Lifetime Achievement Award

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Cyber Security lecturer awarded DSET Lifetime Achievement Award

John Curry, Senior Lecturer in Creative Computing, was delighted to hear he had been awarded the Defence Simulation, Education and Training (DSET) Lifetime Achievement award for his contribution to serious games and academic excellence. 

The annual event provides a Military and Government driven agenda, with leaders in their industries travelling to Bristol to engage in the event and discuss how to resolve current and future challenges. 

Since 2016 DSET has contributed to the advancement of Defence Simulation, Education and Training in the Armed Forces. John has been a key player in the serious games industry for the last two decades, building and running video games to inform decision making. 

Serious Games are aimed toward problem-solving rather than entertainment, using the same media as video games to create a fun way to teach topics; emphasising the educational value of play. John’s simulations have covered key topics such as global warming, negotiations at the UN and cyber-attacks on a port.  

From recounting tales of taking down hackers in cyberspace to advising organisations on cyber security and delivering virtual lectures in Washington DC, John’s work keeps him well-informed on the cyber landscape and primed to come head-to-head with cyber criminals. 

Spanning 20 years, John’s eclectic career has seen him publish multiple notable non-fiction novels in the serious games space. John’s books have appeared on the shelves of organisations and think tanks that play serious games to educate and equip their employees on important topics and saw him invited to do a book signing at the awards ceremony. Discussing the experience, he said: 

“It is a very humbling experience to meet people who think that your work will add something to their practice.” 

Accompanied by PhD students working in the serious games industry and recognised for their contribution in the UK and beyond, John attended an event to celebrate his achievements. Speaking on his success, he said: 

“I am humbled, as I am very aware that my contribution, such as it is, is always based on the work of others. I am also aware that future researchers will build on my efforts and supersede them. Research is not the end process. All we can do is help inform the work of those who follow us.” 

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