Research Report Year 2002

The Dipartimento di Informatica is the center coordinating the research activity in the area of Computer Science and Information Technology at the Università di Torino.

At the end of 2002, 53 people with permanent academic positions (full professors, associate professors, and researchers) were active at the Dipartimento di Informatica. Their research activity covers a wide range of topics in Computer Science and related areas (see the preceding page, Research Report Year 2002). With regard to the department's teaching activity, recall that, by law, the students' curriculum was altered: the normal laurea degree is awarded after three years of study (analogously to the defunct Diploma in Informatica), and a specialized laurea degree, which is awarded after two additional years of study, was introduced. Consequently, the teaching activity in the academic year 2001-2002 covered both introductory and advanced courses per three types of degree: laurea degree in Informatica-nuovo ordinamento, laurea degree in Informatica-vecchio ordinamento e specialized laurea degree. Teaching activities are also carried out in the School of Humanities (in particular, for Corso di Laurea in Scienze della Comunicazione, Diploma di Operatore in Beni Culturali - Facolt` di Lettere e Filosofia -, for DAMS - Facolt` di Scienze della Formazione - , for Corso di Laurea in Lingue - Facolt` di Lingue e Letterature Straniere -, for Corso di Laurea in Psicologia, Facolt` di Psicologia, for Corso di Laurea Interfacolt` di Scienze Strategiche, for Corso di Laurea Interfacolt` di Scienze Motorie, and for various Masters).

Both research and teaching activities are supported by a technical staff of 7 people, an administrative staff of 7 people, a library staff of 1 permanent clerk helped by short-term collaborators, a logistic staff of 2 people, and a reception staff of 4 people (some people have temporary positions). Strategic for the development of the research activity of the members of the Dipartimento di Informatica is the collaboration with 15 cooperating researchers, 15 temporary researchers and 21 PhD students. More information can be found at http://www.di.unito.it/servlet/DipAnagrafica.ShowCategories.

The following report summarizes the research activity performed during the past year. Note that most of the professors and researchers are active in the area of Computer Science (scientific sector INF/01, previously K05B). At the beginning of 2001, the research was organized into five broad sub-areas and a research laboratory was established for each sub-area. All of the research projects active at the Dipartimento di Informatica in the year 2002 are grouped into those five sub-areas (see the preceding page, Research Report Year 2002).

Two other, small groups are also active in the Dipartimento di Informatica, one in the area of Operational Research (scientific sector MAT/09, ex A04B) and the other one in the area of Economics and Management Science (scientific sectors SECS-P/08, ex P02B).

As in previous years, an important source of funding was the European Union within projects in the V framework: some new projects have started and others are under negotiation. Furthermore, in 2002 the Dipartimento di Informatica was able to obtain research contracts from industry and both private and public organizations.

With respect to the previous year, research could have suffered from two adverse factors:

1)      reduced income from European, national, local and private bodies;

2)      in the career path, from researcher to associate professor, and then to full professor, there was a certain "upward movement", in that the number of professors of both associate and full classes was increased, with the consequent increase in the teaching activity.

Despite these factors, there have not been negative repercussions on the research activities of the department, neither in a quantitative nor in a qualitative sense.

The analysis of publications (listed after the report of each research project), as well as of the research contracts, shows the international dimension of the research activity carried out at the Dipartimento di Informatica, and the ability of many groups of establishing strong links with industries and research centers.

Along with basic and applied research, the Dipartimento di Informatica has been also involved in the organization of Master Schools and in the development of Prototypes: these are described in the session "Master Schools and Prototypes".

A final section of this report is devoted to describe the Dottorato di Ricerca in Informatica (the Ph.D. Program in Computer Science) of the Dipartimento di Informatica.

Finally, note that the Dipartimento di Informatica is cooperating with and supporting both the Ph.D Program in Cognitive Sciences and the Ph.D Program in Communication Sciences.