Professor S. Misbah Deen 1938-2024

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of an important member of the School of Computer Science and Mathematics at Keele University, Professor S. Misbah Deen (Emeritus) on Monday 14 October, 2024. 

Professor Deen joined Keele University in 1986 as Chair in Computer Science, having previously worked at the Computing Science Department of the University of Aberdeen since 1973. Born in Bangladesh in 1938, Professor Deen received his BSc (Hons) degree in Physics (1958) and an MSc degree in Nuclear Physics (1959), both from the University of Dhaka, followed by a PhD in Particle Physics from Imperial College London in 1965. He subsequently worked in Physics research for a number of years, first in the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), and later in Particle Physics at Rutherford High Energy Laboratory, England.

At Keele University, Professor Deen established the Data and Knowledge Engineering (DAKE) research group, with a strong focus on distributed databases, and cooperating knowledge-based systems (CKBS). The CKBS architecture provided an engineering approach to multiagent systems (as opposed to symbolic Artificial Intelligence) and became a foundation for many distributed applications including dynamic integration of ontologies in distributed information systems, telecommunication network management, supply-chain management, and agent-based manufacturing systems. 

The DAKE research group at Keele University became a centre of excellence in Europe, supported by EU/Agent-Link, the UK DTI, and Toshiba of Japan. The group contributed to many large EU projects including ESPRIT/IMAGINE project (1990 - 1994) and the International Holonic Manufacturing Systems (HMS) project (1994 - 2001), on intelligent or agent-based manufacturing, in collaboration with major manufacturers from the developed world, including BHP from Australia, Toshiba, Hitachi and Fanuc from Japan, DaimlerChrysler from Europe, and Rockwell Automation from the USA. With over US$100 million investment for the partners, this was the largest international research project on intelligent manufacturing systems.

Professor Deen established collaborations with many international Universities and global companies and created several international conferences on databases, e.g., the International Conference on Databases (ICOD), the British National Conference on Databases (BNCOD), and an International Conference on Cooperating Knowledge Based Systems. He published over 100 substantial research papers and wrote several books in Computer Science, and particularly on database systems. Furthermore, he established a number of advanced Master’s degree courses at Keele, with EPSRC funding, on Data Engineering and Machine Perception, and also supervised over 35 PhD students.

Professor Deen retired in October, 2005 as Emeritus Professor, but continued working in research and published several books beyond Computer Science, including one in Science Under Islam, and another on a Brief History of Bengal for Diaspora Bangladeshis.

Professor Deen will be greatly missed as a colleague and mentor to many academics not only at Keele University but also internationally.