We
are all aware of the expanding role of information technology
in business, science, social structures and even the personal
lives of many of us. What is less often appreciated is the
equally growing role of the science of information and computation
in our understanding of nature, mind and society. When we
think of new information-processing artifacts such as the
Internet, we tend to focus on the many engineering challenges
they raise, such as reliability, efficiency,
scale, security, and ease
of use. But the new ideas and
artifacts also change the ways we think about scientific,
business and social questions, and create a new environment
that affects many aspects of life, from law to entertainment.
Staying with the example of the Internet, the ideas and techniques
of communication among large collections of computing devices
linked by limited, unreliable channels are changing how we
think about topics as diverse as gene regulation within cells,
how networks
of neurons embody cognitive processes,
how social roles are created and maintained, or the foundations
of efficient
markets.
Penn is taking the lead in addressing the educational and research questions
surrounding computing and information technology, by increasing the number of faculty in
these areas and building Levine Hall to
house the growing Computer and Information Science program. A new Masters of Information
Technology Program has been created for the increasing
number of professionals from other areas who seek advanced training in information
technology.
I came to Penn because its commitment to the field and Penn's tradition of
interdisciplinary excellence match my own interests in helping build a computer
science that not only solves hard engineering problems but is also an equal
partner with other disciplines in discovery, debate, and human progress.
Over the last few years, Penn CIS has grown in algorithms, theory of computation,
networking, systems and architecture, and artificial intelligence. We will
build on these successes to strengthen work on databases, graphics, programming
languages, and security, and to deepen our interdisciplinary work in such
areas as bio-informatics, cognitive science, robotics, and management.
This is a uniquely exciting place to be, where invention, critical thought,
and the fun of surprise and accomplishment go together. It is going to be
difficult to find enough hours in the day to explore all these opportunities.
Fernando C.N. Pereira
Andrew and Debra Rachleff Professor of Computer and Information Science
Chair, Dept. of Computer and Information Science