From the article it looks like the University has some strategy on computer science.
“As part of a plan to greatly increase the scale, scope and impact of computer science research and education across the University community”
I sense the computer science (alongside molecular engineering) are two STEM focuses the University is catching up with its peers in the new century. Maybe its ambition is to make computer science a world class department much like math department?
Many people have observed and criticized that the University does not offer engineering disciplines for a long time. Actually it is not a bad idea to circle engineering from more theoretical fields. e.g., math/stats -> computer, physics/chemistry/biology->molecular engineering.
At this trajectory I think it may take less than 10 years for its computer department to become more respectable from respectable. I do not think it will challenge heavy weights like CMU, UCB any time soon.
Agree with you on most points Eddi. Maybe disagree with you on challenging UCB. I think that can be done in 5 years. CMU, I agree, will take much longer. And it’s really not challenging in the sense that there is a race. It’s the sense that the quality of the faculty, courses, research and internship opportunities will resemble these places.
Excuse me Eddi for some reason I was thinking UCB was UC Santa Barbara which is a strong school also. But I think you meant UC Berkeley. Yea, with their tradition, faculty, location they are very strong and are recognized as such.
Yes. Berkeley.
Sounds great. The push for data science as opposed to systems also fits really well with the school’s culture (CS growing out from math rather than engineering), and Franklin really hits that home with:
“UChicago is uniquely positioned to take a leadership role in the emerging computational and data-driven world, due to its broad strengths and excellence across the spectrum of sciences, policy, business and medicine, and in recognizing the importance of collaboration and cross-fertilization across these domains."
Maybe I’m just drinking the Kool-Aid, but, across the board, U of C really seems to be making very deliberate and intelligent decisions about its future. I haven’t felt that way about other universities I’ve known (as undergrad, grad student, alumn, faculty, neighbor). Change in perspective (parent of incoming undergrad) may account, to some extent, for this perception, but the current leadership seems strong and focused.
Exacademic: I would agree with you. All Universities plan, but I’ve been pleased with the ambitious yet measured plans carried out by UChicago recently.
STEM disciplines are very important in the new century IMO. Chicago is very strong in physical sciences historically but lacking traditional engineering offering.
I would like to grow some key fields first instead of covering all traditional engineering fields. Computer science and Molecular engineer will be excellent choices (vs chemical, civil, aerospace, electrical, etc.).
Hopefully the computer science department can mirror some achievements of Stone age in math department.
I don’t think we’re trying to be CMU or Berkeley or Stanford, and I think if they try it is going to take many, many years. The ethos of the CS department here is extremely math-focused. Most CS classes counts as a math elective. There is very little culture of entrepreneurship.
One of my good friends here turned down CMU Comp Sci for Chicago because of Chicago’s strength in math and physics, and Chicago’s reputation for a very theory oriented undergraduate CS major. CS/Math is incredibly common, and really easy to fit because of overlaps, leading to what feels like a majority of CS majors being a math major. I think the strategy is to become the best CS research/theory school, not to try to challenge the schools known for entrepreneurship. It certainly doesn’t seem like there’s any collective effort by the school to push towards that, any push towards making a startup culture here is coming from a subset of CS students who want it.
It also seems like we’re already offering an unparalleled education in CS theory, the rankings just haven’t caught up with us. The CS department is in a similar place that the school as a whole was in 10 years ago, and the reputation is rising fast.
Are there many professors who are the experts in their related domains? I wonder if the quality (instead of quantity) of the faculty needs to improve.
Recently I have heard a professor László Babai is making big news regarding the famous P vs NP problem though no formal paper/prove submitted yet.
If the CS department has several experts like him it should have the core to attract more people to come.
Hyde snark: what about the uchicago innovation exchange and the booth entrepreneurial challenges? Have they made an impact on the entrepreneurial feel of the CS students/dept?
Also, not sure if the school is doubling down on theory or looking to challenge the heavy hitters, but this Michael franklin guy sounds legit. He was the CHAIR of Berkeley’s CS dept, not some promising underling who received a promotion by coming to chicago. It’s rare for Chicago to be able to make such a prominent lateral hire, so I wonder what they are throwing at him.
Probably a lot of money and offering him the cold weather he has been missing in California.
He also will probably have a larger budget or more leeway to improve the department at UChicago versus dealing with a somewhat constrained budget at a state school. Further, if UChicago CS rises in stature, he gets a lot of the credit. Berkeley is steady there.
Maybe he was bored with Chez Panisse and too many ultra-fresh vegetables, and longed for the kind of mediocre food you can only get at Harold’s, Valois, or the Med.
Maybe he was tired of walking up and down hills.
Maybe he wanted to be where a bald, chubby, middle-aged guy could be a 7 or an 8, not a 4.
Maybe he wanted to live where eating and sleeping doesn’t consume 50% of your gross pay.
And then there’s the Lab School for his kids.
And the prospect of long, edifying lunches with Dean Boyer.
@cue7 I dunno. It isn’t noticeable to me. I haven’t even heard of the Booth entrepreneurial challenge. There are students interested in startups but I credit that mostly to the entire country being obsessed with startups now. Hack night at the CIE leans more project euler than startup incubator.