Informatics Europe Bulletin: ECSS 2024 Program, Apply for SCHIER 2024 & IE in AI Index Report 2024


Informatics Europe Bulletin - May 2024


Check out the highlights below and help us share them with the wider informatics community!

In this issue:

Save the date: ECSS 2024 in Malta - 20 years of Informatics Europe

Get ready to join us for ECSS 2024, celebrating "20 years of Informatics Europe”, on October 28-30 in Malta! As the flagship summit for Europe’s Informatics research leadership, ECSS 2024 remains committed to addressing vital strategic issues and trends across all aspects of informatics.

With great honour, we welcome two keynote speakers this year, reflecting on the past and future of Informatics and its societal impact in Europe:

  • Mark Harman from Meta Platforms Inc. and University College London, and 
  • Dorothea Wagner from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.

Joining them for a panel discussion will be former IE Presidents Carlo Ghezzi, Lynda Hardman and Enrico Nardelli, fostering discussions and ensuring an engaging and inspiring Keynotes Session.

The Leaders Workshop, a longstanding fixture since the inaugural ECSS, will return with the theme “spotlight the challenges of managing interdisciplinarity and sustainability within research groups and departments” – a common hurdle that becomes more manageable when approached collectively.

We also call for participation in the Early Career Researchers Workshop tailored for PhD students and post-doctorates. Get ready to submit a manuscript to be considered for presentation at the Poster Session and the newly added PhD Symposium! Accepted manuscripts will also be considered for publication in the post-proceedings. 

Workshops by various IE working groups will explore topics such as how to cultivate diversity and inclusion in Informatics, Green ICT, and best practices of academia/industry collaboration in higher education. Continuing from last year, AI and Research Evaluation will be the focus of the workshop organized in collaboration with our member National Informatics Associations. The Awards ceremony and the IE Annual General Assembly will enrich a truly inspiring 2024 program – discover our preliminary program and session details here.

This year's ECSS will be hosted at a hotel, offering attendees the chance to stay onsite and benefit from enhanced networking opportunities and a community atmosphere. There will also be a special celebratory activity: a short sightseeing tour in Mdina preceding the ECSS Official Dinner, a unique occasion for fresh inspiration and new connections.

Registration will open in June. Stay updated via our Summit website, LinkedIn and X - see you in Malta!

Apply now: Europe’s Pioneering Summer School on Informatics Education Research

As announced in our March Bulletin, IE is partnering with our industry member IBM Research Europe to launch the first and only Summer School on Informatics Education Research (SCHIER) in Europe. Application opens now!

SCHIER 2024 is an exclusive 5-day program covering 11 sessions led by distinguished informatics education research experts from academia and industry. It is ideal for PhD students, post-doctorates, and other researchers in informatics and related fields, as well as anyone interested in exploring informatics education research challenges. At SCHIER, participants can explore innovative teaching and learning methods needed to master research in informatics education. They will also engage in constructive dialogues with peers and experts from both academia and industry, enlarging their knowledge and international network.

Apply electronically by 30 Jun 2024 with a motivation letter and CV. Visit the SCHIER webpage for more information. We are excited to launch this pioneering initiative with you!

IE featured in Stanford HAI’s Artificial Intelligence Index Report 2024

We are delighted to have collaborated with the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI) in their recent release of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Index Report 2024.

The AI Index Report, now in its 7th edition, is a globally recognized source of credible and authoritative data and insights on AI. This report systematically tracks, collates, distills, and visualises AI-related data, with past editions cited in major newspapers such as Bloomberg and The Guardian, and referenced by academic researchers and policymakers worldwide.

This year marks the inclusion of European data for the first time in the Report, with IE selected as the Analytics and Research Partner to provide this data through our IE Higher Education Data Portal. With our latest data on Informatics graduates in Europe, the AI Index Report 2024 offers a groundbreaking analysis of postsecondary informatics and AI education in Europe, along with insights into diversity trends within European informatics education.

This collaboration with HAI highlights the unique value of the IE Higher Education Data Portal and its vital role in enhancing understanding and offering an objective reference for informed policy decisions in Europe and beyond. We sincerely thank our members and all contributors to the Data Portal for their invaluable assistance in interpreting the statistics and grasping the complexities of higher education systems, both locally and internationally. Your contributions are crucial for ensuring the informativeness and credibility of the Data Portal. Learn more and contribute to the IE Higher Education Data Portal here.

Expand Informatics talent reach and visibility - and be rewarded!

Here’s why joining IE’s CV Repository is beneficial for employers as well as job and internship seekers:

  • Enhance recruiting experience: uncover hidden talent and unique skill sets that may not have been considered otherwise, expanding the recruiting scope whether using specific filters or browsing randomly.
  • Boost your research team’s diversity: find top candidates from across Europe and diversify your research team with international talent.
  • Tailored visibility with little time investment: position yourself among employers who share your values and support the informatics research community.

Watch our short intro video, register for CV Repository now, and you might win one of three 100 EUR rewards by joining as an applicant from May to July 2024. New applicants with fully uploaded profiles in our CV Repository during this period will qualify for a monthly lucky draw of a 100 EUR cash reward. Winners will be notified directly by us.

For IE members, sponsors and specific Recruiters, free trials and access to our CV Repository are available. Follow the registration procedures here.

***

The development of the IE CV Repository was sponsored by our industry member Bending Spoons. Proceeds from the Repository will support not only the platform, but also various IE services and activities. These initiatives aim to bring together researchers and professionals, fostering advocacy and collaboration to advance research and education in informatics and related disciplines.

New IE member

Welcome our new member Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, Ovidius University of Constanta, Romania. They join our IE membership, which includes nearly 200 informatics institutions, national associations, companies and research centers from over 30 countries. Check out our current members list.

Upcoming deadlines and activities

Explore our Open Activities webpage to learn how you can engage and benefit from our activities. Here are a couple of noteworthy highlights for you:

  • Last call for ECSS 2025 Host: see our requirements here and send your bid to administration@informatics-europe.org on or before May 15th.
  • Interested in becoming an IE Board Director or nominating a colleague? Explore how in our call here. Nomination deadline extended to May 20th for the 2025-2027 term.
  • Nominate for this year’s IE Awards on or before June 1st:
    • Best Dissertation Award: support emerging researchers by disseminating their excellent research to the Informatics Europe community and beyond.
      ​The Award carries a prize of EUR 3,000 sponsored by Springer, with an invitation to publish the awarded thesis in a dedicated Springer series.
    • Minerva Informatics Equality Award: celebrate successful initiatives that have had a measurable impact on the women’s careers at all stages.
      The Award carries a prize of EUR 5,000 sponsored by Google.
  • Join ITiCSE 2024 in Milan from July 8th-10th: IE has supported the annual conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education as part of its steering committee since 2018. Visit ITiCSE 2024 webpage here to learn more and register.

Events by IE members

IE member news

Women in Computer Science Scholarship - Bending Spoons

Bending Spoons is sponsoring the 2024 edition of the Women in Computer Science Scholarship — offering €5000 each to the 20 best students in Europe who identify as women and are majoring in informatics, software engineering, or an aligned discipline.

The scholarship will provide financial support to those who demonstrate exceptional merit and a commitment to advancing in the field of informatics.

Applications close on May 13th, 2024. Don't miss your chance to participate!

Essential Security: Cybersecurity in Focus - Informatik Austria

The recent outage of Meta services highlights again the critical need for strong cybersecurity measures, particularly for businesses that heavily rely on digital platforms. Informatik Austria, a national association of computer science faculties and institutes at Austrian universities, openly addresses current cybersecurity challenges and proposes potential solutions.

Dr. Matteo Maffei, a professor specializing in Security and Privacy at TU Wien, commented on the main cybersecurity threats facing major digital platforms like Meta. He emphasizes the necessity of a holistic cybersecurity approach to ensure digital service integrity and availability. He also stresses the significance of digital platform employees and software developers having robust cybersecurity knowledge and enforcing security measures across the entire lifecycle of IT solutions, starting from the design phase.

Read here for the full news (in German only).

***
Would you like to share the latest updates about your institute with fellow IE members and professionals in informatics and related fields? Simply email the relevant news in brief to our Communication Specialist Kit Wan Chui to get featured in our Bulletin, LinkedIn and X.

About the Bulletin

The Informatics Europe Bulletin is distributed to member representatives of Informatics Europe and subscribers who are interested in public and private informatics research and education activities in Europe and neighbouring countries. Kindly share the Bulletin with others in your institution and network who may find it relevant. Alternatively, you can invite them to subscribe to our Bulletin & mailing list. We thank you for your support.

For changes, please contact administration@informatics-europe.org.

Copyright © 2024 Informatics Europe. All rights reserved.
 
Powered by AcyMailing