Internet pioneer Vinton G. Cerf visits the University of Michigan

On Friday, April 18, the University of Michigan hosted Vinton G. Cerf, widely recognized as one of the “fathers of the internet,” for the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) department’s 24th William Gould Dow Distinguished Lecture. Held in Chesebrough Auditorium at the Chrysler Center, over 200 attendees gathered to hear Cerf share his insights on the expanding digital world and its societal consequences in a lecture titled “Implications of Our Dependence on a Digital Ecosystem.”

A seminal figure in the field of computer science, Cerf’s work fundamentally transformed global communication. In the mid 1970s, he and Robert E. Kahn designed the TCP/IP protocols that laid the groundwork for the internet and still serve as its foundation. His extensive career has included prominent roles at ICANN, MCI, and the Department of Defense’s Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), and he currently serves as Google’s Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist. His contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including the ACM Turing Award, the National Medal of Technology, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In his talk, Cerf traced the origins and evolution of the internet, highlighting its remarkable expansion and transformative power. He underscored both the opportunities and challenges posed by technological advancements, particularly the need for increased resilience and security in an increasingly interconnected world. Cerf also discussed his ongoing work on developing interplanetary communications to support future space exploration.

“We’re living in a time when there’s an awful lot of stuff happening,” Cerf noted during his lecture. “New technology is coming along, and it’s confronting us with changes.”

Atul Prakash, Richard H. Orenstein Chair of Computer Science and Engineering at U-M, opened the event, and cryptography pioneer Whitfield Diffie, who himself delivered a Dow Lecture the previous semester, introduced Cerf.

“Hosting a pioneer like Vinton Cerf at the University of Michigan is an honor,” said Prakash. “His groundbreaking work on the internet has fundamentally shaped our modern communication.”

Following the lecture, a Q&A session allowed attendees to discuss topics ranging from artificial intelligence to the digitization of daily life. The event was followed by a reception, allowing attendees to converse directly with Cerf.

Cerf’s visit and lecture encouraged attendees to reflect on our collective digital future and how best to navigate it. His talk closed with the reminder that we “ain’t seen nothing yet,” emphasizing the continued challenges and opportunities that future technological advances will bring.

The Dow Distinguished Lectureship is the highest external honor bestowed by the EECS department at U-M. The lectureship was established by donations from students and friends of William Gould Dow, a former faculty member and chair of the department. Professor Dow was a noted scientist, educator, and inventor. During his 38 active years at Michigan from 1926 to 1964, he was largely responsible for creating and organizing at least 13 laboratories and research units, in addition to introducing a number of innovative areas of study into the curriculum.