It was my honour and real pleasure to be a participant of the COST Action IC1405 on Reversible Computation - Extending Horizons of Computing, which was successfully led by Prof. Dr. Irek Ulidowski from Leicester University and his group. One of the long-term results of the project is development of new generation of hardware devices (with appropriate software) that would consume significantly less energy. One can not build that house without a solid foundation, which is in this case fundamental research of reversible computing.
S
Savi Maharaj
5 years ago
I am a computer science lecturer at the University of Stirling. I have a deep appreciation of the value of foundational computer science, and I think it would be immensely damaging to both teaching and research at Leicester to make staff in this area redundant.
S
Shuchi Chawla
5 years ago
The case for Foundations of CS (a.k.a. TCS) is easy to make: https://cra.org/ccc/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/10/Theoretical-Computer-Science_.pdf
F
Francesco Ranzato
5 years ago
University of Padova, IT
"Shaping for excellence" while "Misunderstanding the Foundations of Computer Science". What a stupid mistake.
P
Peter Hall
5 years ago
This move is sure to ruin not only livelihoods but the department too.
W
Wolfgang Bein
5 years ago
The assertion that Foundations of CS are "highly theoretical and not directly linked with applications", is ludicrous. This is like saying before 2020 virology and the study of coronaviruses was not directly linked to few diseases and therefore unimportant.
R
Radomir Stankovic
5 years ago
How it is possible to build up something without foundations? When systems in the very broad sense of this word are more and more complex, the level of abstraction should be increased to be able to deal with them. Is this not a proper place to see clearly a necessity for fundamental sciences and mathematics? What makes a decisive difference between professional schools and universities if not fundamental sciences?
T
Tom Melham
5 years ago
Professor of Computer Science, Oxford University.
Theory and practice go hand in hand, as we all know. This is a strategic error.
M
Mark Lawford
5 years ago
This appears to be a shortsighted financial decision that will have a long term negative impact on the research, teaching and reputation of Leicester.
B
Bernhard Reus
5 years ago
Foundations of Computer Science is, as the name states, underpinning all other computing related activities, in particular AI and Data science. And usually the lectures in Foundations can (and do) teach any module on the curriculum, they are a priceless asset.
J
Jackie Daykin
5 years ago
Parochial, heartless and damaging to the uni reputation not to mention science.
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
I have just finished a PhD in the department, and would not have applied if it were in the proposed state.
L
Luc Berthouze
5 years ago
You would think the clue is in the name: *Foundations* of Computer Science. What a mind-boggling lack of understanding of how science works.
J
Jeroen Keppens
5 years ago
The decision-making process of Leicester University's C-suite appears to be to put all their eggs in one basket, then get rid of the basket. I suspect those responsible will be long gone by the time the inevitable mess needs to be cleaned up.
A
Aaron Sloman
5 years ago
Clearly the Leicester University managers want to turn the university into a Polytechnic. The nation needs many Polytechnics, but a stupid government turned them all into universties just over three decades ago, thereby seriously damaging the UK university system. That should be reversed. It's good that Leicester University wishes to become the first new Polytechnic, reducing the number of (real) universities. But it should also change its name to indicate its new role.
M
Marek Chrobak
5 years ago
Perhaps the administration should also rename the university, to more accurately reflect the focus on applications: The Vocational School of Leicester.
C
Claudio Moraga
5 years ago
How will AI and ML progress without efficient algorithms? It is in a FOC environment where algorithms are developed and optimized. Who else is prepared for the challenge of quantum algorithms?
D
Des Watson
5 years ago
Having been a HoD of a CS department, I know that the subjects covered by the FoCo group are truly central to the study of computer science, as well as to other subjects supported by the university. For a CS department to have external credibility (academically and commercially), these core subjects are vital.
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
Theoretical computer science is a foundation to all the fields of the new direction the university is aiming for. I can't see this working out in the long-run without the research of the whole faculty being impaired.
M
Manfred Droste
5 years ago
The "Foundations of Computer Science" at Leicester University is internationally known to be extremely strong. This research is most important for future research results. In fact, present machine learning techniques built on such previous foundational research. Killing this Foundations research group would be extreemely short-sighted and, sorry, stupid.
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Manfred Droste,
Member of Academia Europaea
It was my honour and real pleasure to be a participant of the COST Action IC1405 on Reversible Computation - Extending Horizons of Computing, which was successfully led by Prof. Dr. Irek Ulidowski from Leicester University and his group. One of the long-term results of the project is development of new generation of hardware devices (with appropriate software) that would consume significantly less energy. One can not build that house without a solid foundation, which is in this case fundamental research of reversible computing.
I am a computer science lecturer at the University of Stirling. I have a deep appreciation of the value of foundational computer science, and I think it would be immensely damaging to both teaching and research at Leicester to make staff in this area redundant.
The case for Foundations of CS (a.k.a. TCS) is easy to make: https://cra.org/ccc/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/10/Theoretical-Computer-Science_.pdf
University of Padova, IT "Shaping for excellence" while "Misunderstanding the Foundations of Computer Science". What a stupid mistake.
This move is sure to ruin not only livelihoods but the department too.
The assertion that Foundations of CS are "highly theoretical and not directly linked with applications", is ludicrous. This is like saying before 2020 virology and the study of coronaviruses was not directly linked to few diseases and therefore unimportant.
How it is possible to build up something without foundations? When systems in the very broad sense of this word are more and more complex, the level of abstraction should be increased to be able to deal with them. Is this not a proper place to see clearly a necessity for fundamental sciences and mathematics? What makes a decisive difference between professional schools and universities if not fundamental sciences?
Professor of Computer Science, Oxford University. Theory and practice go hand in hand, as we all know. This is a strategic error.
This appears to be a shortsighted financial decision that will have a long term negative impact on the research, teaching and reputation of Leicester.
Foundations of Computer Science is, as the name states, underpinning all other computing related activities, in particular AI and Data science. And usually the lectures in Foundations can (and do) teach any module on the curriculum, they are a priceless asset.
Parochial, heartless and damaging to the uni reputation not to mention science.
I have just finished a PhD in the department, and would not have applied if it were in the proposed state.
You would think the clue is in the name: *Foundations* of Computer Science. What a mind-boggling lack of understanding of how science works.
The decision-making process of Leicester University's C-suite appears to be to put all their eggs in one basket, then get rid of the basket. I suspect those responsible will be long gone by the time the inevitable mess needs to be cleaned up.
Clearly the Leicester University managers want to turn the university into a Polytechnic. The nation needs many Polytechnics, but a stupid government turned them all into universties just over three decades ago, thereby seriously damaging the UK university system. That should be reversed. It's good that Leicester University wishes to become the first new Polytechnic, reducing the number of (real) universities. But it should also change its name to indicate its new role.
Perhaps the administration should also rename the university, to more accurately reflect the focus on applications: The Vocational School of Leicester.
How will AI and ML progress without efficient algorithms? It is in a FOC environment where algorithms are developed and optimized. Who else is prepared for the challenge of quantum algorithms?
Having been a HoD of a CS department, I know that the subjects covered by the FoCo group are truly central to the study of computer science, as well as to other subjects supported by the university. For a CS department to have external credibility (academically and commercially), these core subjects are vital.
Theoretical computer science is a foundation to all the fields of the new direction the university is aiming for. I can't see this working out in the long-run without the research of the whole faculty being impaired.
The "Foundations of Computer Science" at Leicester University is internationally known to be extremely strong. This research is most important for future research results. In fact, present machine learning techniques built on such previous foundational research. Killing this Foundations research group would be extreemely short-sighted and, sorry, stupid. Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Manfred Droste, Member of Academia Europaea