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Computer Science came to Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê in the early 1970s when the Department of Statistics was expanded to form a joint Department of Statistics and Computer Science

Heads of Department over the years

1980 – 1994:
1995 – 2002:
2002 – 2010:
2010 – 2019:
2019 – current:

The inception

The initial nucleus of computer scientists came from the University of London Institute of Computer Science, which was renowned for its established MSc programme and its research. A generous grant from IBM financed a professor and a lecturer.

In 1980, the independent Department of Computer Science was formed with Professor Peter Kirstein as its first Head. At that time there were 7 academic staff (including 3 professors) and one substantial research area: computer networks and data communications. In 1985, we began offering a specialist MSc in Data Communications, Networks and Distributed System, now known a²õÌýNetworked Computer Systems.

Changing the world through research

Since our modest beginnings, the department has enjoyed a period of continuous growth and currently ha²õÌýsomeÌý80 Lecturers, Senior Lecturers, Readers, Professors,ÌýTeaching Fellows and Senior Teaching Fellows andÌýaboutÌý100 research staff.Ìý Research in the department has developed impressively to include autonomous systems; bioinformatics; data science; financial computing; human centred systems; intelligent systems; information security; machine learning; quantum computing; robotics; software systems engineering, vision and imaging science, and virtual environments and graphics.Ìý

Research centres

We are also partners in a number of research centres, including the Centre for Medical Image Computing, the Bloomsbury Centre for Bioinformatics, the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Interaction Centre, London Software Systems, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Adastral Park, and the Centre for Computational Statistics and Machine Learning. In August 2010,ÌýweÌýwelcomed new colleagues joining the department fromÌýÌýand a newÌýin the spring 2012. 2013 sawÌýseveral exciting developments, including the establishment of a jointÌýÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê/BBC London Media Technology Campu²õÌýat 1 Euston Square, andÌýanother period of growth in our academic staff.ÌýIn 2016, we were very pleased to welcomeÌýCoMPLEXÌý(Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Centre for Computation, Mathematics and Physics in the LifeÌýSciences and Experimental Biology) to join Computer Science and we look forward to building on our long and fruitful relationship.

Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) and Research Excellence Framework (REF)

The department's results in Research Assessment Exercises (RAE) and Research Excellence Framework (REF), have been particularly strong. In the , the panel commended our "visionary strategy and sustainability". WeÌýwere particularly pleased because 100% of our academic staff were submitted - 55 individuals - among the largest research submissions in computer science - and demonstrating collective research power as well as excellence.Ìý80% of the department's researchÌýsubmission was assessed as 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent' in terms of originality, significance and rigour.

At the end ofÌý2014, we finally received the results of the latest . The department was submitted as part of the Computing and Informatics Unit of Assessment (UoA11), with Professor Mark Harman's expert and tireless work as Academic Lead for the submission. We were absolutely delighted with the results, which placed us first overall in the UK for Computer Science and Informatics.Ìý

Our dedication to education

Undergraduate

The department has always had a strong commitment to the teaching of Computer Science at undergraduate level and has steadily developed a range of degree programmes and course units.ÌýTheÌýprogrammes are regularly reviewed to take account of developments in the discipline itself, developments in teaching methods and changing requirements to prepare students for their future career in industry, commerce, research and education. As a result of a reviewÌýin the late 1990s, we introduced four-year undergraduate programmes (MSci, later renamed MEng) which was an important and exciting development because a four-year degree allow²õÌýmore opportunities for an in-depth treatment of advanced topics, including courses offered to MSc students. Undergraduate teaching has undergone an impressive transformation, with students learning via problem-based and project-based methods (e.g. robotics programming).

Postgraduate

Our portfolio of taught programmes has also developed in line with the department's growth.ÌýÌýOur postgraduate teaching has always included the MSc in Computer Science and this was augmented in the early 1980s with the MSc in Information Technology (run jointly with the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering until 2002/03).ÌýBoth the MSc Computer Science and the MSc Information Technology are what we now call 'generalist' programmes: the students who are admitted to them come from a variety of non-Computer Science backgrounds.ÌýOver the years, the department has changed programme names and added new excitingÌýprogrammes. There are currently 12 postgraduate taught programmes and over 10 postgraduate research ±è°ù´Ç²µ°ù²¹³¾³¾±ð²õ.Ìý

Apart from courses for students on our programmes, we have always had a good portfolio of offerings made available to the wider Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê community.Ìý Such courses have over the years included Introductory Computer Science, Electronic Commerce, Digital Business, Introduction to Business and Entrepreneurship, and Financial Computing.

How we've been growing

Here's aÌýquick look at how we've expanded over the years.

• 1980 - Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Computer Science established with Peter Kirstein, Head of Department.Ìý
• 1990s - plans began to be drawn up for new purpose-built premises for the department.Ìý
• 2002 - We moved from being a member of the Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, to the Faculty of Engineering Sciences.Ìý ÌýAround the same time, we were engaged in an in-depth analysis of a proposed merger between Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê and Imperial College London.Ìý That proposal was ultimately rejected at institutional level, but not before Computer Science staff at both institutions had put in some serious joint work to examine the feasibility of a merger between our two departments.
• 2005 - After a great deal of planning and relocation work, the Malet Place Engineering Building finally became home to the Department in January 2005.
• 2009 - During summer,Ìýwe were delighted to welcome colleagues who relocated from Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê's Adastral Park Postgraduate Research Campus, at Martlesham Heath near Ipswich, to London. Staff and students transferred as a result of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê's decision to restructure its activities at Adastral Park. The majority of staff and students joined Computer Science, others transferred to Electronic and Electrical Engineering.Ìý The very successful MSc Information SecurityÌýalso transferred completely to Computer Science in London and has continued thriving.
• 2013 - This year sawÌýthe establishment of an exciting newÌýcollaboration with the BBC, via the London Media Technology Campu²õÌýat 1 Euston Square.
• 2015 -ÌýWe took possession of newly refurbished premises at 66-72 Gower Street, to help accommodate ourÌýgrowing department. There is theÌýpossibility of further new premise²õÌýto house our continuing growth and ideally bring the whole department back into one building.
• 2020 - Euston Road site being prepared for use. Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê EAST development underway.

Milestone birthdays

2010 - 30th birthdayÌý

Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê computer science was officially 30 years old on the 1st of January 2010, the date when the Department of Statistics and Computer Science separated. We had a Departmental photograph taken on the 20th of April and had a splendid dinner party at the Russell Hotel in the summer.

2015 - 35th birthday

We celebrated our 35th birthday with another party!

2016 began with the fantastic news that Sue Black, HonoraryÌýProfessor, was awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours list.ÌýThen, Anthony FinkelsteinÌýwas appointed CBE in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to computer science and engineering.

2020Ìý- 40th birthday

We are planning a virtual celebration to take place in spring 2021. Watch this space.