Information retrieval is the science that studies the organisation of information and access to it. As part of Computer Science, this scientific discipline lays the basis for all forms of search technology. Theory and research results form the basis for applications of big data, varying from well-known and widely used web search engines to the technology that produces online recommendations in social media platforms and music and video services. The accumulated knowledge can also be applied to understand complex requests for information (Data Science), for example, in the fields of digital humanities, medical research or life sciences.
Arjen P. de Vries (1972, Laren NH) completed his Master’s degree in Computer Science (with honours) at the University of Twente in 1995. Four years later, he obtained his PhD diploma for research on Content and Multimedia Database Management Systems. Since 1999, De Vries has been working as a researcher at the Centre for Mathematics and Computer Science (CWI), where he leads the research group Information Access.
In 2008, De Vries was appointed Professor of Multimedia Dataspaces at the Technical University of Delft. He is a founding member of Spinque, a CWI spin-off that focuses on developing search technology for information specialists. At Radboud University, Arjen P. de Vries will become leader of information retrieval research. Besides taking care of the associated Master course for the Master's specialisation in Data Science, he will start a new Bachelor’s course about big data.
Source: Radboud University
