Vision

With an expansive legacy of innovation, the newly formed Siebel School of Computing and Data Science will drive the future of computing and data science and pioneer the digital transformation technologies of tomorrow while preparing the next generation of computing, data science and AI leaders.

From the recent 75th anniversary of the transistor last year that led to where we are in computing and AI today, and other innovations including the Mosaic web browser, YouTube, PayPal, and many more, Grainger engineers and scientists are counted on to drive societal change. We are envisioning what the next 75 years might look like for the future of computing!

Today, through the formation of the new school, we recognize computing and data science as a new Third Pillar of Engineering, alongside and equal to the historical pillars of physical sciences and mathematical sciences. The new school will enable us to further accelerate our leadership in this fourth industrial revolution driving advancements in mobile computing, AI, virtual and augmented reality, the Internet of Things, advanced robotics, quantum computing, biological computing and beyond.

This fundamental shift, one that takes us from bits to qubits to neurons, introduces new paradigms of computing in generative AI, biological and quantum. The discoveries and applications permeate all domains in nearly every sector from agriculture and healthcare to manufacturing, retail and education. Our cutting-edge research centers are both foundational and application driven.

“The tremendous support from Mr. Siebel has provided yet another opportunity for the computing and data science community throughout our campus to thrive,” said Nancy M. Amato, Director of the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science and Abel Bliss Professor of Engineering. “Our students and faculty have already played a part in such exciting developments as the first modern web browser, PayPal, YouTube, C3 AI and Yelp. And we will continue pursuing innovation in this field at every turn. We are also very proud of providing new and more accessible ways for deserving students to find their path into computing education.”

--Nancy  M. Amato
Director of the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science and Abel Bliss Professor of Engineering

Not only is the new Siebel School of Computing and Data Science defining and advancing the future of computing and the intersections of computing and data science and AI, we are enabling campus-wide collaboration to chart this new frontier of computing, data science and AI, building upon the university’s deep history of computing innovation in computer engineering and computer science, along with deep collaborations in data science with mathematics, statistics and information sciences across the campus.

The impacts of this new school are just beginning. As we look to the future, we see computing and data science education and research permeating the entire University of Illinois campus, creating more sustainable computing paradigms on a global scale and deepening not only our understanding, but our drive to solve the most pressing challenges of our time for the good of society and the health of the planet.