Schedule for: 18w2240 - CS-Can / Info-Can State-of-the-Discipline and Planning Retreat

Those arriving early can enjoy the outdoors before dinner.

A buffet dinner is served daily between 5:30pm and 7:30pm in the Vistas Dining Room, the top floor of the Sally Borden Building. CS-Can / Info-Can will pay for group meals during the 2-day workshop. We will arrange for group seating in the dining room so attendees can sit together for casual conversation. The buffet-style meal has a variety of food options that are intended to meet a number of dietary restrictions.

Participants will briefly introduce themselves and their goals for the workshop. The topics for the six breakout sessions that will be held on Saturday will be reviewed. Suggestions for additional issues that might be addressed within the breakout sessions will be considered. Scribes will be selected for each of the sessions. Beverages and a small assortment of snacks are available in the lounge on a cash honour system.

A buffet breakfast is served daily between 7:00am and 9:00am in the Vistas Dining Room, the top floor of the Sally Borden Building. CS-Can / Info-Can will pay for group meals during the 2-day workshop. We will arrange for group seating in the dining room so attendees can sit together for casual conversation. The buffet-style meal has a variety of food options that are intended to meet a number of dietary restrictions.

A brief introduction to BIRS with important logistical information, technology instruction, and opportunity for participants to ask questions.

Presenter: Arvind Gupta. A personal view of how computer science has contributed to and benefited from Canadian efforts to strengthen research capacity, educational opportunities, and innovation. Some lessons relevant to our discipline drawn from the creation of Mitacs and BIRS, and the drafting of the Jenkins Report will be examined along with thoughts about the current and future role of our discipline within the Canadian context.

Speaker: Andy Bernat. The Computing Research Association (CRA) has as its mission enhancing innovation by joining with industry, government and academia to strengthen research and advanced education in computing. CRA executes its mission by leading the computing research community, informing policymakers and the public, and facilitating the development of strong, diverse talent in the field. Thoughts about how CS-Can/Info-Can might translate this to the Canadian context will be discussed.

Convenors: Stan Matwin and Doina Precup. Scribe: TBD. This will build on the workshop and discussions held at the 2018 AGM. Topics include dues (departments, faculty, students, industry, general public), the degree of inclusiveness in membership for departments and individuals, the benefits and services that members should expect, and the appropriate working relationship with university department heads. Issues of diversity in the membership will be addressed in this session.

Convenors: Yvonne Coady and Ali Ghorbani. Scribe: TBD. CS-Can/Info-Can’s role defining computer science education at all levels. Topics include: issues related to international students (recruitment, admission, immigration, tuition); how should our discipline respond to ongoing enrollment increases at the post-secondary level; should there be a required ethics course in the ‘standard’ computer science undergrad curriculum (this might relate to an initiative currently underway by the CRA); should ‘every' Canadian university undergraduate learn about computer and information technology and how should it be delivered and by whom; what is our role in relation to non-degree post-secondary institutions that have programs related to computing and information technology? What initiatives should CS-Can/Info-Can be involved in related to education below the post-secondary level. Issues of diversity in education will be addressed in this session.

Meet in foyer of TCPL to participate in the BIRS group photo. The photograph will be taken outdoors, so dress appropriately for the weather. Please don't be late, or you might not be in the official group photo!

A buffet lunch is served daily between 11:30am and 1:30pm in the Vistas Dining Room, the top floor of the Sally Borden Building. CS-Can / Info-Can will pay for group meals during the 2-day workshop. We will arrange for group seating in the dining room so attendees can sit together for casual conversation. The buffet-style meal has a variety of food options that are intended to meet a number of dietary restrictions.

Convenors: Eugene Fiume and Julita Vassileva. Scribe: TBD. CS-Can/Info-Can’s role in promoting Canadian research in computing and information technology. Topics Include: Which initiatives is CS-Can/Info-Can particularly well suited to lead and which of those are high priority for our stakeholders? Is our discipline well served by current federal and provincial funding models and programs available in Canada? Are the stakeholders for the NSERC-CS Liaison Committee different from the stakeholders in CS-Can / Info-Can and if they are different, what is the proper relationship between the LC and our organization? Issues of diversity in research will be addressed in this session.

Convenors: Tamer Ozsu and Kelly Lyons. Scribe: TBD. CS-Can/Info-Can’s role in relationship to industry both in Canada and internationally. Topics include: What is our goal for establishing productive partnerships with Canadian industry? What lessons can we learn from other countries and to what extent are we facing a uniquely Canadian situation when we try to bring industry and academia together? Issues of diversity in industry will be addressed in this session.

Convenors: Kate Larson and Carey Williamson. Scribe: TBD. CS-Can/Info-Can’s role with external organizations and the general public. Topics include: policies and our goals for sponsorships (both funding and otherwise); what other initiatives are appropriate for our organization given our resources and our stakeholders. Issues of diversity in outreach programs will be addressed in this session.

Convenors: Kellogg Booth and Yasha Pushak. Scribe: TBD. How CS-Can/Info-Can’s communicates about its mission within the Canadian computer science community and with government, industry, and the general public. Topics include: Do we need professional communications staff working for the organization? What priorities do we have for reaching out to various constituencies and stakeholders? What services should we provide to members and other stakeholders on our website and mailing lists? To what degree can we become fully bilingual in our communications? Issues of diversity in communicating and involving all of the stakeholders we want to reach will be addressed in this session.

Identify issues that may require further informal thoughts this evening to better prepare for the discussions that will take place during the sessions on Sunday.

There will be a short meeting of the Board of Directors to deal with a few business items that need to be dealt with before the next regular Board meeting. An agenda will be sent to Board members prior to the retreat. One Board members are required to attend this session. Other retreat participants will be free to continue informal discussions of the issues raised during the earlier sessions.

A buffet dinner is served daily between 5:30pm and 7:30pm in the Vistas Dining Room, the top floor of the Sally Borden Building. CS-Can / Info-Can will pay for group meals during the 2-day workshop. We will arrange for group seating in the dining room so attendees can sit together for casual conversation. The buffet-style meal has a variety of food options that are intended to meet a number of dietary restrictions.

A buffet breakfast is served daily between 7:00am and 9:00am in the Vistas Dining Room, the top floor of the Sally Borden Building. CS-Can / Info-Can will pay for group meals during the 2-day workshop. We will arrange for group seating in the dining room so attendees can sit together for casual conversation. The buffet-style meal has a variety of food options that are intended to meet a number of dietary restrictions.

Summary of issues that may require special attention in today's sessions.

Review outcomes from the Saturday breakout session on Membership and decide on follow-up activities and deliverables.

Review outcomes from the Saturday breakout session on Education and decide on follow-up activities and deliverables.

Review outcomes from the Saturday breakout session on Research and decide on follow-up activities and deliverables.

Review outcomes from the Saturday breakout session on Industry and decide on follow-up activities and deliverables.

Review outcomes from the Saturday breakout session on Outreach and decide on follow-up activities and deliverables.

Review outcomes from the Saturday breakout session on Communication and decide on follow-up activities and deliverables.

2-day workshop participants are welcome to use BIRS facilities (Corbett Hall Lounge, TCPL, Reading Room) until 15:00 on Sunday, although participants are still required to checkout of the guest rooms by 12 noon. There is no coffee break service on Sunday afternoon, but self-serve coffee and tea are always available in the 2nd floor lounge, Corbett Hall.

A buffet lunch is served daily between 11:30am and 1:30pm in the Vistas Dining Room, the top floor of the Sally Borden Building. CS-Can / Info-Can will pay for group meals during the 2-day workshop. We will arrange for group seating in the dining room so attendees can sit together for casual conversation. The buffet-style meal has a variety of food options that are intended to meet a number of dietary restrictions.

Identify issues that have not been addressed that are important to the success of the discipline of computer science in Canada and the success of CS-Can / Info-Can as an organization.

Synthesize the action items from the six main themes (Communication, Education, Industry, Membership, Outreach, and Research), assign tasks to existing or new committees, and identify external partners for future collaborations that will increase the impact of our efforts.

Informal discussion are welcome to continue among those whose travel plans allow for it.