{"id":7615,"date":"2014-10-06T08:09:58","date_gmt":"2014-10-06T06:09:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/?p=7615\/"},"modified":"2017-01-20T22:46:16","modified_gmt":"2017-01-20T22:46:16","slug":"open-letter-professors-warn-against-planned-merger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/open-letter-professors-warn-against-planned-merger\/","title":{"rendered":"Open letter: Professors warn against planned merger"},"content":{"rendered":"

Open letter to
\nDean John Renner Hansen
\nFaculty of Science
\nUniversity of Copenhagen
\nOctober 3, 2014<\/em><\/p>\n

As faculty at the Department of Computer Science (DIKU), we strongly advise against the proposed merger between DIKU and the Mathematics department (MATH). There are no well-founded academic reasons for merging these two departments.<\/p>\n

The perception of Computer Science as being closely related to Mathematics is outdated. Although this was originally the case, Computer Science has over the past 40 years developed into an independent research area with a clear academic identity and close ties to numerous disciplines both within and outside the natural sciences. Internationally, this development is reflected in an organizational splitting of Computer Science and Mathematics into separate departments. No top tier universities have departments comprising both Computer Science and Mathematics. <\/p>\n

We are concerned that the proposed merger between DIKU and MATH will have negative effects on the academic dynamics and impeed the positive development which both departments have experienced \u2013developments that have placed both departments in the forefront within several research areas. <\/p>\n

Moreover, closing Computer Science as an independent department at UCPH will have a negative signal effect, nationally and internationally, that not only will impinge upon our academic reputation but also on our ability to recruit and retain top academic staff and students. <\/p>\n

Less than three years ago, a similar proposal to merge Mathematics and Computer Science was rejected by the University\u2019s Board of Directors at Rector \u2018s recommendation. This decision had been based on a detailed administrative and academic review. The reason why Rector chose not to recommend a merger at that time was \u201cthat cultural exchange and exploitation of academic synergy potential will be easier to obtain in this manner [by a collaboration between two independent departments] rather than by merging departments in a situation where (Mathematics and Computer Science) have \u2018en bloc\u2019 made academic demarche\u201d. <\/p>\n

The situation is the same today. <\/p>\n

Kind regards,<\/p>\n

J\u00f8rgen P. Bansler, Professor
\nJost Berthold, Assistant Professor
\nSebastian Boring, Associate Professor
\nIngemar Cox, Professor
\nSune Darkner, Associate Professor
\nMartin Elsman, Associate Professor
\nAasa Feragen, Associate Professor
\nAndrzej Filinski, Associate Professor
\nErik Fr\u00f8kj\u00e6r, Associate Professor
\nRobert Gl\u00fcck, Associate Professor
\nKlaus Marius Hansen, Professor
\nFritz Henglein, Professor
\nKnud Henriksen, Associate Professor
\nKasper Hornb\u00e6k,Professor
\nChristian Igel, Professor
\nMikkel R\u00f8nne Jakobsen, Assistant Professor
\nJyrki Juhani Katajainen, Associate Professor
\nKen Friis Larsen, Associate Professor
\nFrancois Lauze, Associate Professor
\nChristina Lioma, Associate Professor
\nTorben \u00c6gidius Mogensen, Associate Professor
\nMads Nielsen, Professor
\nCosmin Oancea, Assistant Professor
\nS\u00f8ren Ingvor Olsen, Associate Professor
\nKim Steenstrup Pedersen, Associate Professor
\nMarcos Vaz Salles, Assistant Professor
\nYevgeny Seldin, Assistant Professor
\nStefan Sommer, Assistant Professor
\nJon Sporring, Associate Professor
\nMikkel Thorup, Professor
\nPawel Winter, Professor
\nChristian Wulff-Nilsen, Assistant Professor<\/em><\/p>\n

universitypost@adm.ku.dk<\/p>\n

Like us on Facebook <\/a> for features, guides and tips on upcoming events. Follow us on Twitter<\/a> for links to other Copenhagen academia news stories. Sign up for the University Post weekly newsletter here<\/a>, and then follow the University Post on Instagram here. <\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Professors at the Department of Computer Sciences, DIKU sign an open letter to the Dean of the Faculty of Science arguing against a proposed merger with the Department of Mathematical Sciences, MATH. Here is the full text<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":7617,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7615","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics","expression-news_article"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\nOpen letter: Professors warn against planned merger<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/open-letter-professors-warn-against-planned-merger\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Open letter: Professors warn against planned merger\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Professors at the Department of Computer Sciences, DIKU sign an open letter to the Dean of the Faculty of Science arguing against a proposed merger with the Department of Mathematical Sciences, MATH. 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Here is the full text","use_post_excerpt":false},{"acf_fc_layout":"Byline","is_author":false,"contributors":[{"use_registered_user":false,"user":false,"contributor_name":"Professors at the Department of Computer Science, DIKU (see below for full list of signatories)","contributor_title":" ","contributor_image":false}]},{"acf_fc_layout":"Content","content":"<p><em>Open letter to<br \/>\nDean John Renner Hansen<br \/>\nFaculty of Science<br \/>\nUniversity of Copenhagen<br \/>\nOctober 3, 2014<\/em><\/p>\n<p>As faculty at the Department of Computer Science (DIKU), we strongly advise against the proposed merger between DIKU and the Mathematics department (MATH). There are no well-founded academic reasons for merging these two departments.<\/p>\n<p>The perception of Computer Science as being closely related to Mathematics is outdated. Although this was originally the case, Computer Science has over the past 40 years developed into an independent research area with a clear academic identity and close ties to numerous disciplines both within and outside the natural sciences. Internationally, this development is reflected in an organizational splitting of Computer Science and Mathematics into separate departments. No top tier universities have departments comprising both Computer Science and Mathematics. <\/p>\n<p>We are concerned that the proposed merger between DIKU and MATH will have negative effects on the academic dynamics and impeed the positive development which both departments have experienced \u2013developments that have placed both departments in the forefront within several research areas. <\/p>\n<p>Moreover, closing Computer Science as an independent department at UCPH will have a negative signal effect, nationally and internationally, that not only will impinge upon our academic reputation but also on our ability to recruit and retain top academic staff and students. <\/p>\n<p>Less than three years ago, a similar proposal to merge Mathematics and Computer Science was rejected by the University\u2019s Board of Directors at Rector \u2018s recommendation. This decision had been based on a detailed administrative and academic review. The reason why Rector chose not to recommend a merger at that time was \u201cthat cultural exchange and exploitation of academic synergy potential will be easier to obtain in this manner [by a collaboration between two independent departments] rather than by merging departments in a situation where (Mathematics and Computer Science) have \u2018en bloc\u2019 made academic demarche\u201d. <\/p>\n<p>The situation is the same today. <\/p>\n<p>Kind regards,<\/p>\n<p><em>J\u00f8rgen P. Bansler, Professor<br \/>\nJost Berthold, Assistant Professor<br \/>\nSebastian Boring, Associate Professor<br \/>\nIngemar Cox, Professor<br \/>\nSune Darkner, Associate Professor<br \/>\nMartin Elsman, Associate Professor<br \/>\nAasa Feragen, Associate Professor<br \/>\nAndrzej Filinski, Associate Professor<br \/>\nErik Fr\u00f8kj\u00e6r, Associate Professor<br \/>\nRobert Gl\u00fcck, Associate Professor<br \/>\nKlaus Marius Hansen, Professor<br \/>\nFritz Henglein, Professor<br \/>\nKnud Henriksen, Associate Professor<br \/>\nKasper Hornb\u00e6k,Professor<br \/>\nChristian Igel, Professor<br \/>\nMikkel R\u00f8nne Jakobsen, Assistant Professor<br \/>\nJyrki Juhani Katajainen, Associate Professor<br \/>\nKen Friis Larsen, Associate Professor<br \/>\nFrancois Lauze, Associate Professor<br \/>\nChristina Lioma, Associate Professor<br \/>\nTorben \u00c6gidius Mogensen, Associate Professor<br \/>\nMads Nielsen, Professor<br \/>\nCosmin Oancea, Assistant Professor<br \/>\nS\u00f8ren Ingvor Olsen, Associate Professor<br \/>\nKim Steenstrup Pedersen, Associate Professor<br \/>\nMarcos Vaz Salles, Assistant Professor<br \/>\nYevgeny Seldin, Assistant Professor<br \/>\nStefan Sommer, Assistant Professor<br \/>\nJon Sporring, Associate Professor<br \/>\nMikkel Thorup, Professor<br \/>\nPawel Winter, Professor<br \/>\nChristian Wulff-Nilsen, Assistant Professor<\/em><\/p>\n<p>universitypost@adm.ku.dk<\/p>\n<p><em>Like us on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/UniversityPost\" target=\"_blank\"> Facebook <\/a> for features, guides and tips on upcoming events. Follow us on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UniversityPost\" target=\"_blank\"> Twitter<\/a> for links to other Copenhagen academia news stories. <a href=\"http:\/\/universitypost.dk\/newsletter\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up for the University Post weekly newsletter here<\/a>, and then <a href=\"http:\/\/instagram.com\/universitypost\" target=\"_blank\">follow the University Post on Instagram here. <\/a><\/em><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"ArticleEnd"},{"acf_fc_layout":"OtherStories","headline":"","hand_picked_posts":false,"references":false,"category":false,"theme":false,"number_of_posts":"4","style":"default"}]},"taxonomyData":{"category":[{"term_id":48,"name":"Politics","slug":"politics","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":48,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":1036,"filter":"raw"}],"post_tag":[],"post_format":[],"expression":[{"term_id":15,"name":"News Article","slug":"news_article","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":15,"taxonomy":"expression","description":"","parent":0,"count":11492,"filter":"raw"}],"translation_priority":[]},"featured_media_url":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/dikupicture-1280x853.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7615","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7615"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7615\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33029,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7615\/revisions\/33029"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7615"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7615"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7615"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}