Three PhD students from the School of Cyber Science and Technology (CST) recently participated in the Spring School on Symmetric Cryptography 2025, held in Rome, Italy. This event brought together experts and scholars from around the world to exchange ideas and explore key challenges in symmetric cryptography.
The five-day program featured lectures by renowned researchers from institutions such as KU Leuven and the French Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation (INRIA Paris, France). The curriculum followed a dual-module approach, combining both theoretical foundations and hands-on practice. Each morning, participants attended specialized lectures covering essential topics in symmetric cryptography, including differential and linear cryptanalysis, Boolean functions and cryptographic applications, automated tools for symmetric-key cryptanalysis, provable security in symmetric cryptography, and arithmetic-oriented symmetric cryptography. In the afternoons, practical sessions allowed students to apply their knowledge through real-world attack scenarios, enhancing their technical expertise.
Beyond the structured coursework, the spring school also provided opportunities for in-depth discussions. CST students engaged with leading international cryptographers, exchanging insights on emerging cryptanalysis techniques and future directions in symmetric cipher design.
The Spring School on Symmetric Cryptography 2025 was jointly organized by the International Association for Cryptologic Research (IACR), Roma Tre University, and Ruhr University Bochum. As an affiliated event of the prestigious Fast Software Encryption (FSE 2025) conference, the school aimed to offer high-quality training and networking opportunities for graduate students in cryptography.
By Qun Liu and Anqi Xiao
