NZ’s top young ICT researchers to gather at UC

Approximately 90 of New Zealand’s top ICT postgraduate researchers will be gathering at the University of Canterbury during 14-17 April 2008 for the next New Zealand Computer Science Research Student Conference. Research students will come from all eight NZ universities to discuss cutting-edge research, meet with the ICT industry in a Meet the Industry event, participate in interactive tutorials, and be inspired by keynote speakers.

Postgraduates from the UC Computer Science and Software Engineering department are organising the event. The ICT research world is tough. Many students leave postgraduate research for more lucrative jobs overseas. For NZ to compete successfully at a global scale, it has to keep and maintain its research students. This is where the NZCSRSC comes in.

The NZCSRSC is different from other academic conferences. It is a student run conference.

“We’re looking at ICT research at a national level”, explains PhD student and General Chair of the NZCSRSC, Moffat Mathews. “We’re focusing on what students need to stay motivated and focused; this is good for the student and ultimately beneficial for New Zealand.”

Taking on the initiative together: Some of the NZCSRSC 2008 Organising Committee Photo source: NZCSRSC 2008 Click here to view a larger version

Part of the goal of the NZCSRSC is to allow researchers to form research and industry based networks, something that is seen as very important in any researcher’s work.

Organising the conference while doing full time research is a big ask. However, according to the organisers, it is worth the effort.

“It is exciting and humbling to be part of an event that has such long-term effects on our country’s technology research”, says Moffat.

Currently the organisers are looking for interested industry organisations who would like to be part of this event. Anyone who is interested can email Moffat nzcsrsc08@canterbury.ac.nz.