Department of CS newsletter

Upcoming New Staff Research Seminars
We have two more research seminars delivered by new colleagues over the next couple of weeks. The first will be delivered by Michele Caprio on “Imprecise Probabilistic Machine Learning - Being Precise about Imprecision”. This will take place on February 5th at 14:00 in Kilburn_TH 1.3. And then the following week, on February 12th, Edoardo Manino will be speaking on “AI Security: Language Models, Data Encryption, Software Verification on Wednesday”. This is also at 14:00 and in Kilburn_TH 1.3. As per usual, both events will be followed by an informal get together in the common room. I hope to see many of you there.

Canvas reminder

Please ensure you are ready for the switchover from Blackboard to Canvas that is happening this year. Everyone involved in UG and PGT teaching needs to be up to speed on this transition. Information has been coming out via eUpdate and other routes so please do engage with the communications and make sure that you transfer everything over from Blackboard, or create your new units in Canvas, in plenty of time. Doing this successfully is mission critical. You can read more about Canvas and the support available (here) and also the FSE specific Getting Started with Canvas site (here) where there is a ~10 minute video overview.

Advertising Chair in Security Related to Quantum Threats

Our Faculty is currently advertising a number of positions in the area of Applied Quantum Technology. One of these posts is a Chair in Security Related to Quantum Threats in our Department. The appointment will further strengthen the research profile of our Systems and Software Security (S3) group. Closing date is March 31st 2025. Please share this advert with relevant networks: link

Upcoming NVIDIA Workshop in Kilburn

We are hosting an NVIDIA workshop in our department on February 10th (organised by Lucas Cordeiro). This provides an opportunity to hear about the NVIDIA Academic and Developer Programs from Andy Grant, NVIDIA EMEA Director for Supercomputing and AI, Higher Education and Research and from Simon See, Director Nvidia AI Technology Centre, as well as some of the current projects colleagues have with NVIDIA. The event will run 10:00-12:30 in IT407.

Finally, I would like to wish all our Chinese colleagues 新年快 for the Spring Festival!

Andrew

IT401 is back as a bookable meeting room for the department, which is convenient for IT Building users.  It has capacity 12 and catering is allowed.  You can book this via the 'Computer Science Rooms' tile on Resource Booker

Just a reminder that there is lots of useful information on the Department Sharepoint:  Department of Computer Science - Home

Key Dates: Key Department Dates

Seminar Series: Departmental Seminar Series

Strategic Academic Support Fund: Strategic Academic Support Fund

Join this informative session tailored for Research Fellows in the School of Engineering at The University of Manchester. Explore commercialisation pathways, intellectual property, and patenting with a session from Rachel Pooley (UoM Innovation Factory). Discover funding opportunities and how to collaborate with businesses for industrial insight with a session by May Bassanino (Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange). This open and informal webinar lets you learn and ask questions about turning research into real-world impact.

When: 11am-12pm; Tues 4th Feb

Where: Teams webinar

Who: School of Engineering Research Fellows

To find out more or register for this event, visit here

Hosted by: The School of Engineering at the University of Manchester.  A great opportunity to see some great work in the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Tuesday 6^th May 2025

Engineering Event Space, Nancy Rothwell Building, Ground Floor, South Entrance

Join us at the upcoming Design Showcase, celebrating the accomplishments of our final year MEng Mechanical Engineering and MSc Mechanical Engineering Design students. Discover and engage with the cutting-edge projects they've crafted throughout the 2024/2025 academic year.

Canapés and beverages will be served as refreshments throughout the event.

18:00 – Drinks reception 

18:15 – Welcome

18:20 – Design Showcase

19:50 – Event End

Registration:

If you plan to join our celebration, please register in advance using the link here

Please note that students demonstrating their projects also need to register in advance.

The University of Manchester Research Institute (UMRI) invites applications for pump-priming funds to support interdisciplinary research projects. The call is open to fund projects up to £50,000 for a period of 12 months. Funds will be awarded to projects which align with one of the four themes outlined below and which encourage collaboration and aim to lead to an increase in successful interdisciplinary research.

• Creative Manchester (Director: John McAuliffe), priority areas include Creativity, Health and Wellbeing; Creative Industries and Innovation; Createch; Civic and Creative Places
• Digital Futures (Director: Richard Kingston) priority areas include Cities and Environment, Citizens and Democracy, Createch, Employment and Productivity, Industry 5.0, but all proposals across all platform challenges are welcome.
• Sustainable Futures (Directors: Michael Shaver and Helen Holmes), priority areas include water, energy transitions, climate justice, biodiversity and circular economy, but all proposals across the six platform challenges are welcome.
• Healthier futures (Director: Nicky Cullum), priority areas focus on the causes, consequences, and ways to address health inequalities. Healthier Futures focuses on the determinants that empower or inhibit people from leading Healthier Lives in Healthier Places, and engaging with Health and Care Services and Systems.

  Call guidance, frequently asked questions and application form are available on the UMRI Pump-Priming Call website. Discover more about previous UMRI awards and other interdisciplinary projects on our collaboration and interdisciplinary webpages

For costing requests, please could applicants email the relevant Research Services School email inbox (rather than your usual Research Services contact):

School of Engineering: SoE_researchservices@manchester.ac.uk

School of Natural Sciences: SoNS_researchservices@manchester.ac.uk

Applications should be submitted on the relevant application form and submitted to rst@manchester.ac.uk no later than 4pm on 28 February 2025.