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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/S81735/01
Title: PPA: University of Southampton National Cipher Challenge
Principal Investigator: Niblo, Professor GA
Other Investigators:
Wheeler, Professor AA
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Bletchley Park Trust Guardian Unlimited IBM
Department: School of Mathematics
Organisation: University of Southampton
Scheme: PPE PreFEC
Starts: 18 February 2004 Ends: 17 May 2007 Value (£): 63,710
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Algebra & Geometry
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
We will design and deliver a series of three national code-breaking competitions aimed at UK school children in the 10-18 age range, together with associated teachers' materials for use in the classroom and in extra-curricular activities. Each competition will be set as a graphically rich, web-based adventure serial with high production values, told in a series of messages enciphered using a mix of classical and modern ciphers, together with clues to their decryption. Participants will receive email feedback on their progress, and each stage of the competition will attract prizes for participants and their schools. Solutions and additional historical information, as well as news and hints will be published on the web sites throughout to encourage continued participation, and each competition will culminate in a public prize-giving ceremony at Bletchley Park at which a well-known figure will deliver a public lecture on a related topic. The resources developed for the challenge will be made available to schools on a cipher challenge web site which will be maintained for a period of five years.
Key Findings
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.soton.ac.uk