John Lions Distinguished Lecture Series 2026

Operating systems sit at the heart of modern computing, yet they are notoriously difficult to teach and learn due to their complexity and the breadth of topics they encompass. John Lions' fame results from taking a new approach to teaching operating systems 50 years ago, by studying the source code. During this talk, Emeritus Prof. Hermann Härtig, explores the story of L4Re, a highly secure software platform built on the principles of the L4 microkernel—a small, reliable core of an operating system designed to keep critical functions separate and protected. Over time, L4Re has evolved from a research project into a trusted, certified technology now used in everything from appliance controllers to major automotive operating systems. Recent work has also shown its ability to support multicore container-based cloud applications. The lecture also introduces the M3 project, which takes these same ideas further by applying them directly to computer hardware. Its goal is to create more secure Systems on Chip—the tiny integrated computers found in phones, cars, appliances, and many other devices. M3 does this using isolation and controlled communication across untrusted, heterogeneous devices, without requiring deep architectural changes. Discover how this approach enables powerful sandboxing—running software in restricted environments so failures or attacks cannot spread— as well as new trusted‑execution models for a broad range of hardware.  We're the official channel for the wonderful community members of UNSW Sydney, a brilliantly located university between the coast and the city. UNSW Sydney is one of Australia's leading research and teaching universities. We're a welcoming community, promoting lasting knowledge and creating an academic environment where outstanding students and scholars from around the world can be inspired to excel in their programs of study and research.