School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh

In 1997 external reviewers, appointed by the University of Edinburgh to report on Informatics activities, wrote in their paper: "Even a casual look at the world around us makes clear that we are living in the information age. As scientists come to understand informational phenomena (language, thought, computation, inference, communication and the like), they will enable ever more powerful technological advances. Equally, the technology of computing and communication prompts scientific understanding. Thus the natural science and the building of systems feed each other." A year later the School of Informatics was created through the merger of the Department of Artificial Intelligence, Centre for Cognitive Science, Department of Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence Applications Institute, and Human Communication Research Centre. It originally formed part of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, but since major university restructuring in 2002, has been part of the College of Science and Engineering. Currently the School of Informatics at the University of Edinburgh is a world-leading centre of research and teaching in computation, information and cognition. It is located in the Informatics Forum and the nearby Appleton Tower. It hosts a cohort of over 1,600 students from over 75 countries worldwide. It employs over 220 academics and 100 professional services staff. Based on REF2014 data, the School of Informatics is the largest grouping of AI researchers in the UK. Research within the School is carried out across six institutes; each of these manages a portfolio of funding and specialist facilities while creating and nurturing a community of research staff and students. Academic staff are appointed to the School and choose to belong to one or more institutes.