IDA40 Anniversary Conference 2023

strawberry cake — Photographer: Magnus Johansson

The Department of Computer and Information Science (IDA) at Linköping University celebrated its 40th anniversary on the 19th and 20th of June with a conference in the Stockholm archipelago. Participants were treated to international and national guest speakers as well as presentations on the department's research and educational activities.

— The department has indeed turned 40 years old. However, we don't have an age crisis. We are growing rapidly right now, and we are larger and more dynamic than ever.

With those words, the head of IDA, Henrik Eriksson, opened the 40th-anniversary conference of the department, which took place over two days at Djurönäset in the Stockholm archipelago, with 175 participants.

— The future is bright. There are currently a lot of opportunities and a lot is happening within our field, added Henrik Eriksson before introducing the keynote speaker Professor Emeritus Erik Sandewall, founder of the department, who has been part of its journey from the beginning.

Keynote speakers on the roots of IDA, artificial intelligence (AI), and web history

A role for IDA

Erik Sandewall, professor emeritus and founder of IDA, speaks on the roots of the department and developments in the field of artificial intelligence.

Moral and AI must go hand in hand

Moral considerations is one of the things that a safe computer system must be able to handle in the future, according to Erik Sandewall, professor emeritus at LiU.

“I didn’t like the name World Wide Web”

There was one thing the engineer Robert Cailliau did not know when he wrote that hypertext in a computer network could be used to share scientific documentation. That it would become the World Wide Web.

The Future of AI

On the 40th anniversary conference of the Department of Computer and Information Science (IDA), Fredrik Heintz, professor at IDA, spoke about the future of AI in Sweden, Europe and beyond.

Pictures from the conference

IDA 40 years

19 - 20 June, 2023

The two-day conference was filled with various discussions and presentations of IDA's activities, along with exciting lectures from Eric Sandewall, Robert Cailliau, Kristina Höök, and Fredrik Heintz. Karin Axelsson, Vice-Chancellor, warmly congratulated IDA on its 40 years.

The first day also featured a poster session with a multitude of participants and lively discussions. In the evening, it was time for relaxation, folk dancing, and the anniversary dinner.

Henrik Eriksson on stage — Henrik Eriksson, Head of IDA Photographer: Magnus Johansson

Erik Sandewall, Professor Emeritus and founder of IDA Photographer: Magnus Johansson

Robert Cailliau, former Computer Engineer at CERN Photographer: Magnus Johansson

Conference session with speaker and seated audience — Kristina Höök, Professor, KTH Photographer: Magnus Johansson

Fredrik Heintz presenting on stage — Fredrik Heintz, Professor, Head of Division, Artificial Intelligence and Integrated Computer Systems (AIICS), IDA Photographer: Magnus Johansson

Arne Jönsson, Professor, Head of Division, Human-Centered Systems (HCS), IDA, Photographer: Magnus Johansson

Mattias Arvola, Senior Associate Professor, Human-Centered Systems, (HCS), IDA Photographer: Magnus Johansson

Niklas Carlsson, Senior Associate Professor, Database and Information Techniques (ADIT), IDA Photographer: Magnus Johansson

Andrei Gurtov, Professor, Database and Information Techniques (ADIT), IDA Photographer: Magnus Johansson

Nikolaos Pappas, Associate Professor, Database and Information Techniques (ADIT), IDA Photographer: Magnus Johansson

Mariusz Wzorek, Research Engineer, Artificial Intelligence and Integrated Computer Systems (AIICS), IDA Photographer: Magnus Johansson

Marco Kuhlmann, Deputy Head, Professor, Artificial Intelligence and Integrated Computer Systems (AIICS), IDA Photographer: Magnus Johansson

Jendrik Seipp, Assistant Professor, Artificial Intelligence and Integrated Computer Systems (AIICS), IDA Photographer: Magnus Johansson

Peter Jonsson, Professor, Artificial Intelligence and Integrated Computer Systems(AIICS), IDA Photographer: Magnus Johansson

Christoph Kessler, Professor, Head of Division, Software and Systems (SAS), IDA Photographer: Magnus Johansson

Zebo Peng, Deputy Head, Professor, Software and Systems (SAS), IDA Photographer: Magnus Johansson

Kristian Sandahl, Professor, Software and Systems (SAS), IDA Photographer: Magnus Johansson

Simin Nadjm-Tehrani, Professor, Software and Systems (SAS), IDA Photographer: Magnus Johansson

Klas Arvidsson, Lecturer, Software and Systems (SAS), IDA Photographer: Magnus Johansson

Martin Sjölund, Assistant Professor, Software and Systems (SAS), IDA Photographer: Magnus Johansson

Jose M Pena, Senior Associate Professor, Statistics and Machine Learning (STIMA), IDA Photographer: Magnus Johansson

mingle at postersession — Poster session Photographer: Magnus Johansson

Three people standing outside at Djurönäset — Two former Heads of IDA: Anders Haraldsson (to the left) and Mariam Kamkar, together with the current Head of IDA Henrik Eriksson (to the right). Photographer: Magnus Johansson

What does IDA mean to you?

Eva Blomqvist, Senior Associate Professor

Photo portrait of female scientist.

− IDA has meant a lot to me. I have received good support for my projects. There is an interdisciplinary tradition within the department where you work together in small groups and it is very rewarding.

Magnus Bång, Senior Associate Professor

− You can grow at IDA. The climate here fosters opportunities for undergraduate and PhD students to participate at various levels. Personally, I studied and completed my PhD here, and I frequently interacted with Tomas Timpka and Henrik Eriksson during my studies. They welcomed us into the process, teaching us scientific writing and not least how to write applications. Today, I am very grateful for that.

Jalal Maleki, Director of Studies and Head of Unit

Male scientist, portrait photo.

− We have grown a lot in recent years and become one of the larger departments at Linköping University. This demands us to continue to be at the forefront of research and teaching.

August Ernstsson, postdoc

portrait of scientist.

− I'm very happy that IDA provides good opportunities for co-workers to grow professionally. It is very valuable. I think more graduating students should explore pursuing doctoral studies. It is fun, a bit challenging, and a highly developmental experience. Currently, I'm a visiting researcher at the University of Münster, while retaining my employment at LiU. My research area is high performance programming. There is a lot of focus on AI today throughout society. But AI simultaneously demands powerful computers and high performance.

Aseel Berglund, Associate Professor and Erik Berglund, Associate Professor

Photo of one male and one female scientist.

− IDA is characterised by an open culture. There is a lot of room for growth and looking ahead for various new solutions both in education and research.

Resmi Ramachandranpillai, postdoc

female researcher.

− I have had a great experience at Linköping University, working with Fredrik Heintz, who was very good at giving valuable advice.

Mattias Arvola, Senior Associate Professor

Male researcher lecturing. Photo credit Magnus Johansson

− With our research, we can contribute new knowledge that is important for society at large. There is a breadth of IDA that is very interesting.

Fredrik Heintz, Professor

Photo of male professor, suit.

− IDA and Linköping University are a platform for research, development, and social debate. We generate and disseminate knowledge based on science to solve important problems both present and long term. We can also show how to maximise the benefits and minimise the risks with AI. This we achieve by staying committed to current and important research.

Charlie Simonsson, Teaching Assistant

Portrait photo of a man.

− IDA is a fantastic place to work. As a teaching assistant, I help the students with questions on programming.

Reported by Ulrik Svedin

Brief introduction about IDA

IDA 40 years 1983 - 2023

The Department of Computer and Information Science was formally established in 1983 when the subjects of computer science and data processing at the Department of Mathematics, and the subject of telecommunication systems at the Department of Electrical Engineering, were merged. However, the foundation for this merger was laid as early as 1975 when the newly established Linköping University received Sweden's first professorship in computer science. The professorship was awarded to Erik Sandewall from Uppsala, and as a side effect, around ten other researchers and educators also moved to Linköping.

Over the years, the department has grown from about twenty individuals in 1975 to about 300 employees in 2023. The activities are carried out in five research divisions: Database and Information Techniques (ADIT), Artificial Intelligence and Integrated Computer Systems (AIICS), Human-Centered Systems (HCS), Software and Systems (SAS), Statistics and Machine Learning (STIMA); and the Division of Administrative Services.

The department offers undergraduate education within its main areas, ranging from individual courses to master's programs, and doctoral education in computer science, design, cognitive science, and statistics.

Building E Campus Valla — Building E 1992, Campus Valla

E-building in the autumn — Building E 2022, Campus Valla Photographer: Jonas Järmen

PhD students and degrees at IDA

About 90 active

internal and external PhD students in 2023

316

doctoral degrees awarded until August 2023

368

licentiate degree awarded until August 2023

Departmental divisions

Database and Information Techniques (ADIT)

The division Database and Information Techniques is part of the Department of Computer and Information Science. The division consists of several research groups, each of which has its own research profile.

A person sits in front of a computer screen and handles a floor robot

Software and Systems (SAS)

The SAS division is part of the Department of Computer and Information Science. The division conducts research and education in software engineering and computer systems, covering both basic research and projects in cooperation with industry.

The robotdog Spot hands over a first aid kit to a kneeling man

Artificial Intelligence and Integrated Computer Systems (AIICS)

The AIICS division is part of the Department of Computer and Information Science. The division's main focus is research and teaching in artificial intelligence, its theoretical foundations and its applications.

The Division of Statistics and Machine Learning (STIMA)

The STIMA division is part of the Department of Computer and Information Science. The research and teaching activities are focused on modern data analysis and the division hosts the international master's programme in Statistics and Machine Learning.

A woman is walking in a corridor together with a service robot

Human-Centered Systems (HCS)

The Division for Human-Centered Systems is part of the Department of Computer and Information Science. Research and teaching are conducted in the areas of human-centered computing, cognitive science, and information systems.

A woman in the student office is holding up a document

Administrative Services (VS)

The Division of Administrative Services at the Department of Computer and Information Science provides support to the department's core business, management and employees.

Contact

More about the department

Department of Computer and Information Science (IDA)

The Department of Computer and Information Science is one of the largest departments in northern Europe in its field. Research activity covers artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, software and computer systems, and data science.