What is Informatics?
Informatics is…
- converting data into information
- humming a tune and your search engine correcting the pitch
- predicting the spread of the next flu epidemic
- combating malicious hackers
- understanding the human genome
- exploring virtual reality
- supporting cutting edge research
- developing business solutions
- and more…
Informatics develops new uses for information technology and in order to solve specific problems in areas as diverse as biology, fine arts, and economics. Informatics is also interested in how people transform technology, and how technology transforms us.
At the School of Informatics we emphasize problem solving, innovation, communications, and teamwork along with technical skills and knowledge. Our mission is to train students in state-of-the-art information technology and science with an emphasis on creative human applications, offering a unique set of degrees at the B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. levels.
In many ways, informatics is a bridge connecting IT to a particular field of study such as biology, chemistry, fine arts, telecommunications, geography, business, economics, journalism, etc.. Because of this, all undergraduate Informatics students choose a field or discipline that interests them (which we call a cognate). The cognate allows them to follow their own personal interests, and take courses in other programs at Indiana University.
Some cognates lead to recently recognized disciplines, such as biology leading to bioinformatics. Others lead to well-understood careers perhaps just emerging as disciplines, such as fine arts leading to top quality Web design, animations, and interactive art. For those interested in computers and programming, the computer science cognate adds further technology strength to our human-centered, problem solving curriculum.