Message from the President

Hello and welcome to SoIT’s News for 2011.

In this edition we have articles describing some of the School’s programs to engage with everyone from future technologists (through Dr James Curran’s excellent National Computer Science School) through to captains of industry (through the annual Research Conversazione). With that outreach in mind, the USITAA Executive are busy considering which events to hold this year - and we’d like to hear from you. What topics or events would you like to hear more about? How would you like to engage with the staff, students and fellow alumni of the School? Contact us at sit.alumni@sydney.edu.au and let us know so we can make 2011 a bigger year than ever.

It was great to see so many people at the 2010 End of Year Function. I’m looking forward to talking with even more of you through the year.

Mark Webb
President, University of Sydney IT Alumni Association

News

National Computer Science School
Over 70 high-school students spent ten days in January wrangling with Python and making robots dance, all in the name of IT.

Vale John Makepeace Bennett, AO
John Makepeace Bennett (1921-2010) was Australia’s first Professor of Computer Science and the founding Head of the Basser Department of Computer Science at the University of Sydney.

Research Conversazione
The Faculty of Engineering and IT Research Conversazione brings together industry leaders and research students in the School of IT.

News Bytes
Read about our new staff, the 2010 Engineering Sydney Alumni of the Year, and Dr James Curran's inclusion in the sydney magazine's list of Sydney's 100 most influential people.

Graduations
Congratulations to our recently-graduated students.

Peter Eades Farewell Reception
Friends, family and colleagues of Professor Peter Eades came together to wish him well in his life after the School of IT.

End Of Year Function
Eighty staff, students and alumni attended the annual School of IT / USITAA / SUITS End of Year Function (EOyF) in November last year.