Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence: The University of Hull’s Computer Science Department Anniversary Event

The image shows a large, gold foil balloon with the number '50' printed on it. The balloon is in focus and appears to be outdoors as suggested by the sunlight glaring from the top right corner of the frame. Behind the balloon, there are no significant details due to the backlighting effect. The style of the image is candid and likely meant to document a special occasion.

The cover image for this post is by Kendall Scott

Last Saturday (October 12th, 2024), the University of Hull held a fantastic event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its renowned Computer Science department. As part of this milestone, RJJ Software was proud to sponsor the event and have our Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Jamie, attend.

The event was a joyous celebration of the department’s history, achievements, and impact on the industry. Over 120 alumni gathered to reconnect with each other and with their former lecturers, creating an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

Reconnecting with the Past

One aspect that stood out for Jamie was the opportunity to reconnect with his old lecturers. “Seeing so many alumni come together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of a department which has given me so much was simply amazing,” he said. “Being back on the campus and having a guided tour around some of the labs that I have such amazing memories of, and connecting with my ex-lecturers was fantastic.”

The image shows a display featuring posters of sponsors or exhibitors at an event. At the top, there is a large white poster with black text that reads '50 Sponsors' and below it, the names of the companies are listed in black text on a white background. Each company name is accompanied by their logo or symbol. To the right, there's another smaller white poster displaying the logos of the sponsors. The overall style of the image is informational and appears to be taken at an event where such displays are common.
Our logo, proudly displayed, in the list of event sponsors.

This sense of community and connection is something that’s often lost in today’s digital age. With everyone glued to their screens, it’s easy to forget the value of face-to-face interactions. However, events like this one prove that in-person gatherings can bring people together in a way that’s both meaningful and memorable.

The Power of Community

Another highlight of the event was the poster exhibition showcasing the incredible reach of the department’s alumni in the video games industry. “It was incredibly humbling to know that a lot of the best-selling games over the last 30 years have been written by my fellow alumni,” Jamie said. This not only served as a testament to the department’s success but also highlighted the importance of community and collaboration.

In an industry where innovation is key, it’s remarkable to see how many of the biggest names in gaming owe their success to graduates from this very department. The fact that RJJ Software has been able to sponsor such an event and have our own CTO attend speaks to our appreciation for the university’s commitment to excellence.

A Fun Quiz

Another fun aspect of the event was the quiz, which brought everyone together to test their knowledge of history and trivia of the department, it’s lecturers (“How tall is Rob?” was one of the sillier questions). Each attendee received a lanyard with a unique answer on it, and attendees where encouraged to find their “answer buddies” (those with the same answer). The lanyards were designed to be both functional and festive, making for a great keepsake for those who attended.

The image shows two name badges placed next to each other on what appears to be a table. On the right, there's a badge with the name 'JAMIE TAYLOR' prominently displayed at the top center, and below that is an additional line of text with '36K! (yes! K!)', and between them is the RJJ Software logo. The badge on the left has the words '50 years' at the top center, as part of the logo for the event. Below this is the name 'JAMIE TAYLOR' again, indicating that both badges are for the same person. Both badges have a rectangular shape and appear to be made of plastic.
Both (yes both) of Jamie’s lanyard cards. Unfortunately he didn’t get to meet his answer buddy.

Throughout the event, teams competed against each other, eager to see who knew more about the department’s history. With prizes awarded for the winners, it was clear that everyone had a great time participating in the quiz. It’s amazing how something as simple as a lanyard can bring people together and create lasting memories!

Looking to the Future

The event also featured a keynote speech by Professor Neil Gordon, who shared his vision for the future of the Computer Science department. With ongoing advancements in AI research, it’s clear that this field will continue to play a vital role in shaping our world.

As Jamie pointed out, “I really enjoyed being shown the games dev lab, and the posters that the department have created which show the 700+ games that graduates of the Games Development course have gone on to work on.” This not only demonstrates the department’s commitment to innovation but also serves as a reminder of the incredible impact that computer science can have on our society.

A Dalek in Attendance?

For those who attended the event, it was clear that there were plenty of fun and unexpected moments. A Dalek roamed the halls (and even made an appearance outside), adding to the festive atmosphere. Pepper, one of the robots built for the MSc course on Artificial Intelligence, also made a welcome appearance. Pepper greeted attendees with it’s friendly face and helpful attitude.

A Carbonite-Like Legacy

Rob Miles, a notable figure from the department, Microsoft MVP, and author of many books on programming, set up a 3D scanning station where attendees could have their likeness printed in carbonite. Although Rob didn’t manage to print many scans during the event (mainly due to how long it takes to 3D print anything), he’s promised to send the STL files to all attendees. Watch this space for an update when Jamie’s had been printed!

Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence

As RJJ Software, we’re proud to celebrate the University of Hull’s Computer Science department anniversary. It’s clear that the university has created a community of talented individuals who are passionate about innovation and making a difference.

We’re excited to see how this milestone will inspire future generations of computer science students and professionals. With its commitment to research, collaboration, and community-building, it’s no wonder that this department has become a driving force in shaping our world.

Here’s to 50 more years of excellence!