Media Coverage
A digest of Illinois Computer Science faculty, alumni, and students who are featured in the media.
The 2018 Class Of 40 Under 40 Is Reinventing What It Means To Do Business In Chicago
December 5, 2018Crain's Chicago Business -- After a shift from pre-med, Ann Yeung graduated with a degree in math and computer science in 2001. That led to tech roles at major U.S. companies, including IBM. Now she is head of technology for Morningstar’s global retirement and workplace solutions division, and part of Crain's 40 Under 40.
The Future Of VR Is Gaming In Arenas
December 3, 2018The Daily Dot -- A serial tech entrepreneur with a background in computer science, MassVR is Illinois CS alum Chris Lai’s most recent venture. While in undergrad in the mid-‘90s, he started his first, a game company. Its employees have since gone on to work on major gaming titles such as Halo and Deus Ex. Lai is also the COO of SafeSpeed, an operator of red-light cameras.
Beyond The Farm: A Look At The Wide World Of Ag Degrees
November 30, 2018Harvest Public Media -- As the number of farm and ranch managers shrinks, there are still more students graduating from ag colleges. Some, like Omkar Manoj Haridas, plan to pursue the kinds of careers that are open to them with new degrees such as the University of Illinois' CS + Crop Science.
U of I Student's Startup Creating 'Healing' Film On Police-Minority Relations
November 29, 2018The News-Gazette -- "The Drive" is a new movie project from Jewel Ifeguni, a University of Illinois computer science minor, and her startup, YouMatter Studios.
University Pilots New Data Science Course
November 28, 2018The Daily Illini -- “I personally think that the literacy of the 21st century is going to be able to do meaningful things with data,” Teaching Assistant Professor Wade Fagen-Ulmschneider said. “So I think what we are starting right now will be something that you look back on in 10 years and think, ‘Yeah, everyone needs to know data science, almost like math and reading.’ And that’s the foundation we are setting.”
NCSA Director William Gropp Named AAAS Fellow
November 27, 2018HPCWire -- National Center For Supercomputing Applications Director and Thomas M. Siebel Chair in Computer Science William Gropp has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Also covered in The Daily Illini.
Computer Science Hires First Female Department Head
November 26, 2018The Daily Illini -- “I’m really excited. It’s a big honor,” incoming Illinois CS Department Head Nancy Amato said. “It’s also a little bit odd to come back to a place where you (were a) student and then join as the faculty member. It never occurred to me that I’d be able to do that.”
Men Still Outnumber Women In STEM Fields. The Girl Scouts Is Trying To Change That.
November 21, 2018Chicago Tribune -- A story on cybersecurity badges and other efforts by the Girl Scouts to promote STEM fields to girls mentions increases in female enrollment at Illinois Computer Science as a bright spot in the region's technology ecosystem.
The WIRED Guide To Online Shopping (And Digital Retail, Too)
November 19, 2018WIRED -- “In December 1994, a 23-year-old University of Illinois grad named Marc Andreessen released Netscape 1.0. The web browser featured a protocol called Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), which let both sides of a transaction encrypt personal information. From there, e-commerce began to take off.”
U of I Is Engineering A New Way To Finance Construction Projects
November 15, 2018The News-Gazette -- A new teaching facility for the University of Illinois College of Engineering would accommodate 10 to 15 percent enrollment growth in high-demand engineering programs such as computer science, said Mike Devocelle, associate engineering dean for finance and administration. The college turns down thousands of qualified computer science students each year, he said.
CS+X Degree Programs Cater To Growing Job Demands For Technical Skills
November 14, 2018The Daily Illini -- Computer science is now combined with a variety of different majors through the CS + X degree program. “CS + X is a recognition that today, computing touches nearly everything, and as a result, the arts, science, business, medicine, and engineering are all changing,” Director of Undergraduate Programs Elsa Gunter said.
Wired In: Tanay Vardhan
November 11, 2018The News-Gazette -- The News-Gazette's regular Wired-In feature focuses on Tanay Vardhan, a University of Illinois senior majoring in aerospace engineering who is also an Illinois Computer Science minor. "He's passionate about web development and working on a startup called Turkbox."
Swap Marc Andreessen For Mary Meeker With VC Trading Cards
November 10, 2018CNET -- If baseball cards seem like old hat, here's a new twist: venture capitalist trading cards. Each pack comes with an assortment of five cards, and various iconic investors such as Illinosi CS alum Marc Andreessen are randomly placed in each pack. Also covered by Techcrunch.
SC 30th Anniversary Perennials 1988-2018
November 8, 2018HPC Wire -- As the 30th anniversary SC conference began, HPC Wire profiled the 19 people who have been at all 18 of the conferences. Known as Perennials, they include former NCSA Deputy Director Jim Bottum, Illinois CS graduate Allen Malony (PhD '90), and Illinois CS graduate Kenichi Miura (MS CS ’71, PhD ’73).
Democrats, Including an Illinois CS Student, Increase Majority on County Board
November 7, 2018The News-Gazette -- Democrats have increased their slim majority on the Champaign County Board. The winners include Illinois Computer Science PhD student and new board member Pranjal Vachaspati.
The Social Implications of AI
November 5, 2018Fortune -- C3 CEO and Illinois Computer Science graduate Tom Siebel hosts a weekend of events focused on the social implications of A.I., including debate among four experts who have authored books on the subject.
Chicago-Area Researchers Study Quantum Computing
November 4, 2018The Associated Press -- The University of Illinois is joining the Chicago Quantum Exchange to explore quantum technology, an emerging field of physics and engineering that involves studying matter and energy at a small scale. Experts believe work in the field could eliminate cybersecurity risks and further pharmaceutical discoveries.
INFORMS Podcast Features Illinois CS Professor Sheldon Jacobson
November 2, 2018Resoundingly Human podcast -- Illinois CS Professor Sheldon Jacobson appears on the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences' podcast to discus his IMPACT Prize from the group. The prize recognized work by Jacobson and his students that helped transform air-travel security.
Watch the 50 on Fire Recap Video
November 2, 2018Chicago Inno’s 50 on Fire celebration identifies the city’s hottest companies, organizations and people across a variety of categories. The winners, including incoming Illinois CS Department Head Nancy Amato, were announced a few weeks ago. This video shown at the event includes Amato at about 7:35.
U of I Teaming Up With 3 Chicago Institutions On Quantum Research
October 31, 2018The News-Gazette -- The University of Illinois joins the Quantum Computing Exchange and announces the new Illinois Quantum Information Science and Technology Center. Also covered by the Chicago Tribune and ChicagoInno.