Welcome from the Director

As the School’s Director, I feel privileged to be leading a talented group of devoted teachers and renowned researchers, including two Canada Research Chairs. Our faculty, staff and students consistently show a strong commitment to excellence in research, teaching and service. Our School places a great deal of importance on maintaining strong ties with industry, research organizations and the community at large. This allows us to offer exciting co-op jobs, ensuring that our students gain relevant skills and knowledge for the workplace, and conduct cutting-edge research that makes a difference in our economy, public health and safety and the environment.

I joined SFU in 2001 as a faculty member, and there have been remarkable changes in the School since then. In 2004, we launched Software Systems at the SFU Surrey campus, a new, applied program within the School that is focused on the development of high-quality software solutions for public and private industry. In 2005, we introduced the unique dual degree program with Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China. This program provides students the opportunity to acquire two degrees from two excellent universities, and to access a rich inter-cultural experience and the booming Chinese market.

From 2007 to 2010, SFU was recognized as Canada’s No. 1 comprehensive university by Maclean’s magazine, a nod to the university’s student-faculty ratio, high number of faculty research awards and student resources. In fact, SFU has consistently ranked at, or near, the top of this list for the past 20 years since Maclean’s has been conducting their research.

We have many things to be proud of at SFU Computing Science and I invite you to learn more through our website or by contacting us directly.

Dr. Martin Ester
Director and Professor
School of Computing Science