Diversity in multimedia information retrieval research

Multimedia information retrieval is a highly diverse field. A variety of data types, research problems,methodologies are involved.Researchers in the field come from very different disciplines, ranging from mathematical and physical sciences, computational sciences and engineering, to application domains. The panel, consisting of highly visible active researchers from both academia and the industry,opens a discussion on the importance of diversity to the healthy growth of the field. This paper records their opinions expressed at the panel.