Dear friends and colleagues,

We live in difficult times, yet basic technologies invented by computer scientists are having a profound effect on our ability to function as a society. Our key need of buying and selling goods is running smoothly on platforms built on the internet. Basic electronic transactions are conducted safely over the internet between parties. We also are able to see and hear each other in real time over high-speed networks. All this magic did not happen overnight. Had this pandemic hit 30 years ago, we would have been in serious trouble. Today, it is possible to work from home and conduct all our business with only an iPhone or a tablet.

We are at a point when computer science is in extremely high demand and enrollments in CS classes are at an all-time high. This fall alone we are teaching 3,000 students, compared with 1,300 students per quarter four years ago. In addition to new courses for non-majors and courses on technology and the law and ethics, we continue to offer new courses for CS majors along with the full suite of traditional courses in artificial intelligence, algorithms, graphics, human-computer interaction, programming languages, systems, security and privacy, and theory.

We are actively working on building our internal community. The Undergraduate Computer Science Advisory group is a committed group of students who meet every quarter with Sara Sood, me, and several other faculty members. The students have played a vital role in revitalizing community engagement and mentoring. In addition, the Computer Science PhD Advisory Council (CSPAC) has launched the Computer Science Social Initiative. Kudos to all our students engaged in strengthening our community.

Zoom has allowed our seminar and talk series to continue. Along with the usual Distinguished Lecture Series and CS Colloquium Series, we have launched a new talk series with the Buffet Institute for Global Affairs, continued the CS Tech Talk Series, and are developing sessions geared toward students interested in pursuing graduate studies and current PhD students.

We are delighted to welcome new faculty, postdocs, and students and hope to be able to organize more 1-1 interaction between members of the department. I hope all members of our community will take the time to introduce themselves to our newly arrived colleagues. Finally, I hope you all are finding ways to stay safe and engaged in online conversations with your friends and collaborators. If you have not heard from someone in a while, please take the time to check up on them.