Department of Computer Science, Heriot-Watt University

History of the 1980s

1 September 1980
Howard Williams appointed as Professor and Head of Department

from January 1981

Progressive expansion into buildings 7, 5 (Autumn '85), the rest of 6 (Autumn '86), 4 (Summer '87), and 2 (September '88), 79 Grassmarket

9 March 1983

Visit of the UGC Mathematical Sciences Sub-committee

June 1984

VAX 11/750 installed

Autumn 1984

Coffee Club set up

September 1984 Alvey MMI Centre approved
June 1985 Agreement to have a Deputy Head of Department
17.10.85 CS move to Riccarton slated for “January 1991”
October 1985 Additional resources from the UGC for Computer Science
1 January 1986
Building 7 flooded, with a brand new ICL3930 as the victim. It was instantly named “neptune”!
Spring 1986
Decision making started on the Computer Science building at Riccarton
May 1986 First RAE results – “Average”, out of Outstanding, Above Average, Average, Below Average
4 December 1986 BCS Accreditation Visit
29 May 1989 First sod cut for the new building at Riccarton
August 1989 1989 RAE results – a “3” out of 5
19-20 September 1989 Departmental Retreat