The Gibbons Lectures 2011: Applying Computer Power
The Gibbons Lectures 2011: Applying Computer Power
The Department of Computer Science is delighted to announce the 2011 Gibbons Lectures. The lectures describe developments in research in Computer Science and are aimed at a general but technical audience - to Computer Science students at all levels, to IT practitioners in other departments and outside the University. The lecture series is memory of Associate Professor Peter Gibbons, who sadly passed away early in 2008.
There was a time when powerful computer processors were rare and expensive. Now, in contrast, even everyday personal computers contain processors operating at speeds close to the current maximum possible. Even so, the power of any single processor has not kept pace with the demand. This discrepancy has created pressure to change the way that computers are used.
At one extreme, there are millions of computers in co-operating server farms and closely connected in special super-computers. All these processors now may communicate and coordinate with each other using links through the high-speed internet, the resulting amorphous mass of computers and connections now being called the “Cloud.” A current trend is to access computer power from the Cloud. At the other extreme, desk-top computers themselves now comprise multiple processors, some of which are designed specifically for handling graphical data.
The theme of the 2011 Gibbons lectures concerns these extremes in applying computer power. Our lead speaker is Professor Ian Foster from the University of Chicago who is an innovator in the remote application of supercomputing and who will discuss the prospects for collaborative research using modern international infrastructure. He will be followed by a series of local speakers describing research in New Zealand on the prospects and problems of applying computer power on both a national and local scale.
Presented in association with the New Zealand Computer Society.
Schedule of lectures:
Wed Apr 27: Computing outside the box - Prof Ian Foster (The University of Chicago)
Tues May 03: eResearch in New Zealand - Prof Mark Gahegan (The University of Auckland)
Wed May 11: Co-operating computers - problems and prospects - Prof James Goodman (The University of Auckland)
Wed May 18: Attached Processors for Real-time Applications - Assoc Prof John Morris (The University of Auckland)
Where: University of Auckland Conference Centre, 22 Symonds St, Building/room 423-342
When: 5.30pm for refreshments, prior to a 6.00pm start.
Please RSVP to robyn@cs.auckland.ac.nz for catering purposes.
Further information and abstracts are available on the Gibbons Lectures webpage at http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/
Video streaming will be available via the webpage
Peter Gibbons’ Biography
Peter’s academic career began at Massey University where he completed a BSc in Mathematics and Statistics with 1st class Honours in 1970. This was followed in 1972 by an MSc in Computer Science with Distinction - the first degree in Computer Science awarded in New Zealand. He completed his PhD in Toronto then returned to New Zealand to lecture at Massey, moving to Auckland in 1980 to the newly established Department of Computer Science. He was with our department through to his retirement in 2004, including a 3-year period as Head of Department from 1997.
After retirement he continued his association under an Honorary appointment. Peter’s research area was on the boundary between Mathematics and Computer Science in the field of Combinatorics. Peter’s particular interests included block designs (especially Steiner systems), Latin squares, graph domination questions, and the development and implementation of computer algorithms for combinatorial search and enumeration. Peter taught his research specialization both at graduate and undergraduate level. He also taught introductory programming to first-year students and at a more advanced level. He got involved with new areas, such as Multimedia and BioInformatics, where his knowledge and expertise could be applied.
Peter inspired many others into research, often drawn from the thousands of students whom he taught. These colleagues can be found throughout New Zealand and the world
A lecture series that focuses on cooperation across multiple research areas is a fitting long-term memorial.
Gibbons Lecture Fund
The Computer Science Department is committed to funding the Gibbons Lectures in its initial stages. However, the prestige of the lectures and their permanence depends on establishing a permanent source of funding. To that end the department has established a fund that will be built up to provide support. We welcome contributions to the fund. If you are able to help, please contact the Head of Department, currently Prof. Gill Dobbie (gill@cs.auckland.ac.nz).