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Department of Computer Science

Our Research Excellence Framework 2021 results
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REF 2021 Results

We are proud to say that Computer Science has shown a significant increase in quality in all areas of research since the last research assessment exercise, moving 6 places up the ranking to the 20th position for REF 2021. Congratulations to all our colleagues for their hard work! Our excellence is shown by the results:

  • 97% of our research outputs are world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)
  • 100% of our impact case studies are world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)
  • 100% of our environment world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)

The Department of Computer Science submitted 27 members of staff, comprising 26.2 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) staff, to the REF Computer Science and Informatics Unit of Assessment (UoA). The submission included five Early Career Researchers.

Find out more about us
4th in the Complete University Guide 2024
Athena Swan Silver Award since 2024
Joint 4th for student employability in the Complete University Guide 2023
Ranked 9th in Subject by The Guardian University Guide 2022

Innovative sensing technology enhances driverless car perception

Our Computer Science research is helping to put driverless cars on the road to reality.

Research by Professor Toby Breckon is paving the way on new technological development that allows cars to be driven autonomously on public roads.
Read the full case study
Driverless car variant-1

About Us

Research and Impact

We are a rapidly growing department with around 50 staff. This has increased from around 30 staff at the end of 2020 and our intention is to have around 60 staff by 2027. We have a new building and a vibrant research environment. Our research spans both the theory and practice of Computer Science, has strong interactions with a range of leading industrial companies, and forms part of cross-disciplinary activities and projects with collaborators within the University and around the world. We also have an active portfolio of impact activities and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) as well as a thriving postgraduate research community.

Our Vision for Impact

Our aim is to have impact creation embedded within all aspects of our research, to promote a strong impact culture, have a diverse portfolio of impact activities and to have many staff involved in impact creation.

 Our strategies are:

  • promote a strong impact culture and develop and enable impact appreciation and awareness across the Department
  • provide leadership and co-ordination for the Department's external engagement and impact activities and strategically manage the development, dissemination, support and sustainability of departmental impact
  • encourage and enhance the development of cross-disciplinary links with other academic disciplines, knowledge transfer and public engagement so as to build pathways to impact.

Computer Science REF Impact Case Studies

We submitted three impact case studies including security, surveillance and automotive technologies.

Click below to read more about our case studies

Real-time Scene Understanding for On-Vehicle Automotive Sensing

Our research has enabled informed technology roadmapping and commercial product development for both driver assistance systems and vehicle autonomy.

Advanced Algorithm Development for use in X-ray and Computed Tomography Security Scanners used for Transport and Border Security

Our research informed government policy, commercial product development and airport technology planning for security scanners.

Object Detection, Classification, Localisation and Tracking for Automated Wide-Area Surveillance

Our research and development informed UK and international government policy and informed the design of wide-area surveillance sensors.

 

 

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Research Themes

Our research groups build on our strengths and include emerging areas such as Artificial Intelligence and Digital Humanities, Algorithms and Complexity, Artificial Intelligence and Human Systems, Network Engineering, Science and Theory, Scientific Computing, and Vision, Imaging and Visualization.

More about our Research Groups

Like to Know More?

Staff in Computer Science actively engage with a range of Durham's multi-disciplinary research institutes including:

  • Institute for Data Science
  • Biophysical Sciences Institute
  • Durham Energy Institute
  • Institute for Computational Cosmology
  • Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies
  • Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing

  • Institute for Data Science

    IDAS – the Institute for Data Science - is Durham University’s multidisciplinary platform for new ideas in Data Science, cutting across the silos of subject-specific knowledge and aiming to transform our view of the world surrounding us – nature, society, and culture.
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  • Durham University Women in Tech

    We are working hard to make Durham the number one destination for women Computer Science undergraduates and have recently formed DUWiT (Durham University Women in Tech), a group that holds events and brings in inspiring external speakers.
    DUWIT - Durham University Women in Tech group photo

Institute for Data Science

IDAS – the Institute for Data Science - is Durham University’s multidisciplinary platform for new ideas in Data Science, cutting across the silos of subject-specific knowledge and aiming to transform our view of the world surrounding us – nature, society, and culture.
smaller

Durham University Women in Tech

We are working hard to make Durham the number one destination for women Computer Science undergraduates and have recently formed DUWiT (Durham University Women in Tech), a group that holds events and brings in inspiring external speakers.
DUWIT - Durham University Women in Tech group photo
Job Opportunities