Full Interview: Cybersecurity, Water, and the Gender Gap

#WWD2026 | #WorldWaterDay | #SDG6 | #WomenInCybersecurity | #SDG5 | #GenderEquality | #2026UNWaterConference

Introduction:
[LMGlobal.Org] A special session titled “Water, Cyber Security, and Gender Equality” held in support of the United Nations’ vision for sustainable water management on March 21, 2026. The discussion emphasizes the triple nexus of these fields, arguing that protecting digital water infrastructure is a fundamental human right that requires diverse leadership. Professor Emre Tokgöz provides a technical keynote on how cyber threats like ransomware and state-sponsored attacks specifically jeopardize global water security and economic stability. A central theme throughout the session is the urgent need for women’s involvement in cybersecurity, a field currently dominated by men, to provide the diverse perspectives necessary for resilient governance. Youth speaker Joel Joseph reinforces this by illustrating how secure, accessible water systems directly empower girls to pursue education and break cycles of poverty. Ultimately, the source serves as a call to action for integrated policies that combine technical safeguarding with gender equity to ensure future water prosperity.

Full Power Point Presentation by Prof. Emre Tokgöz | Full Power Presentation by Joel Joseph

The below interview conducted with the Keynote Speaker Prof. Prof. Emre Tokgöz and Youth Speaker Joel Joseph by Bircan Ünver, followed by each of their deliberations at the “Water, Cyber Security, and Gender Equality” virtual session:

The Expert & The Future Leader: A Dialogue On The Triple Nexus

Full Interview: Water, Cyber Security and the Gender Gap
Moderator: Bircan Ünver, Founder-President, LMGlobal.Org
Guests: Prof. Emre Tokgöz & Joel Joseph (SUNY Farmingdale Campus)

Part I: The Strategic Expert (Prof. Emre Tokgöz)

Bircan Ünver: To kick off our dialogue, how would you define a well-educated labor force capable of designing and developing robust cybersecurity systems for critical infrastructure like water?

Prof. Emre Tokgöz: Training is the foundation, but as a professor, I must emphasize that hands-on experience is critical—especially through onsite applications. While theory is important, reflecting on practice is essential. A well-educated professional must be “cyber-mindful” and know exactly how to react to threats in real-time.

A single mistake, such as clicking an unsafe email attachment, can bring down an entire company; I have had students who experienced this firsthand. We must also stay current with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) benchmarks. For instance, the old standard of 8-character passwords is fading away. Many organizations and universities in the United States now enforce a 12 to 15-character minimum. One person’s lack of knowledge can cause systemic failure, whether in a developing nation or the United States.

Bircan Ünver: How can we expand these technical programs to engage the public and prepare them for these challenges?

Prof. Emre Tokgöz: Certificate programs—such as the Google Cybersecurity Certificate—are a helpful entry point for those without a technical background. I have completed it myself to understand its design. However, these are not enough on their own. We need funding for specialists to work directly with personnel in their specific workplaces.
On a positive note, pursuing an undergraduate degree in cybersecurity or digital forensics—like the programs we offer at SUNY Farmingdale—does not actually require an extremely high level of prior STEM knowledge. This accessibility is a major benefit for students entering the field and is a key factor in diversifying our labor force.

Bircan Ünver: What is the most critical element to develop when combatting cyber threats toward a safe, secure infrastructure?

Prof. Emre Tokgöz: It is a two-part framework: the Human and the Device. Human involvement remains number one, but the devices themselves must be capable of receiving security patches and updates. For example, if an operating system isn’t updated automatically, it creates vulnerabilities. Not all systems are update-able, so knowing which hardware to update and how to handle technical “playbooks” is a vital part of a cyber-resilient framework.

Bircan Ünver: Turning to the gender gap, what is the male-to-female ratio in these programs today?

Prof. Emre Tokgöz: It is unfortunately quite low. On my campus, I have some classes with no female students at all, or perhaps four out of twenty-five. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates a 30% need for more cybersecurity professionals in the New York area alone.

There is a significant misconception that this field is strictly “coding-driven,” which may push women away. In reality, we need diversified thinking to improve organizational infrastructure, policy design, and risk determination. Women’s involvement would bring essential new perspectives. We need global collaboration—both online and onsite—to bridge this gap and uplift basic infrastructure through gender involvement.

The Global Policy Conclusion

Bircan Ünver: As a final question for this segment, and looking toward the future: on a global level, what legal mechanisms or policies are required to sustain women’s empowerment within cyber-resilient water governance?

Prof. Emre Tokgöz: This requires a two-pronged approach. First, we need a shift in mindset at the family and community levels to encourage girls toward these fields. But second, and most importantly, we need top-down government and UN-based support.
Global collaboration is necessary to provide both onsite and online training to educate the next generation. There is a massive, unfilled demand for women in cybersecurity and digital forensics, but we simply do not have enough professionals globally to handle the current volume of threats. Policies must focus on funding specialized education and creating clear career pathways for women. This is not just a local issue; it is a global necessity. If we want a secure and equitable water future by 2026 and beyond, we must invest in the “human shield” of diverse, well-trained professionals today.

Part II: The Future Leader (Joel Joseph)

Bircan Ünver: Joel, as a senior student, what are you seeing in your own networking circles or local student communities regarding this ratio?

Joel Joseph: It is similar to what the professor described. In a class of 30, you might see only five girls. However, we do have organizations like SWiC (Women in Security and Computing) on campus. We currently have about 20 women across the entire technology department. While the numbers aren’t where they need to be yet, I believe that as AI evolves and students realize the field is about more than just coding, the ratio will increase significantly within the next five years.

Bircan Ünver: Your story about Selam (the girl from Ethiopia) was very moving. As a representative of the next generation, what is your vision for improving cyber-resilient water governance through women’s empowerment?

Joel Joseph: We need to keep the focus on these careers year-round, not just during awareness months. In the past, many girls were encouraged toward nursing or healthcare as their only “career” paths. Today, cybersecurity is one of the most demanding and rewarding careers available for girls as well.
My recommendation is to encourage families to support their daughters in STEM from secondary school onward. When we lift the physical burden of fetching water and replace it with technical education, we create the space for dreams to grow. This is where “water flows and equality grows.”

The Legal Bridge: Cybersecurity vs. Digital Forensics

Cheick Omar Gacko (Mali, Intervention): In my country, our biggest threat is water pollution from mining. How do cybersecurity and forensics help us there?

Prof. Emre Tokgöz: This is a critical connection. Cybersecurity is your proactive defense—the “lock on the door” that prevents unauthorized access to your water sensors. Digital Forensics, however, is the reactive legal tool. If a mining company or threat actor tampers with your water quality data, Digital Forensics allows investigators to “follow the digital breadcrumbs.” It enables us to track the IP address and identify the specific point of entry to provide the technical evidence needed for legal penalties and court proceedings. Without forensics, you cannot prove who caused the damage; without cybersecurity, you cannot prevent it.

Full Power Point Presentation by Prof. Emre Tokgöz | Full Power Presentation by Joel Joseph

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