Media release

Faculty of Science

The University of Auckland

07 May 2009
 

Inaugural computer science lectures in memory of Peter Gibbons

The inaugural Peter Gibbons Memorial Lecture Series, sharing developments in computer science research with the wider public, will begin at The University of Auckland on Wednesday 13 May.

The four weekly lectures will address the translation of computer science theory into practice in a variety of fields: combinatorics, software engineering, bioinformatics and education.

Convened by the Department of Computer Science, the annual lecture series will be held in memory of long-standing faculty member Associate Professor Peter Gibbons. “The lecture series seems a fitting long-term memorial for Peter who was a pioneer of computer science in this country,” says Head of Department Associate Professor Robert Amor. “Peter was awarded the first computer science degree in New Zealand in 1972 and was a founding member of our Department. He inspired many others into research, often drawn from the thousands of students he taught.”

“The lectures epitomise Peter's approach to research, applying theory in practice,” says Associate Professor Amor. Topics for the inaugural lectures reflect the areas in which Associate Professor Gibbons made contributions and highlight cooperation across academic disciplines.

The opening speaker for the 2009 lecture series is Charles Colbourn, Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at Arizona State University, who will discuss the combinatorics at the heart of diverse problems such as designing circuits, compressing files, or identifying diseased members of a population.

The second lecture will be given by Myra B. Cohen, Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Nebraska, who will examine the challenges of ensuring dependability in modern software systems.

The third lecture by Alexei Drummond, Associate Professor in Bioinformatics at The University of Auckland, will explain how the study of evolution has been transformed into a computational science.

The final lecture, by Dr John Hamer, Mr Andrew Luxton-Reilly, and Dr Beryl Plimmer from the Department of Computer Science, will explore information technologies for education and present examples of three research projects that enhance IT support for learning.

The lecture series is open to the public and free of charge. The lectures will be held every Wednesday evening from 13 May to 3 June at The University of Auckland Convention Centre, 22 Symonds St. Those attending are requested to gather at 5:30pm prior to a 6pm start.

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