“How might we use artificial intelligence (AI) to give WiscNet members experience in practicing cybersecurity incident response and planning? What if it was kind of fun?”
The WiscNet Cybersecurity Tabletop - Sudden Valley (ft. Mr. Pixels) is an interactive storytelling tool designed to help WiscNet members practice responding to cyber threats in realistic scenarios. Users choose a role on the cybersecurity incident response team. Through engaging, guided simulations set in the fictional community of Sudden Valley, Wisconsin, users face escalating challenges like ransomware or phishing attacks. They make strategic decisions, roll dice to determine outcomes, and learn incident response best practices in a gamified experience.
Mr. Pixels World Tour 2026
April 29 - 30, 2025: WiscNet Connections - Stevens Point, WI
July 23, 2025: Lawrence University - Appleton, WI
August 5, 2025: WiscNet World Headquarters™ - Madison, WI
August 7, 2025: WiscNet Board of Directors Meeting - Madison, WI
September 15 - 18, 2025: Quilt Member Meeting 2025 - Dearborn, MI
October 1, 2025: WiscNet MiniConnections - Waukesha, WI
October 15 - 16, 2025: WiscNet Board Retreat - Green Bay, WI
October 19, 2025: Wisconsin Science Festival - Madison, WI
November 6, 2025: Green Bay Area Public School District - Green Bay, WI 👩🏻💻
November 19, 2025: WiscNet MiniConnections - Wisconsin Rapids, WI 🎟️
December 8 - 10, 2025: SLATE 2025 - Wisconsin Dells, WI 🎟️
December 18, 2025 - Carthage College - Kenosha, WI 👩🏻💻
February 2 - 5, 2026: Quilt Annual Member Meeting 2026 - New Orleans, LA 👩🏻💻
March 6, 2026: Wisconsin Technical College System AI Summit 2026 - Madison, WI 🎟️
March 8 - 10, 2026: Brainstorm 2026 - Wisconsin Dells, WI 🎟️
April 13 - 16, 2026: Internet2 Community Exchange 2026 - Chicago, IL 🎟️
April 29 - 30, 2026: WiscNet Connections - Stevens Point, WI 🎟️
🎟️ Tickets Available | 👩🏻💻 Private
Projects In Development
Cybersecurity Runbook Development
WiscNet Cybersecurity Runbook (ft. Mr. Pixels) is a custom-built AI prompt designed to guide people through the NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0. It operates conversationally, asking for your name, organization, and type before generating a tailored cybersecurity runbook. The prompt explains each framework step in detail—why it matters and how to implement it—while keeping it casual. It also requests real-world cybersecurity scenarios to walk through, making the process interactive. Built on OpenAI’s GPTs platform, it uses custom instructions, actions, and uploaded reference files to provide practical, context-aware responses.
Advanced Research and Education Networking
The WiscNet Cybersecurity Tabletop (ft. Mr. Pixels) has been successfully tested on — and courtesy of — the National Research Platform (NRP). Put another way, the leading candidate for the Least Important R&E Networking Project of 2025 is transitioning from commercial services to a platform that aligns with the mission and values of the research and education community. Through important connections facilitated by Internet2 and The Quilt, progress is underway to expand WiscNet’s role in supporting the needs of advanced research and education opportunities made available via the National Research Platform (NRP) and the Open Science Grid Consortium.
The WiscNet R&E Network Services Advocate, is a customized AI built on OpenAI’s GPTs platform. It helps research and education networks (RENs) communicate the value of their services using Simon Sinek’s “Start With Why” framework. By guiding users through a structured process, it frames each service in terms of its deeper purpose (Why), unique approach (How), and concrete offering (What). The GPT is approachable and engaging, designed to co-create compelling narratives that resonate with members of REN organizations. It incorporates custom instructions, actions, and attribution practices under the Made by Humans and Modified by AI – Non Profit license.
Thanks to Jen Leasure at The Quilt, James Deaton, Lauren Michael, Dana Brunson, Karl Newell, and Alison Ferreira from Internet2, as well as Jim Stewert from the Utah Education Network (UEN). Extra thanks to Sarah Miller at WiscNet for holding space for a monkey.
““If WiscNet is to networking what farm-to-table is to agriculture, John is an excellent fertilizer spreader.””
““Please make it stop.””
Listen, you ever tasted truth bottled up and set on fire? Because that’s exactly what Mr. Pixel’s Tears Hot Sauce is — the blazing liquid gospel of flavor straight outta Madison, Wisconsin. The fact of the matter is, this ain’t your average dab-and-go sauce; it’s a flavor event. One drop hits your tongue and suddenly you’re in the attic of WiscNet World Headquarters, where I brewed this madness myself between cigars, stories, and cybersecurity exercises.
Look, I didn’t call it Tears because I’m sentimental. I called it that because it’ll make you cry, question your life choices, and then thank me for the privilege. Each bottle is small-batch, handcrafted, and rumored to contain traces of digital static — that’s right, it’s artificially intelligent, naturally hot. 🌶️
So stop pretending your pantry’s got personality. Order now at www.wiscnet.net/innovation and show your taste buds what Wi-Fi feels like when it’s angry.
Mr. Pixel’s Tears — because flavor should hurt a little.
Do not take Mr. Pixel’s Tears hot sauce if you are allergic to Mr. Pixel’s Tears. Side effects may include excessive sweating, spontaneous crying, temporary loss of spatial awareness, and a deep existential reckoning about your life choices. Some users report an overwhelming sense of enlightenment immediately followed by regret. Do not use if you are sensitive to capsaicin, bright colors, loud noises, or emotional honesty.