PROFESSOR RICHARD J MILLAR

CLASS OF 1983

Professor of Computer Science, Ulster University

For most of my years in school, if you had asked me what I wanted to study at university, the answer would have been Medicine. Then in 5th Form (Year 12 today), I got a PC for Christmas which sparked my interest in computing and all of that changed. Having a computer at home was uncommon in 1980 – indeed the School only had one computer at the time which was closely guarded in a room off the Library!

I always had an aptitude for mathematics and logical thinking, which was further developed in Sixth Form by my teachers who pushed me well beyond the A-Level requirements, answered my endless “why” questions and generously gave of their time in the form of additional tuition when I put in my application to Cambridge University and needed to perform well in the entrance examinations.

All of that hard work paid off and I was admitted to Pembroke College, Cambridge, to study Mathematics and Computer Science. When I had finished my degree, I returned to Northern Ireland to undertake a Doctoral degree in Computer Science at Ulster University. I accepted a Lectureship in Computer Science in 1989 and have remained in Ulster for my whole career.

My research work is in image and video compression, i.e. storing pictures and videos in reduced amounts of space. Much of that work has focused on medical imaging (there’s that original interest resurfacing!) where the challenge is to maintain the clinical accuracy of the image or video in its compressed state. One of the techniques I developed is even nicknamed after me – you can Google the Millar Polyhedron.

My career in Ulster University has taken me into management roles for the last 20+ years as Head of the School of Computing & Mathematics, Dean of the Faculty of Computing and Engineering and ultimately as Pro-Vice-Chancellor with responsibility for Academic Planning and for our International Partnerships. This strategic role involved working closely with local government as we balanced student numbers across subjects and our four campuses, trying to meet the needs of the local economy in terms of graduate numbers and skills. That allowed me to contribute to and influence the government’s Higher Education Strategy for Northern Ireland.

Professionally, I am an elected Fellow of the British Computer Society, a former Chair of their Professional Examinations Board and a Chartered Engineer. It has also been my honour to give something back to Belfast High School as a Governor since 2006 and as Chair of the Board of Governors since 2022.

Apart from all of this, I try to maintain a work-life balance to still play squash (something I started at school) and golf, and be an active member of my church as one of the Pastoral Team.