Conference: Research Activity in Networking - The Coimbra Connection
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Fernando Boavida
Location: Room 4.1F03, Telematics Department, Torres Quevedo Building, University Carlos III of Madrid, Avda. Universidad, 30, 28911 Leganes – Madrid
Date: 4th March, 2009, at 10:00
Organization: NETCOM Research Group (Telematics Department, University Carlos III of Madrid, Spain); IMDEA Networks (Madrid, Spain)

The conference will be conducted in English

Abstract:

Research Activity in Networking - The Coimbra Connection

Networks are faster and faster. The same can be said of networking research activity. Research groups wanting to assert  themselves in the field of networking have to quickly react to the research challenges that pop up at impressive rate. There are various reasons for this, including:
i) funding - whether you like it or not, it is not possible to do serious research without it;
ii) researchers' natural interest in topical areas;
iii) overall approach of the group, in order to address important, unsolved problems. Nevertheless, a clear strategy must exist, in order to prevent thrashing situations. Using as 'case study' the Communications and Telematics group of the University of Coimbra, this talk addresses the research vision, strategy, topics, results and quality indicators of research in the networking arena. A substantial part of the talk identifies and briefly explains the actual research topics being addressed, as a way of example. The presentation ends with a short discussion of future steps and requirements.

Who is Fernando Boavida?

Fernando Boavida received his PhD in Informatics Engineering in 1990, and he currently is Full Professor at the Department of Informatics Engineering (DEI) of the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra. He was the leader of the Laboratory of Communications and Telematics (LCT) of DEI until December 2008, and he is currently the Strategic Director for Communications and Information Technology of the University of Coimbra.

His main research interests are Mobile and Ambient Networking, and Scalable Networking (quality of service issues, mobility and nomadicity, wireless sensor networks). His publications include six books, seven book chapters, 35 papers in national conferences and journals, and 110 papers in international refereed journals and conference proceedings. He was the chairman of the Program Committee of QofIS'2001, IDMS-PROMS'2002, NETWORKING 2006, WWIC 2007 and FMN 2008 international conferences/workshops. He has been involved in numerous program committees of major international conferences, including INFOCOM 2006 and 2007.

He participated in European initiatives/projects such as COST263 (Quality of Future Internet Services), E-NET (Emerging Networking Technologies, IST-2001-37814), E-NEXT (FP6 Network of Excellence on Emerging Networking Experiments and Technologies) EuQoS (End-to-end Quality of Service support over heterogeneous networks, IST-FP6-2004-004503), WEIRD (WiMAX Extension to Isolated Research Data networks, IST FP6 Integrated Project 034622), OpenNet (Open Interconnect for the Internet Community, IST-FP6 Specific Support Action 035185), CONTENT (Content Networks and Services for Home Users, IST-FP6-0384239), GINSENG (Performance Control in Wireless Sensor Networks, ICT-FP7-224282) and MICIE (Tool for systemic risk analysis and secure mediation of data ex-changed across linked CI information infrastructures, ICT-FP7-225353).

He is a licensed Professional Engineer. He is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Computer Communications journal.

If you would like more information about Dr. Fernando Boavida, please visit his homepage: http://staff.uc.pt/boavida