Foundations of Computer Science are not redundant

CNRS Researcher, University of Bordeaux, France

This plan contrast e.g. with UC Berkeley policy which founded Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing a few years ago to foster research in CS/IT.

It is a sad terrible short-sight decision, which will prevent intellectual progress of human for a long time.

I support the petition in favor of theory and foundations at Leicester. Dirk Beyer, Department Chair, Computer Science, LMU Munich, Germany

Theoretical work lays the foundation for applications. Cutting the foundations is very shortsighted and will fail in the long run.

You have my full support! (TU Vienna, Austria)

I am terrified by the fact that a renowned university can be so wrong in its decisions. Theoretical foundations are indispensable for any field, and in particular AI, data science and computational modelling directly draw on theoretical foundations. These fields have grown out of theoretical research.

I agree with the message in this petition.

Results in CS Foundations live forever. -- Professor, University of Tsukuba, Japan

Le matelot, qu'une exacte observation de la longitude préserve du naufrage, doit sa vie à une théorie qui par une longue chaîne de vérité remonte à des découvertes faites par l'école de Platon, et ensevelies pendant vingt siècle dans une entière inutilité, Condorcet, Esquisse d'un tableau historique des progrès de l'esprit humain, (dernière phrase de la neuvième époque)

I know the researchers of the field. They are strong and serious. The freedom of research is under threat if tenured professors can be fired just to follow the current fashion. I fully support the petition. Daniele Varacca, Professor of Computer Science, University of Paris Est, Créteil

Applications without foundations are very short-lived... in particular if you look for groundbreaking ideas!

This short-sighted decision can only hurt the quality of research, education, and ultimately the reputation of the University of Leicester.

Humboldt University Berlin

Universität Augsburg, Germany

Ceasing foundational research is a very bad and short-sighted decision. It is exactly from this type of research that new innovative insights and solutions often arise. This will certainly damage the overall quality and scope of the program.

CNRS, Lyon, France

Short sighted decision. CNRS director of research in Computer Science

I would not have thought such a short-sighted plan could be seriously proposed for real. It is good material for a distopic novel.

“There is no such thing as a special category of science called applied science; there is science and its applications, which are related to one another as the fruit is related to the tree that has borne it.” - Louis Pasteur