Computing and Mathematical Sciences research - Birkbeck, University of London

Birkbeck has been teaching and researching computer science since 1957, making it one of the oldest computing departments worldwide. Having a long-established reputation in data management and computational intelligence, we have evolved into a world-leading centre in artificial intelligence and data science, databases and knowledge representation, verification, as well as discrete mathematics and algorithms.

Our research is organised around three main themes: AI and Data Science, Discrete Mathematics and Algorithms and Logical Methods. We also have two research centres: Birkbeck Institute for Data Analytics and Birkbeck Knowledge Lab.

In REF 2021, almost all (91%) of our research activity in computer science was judged as being internationally excellent, with 50% being world-leading, which ranks us 23rd among 90 computer science departments in the UK.

View the results in full on the REF2021 website.

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Outstanding REF 2021 result

55% of our research outputs are world-leading, alongside 67% of our impact, ranked 23rd nationally.

Research themes

Algorithms

Addressing the efficiency of computation, including theory, design and implementation.

Artificial Intelligence and Data Science

Developing and applying advanced methodologies in machine learning, big data and NLP.

Logical Methods

Developing and applying symbolic logic formalisms to represent, analyse and query data, knowledge and computations.

Research centres

Birkbeck Institute for Data Analytics

BIDA provides the focus and a platform for research that combines data from computing and pervasive technologies, and a wide range of academic disciplines.

Birkbeck Knowledge Lab

We draw on multi- and interdisciplinary perspectives and methodologies to investigate how digital technologies and digital information are transforming our learning, working and cultural lives.

Research impact studies

Enhancing Vehicle Deployment Strategies at the London Ambulance Service

Birkbeck researchers worked with the London Ambulance Service (LAS) to create software to predict ambulance response times with 80% greater accuracy.

Global Standards for Smart City infrastructure

Research into federated entity identification systems led to the development of Recommendation ITU-T Y.4805, a worldwide standard for global information infrastructure.

Virtual Knowledge Graphs in industry and the public sector

Virtual Knowledge Graphs facilitate information extraction without relying on IT specialists, opening up data repositories to data analytics.

More information

Seminars

The school hosts a programme of research seminars by invited speakers and Birkbeck staff. The seminars are open to all.

Publications

Read the work published by staff in the School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences.

News

Keep up to date with what's happening in the School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences.