Five (plus one) questions to: Dr Myriam Dunn Cavelty (Lecturer DAS ETH in Military Sciences)
"Inspired by the best": we are taking a closer look at what we claim to be. What are the sources of inspiration in continuing education? Dr Myriam Dunn Cavelty is a lecturer in the DAS ETH in Military Science. She finds inspiration in every single person at ETH Zurich who generates new findings with their curiosity and thirst for knowledge.
School for Continuing Education: What drives your projects and your work?
Every day I look forward to interacting with interested people from various disciplines in Switzerland and abroad, whether they be colleagues or students! It is always a challenge, and one never stops learning. I regard it as a great privilege to be able to address socially relevant topics in depth and use my knowledge to find solutions.
What, or who, particularly inspires you at ETH Zurich?
Every single person at ETH who generates new findings with their curiosity and thirst for knowledge. Many parts come together to make a dynamic, future-oriented whole. I also like the fact that ETH Zurich as an institution strives to move with the times. This applies not only to excellence in research and teaching but also to organisational development.
Myriam Dunn Cavelty is a Senior Scientist and Deputy Head of the ETH Zurich Center for Security Studies. She conducts research and teaches in the area of cyber security policy. She also advises governments and companies on security policy aspects of digitisation.
Can you summarise the added value of the DAS ETH MILWISS in one sentence?
This type of training at one of the world’s most prestigious universities is unique. We are bridging military and military science content and enabling students to understand Switzerland’s national security policy in the necessary international context and to interact with students from other disciplines.
How are present conflicts and wars affecting the content of the DAS MILWISS programme? Will the focus be on established strategies, or will the whole programme be altered due to current circumstances?
In the programme we address both current risks and established strategies/countermeasures. We reflect on existing international knowledge by taking into account present events, and thus do not need to alter anything. The Swiss angle is also a very important element, because we want the programme to be relevant to the work of future career army officers. However, the Swiss dimension must always be understood in the global and regional context.
In digital expert circles the government has repeatedly been accused of backwardness in the areas of digital infrastructure and its security. How would you assess the situation in Switzerland in this respect?
Unfortunately too many factors are causing too much cyber insecurity – and not only in Switzerland. Digital infrastructure was never created to generate and exchange highly sensitive data. Our position here is no worse, and no better, than that of comparable countries. What we need to do better is to tackle the risks of digitisation pragmatically, such that its many advantages can be fully exploited in the future.
What about security with regard to critical infrastructure (e.g. nuclear power plants)?
Huge catastrophes cannot really be triggered just by applying cyber methods from afar. In any case, cyber attacks are not very suitable for destructive actions. The targeted, complex attack required takes a long time, is low-intensity and is also unreliable. Cyber attacks are, however, well-suited for espionage, short interruptions and especially blackmail (e.g. ransomware). Such things will continue to occupy us in the future.
More information about the DAS ETH in Military Sciences