}{{Primary source inline|date=August 2024}} In 2017 he received an OBE for services to cyber security.{{Cite web |title=OBE, MBE for University stalwarts |url=https://www.napier.ac.uk/about-us/news/honours17/ |access-date=2023-09-02 |website=Napier |language=English}}
Career
Buchanan's work focuses on applied cryptography, blockchain, cybersecurity, citizen-focused health care and digital identity.
On 6 May 2015 he launched The Cyber Academy at the Merchiston Campus of Edinburgh Napier University with a goal of "bringing together industry professionals, law enforcement and academics with a view to combining strengths to combat the growing threat of criminal use of hacking software to steal money, data and intellectual property.".{{Cite web |last=McCulloch |first=Scott |date=5 May 2015 |title=Napier University to launch new International Cyber Academy |url=http://www.insider.co.uk/news/napier-university-launch-new-international-9866160 |access-date=9 July 2023 |website=businessInsider |language=en}}
In November 2015, Buchanan and his team set up a fake Web site for hackers to gain access to, as part of a BBC Panorama programme.{{cite web |title=BBC Panorama |url=http://bbc.in/1Y0p3A6}} In 2016, Buchanan was also included in the FutureScot list for the "50 Scottish Tech People Who Are Changing The World".{{Cite web |date=24 February 2016 |title=The Digital List |url=https://futurescot.com/the-digital-list/ |access-date=28 March 2022 |website=FutureScot |language=en-US}}
Buchanan is the creator and sole author of the Asecuritysite.com web site. Asecuritysite was a shortlisted finalist at for the Security Training Programme of the Year at the Computing Security Excellence Awards 2024.{{Cite web |last=TCC |title=Security Excellence Awards 2024 - 2024 Shortlist |url=https://event.computing.co.uk/securityexcellenceawards2024/en/page/2024-shortlist |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=event.computing.co.uk |language=en}}
In 2018 Buchanan was the lead academic on a project designed to improve the security of Internet of Things (IOT) devices The aim was to test how vulnerable IOT devices and networks are to hacking.{{cite news |author= |date=2018-07-09 |title=Edinburgh Napier and Glasgow's Censis partner in cybersecurity drive |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/edinburgh-napier-and-glasgows-censis-partner-in-cybersecurity-drive-1428136 |work=The Scotsman |location=Scotland |access-date=2024-08-04}}
Awards and recognition
- In 2015, named in the "50 most influential UK higher education professionals on social media".{{Cite web |date=7 October 2015 |title=The 50 most influential UK higher education professionals on social media |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/features/50-most-influential-uk-higher-education-professionals-social-media |access-date=9 July 2023 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |language=en}}
- In 2015, led a cipher cracking team to win the Universally Challenged competition.{{Cite web |last=Journalist |first=Deadline News |date=2015-03-12 |title=Code cracking students best in Britain |url=https://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2015/03/12/69343/ |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=Deadline News |language=en-GB}}
- In 2016, included in "The Digital List: 50 people from various areas of Scotland's technology industries who are changing the world".
- In 2017, appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to cyber security, and was the first person to receive an OBE related to cyber security.{{Cite news |date=16 June 2017 |title=Judy Murray among Scots on honours list |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-40300354 |access-date=9 July 2023}}
- In 2023, received the "Most Innovative Teacher of the Year" award at the Times Higher Education Awards 2023.{{Cite web |author= |date=2023-12-07 |title=Times Higher Education Awards 2023: winners announced |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/times-higher-education-awards-2023-winners-announced |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |language=en}}
- In 2024, elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE).{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=James |date=2024-04-08 |title=Eminent cultural and scientific figures named as RSE Fellows |url=https://rse.org.uk/eminent-cultural-and-scientific-figures-named-as-rse-fellows/ |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=Royal Society of Edinburgh |language=en-GB}}
References
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Category:Scottish computer scientists
Category:Academics of Edinburgh Napier University
Category:Fellows of the British Computer Society
Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Category:Principal Fellows of the Higher Education Academy