Watch the Inaugural Lecture of Professor Markus Luczak-Roesch

Despite the unpleasant weather, which unfortunately affected flights, resulting in some people from Auckland being unable to attend, the lecture was well attended, and very much appreciated.

Professor Luczak-Roesch's talk covered a number of topics, blending them skillfully, and speaking with passion and energy, and, at times, humour.

He talked about the path that led to him becoming a professor at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University. Beginning from growing up in the shadow of the Berlin Wall, his childhood emerging interests in information, and his educational pathway, as the first in his family to go to university, from studies in Berlin to his post-doc in the UK working with what the VC described as “royalty” in the field of computing, including the creator of the World Wide Web, Professor Sir Tim Berners-Lee.

Professor Luczak-Roesch overviewed his research, introducing the concepts of information and complexity, and the notion of a network (“graph”). He then explained the method that he has developed (“transcendental information cascades”) and showed examples of its application in a diverse range of domains: from analysing English literature, to analysing Wikipedia editing behaviour to detect malicious edits, to analysing brain waves, to exploring a range of aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, to examining climate records.

Finally, Professor Luczak-Roesch went on to discuss change, highlighting how individuals can affect change, giving examples of people. This was an emotional part of the lecture.

The applause was followed by one of Markus' friends (who he mentioned in his lecture when he spoke about change that comes through individuals) acknowledging him with a Haka, kaumātua Rangimoana Taylor giving a very personal kōrero to tautoko Markus, a whānau waiata about kindness by a third of Markus' closest friends, and a rendition of Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi with the whole audience joining in.

Altogether, attendees were treated to a fantastic lecture and an emotional celebration of the promotion of Professor Markus Luczak-Roesch, and a recognition of his past and continuing contributions to the School of Information Management, the Wellington School of Business and Government, Victoria University, and beyond.