Security Lancaster

Innovation in Security and Citizen Protection

The InfoLab21 at Lancaster

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Welcome to Security Lancaster

Security Lancaster is one of the largest interdisciplinary security research institutes in the UK tackling complex security challenges. From maritime threats to trust and re-imagining security through cultural innovation, we fuse disciplines to protect societies, drive innovation, and rethink what security means in a rapidly changing world.

The institute's cross-disciplinary socio-technical research is actively complemented by policy engagement and education to deliver innovative solutions to today’s complex security challenges that affect people and societies.

Our community pioneers research that protects people and infrastructures by challenging conventional thinking. We believe security is relational, contextual, and deeply human—demanding inclusive, interdisciplinary, and socially responsible approaches. Our work spans cultural, technological, and political domains—shaping security to protect citizens for today’s world and tomorrow’s possibilities.

The Institute is driven by an ethos of undertaking theoretically rich, user-inspired research. Our inter-disciplinary, socio-materialist approach delivers solutions to complex security challenges that affect people and societies in a world that is increasingly defined by post-truth, post-physicality and post-human characteristics and dynamics.

Security Lancaster cultivate innovation and entrepreneurship by facilitating the exchange of ideas and information through the sharing of facilities, the creation of networks of like-minded individuals, and through the development of a ‘social infrastructure’. By re-imagining security and protection in the modern world, we influence policy, empower education, and anticipate emerging threats. Security Lancaster transforms insight into impact—locally, nationally, and globally—by placing human understanding at the heart of security innovation.

  • Research

    Security Lancaster delivers research that innovates and creatively challenges the way that individuals, organisations and societies secure and protect themselves. Our approach delivers the very best use-inspired and pure research that delivers real impact.

  • Enterprise and Engagement

    We achieve our world-class research and educational achievements through engagement and collaboration with companies from a range of sectors, national governments, think tanks and other organisations with an interest in security and protection science.

  • Education

    Lancaster University has been recognised as an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education (ACE-CSE) by the UK's National Cyber Security Centre. Our Gold award is based on the quality of existing cyber security courses - in particular the MSc in Cyber Security - and a multi-disciplinary approach to the subject area. We have ambitious plans for the future, including offering additional programmes at Bachelor's and Master's levels and enhancing cyber awareness more broadly across the university’s staff and student population.

Latest News

Working closely with police forces, the P-ACEs will drive collaboration among academia and policing

Lancaster to become Policing Academic Centre of Excellence

The National Police Chiefs’ Council ​(NPCC) in partnership with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has chosen Lancaster University as one of nine Policing Academic Centres of Excellence (P-ACEs) sharing a total of £4.5 million. 
Unsecurities Lab Workshop 1

Unsecurities Lab #1: Report from the First Workshop

On 27 March 2025, the first Unsecurities Lab workshop brought together diverse specialists to explore how immersive art can reshape security thinking amidst systemic changes.
Image of Info Lab at Lancaster University

Empowering the nuclear sector: Lancaster University host cyber security training for industry professionals

The World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS), in collaboration with Lancaster University and the Austrian institute of Technology (AIT), has successfully completed the fourth delivery of its flagship training course, Cybersecurity in the Nuclear Industry.

L - R Professor Nigel Davies, Chris Ensor, Vice-Chancellor Professor Andy Schofield and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Engagement) Professor Sarah Kemp

Lancaster University unveils cutting-edge computing and cyber security facilities

Lancaster University has officially opened one of the largest educational facilities in the country to help train the next generation of computer science and cyber security students. 
An image of Professor Joe Burton on the left and abstract lines and dots on the right, on a dark blue background

UK law enforcement inadequately equipped to tackle AI-enabled crime

UK law enforcement lacks the tools to effectively tackle AI-enabled crime and must adopt a more proactive, AI-driven approach. 
An image of a female worker sat facing away from the camera, towards a computer screen, looking stressed and holding her shoulder

Employee wellbeing should form key part of firms’ strategies for responsible cybersecurity due to high levels of burnout and stress

New research led by Lancaster University into ‘responsible’ cybersecurity suggests the wellbeing of those in cybersecurity roles should be a key consideration for firms’ security strategies due to the level of burn out amongst those in high-pressure roles.

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