The University of Southampton

Three ECS Professors in UKTech50

Published: 9 December 2013
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Three Professors in Electronics and Computer Science were named in the prestigious UKTech Top 50, published last week in Computer Weekly.

Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt, Chairman of the Open Data Institute, was named 11th, Professor Sir Tim Berners-Lee, creator of the World Wide Web and director of the Open Data Institute was named 19th, and Professor Dame Wendy Hall, Director of the Web Science Trust and Dean of the Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering at the University of Southampton was named 25th in the list.

Described by Computer Weekly as the ‘definitive list of the movers and shakers in UK IT [...] driving the role of technology in the UK economy’, the list is published annually, and judged by a panel of experts as well as a public vote from the magazine’s readers. Its aim, according to Computer Weekly, is ‘to determine who holds the most influence over the future of the UK IT sector in the next 12 months – and hence the future of IT professionals across the country’.

Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt, Chairman, Open Data Institute Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt is a Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Southampton. He is chairman and co-founder, with Sir Tim Berners-Lee of the Open Data Institute (ODI). Launched in December 2012, the ODI focuses on unlocking supply and stimulating demand for open data. Shadbolt is also an advisor to the UK government on how to transform public access to government information, including the Data.gov.uk site. He sits on the Public Sector Transparency Board responsible for setting open data strategy across the public sector.

Professor Sir Tim Berners-Lee, World Wide Web inventor; President, Open Data Institute Undoubtedly the most famous UK computer scientist, Berners-Lee boosted his profile with an appearance in the opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics, to widespread geek joy. As well as his evangelising of the web, he advises the government on open data as a director of the Open Data Institute. He has become an increasingly outspoken critic of government internet surveillance policies.

Dame Wendy Hall, Professor of Computer Science at University of Southampton Wendy Hall is one of the most respected computer science academics in the UK. She is founding director, along with Sir Tim Berners-Lee, of the Web Science Research Initiative, which was launched in 2006 as long-term research collaboration between the University of Southampton and MIT.

‘It is an extraordinary reflection of the influence of Computer Science at the University of Southampton that three of our professors are included in this distinguished list,’ said Professor Neil White, Head of Electronics and Computer Science. ‘All three continue to make outstanding contributions to their discipline, particularly to our understanding and exploitation of the Web, and in fact they are working closely with many of the other distinguished leaders on this list. The year began with the announcement of the award of the Regius Chair of Computer Science to the University of Southampton, and we are delighted to see another affirmation of the influence of the department in the UKTech50 2013.’

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