Computer Science Research Center
dedication set for Sept. 14

by Elizabeth Luciano, News Office staff

The Computer Science Research Center will be formally dedicated on Sept. 14.

gala celebration to mark the official opening of the $14.6 million Computer Science Research Center will be held Sept. l4-15. Thursday's events will feature an open house and demonstrations of various technologies being developed by University computer scientists, as well as the awarding of three honorary degrees; activities on Friday will focus on technical talks and seminars geared toward the research community.

     The Computer Science Research Center is a three-floor, 78,500 square-foot, state-of-the-art structure that represents the culmination of five years of planning, said department head James Kurose. The Computer Science Department was previously located on several floors in the Lederle Graduate Research Center. The new building provides lab and office space, creating a cutting-edge research and education environment for faculty members, graduate students and undergraduates, as well as numerous visiting scientists, postdoctoral researchers, and professional staff members.
The Computer Science Research Center was funded entirely through the state's general obligation bond issue.

     One of the most important features in the building is its wiring, which provides extensive routes to the information highway, said Kurose.

     "The center's computer infrastructure will accommodate the latest technologies at the fastest possible speeds," he said. The building is cabled to accommodate an array of technologies, including fiberoptics, cellular, high-speed twisted pair, and video. This allows real-time, multimedia communication.

     Several public events are planned for Thursday, Sept. 14, including a special convocation in Bowker Auditorium where three distinguished computer scientists – Barry Boehm, Leonard Kleinrock, and Raj Reddy – will be awarded honorary degrees by President William M. Bulger and Chancellor David K. Scott. The convocation begins at 10:30 a.m.

     At 11:45, there will be a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony at the building's main entrance.

     Barry Boehm, will give a keynote speech in the Colloquia Room at 1:15 p.m.
An open house, including tours and demonstrations throughout the building, will be held from 2-5:30 p.m. The campus community is invited to attend. Refreshments will be served.

     Friday's scholarly lectures will include presentations on robotics; computer languages and architecture; information retrieval and management; software engineering; machine learning; and networking and distributed systems. There will also be a discussion on how computer technology is changing the face of education.

     The Computer Science Program, launched in the 1960s, was one of the first in the United States and today is ranked 18th nationally by the National Research Council. It is one of the top five computer science departments in attracting research dollars and is in the top 25 percent of schools in terms of size, says Kurose. The department brings in approximately $8 million to $10 million annually.