Dept. CS Aalborg University DK.
It is a shame to read that fundamental research in theoretical computer science is not considered a value for Leicester University.
A
Andy Zaidman
5 years ago
Theoretical computer science is at the core of many of the more fashionable CS disciplines...
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Tim Willemse
5 years ago
Questionable at best. I urge those in charge to get feedback from, e.g., the broader (high)tech industry before moving forward with this proposal.
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Tamer Ozsu
5 years ago
Boneheaded move. How do you decide that foundations of computer science is not relevant to the areas you indicate? Are those areas not in computer science? Do they not require foundational research?
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Alexander Gorban
5 years ago
Foundations of Computer Science in Leicester is an excellent and world-renowned group. I can't find any rational reason for this decision. This seems to be just a symptom of lazy management: instead of solving the difficult problem of how to run a university in a pandemic time, they would like to just fire some people. And even here, they are lazy: instead of carefully monitoring individual performance, they simply chose a few directions and call them "redundant". I don't see any benefit from such a solution for our research in artificial intelligence and data science. This "shaping for excellence" is just a false wording designed to hide the actual reasons for the dismissal.
S
Sandra Young
5 years ago
Like so many on here, the idea that you can have the application without the theory is shortsighted and undermines the overall impact of research and fails to understand the value of each aspect of it.
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Anonymous
5 years ago
This is ill thought. Core computer science is an essential part of any serious Informatics course.
D
Dr Danny Hucke
5 years ago
Foundational research is - and always will be - the basis of all progress, including developments in current topics of high interest and influence. It is therefore more than nearsighted to push new fields at the expense of those areas who made progress possible in the first place.
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Matthew Might
5 years ago
This is a gross misunderstanding of "Foundations of Computer Science." Foundations of computer science are literally foundations: they support the evolution of a high-impact, adaptable career instead of just training students for the very first job. Computer science is a rapidly changing field, and it is a grounding in the foundations than enables students to adapt with it.
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Paola Flocchini
5 years ago
I am speechless ... it would be an absurd and incredibly short-sighted move!
P
Prof Nick Taylor
5 years ago
Imagine the pandemic without Computer Science. Now imagine Computer Science without a proper theoretical foundation.
D
Daniel Reidenbach
5 years ago
Head of Computer Science at Loughborough University
Speaking for myself
AI and Data Science have manifold and deep connections to other areas of Computer Science, and applied and fundamental research inform each other. If an institution tries to separate these things artificially, it is not "shaping for excellence", but it is shaping for irrelevance.
I have always had the highest respect and admiration for the fundamental research in the Dept of Computer Science/School of Informatics at the University of Leicester, and I know that my views are shared nationally and internationally. I therefore can't possibly comprehend such an act of self-harm. Why is the University planning on destroying one of its major assets? It will irreparably damage its reputation as a research institution, as a place to study, and as an employer.
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Francesco Tiezzi
5 years ago
You cannot build without foundations
C
Claudia Nalon
5 years ago
University of Brasília, Brazil
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Lorenzo Cavallaro
5 years ago
Foundations is the core on which we build CS and its application. Shutting it down shows a narrow vision from SMT. As an example, focusing on AI as a priority. Well, giving the limitations of AI in security and privacy, it is well-acknowledged that pure data-driven approaches need to be coupled with logic reasoning. This is foundations. Similar reasoning holds for testing and verification (there's a clear National effort on this, e.g., https://vetss.org.uk/) as well as pretty much all the rest. Transformative "sexy" research on hot topics *build* on foundations. Cut that and you'll only be able to overfit a hype.
(Lorenzo Cavallaro, King's College London)
L
Laurent Feuilloley
5 years ago
Theory of computing is an important topic, with huge impact. "Shaping for excellence" can only be about making this field stronger, not weaker.
L
Lorenzo Cavallaro
5 years ago
Foundations is the core on which we build CS and its application. Shutting it down shows a narrow vision from SMT. As an example, focusing on AI as a priority. Well, giving the limitations of AI in security and privacy, it is well-acknowledged that pure data-driven approaches need to be coupled with logic reasoning. This is foundations. Similar reasoning holds for testing and verification (there's a clear National effort on this, e.g., https://vetss.org.uk/) as well as pretty much all the rest. Transformative "sexy" research on hot topics *build* on foundations. Cut that and you'll only be able to overfit a hype.
B
Bernard Cohen
5 years ago
AI without logic is an oxymoron.
A
Alberto Lluch Lafuente
5 years ago
Teaching and research in foundational aspects of computer science is essential to retain durable leadership, excellence, and flexibiity to adapt to future challenges. This applies both to universities as well as to the new generations, which must be educated and inspired to challenge existing technologies rather than merely applying technologies that are destined to be obsolete in a few years.
Chernivtsi National University, Ukraine
Dept. CS Aalborg University DK. It is a shame to read that fundamental research in theoretical computer science is not considered a value for Leicester University.
Theoretical computer science is at the core of many of the more fashionable CS disciplines...
Questionable at best. I urge those in charge to get feedback from, e.g., the broader (high)tech industry before moving forward with this proposal.
Boneheaded move. How do you decide that foundations of computer science is not relevant to the areas you indicate? Are those areas not in computer science? Do they not require foundational research?
Foundations of Computer Science in Leicester is an excellent and world-renowned group. I can't find any rational reason for this decision. This seems to be just a symptom of lazy management: instead of solving the difficult problem of how to run a university in a pandemic time, they would like to just fire some people. And even here, they are lazy: instead of carefully monitoring individual performance, they simply chose a few directions and call them "redundant". I don't see any benefit from such a solution for our research in artificial intelligence and data science. This "shaping for excellence" is just a false wording designed to hide the actual reasons for the dismissal.
Like so many on here, the idea that you can have the application without the theory is shortsighted and undermines the overall impact of research and fails to understand the value of each aspect of it.
This is ill thought. Core computer science is an essential part of any serious Informatics course.
Foundational research is - and always will be - the basis of all progress, including developments in current topics of high interest and influence. It is therefore more than nearsighted to push new fields at the expense of those areas who made progress possible in the first place.
This is a gross misunderstanding of "Foundations of Computer Science." Foundations of computer science are literally foundations: they support the evolution of a high-impact, adaptable career instead of just training students for the very first job. Computer science is a rapidly changing field, and it is a grounding in the foundations than enables students to adapt with it.
I am speechless ... it would be an absurd and incredibly short-sighted move!
Imagine the pandemic without Computer Science. Now imagine Computer Science without a proper theoretical foundation.
Head of Computer Science at Loughborough University Speaking for myself AI and Data Science have manifold and deep connections to other areas of Computer Science, and applied and fundamental research inform each other. If an institution tries to separate these things artificially, it is not "shaping for excellence", but it is shaping for irrelevance. I have always had the highest respect and admiration for the fundamental research in the Dept of Computer Science/School of Informatics at the University of Leicester, and I know that my views are shared nationally and internationally. I therefore can't possibly comprehend such an act of self-harm. Why is the University planning on destroying one of its major assets? It will irreparably damage its reputation as a research institution, as a place to study, and as an employer.
You cannot build without foundations
University of Brasília, Brazil
Foundations is the core on which we build CS and its application. Shutting it down shows a narrow vision from SMT. As an example, focusing on AI as a priority. Well, giving the limitations of AI in security and privacy, it is well-acknowledged that pure data-driven approaches need to be coupled with logic reasoning. This is foundations. Similar reasoning holds for testing and verification (there's a clear National effort on this, e.g., https://vetss.org.uk/) as well as pretty much all the rest. Transformative "sexy" research on hot topics *build* on foundations. Cut that and you'll only be able to overfit a hype. (Lorenzo Cavallaro, King's College London)
Theory of computing is an important topic, with huge impact. "Shaping for excellence" can only be about making this field stronger, not weaker.
Foundations is the core on which we build CS and its application. Shutting it down shows a narrow vision from SMT. As an example, focusing on AI as a priority. Well, giving the limitations of AI in security and privacy, it is well-acknowledged that pure data-driven approaches need to be coupled with logic reasoning. This is foundations. Similar reasoning holds for testing and verification (there's a clear National effort on this, e.g., https://vetss.org.uk/) as well as pretty much all the rest. Transformative "sexy" research on hot topics *build* on foundations. Cut that and you'll only be able to overfit a hype.
AI without logic is an oxymoron.
Teaching and research in foundational aspects of computer science is essential to retain durable leadership, excellence, and flexibiity to adapt to future challenges. This applies both to universities as well as to the new generations, which must be educated and inspired to challenge existing technologies rather than merely applying technologies that are destined to be obsolete in a few years.