ICT Pioneers and Leaders

Introduction

The University of Sydney is the first university in Australia to have a computing science department. From its inception at the forefront of the computing age, the university has always provided strong support to computing teaching and research.

The origins of computing at this university started with the building of a high-speed computer, SILLIAC, for the School of Physics. SILLIAC was funded by Sir Adolph Basser, one of the university's leading benefactors and launched in 1956.

By 1961 research and teaching of computer science had increased to such an extent, that a computing science department was created within the School of Physics. In 1979 the Department of Computer Science separated from the School of Physics, and moved into its present location in the Madsen Building which formerly housed the CSIRO National Measurement Laboratory, the laboratory that had constructed Australia's first computer, CSIRAC.

In 2001, the Department of Computer Science was renamed the School of Information Technologies (SIT) in recognition of the size and quality of the programs offered by and research conducted in the area. In 2006 the School moves to a new purpose built building enabling it to maintain its position as one of the key institutions in information technology teaching and research.

ICT Pioneers and Leaders, the University of Sydney’s Computing the Future Symposium and SILLIAC 50th Anniversary Celebration Events highlight the importance and impact of ICT on all areas of daily life. By looking forward through the next fifty years this informative and interesting program will involve and inform all those who participate.

We look forward to your company.