Energy Technology Partnership Emporium – Registration open

SICSA is pleased to be part of the ETP Emporium event, taking place next month at the University of Strathclyde.

Background

The transition to a low carbon economy presents multi-disciplinary challenges which need collaboration across all sectors to resolve. It is crucial to ensure that society, as a whole, has access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy.

What are these challenges, and how do we organise ourselves to tackle them?

The Energy Innovation Emporium brings together the energy community to crystallise the benefits of a low-carbon future. By exploring the energy transition challenges, academia, industry and the public sector will identify avenues of innovation and cooperation that will define research and investment needs, and economic opportunities.

Confirmed Speakers include:

  • Prof Sir Jim McDonald – Chair of ETP
  • David Richardson – Innovation Lead for Energy Systems & Infrastructure, InnovateUK
  • Jim Fleming – Head of Energy Theme, EPSRC
  • Tim German – Senior Relationship Manager Government & Regulation, Energy Systems Catapult
  • Alex Reid – Director of Engagement Scotland, Connected Places Catapult
  • Tim Rotheray, Director, The Association for Decentralised Energy

For further information and to register for free, please visit: https://www.etpscotland.ac.uk/NewsandEvents/Events/ETPEneryInnovationEmporium2018.aspx

 Please direct any questions about the event directly to stephenmark.williams@strath.ac.uk

SICSA Cyber Security – Call for Small Research Grants

The SICSA Cyber Security research theme invites proposals to support Scottish Cyber Security researchers in carrying out research activities over the summer of 2019. We anticipate applications for three types of activities (or a combination):

  • Travel (max £250);
  • Equipment (max £500);
  • Studentship (max £1000)

While there is no restriction on the topics, we encourage applications to research into new cyber-related areas and those that are difficult to find funding for. Example topics include (not limited to) human-centred cyber security, misinformation detection (fake news), media privacy and security, digital rights management, blockchain, policy and practices, ethics etc.

The closing date for this call is 31st May 2019. 

To apply:

Small Grant Application Form

Cyber Security Small Grant Guidelines

Please address any questions to the Cyber Security Research Theme Leaders, k.renaud@abertay.ac.uk and deepayan.bhowmik@stir.ac.uk.

SICSA Education – Call for Workshop Proposals in 2019

SICSA Education would like to invite the Scottish Computing community to apply for funds to host SICSA Education workshops or other education focussed events. Some of the more recent workshops that have been funded have included:

• How should we assess group work?
• Skills in entrepreneurial education
• Computational thinking in primary schools

We now invite members of the community to bid to host an event, either to expand on any of these topics; or to propose events on any other Computing Education related topic.

In order to apply please complete the attached pro forma (no more than 2 pages) and return it to admin@sicsa.ac.uk by Friday 31st May 2019. A further call will be made in the Autumn, but we will also accept applications throughout the year.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact admin@sicsa.ac.uk.

Detailed information about SICSA Education can be found at http://www.sicsa.ac.uk/education/education-event-sponsorship/ and http://www.sicsa.ac.uk/education/.

DemoFest 2019: Register now to exhibit your research

SICSA DemoFest is the largest event of its kind in Scotland. Now in its twelfth year, it showcases the very best of Informatics and Computing Science research from all of Scotland’s Universities

The event will take place on Monday 4th November 2019 from 4.00pm in the stunning venue, Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh

You can now register now to apply to exhibit your research.  Exhibiting your research is free and entails completing a short (one page) questionnaire which you can access here:  https://edinburgh.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/sicsa-demofest-2019-presenting-your-research
Deadline for applications is 23rd June 2019, with outcomes communicated no later than 26th June.

Why Exhibit?
We expect over 200 delegates from business and the public sector, who will be keen to discover some of the cutting-edge research taking place currently in Computer Science and Informatics in Scotland.

The event provides a space for exhibitors to showcase their current research and discuss future academic and business collaborations, commercialisation opportunities, internships and placements, employment opportunities and much more.

Who can Exhibit?
We now welcome applications from researchers at all 14 SICSA Institutions. Exhibitors are encouraged from all stages of research, from 1st year PhD to Professorial level.

We particularly encourage applicants who are keen to build collaborative linkages with industry; to commercialise their research; and to build contacts with other researchers.

Your Space
All exhibitors will be provided with their own space in the exhibition hall featuring an individual pod for your research poster and space for any technology that you wish to demonstrate.

Please do get in touch (admin@sicsa.ac.uk) if you have any questions.

SICSA PhD Conference 2019 – Registration now open

Registration for the SICSA PhD Conference is now open and is fully funded (accommodation, meals and registration) for all Computing Science PhD students working within Scottish HE institutions.  Places are filling up fast, so register soon to avoid disappointment. 

The SICSA PhD Conference will feature a range of workshops, keynotes and social activities across two full-days.  You can find more details at www.sicsaconf.org

This year’s event will also feature an Elevator Pitch Video Competition, which is open to all delegates.  For more details about submitting your video, please visit Elevator Pitch Competition

Also, don’t forget that all PhD students (whether coming to the conference or not) are eligible to vote in the SICSA Supervisor of the Year 2019 Award.  If you wish to nominate your supervisor, simply complete the 3-minute survey.

Now recruiting for Research Theme Leader in Theory, Modelling and Computation

Applications are invited for any suitable member of academic staff within a SICSA Institution to co-lead the SICSA Theory, Modelling and Computation Research Theme.

Role Purpose

SICSA is the Scottish Funding Council Research Pool in Informatics and Computer Science.  The goal of SICSA is to cohere the Scottish Informatics and Computer Science research communities to help increase critical mass and to enable cooperation in research, teaching and Knowledge Exchange.

The role of the SICSA Theme Leaders is to coordinate activities within each of the defined SICSA themes and further develop coherent communities in these areas.

For further information on the role and to apply, please download the guidelines and application form below.

Theme Leaders Role Description

Application Form_SICSA Theme Leaders

Closing Date: 31st May 2019

SICSA Supervisor of the Year Award 2019

The SICSA Supervisor of the Year Award 2019 has launched this month and we are now accepting nominations from all Scottish-based PhD students in Computer Science and Informatics.

The award aims to recognise the extraordinary efforts of PhD Supervisors across Scotland and the difference they can make to their Postgraduate students.  To nominate your supervisor, please visit SICSA Supervisor of the Year Award 2019 nominations and complete the 3-minute survey.  The deadline for nominations is 31st May 2019.

The SICSA Supervisor of the Year Award 2019 will be announced at the SICSA PhD Conference, which takes place at the University of Stirling on 18th and 19th June.  To register for the conference, visit Eventbrite.

Launch of SICSA Conference Bursary Programme

SICSA is pleased to announce the launch of our Conference Bursary programme in March 2019, which will be available to all PhD students working in SICSA Departments/Schools.

The programme offers funding of up to £1000 for students to attend conferences in the UK and across the rest of the world.  The funding can be used for conference registration, travel and/or accommodation.  The first call is now open and the deadline is 30th April.  For further details and to apply, please visit SICSA Conference Bursaries.

Welcome to new SICSA Cyber Security Theme Leaders

SICSA extends a warm welcome to Professor Karen Renaud (University of Abertay) and Dr Deepayan Bhowmik (University of Stirling), who take over the management of the SICSA Cyber Security Research Theme this month.  Karen and Deepayan will be responsible for leading the theme for the next two years.

Thanks go to Professor Chris Johnson (University of Glasgow) and Dr Mike Just (Heriot-Watt University) for their efforts in leading the theme since 2017.

For more information about the theme or to get involved in organising theme activities or events, please visit SICSA Cyber Security.

Welcome to our new Deputy Director and Director of Knowledge Exchange & Impact

We are pleased to welcome our new SICSA Deputy Director, Dr Tim Storer of the University of Glasgow.  Dr Storer is also Director of Knowledge Exchange & Impact and our main link to industry and the public sector.

Tim will be an excellent addition to the SICSA team and has a fantastic vision for the Pool. He will be looking to build the infrastructure to support the broad range of academic – industry research collaboration within our member institutions in order to respond to new trends emerging in the computing industry and research. A full blog from Tim will be published shortly in which he will elaborate on his vision for SICSA as the new Deputy Director and Director of Knowledge Exchange & Impact