As an AI faculty member interested in automating human-like reasoning and understanding, I believe the foundations of computer science to be a profoundly important. In addition, I benefit greatly in my own work from having departmental colleagues whose help I can seek when encountering theoretical conundrums. The greatest computer scientists have always been those who deeply pursued both theoretical and practical issues.
T
Tomas Hotzel Escardo
5 years ago
If a VC thinks that fundamental computer science research is useless then they shouldn't be a VC. Aside from the fact they're making people redundant during a pandemic.
P
Professor Yoram Moses
5 years ago
Foundations of Computer Science provide students with a deeper understanding that will enable them to be relevant to the workforce for decades, and not just the immediate future. Eliminating them will cause lasting damage to your students.
Yoram Moses,
The Israel Pollak academic chair,
Technion, Israel
recipient of the Godel prize in 1997 and the Dijkstra prize in 2009
D
Dmitri Chubarov
5 years ago
It is extremely important for applied scientists to work alongside fundamental researchers. Theoretical research mints what will soon become universal currency.
Member of the ACM
H
Hal Sudborough
5 years ago
Absurd! Theoretical computer science produced the most important CS advances in the last fifty years.
S
Sudip Roy
5 years ago
I do believe the same.
D
Dirk Arnold
5 years ago
Professor, Dalhousie University
J
Jean-Simon Pacaud Lemay
5 years ago
Research in theoretical computer science and foundations is crucial in developing the applications for the future. The move by the University VC is disgusting and would have terrible consequences.
C
C Pandu Rangan
5 years ago
Foundation areas are very important for building advanced knowledge and competence in all areas of computer science. Logic, discrete structures and algorithms are at the heart of CS. Added to these approximation and randomness provide solid substance to all the futuristic topics listed by management. I strongly support the petition and request a reconsidering of the decision to prune foundation area faculty members..
V
Viswanath Nagarajan
5 years ago
Associate Professor, University of Michigan
I
Iosif Salem
5 years ago
Postdoctoral researcher at University of Vienna, Austria
L
Lenwood S Heath
5 years ago
The value of theoretical computer science is high. In fact, theoreticians collaborate with all other areas of CS. And theory is most prestigious and differentiates the highest status CS programs from weaker programs.
It makes no sense to eliminate theory positions.
E
Eric Cator
5 years ago
It is a grave mistake to think that the strategic priorities would benefit from taking away all foundational research: progress will dry up very quickly if no theoretical research is done, a balanced curriculum will be very hard to maintain and top researchers will steer clear of such an institute.
Prof. Dr. Eric Cator
Director of IMAPP (Institute of Mathematics, Astrophysics and Particle Physics)
Radboud University
S
Sebastiaan Terwijn
5 years ago
Where do you think Computer Science came from?
To set up a Computer Science or AI department without any
foundations would be a bad mistake. It would certainly
damage the reputation of the University of Leicester.
P
Polly Huang
5 years ago
Please reconsider. Theory people are there to keep the rest of us on solid ground!
F
Freek Wiedijk
5 years ago
Focussing on fashionable subjects and neglecting foundational technologies with a large future potential seems very shortsighted to me.
A
Alan Gibbons
5 years ago
Professor Emeritus (Kings College London) and past External Examiner for Computer Science at Leicester. This is an unwise decision. Fundamental research is the engine of progress in applications, it generates the timeless principles of the science of informatics. This is exactly what universities should be harbouring alongside applications.
C
Chris Tofts
5 years ago
Would any other Engineering subject remove its fundamental theory?
E
Eva Hornecker
5 years ago
foundations are foundations for a reason. Short-sighted and sadly the trend for recent UK Uni politics...
D
Dr Simon Ambler
5 years ago
As a former lecturer in the Department of Computer Science from 1992 to 2004 and researcher in the Foundations of Computer Science, I am horrified by this plan. For the past 16 years I have pursued an industrial career, first in Virtual Reality and, yes, now in Data Science. I have never once questioned the value of the subject that I used to study and to teach. Indeed, quite the reverse — I could not have succeeded in the same way if I did not have the toolkit of concepts and ideas that I now put into practice on a daily basis. It is not “theoretical” knowledge, devoid of practical application, it is the “theory of” computation. For me, and for the company in which I work, it is a source of competitive advantage and it powers the innovation that we put into our products.
I sincerely hope that the University will reconsider.
As an AI faculty member interested in automating human-like reasoning and understanding, I believe the foundations of computer science to be a profoundly important. In addition, I benefit greatly in my own work from having departmental colleagues whose help I can seek when encountering theoretical conundrums. The greatest computer scientists have always been those who deeply pursued both theoretical and practical issues.
If a VC thinks that fundamental computer science research is useless then they shouldn't be a VC. Aside from the fact they're making people redundant during a pandemic.
Foundations of Computer Science provide students with a deeper understanding that will enable them to be relevant to the workforce for decades, and not just the immediate future. Eliminating them will cause lasting damage to your students. Yoram Moses, The Israel Pollak academic chair, Technion, Israel recipient of the Godel prize in 1997 and the Dijkstra prize in 2009
It is extremely important for applied scientists to work alongside fundamental researchers. Theoretical research mints what will soon become universal currency. Member of the ACM
Absurd! Theoretical computer science produced the most important CS advances in the last fifty years.
I do believe the same.
Professor, Dalhousie University
Research in theoretical computer science and foundations is crucial in developing the applications for the future. The move by the University VC is disgusting and would have terrible consequences.
Foundation areas are very important for building advanced knowledge and competence in all areas of computer science. Logic, discrete structures and algorithms are at the heart of CS. Added to these approximation and randomness provide solid substance to all the futuristic topics listed by management. I strongly support the petition and request a reconsidering of the decision to prune foundation area faculty members..
Associate Professor, University of Michigan
Postdoctoral researcher at University of Vienna, Austria
The value of theoretical computer science is high. In fact, theoreticians collaborate with all other areas of CS. And theory is most prestigious and differentiates the highest status CS programs from weaker programs. It makes no sense to eliminate theory positions.
It is a grave mistake to think that the strategic priorities would benefit from taking away all foundational research: progress will dry up very quickly if no theoretical research is done, a balanced curriculum will be very hard to maintain and top researchers will steer clear of such an institute. Prof. Dr. Eric Cator Director of IMAPP (Institute of Mathematics, Astrophysics and Particle Physics) Radboud University
Where do you think Computer Science came from? To set up a Computer Science or AI department without any foundations would be a bad mistake. It would certainly damage the reputation of the University of Leicester.
Please reconsider. Theory people are there to keep the rest of us on solid ground!
Focussing on fashionable subjects and neglecting foundational technologies with a large future potential seems very shortsighted to me.
Professor Emeritus (Kings College London) and past External Examiner for Computer Science at Leicester. This is an unwise decision. Fundamental research is the engine of progress in applications, it generates the timeless principles of the science of informatics. This is exactly what universities should be harbouring alongside applications.
Would any other Engineering subject remove its fundamental theory?
foundations are foundations for a reason. Short-sighted and sadly the trend for recent UK Uni politics...
As a former lecturer in the Department of Computer Science from 1992 to 2004 and researcher in the Foundations of Computer Science, I am horrified by this plan. For the past 16 years I have pursued an industrial career, first in Virtual Reality and, yes, now in Data Science. I have never once questioned the value of the subject that I used to study and to teach. Indeed, quite the reverse — I could not have succeeded in the same way if I did not have the toolkit of concepts and ideas that I now put into practice on a daily basis. It is not “theoretical” knowledge, devoid of practical application, it is the “theory of” computation. For me, and for the company in which I work, it is a source of competitive advantage and it powers the innovation that we put into our products. I sincerely hope that the University will reconsider.