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With this symposium we ask a single, yet sweeping, question: how will, and how must, the field of computing research evolve over the next twenty years?

Forces as disparate as the increasing centrality of computing to modern society, the intellectual and technical maturing of the discipline itself, changing conceptions of the meaning of research success and the role of research in the larger national landscape, and the emergence of rich, multidisciplinary explorations as fundamental tools for progress all drive us to ask how our field will grow and change in response.Taken together, these forces are motivating a dramatic, qualitative shift in viewpoint about the expectations and demands placed on computing research in upcoming years.

With this symposium, we aim to snapshot a moment in time in this transformation, capture and clarify the fundamental forces driving it, and discuss key strategies and approaches available to the computing research community to shape both its own and societys future. Our symposium brings together informed, thought-provoking computing researchers, research policy setters and research sponsors from academia, industry, and government for a series of open discussions, explorations, and roundtables on topics of importance to future computing research, each with the opportunity for symposium participants to join and guide the conversation.

The symposium will be uniquely interactive. Options are available to participate online, or from an in-person pod in of several locations. Before, during, and after the symposium, we provide opportunities for you to shape the discussion, contribute directly to the program, and meet other participants that share your specific interests. At the conclusion of the symposium, we plan to create a sequence of reports and ongoing discussion opportunities addressing different audiences the technical community, research policy professionals, and the general public addressing the symposiums discussions and conclusions.

Keynote Address by Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan, Director of the US National Science FoundationDr. Panchanathan will discuss the NSFs vision for the future of computing research, emerging efforts to encourage and enable interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research that drives understanding of the interplay between computing, science, and society, and the mission and objectives of the NSFs new Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships, which aims to drive progress by reshaping and expanding the range of research models, collaborations, and partnerships supported by the Foundation.

Fireside Chat with Dr. Eric Horvitz, Chief Scientific Officer of MicrosoftDr. Horvitz will discuss his vision of computing research as a powerful vehicle and path to enhance the quality of peoples lives. Speaking from his perspective as the Microsofts CSO, his prior role as director at Microsoft Research, and his service with key external advisory groups and organizations including the Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and the National Academies Computer Science and Telecommunications Board, Eric will examine the future of computing research in a conversation shaped by questions from colleagues and symposium participants.

Participant/Speaker Discussion Sessions covering three topics central to the future of computing researchEach of these sessions will feature three framing presentations from research community members with deep expertise in the area of interest, followed by an open discussion among the speakers and symposium participants, guided by a discussant. Symposium participants will have the opportunity to pose questions for the speakers to consider both before and during the session.

Discussion Session 1 Identifying and Emphasizing Emerging Technical Directions will examine the process of how the computing research community chooses its research directions, and how this might change to meet our communitys and societys future.

The session will consider such questions as:

Discussion Session 2 Recruiting Talent and Fostering Research Careers will examine the nature of future computing research careers, new strategies for drawing talented people to computing research, and new concepts and approaches for preparing for a computing research career.

The session will consider such questions as:

Discussion Session 3 New Models for Research and Research Support will examine the rapidly changing landscape of both research strategies and models and research funding and support.

This session will consider such questions as:

Student Roundtable Conversation with students planning to pursue a computing research careerYour chance to probe and understand this groups desires, ambitions, hopes, and concerns about their place in the future computing research landscape. An in-depth conversation with a group that is the future of computing research.

Roundtable participants will be early career researchers new PhD graduates or near-graduates considering a career in computing research. The group will be selected to represent a range of perspectives and experiences, and a discussant will be available to drive and draw out conversation. Symposium participants will have the opportunity to pose questions and suggest discussion topics both before and during the session.

Small Group Discussion TimeAn opportunity to meet informally with other symposium participants that share your interests, concerns, or challenges. Prior to the opening of the symposium, and continuing until the start of this session, the symposiums meeting platform will provide a mechanism for you to express your interests, raise questions, or otherwise indicate topics youd like to discuss, and will help you match with others that share these interests to join a discussion.

Do you want to discuss the Future of Computing Research? USCs Information Sciences Institute has a symposium for that on Sept. 12-13, 2022.Register here for freeto attend online or in person in Los Angeles, Boston, and Arlington.

Published on August 23rd, 2022

Last updated on August 23rd, 2022

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Symposium on the Future of Computing Research - USC Viterbi | School of Engineering - USC Viterbi School of Engineering