FURTHER PARTICULARS

The School of Informatics

The School of Informatics at Edinburgh University is a internationally known centre of expertise in Information Technology. It is now the largest category 5 academic research and teaching department of Informatics in the United Kingdom. At present there are about 65 academic staff, 55 research staff and about 250 postgraduate MSc and PhD students. The School is the only University in the UK awarded the top 5*A rating in Computer Science in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise. Edinburgh is also the UK's biggest research group in this area.

Research activities cover almost every aspect of Informatics, but most research can be classified by the main research Institutes in the School:

Institute for Adaptive and Neural Computation
Centre for Intelligent Systems and their Applications
Institute for Communicating and Collaborative Systems
Institute of Computing Systems Architecture
Institute of Perception, Action and Behaviour
Laboratory for Foundations of Computer Science

More details about these research activities can be found at: http://www.informatics.ed.ac.uk/research

History

Informatics is the study of information and computation, in both natural and artificial systems. It comprises a vast range of scientific and engineering endeavour and has enormous economic and social impact.

In order to achieve a concerted and systematic approach to its advancement, the University of Edinburgh formed the School of Informatics in August 1998. This brought together the former Departments of Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Science and Computer Science, together with the Artificial Intelligence Applications Institute. The School possesses a combination of breadth and strength unparalleled elsewhere in the UK and competitive world-wide; as an intellectual endeavour it is strikingly original.

There is activity in informatics throughout the University, with the School representing the central scientific and engineering activity in the subject. There is a rich variety of other effort within the College of Science and Engineering; and other Colleges have their own interest, particularly Medicine, Arts and Social Sciences.

Location

Edinburgh is one of the most attractive cities in the UK. It combines the architectural grandeur and cultural advantages of a capital city with unrivalled access to unspoilt countryside. The School is currently located at four sites: the James Clerk Maxwell Building (JCMB) at the King's Buildings campus of Edinburgh University (about 2 miles from the centre of the city) and at three central rea sites. IPAB is housed at Forrest Hill, located in the centre of Edinburgh, a pleasant and exciting City with considerable cultural attractions. Several recent surveys placed Edinburgh as one of the most desirable urban locations in the United Kingdom.

The University is now committed to and actively working towards a single Central Area site for the entire School.

The University and the College of Science and Engineering

The University of Edinburgh is a world-class university situated in the heart of Scotland's capital. It was established in 1583 and is now one of the largest in the UK, with an international reputation for excellence in a large array of subjects, including Science and Engineering.

Academic Units

On 1 August 2002 the University of Edinburgh adopted a new structure of Academic Management, based on 3 Colleges containing a total of 21 Schools.

The Colleges are: The College of Humanities and Social Science, The College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine and The College of Science and Engineering

The College of Science and Engineering comprises the following Schools: Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Earth, Environment & Geographical Sciences, Engineering & Electronics, Informatics, Mathematics and Physics.

Science and Engineering

The College of Science and Engineering has developed a reputation for leadership and innovation in many different research areas. This excellence has been recognised by both industry and government through the award of research grants. In the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise, 11 units of assessment in Science and Engineering were rated 5 or 5*: Agriculture, Applied Mathematics, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computer Science (Informatics), Earth Sciences, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Geography, Physics, and Pure Mathematics.

Science at the University of Edinburgh began in 1583 at the same time as the foundation of the Tounis College of Edinburgh. From small beginnings within the Faculties of Arts and Medicine it flourished to the extent that degrees in science were instituted in 1864 and in 1893 a separate Faculty of Science was established. Today, the College of Science and Engineering is outstanding in Scotland, within one of the leading research universities in the United Kingdom.

These particulars are issued by the HR, 9 - 16 Chambers Street, Edinburgh and represent an accurate description of the duties at the time of writing, although this accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The university reserves the right to vary these particulars or make no appointment at all. Neither in part or in whole do these particulars form part of any contract between the University and any individual