Institute IMDEA Networks is Sad to Announce the Death of Nicolas Georganas, honored researcher, pioneer of Information Technology

27 July 2010

It is with profound regret that Institute IMDEA Networks announces the death of long-time collaborator Dr. Nicolas D. Georganas. Dr Georganas, 67, passed away last Tuesday, July 27th. He was Distinguished University Professor at the School of Information Technology and Engineering (SITE) and founding Dean of the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Engineering. Dr. Georganas was Visiting Researcher at Institute IMDEA Networks and Cátedra de Excelencia at University Carlos III of Madrid during the academic year 2008-2009.

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Dr. Nicolas D. Georganas was one of today’s leading researchers in information and networking technology research, as well as an expert in interactive multimedia communications at the Ottawa School of Information Technology and Engineering, Canada. His work on performance design and analysis of computer-communication networks, dynamic/hybrid channel assignment in mobile cellular networks and multimedia communications has had a major impact on the field. Recently he investigated collaborative 3D hapto-audio-visual environments, with applications in medical training, in serious gaming and in security. He was also working on next generation multimodal user interfaces including gestures for friendlier real-time interactions among users and their surroundings.

Throughout his outstanding professional career, Dr. Georganas won well-deserved honors and acclaim: he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, received the Order of Ontario, the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal and the Killam Prize for Engineering, and was also appointed Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, among many other honors. In 2008, he became Secretary of the Academy of Science at the Royal Society of Canada.

Dr Georganas, the former Associate Vice-President of Research (External) and Founding Dean of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Ottawa, participated in the activities of Institute IMDEA Networks since its foundation in 2006, having encouraged early networking with kindred international researchers and organizations. He made expert made contributions in a number of areas, most notably in the training and mentoring of its Research Assistants and in the organization of the Institute IMDEA Networks Annual International Workshop on Quantum Networking. Dr. Georganas also contributed input to the strategic development of the Institute. The Institute IMDEA Networks team deeply regrets his loss and wishes to express its deepest sympathy to his family and loved ones.