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The persistent under-representation of students from groups historically underrepresented in Computer Science and Engineering (CS&E) programs presents a significant challenge to achieving diversity within the field. A workforce with diverse experiences and perspectives is essential for creating innovations that serve all mem- bers of society. Existing documented eorts to broaden diversity in CS&E are time-intensive (multi-week programs) and do not quan- tify attraction to graduate studies. This paper aims to bridge that gap by presenting and evaluating a detailed design for a one-day workshop that includes presentations from research professors, hands-on cybersecurity demos, a panel discussion with current and recent graduate students in CS&E, and a participation survey. By engaging students historically under- represented in CS&E in the topic of graduate school, we aim to increase the diversity of students who apply to and attend graduate school, and ultimately enter the workforce through industry or through the professoriate, thus making the field more diverse and representative of varied perspectives. We held the aforementioned workshop at a Hispanic-Serving Institution in April 2024. The event successfully attracted members of historically under-represented groups. Our survey results show that 78% of the participants agreed or strongly agreed that the event increased their interest in graduate school, 72% were more likely to seek further information about attending graduate school, and 67% of the participants had an increased interest in CS&E research. Our experience shows that one-day events focused on engaging students in the topic of graduate school in CS&E can positively impact attendee’s interest in graduate school and provide valuable information about the application process and graduate school experience. 

Harmonic radar systems have been shown to be an effective method for detecting the presence of electronic devices, even if the devices are powered off. Prior work has focused on detecting specific non-linear electrical components (such as transistors and diodes) that are present in any electronic device. In this paper we show that harmonic radar is also capable of detecting the presence of batteries. We tested a proof-of-concept system on Alkaline, NiMH, Li-ion, and Li-metal batteries. With the exception of Li-metal coin cells, the prototype harmonic radar detected the presence of batteries in our experiments with 100% accuracy. 

Prior research has found that harmonic radar systems are able to detect the presence of electronic devices, even if the devices are powered off. These systems could be a powerful tool to help mitigate privacy invasions. For example, in a rental property devices such as cameras or microphones may be surreptitiously placed by a landlord to monitor renters without their knowledge or consent. A mobile harmonic radar system may be able to quickly scan the property and locate all electronic devices. The effective range of these systems for detecting consumer-grade electronics, however, has not been quantified. We address that shortcoming in this paper and evaluate a prototype harmonic radar system. We find the system, a variation of what has been proposed in the literature, is able to reliably detect some devices at a range of about two meters. We discuss the effect of hardware on the range of detection and propose an algorithm for automated detection. 

Roughly 6 million homes are sold each year in the United States alone.1 Before a home is sold, a building inspector often examines the integrity of the building and renders an opinion on its soundness— examining things like structural integrity, electrical safety, mold and mildew, and radon or other toxins. These inspectors have specialized tools, knowledge, and experience to make a more informed judgment than nonprofessionals are capable of making. 

Internet of Things (IoT) devices left behind when a home is sold create security and privacy concerns for both prior and new residents. We envision a specialized “building inspector for IoT” to help securely facilitate transfer of the home.