Computer Science Day 2026 at the RUB

The Computer Science Day at the Ruhr-Universtiy Bochum (RUB) once again brought together researchers, students, partners, and members of the public to engage with current questions in computer science and their societal implications. Held in February at RUB, the annual event offered an afternoon of accessible research talks, discussion, and networking within the Faculty of Computer Science.

A central highlight of this year’s program was the inaugural lecture of Rebekah Overdorf, Professor of Security and Trustworthiness of Online Information at RUB and member of the Research Center Trustworthy Data Science and Security (RC Trust). In her lecture, Detection and Analysis of Harmful Activities in Online Platforms, Overdorf addressed how manipulation of platform mechanisms and malicious behaviors shape online information environments-and how computer science can help detect, understand, and mitigate these threats.

Overdorf’s research lies at the intersection of security, privacy, and data science. Her work focuses on how malicious actors exploit platform mechanisms at scale, how emerging attack models can be analyzed to better understand future risks, and how defensive tools can be developed to counter manipulation-even in the absence of platform cooperation. The overarching goal of her research is to restore trust in digital information and strengthen the resilience of online ecosystems.

Having joined Ruhr University Bochum in March 2025, Rebekah Overdorf is also affiliated with the Cluster of Excellence CASA – Cybersecurity in the Age of Large-Scale Adversaries. She collaborates closely with researchers across the University Alliance Ruhr, benefiting from Bochum’s strong interdisciplinary cybersecurity landscape. “Bochum brings a bunch of people together that are really smart on a topic I am interested in,” she explains. “It’s a good environment!”

In addition to the inaugural lectures, the Computer Science Day featured a series of short, engaging talks by researchers from the Faculty of Computer Science, offering insights into current projects and developments across the discipline. The event concluded with an informal get-together, providing space for exchange, networking, and discovering new points of connection over snacks and drinks.

The Computer Science Day at the RUB once again highlighted how computer science research contributes not only to technological innovation, but also to addressing pressing societal challenges - particularly when it comes to trust, security, and responsibility in the digital age.