About the Department of Informatics
The new Department of Informatics in the School of Natural & Mathematical Sciences was formed on 1 August 2010. The Department consists of the former Department of Computer Science, the Centre for Bioinformatics and the Robotics group from the former Division of Engineering.
Informatics is concerned with the study of the representation, storage, processing, and communication of information. It has many different aspects, including Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. The Department of Informatics at King's seeks to address fundamental challenges and problems in all of these areas, as well as their application to numerous domains, including bioinformatics, healthcare, engineering, and many others. We believe that this breadth and depth of activity offers a vibrant and exciting environment for education and research.
In line with the College’s Mission Statement, the Department of Informatics is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, learning and understanding in the service of society. In education, the Department aims to provide a stimulating, research-led context in which it will deliver the highest quality programmes, at all levels, through the commitment and enthusiasm of its staff. In research, the Department aims to excel in its areas of specialisation, as well as drawing on the strengths of the College to explore new areas at the intersection of disciplines.
The Department of Informatics will continue to reinforce its world-leading research and education through engagement in international and national collaborations, with academia, with government and with industry, as well as with relevant local and national communities. Across all of its activities, the Department will seek to support and promote its staff and students in their efforts to reach their full potential.
History
King's College London is thought to have established the world's first engineering school in 1838. In contrast, an academic Department of Computing was first established at King's in 1985, becoming the Department of Computer Science in 1994, reflecting a change in focus towards the more fundamental and systematic aspects of the subject.
On 1 August 2010, a new Department of Informatics was established, which combines the former Department of Computer Science, the Centre for Bioinformatics, and the Robotics group of the Division of Engineering. The new Department of Informatics is part of the School of Natural and Mathematical Sciences and by the end of 2012 will comprise 42 members of academic staff including 16 professors, as well as around 120 postdoctoral researchers and PhD students. Its activities span the range of science and engineering within the broad areas represented by its constituent parts, seeking to excel in all.