university of cambridge computer laboratory

University of CambridgeComputer LaboratoryDJG 2004

University of CambridgeComputer Laboratory

Dr David [email protected]

HoD: Professor Andy Hopper


Welcome to the CL

The department ofComputer Science in theUniversity of Cambridge.

William Gates Building, Opened October 2001.


Computer Laboratory

• Staff– 38 academic staff,

– 25 support staff, and

– 40 affiliated research staff.

• Students– 154 research students (PhD),

– 30 Mphil Advanced Computer Science,

– 20 Mphil in Speech and Language,

– 3x50 BA Undergraduates.


Interactive Formal Verification

• Professor Mike Gordon– Viper Microprocessor 1985– Fast Ring ECL Chip in 1986– ATM Switch Chip in HOL 90 in 1994– Formal model of ARM 6 in 2002– Embedding PSL/Sugar in HOL 2004– Embedded Crypto Algorithms (ongoing)

• Prof Larry Paulson (Isabelle Prover)• John Harrison (HOL Lite Prover)


EDA Spinouts

• Qudos – E-beam rapid prototyping,• Virata – Broadband Modems,• Tenison – RTL to C++ modelling,• Azuro – Clock tree synthesis,• Embecosm – TLM Debugging.• Our graduates provided technical lead at

ARC, Intel, TransEDA, ARM, PA Semi, ...


END OF PRESENTATION


Welcome to the CL

• The UoC Department of Computer Science– Some history of our department– Admission– Undergraduate Taught Courses– Postgraduate Courses– Research Areas– Supporter’s Club– Women in Computer Science– Graduate Association


The Mathematical Laboratory

• Founded 1937, Sir MV Wilkes.• EDSAC ran first stored program 1949• Thenceforth provided a computer

service• Titan, IBM machines, Phoenix• Diploma started in 1953• Undergraduate Tripos in 1969• Moved to WGB in 2001• Rated 5* and ‘Excellent’


1949: Edsac 1


1977: Cambridge Distributed System


1993: Autostereo Display


William Gates Building

• A split with the Computer Service

• All research under one roof

• Two lecture theatres, one practical laboratory.

• Intel, Optronics and LCE currently on top floor

• Microsoft MSR out the back in their own building.


Heads of Department


Undergraduate Courses• 25% Computer Science (with 75%

maths)• 50% Computer Science (with 25% NST)• Full time for years 2 and 3 leading to

BA.• Part II General - A one year part II• Diploma - A masters-like conversion

course


Admission

• Undergraduates admitted by Colleges• Admission requirements:

– A-level Maths– One other science A level (pref Further

Maths)– A third A-level or international equivalent

• Postgraduates (PhD) must find a supervisor who will has an interest in their research


What is Computer Science ?

• It is not how to use Microsoft Excel

• It is not how to design web sites

• It is not how to be an IT manager

• We don’t even train people in C++ programming.

• It is about theory of data representation

• It is about network protocol design

• It is about the history and future of operating systems

• It’s about fundamental differences between programming paradigms.


Example CST Subject Areas

• Continuous Maths• Discrete Maths• Software Engineering• Programming• Operating Systems• Compilers• Databases• Information Theory

and Coding

• Computability• Semantics• Hardware• Processor Design• Business • Communications• Spec and Verification• VLSI


3 year Tripos Practical Work

• Ia: Java ticks• Ia: ML ticks• Ia: Hardware ticks

• Ib: ECAD and Architecture ticks• Ib: Group Projects

• II: Project and Dissertation (25% marks).


ML programming demo.• ML is the first language our students

see• It is functional (not imperative)• One of the most-advanced languages

ever becoming mainstream (almost mainstream).

• Aim to teach fundamentals, not arbitraryness.

– `If something has been known for 10 years and looks as though it will remain true for the next 10 years, then it’s probably worth teaching’ - RMN.


ML: Three Ways to Add Up(* Mathematician *)fun intsum1(a, b) = (b-a+1) *(a+b) div 2;

(* Engineer *)fun intsum3(a, b) = if (a=b) then a else

let val midpoint = (a+b) div 2in intsum3(a, midpoint) + intsum3(midpoint+1, b)end

;

(* Computer Scientist *)fun intsum2(a, b) = if (a = b) then a else a + intsum2(a+1, b);


Postgraduate Courses

• PhD in theoretical computer science– Can be in any area researched in the

department.

• 1986: M Phil in Speech and Language Processing (with dept of Engineering)

• Fourth Year in School of Technology ?– Currently being planned.


Current Major Research Areas• Programming Languages, Compilers

• Security - Smart Cards, Trusted Computing• Systems - OS, Processors, Middleware,

Trust, Networks, H/W.• Rainbow - Graphics, HCI, Asynch H/W• Natural Language and Information

Retrieval• Theory & Semantics - Quantum,

Computability• Automated Reasoning - HVG, Protocols• Projects with MSR, LCE and Intel Research.New areas are covered with new appointments: e.g. Bioinfomatics


Research Area Map

Security

Language

HCI

Theory and Semantics

Graphics

Proof

Media MobilityNetworks

Users Maths

Engineering

Programs

Hardware


Example: Pervasive Computing

Trusted computing infrastructure

Mobile applications

Security of smart cards

Correctness of Network Protocols

XML Ontology for personal information

Rules for control of the home

Alternative HCI devices for real-time control and generating `programs’.


Supporter’s Club

• 10 to 50 Local Industry Fund Contributors

• Originally for local companies• Library and consultancy access• Frequently funds PhD Students• Specialist Lecture Series• Recruitment Fair Once a Year• Well-attended annual dinner!


Women in Computer Science

• Sometimes seen as a male profession ?• WICS mission to redress balance.• Currently 4 or so female out of 30

lecturers.• Only 5 to 10 percent of undergraduates• 15 percent of postgraduates ?• WICS regular meetings, open agenda• Women frequently come top in Tripos.• 2002: 26.9% of the 52 female applicants to Cambridge

Computer Science were accepted compared to 21.6% of the 416 male.


Graduate Association

• Recently established, 2002

• 200-300 members• Annual update and

dinner• Advice and consultancy• Should become self-

funding

• Called ‘The Cambridge Ring’


Local Industry• 28,000 Hi-tech employees in Cambridge• 14,000 of them in computing/electronics• New companies are always being founded

by our alumni

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Frequency

Manufacture Telecomms Consultancy (software)

Consultancy (hardware) Consultancy (business) R&D


• Thank-you and any questions ?

– Web www.cl.cam.ac.uk– [email protected]

university of cambridge computer laboratory

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