Dear colleagues and friends of Northwestern Computer Science, The holidays will look very different this year. Many of us will attend Zoom celebrations with loved ones across the globe. Others might buy holiday gifts via online delivery platforms that weren't available just 12 months ago. The pandemic has forever changed our world. Society evolves, and often sudden disruption forces a decade of innovation and adaptation to happen quickly. That is certainly what 2020 has illustrated. I am keenly aware of how computer science technologies have kept our society running smoothly and will continue to play a far reaching role in the coming decades. All of these technologies need people to make them work. Our CS community has faced many serious challenges this year — the pandemic has been especially hard on new PhD students who haven't been able to meet faculty advisers or peers — yet we've continued our mission of leading research that helps build the tech of tomorrow. Our department transitioned in-person classes online, pivoted research efforts to meet COVID-19 challenges, and supported our students. We have accomplished a lot in 2020, and I am proud to share a few highlights. |
New Faculty, Postdocs, and PhD Students
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I am grateful to the joint faculty who collaborated on CS+X research and events this year: |
We launched new courses for non-majors and courses on technology plus law and ethics. In addition, courses were able to invite leading experts into the virtual classroom to interact with our students. Partnering with Kellogg, we launched the joint MBAi program to address the intersection of business and technology management. |
New in Winter Quarter, several CS undergrads will teach noncredit CS skills courses. The Computer Science PhD Advisory Council (CSPAC) also launched the Computer Science Social Initiative to welcome new graduate students to Evanston and organized online events. |
With breaking news of an approved vaccine, I hope we can all get back to our home in Mudd soon and be able to interact in person again. Our research programs will continue to grow and flourish next year, and I look forward to hosting new researchers and working toward hybrid methods of interaction that can leverage the best of both worlds. I am proud of our department's achievements and am tremendously grateful to those in the CS community who worked exceedingly hard despite the many challenges this year. Though our lives look different, I am thankful for the new, evolving technologies that keep us connected. Thank you for your continued support, and best wishes for a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season. |
Samir Khuller Peter and Adrienne Barris Professor and Chair Department of Computer Science
McCormick School of Engineering |
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