50 Years for Technion’s Faculty of Computer Science
In 1969 the Faculty of Computer Science was established, making it an important year in Technion’s history. Three years later, in 1972, the first class of 10 students, including four women graduated. This year 300 graduates completed their studies in the faculty (2018-19 academic year).
In the fifty years of the faculty’s existence, research has expanded and faculty members have made pioneering research discoveries. Some of these include: the Lempel-Ziv algorithm, published in 1977 by Profs. Jacob Ziv and Abraham Lempel which served as the basis for essential ZIP compression technologies; a system to improve 3D cameras developed by Prof. Ron Kimmel and sold to Intel; and the hacking into the GSM cellular network led by Prof. Eli Biham.
On Oct. 30th thousands of students, faculty, staff and alumni and their families joined the 50th-anniversary celebration of the faculty. The celebratory science and technology event included workshops and sessions for children and adults and informal scientific lectures in the format of the popular “Science at the Bar.”
Faculty alumni in attendance included Dr. Yoelle Maarek, Vice President of Amazon worldwide; Dr. Eran Eden, co-founder and CEO of MeMed; Karin Eibschitz Segal, CEO of Intel Israel’s development center; Dr. Kira Radinsky, co-founder and chairwoman of Diagnostic Robotics; and Oded Cohen, director of the IBM research center.
“We have built an amazing place here during the past 50 years,” said Faculty Dean Prof. Dan Geiger. “This faculty is the backbone of the Israeli hi-tech industry and its graduates serve in key positions in the Israeli economy. Computer science is an area that is increasingly concerned with all aspects of life. It is a science that provides challenges and delivers successes at a dizzying pace in: Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, cyber, constant improvement in the ability to organize data, use it in creative ways, and protect it. In the past four years, there has been a 50% increase in the number of undergraduate degrees in computer science and a 90% increase in graduates in advanced degrees. This year, we were also honored and proud that the faculty received the Yanai Award for Teaching Excellence.
“Technion’s Computer Science Faculty has a wonderful history,” said Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan, “We all proudly follow its ascent. I wish the students, faculty and staff a Happy Jubilee. I am sure they will continue to prosper and succeed.”
