A Legacy of Theory and Practice Goldwasser’s work exemplifies the seamless integration of theory and practice in cryptography. Her early research into probabilistic encryption and zero-knowledge proofs was initially seen as purely theoretical but has since become foundational to securing online communications, digital transactions, and even blockchain technology. “Modern cryptography is one of the best examples of how theoretical computer science can lead to real-world applications,” Goldwasser said. “We wouldn’t have secure electronic commerce without public-key cryptography and digital signatures—both of which originated from theoretical research.” Now, as new paradigms such as quantum computing and AI-driven decision-making introduce unprecedented security challenges, Goldwasser and her team are striving to ensure that cryptographic defenses remain one step ahead. As technology evolves, so do the threats. That’s why the future of cryptography must continually adapt.
MODERN CRYPTOGRAPHY IS ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF HOW THEORETICAL COMPUTER SCIENCE CAN LEAD TO REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS.
Building the Team This urgent need for innovation is exactly why Goldwasser’s project is so critical. UCNI has already made possible important research collaborations. Goldwasser brought together a group of visionary leaders from around the world to co-create a program that will address the most pressing open questions in cryptography: Dan Boneh, Ph.D. (Stanford University), Elette Boyle, Ph.D. (Reichman University and NTT Research), Yuval Ishai, Ph.D. (Technion Israel Institute of Technology and AWS), Abhishek Jain, Ph.D. (Johns Hopkins and NTT Research), and Daniel Wichs, Ph.D. (Northeastern University and NTT Research).
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Together they have been working closely with the leadership and staff of the Simons Institute to assemble an elite team of experts that includes more than 50 senior and junior researchers from academia and industry to build an ambitious new research program that will launch in the summer of 2025. Driven by the increasing need for stronger data security, this program will include both a boot camp and three-week long topical workshops, each of which tackles a cornerstone of modern cryptography: obfuscation, proofs, and secure computation. The goal? To develop cryptographic protocols that not only protect data but also ensure the correctness of machine learning models, even when executed in untrusted or adversarial environments. “Cryptographic tools have been crucial to both the goals of privacy and verification in the presence of adversaries,” she said. “We need to be able to extract utility from data without fully sharing it; and, at the same time, ensure that programs running remotely are doing what they claim without exposing sensitive information.” A Bright Future Ahead Starting this Summer With UCNI support, Goldwasser and her colleagues are laying the groundwork for the next era of secure computing. The upcoming cryptography research program is expected to yield groundbreaking insights, paving the way for new encryption techniques, privacy-preserving AI, and robust verification methods. Although the research program is still in its early stages, its impact is already being felt. By securing commitments from top researchers and shaping a cutting-edge research agenda, Goldwasser and her team are ensuring that the digital world of tomorrow will be safer, more private, and more resilient. As the pace of technological change accelerates, one thing remains certain: in the realm of cryptography, Shafi Goldwasser is a name that will continue to define the field for generations to come. ◆
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