What is Computational Science?

Science of Computing
and
Science Done Computationally!

A New Perspective on Computational Science Education
(Copyright: IEEE)

Computational science has emerged as a new discipline in the past decade. It has a core knowledge base and a broad application base. In a broad sense, it means science done computationally. In a more focused sense, it means science of computing.

This is a time of extraordinary advances in science, technology, and education. At the core of these rapid developments is a dramatic increase in the power and use of computers. Capitalizing on these advances, computational science blends several fields including computer science, applied mathematics, and application sciences (such as physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, earth sciences, business and others). Students with a wide interest in computers and the sciences will find a home here under one single program without having to comply with any degree requirements in those fields. This is a problem-solving field. The graphical illustration above signifies computational science as a bridge connecting technology and basic sciences. Advances in computational science have been stated by the government as one of the engines of the economic growth in the US in the past decade.

The College at Brockport, State University of New York began the Computational Science program in fall 1998 under the School of Letters and Sciences. As much of an interdisciplinary program as it is, the field of computational science is a discipline of its own due to: 1) the amount of knowledge involved in its presentation to students, 2) the amount of scientific literature (journals and conferences) devoted to this topic, and 3) the work and service involved for further recognition, establishment, and success at local, national, and global level.

The program operates as a department under the School of Letters and Sciences offering BS and MS to its majors. Students in this program get a diploma in computational science. This is different from offering a certificate or specialization in conjunction with another science program. Undergraduate students at The College at Brockport, however, can declare more than one major during their study which makes it an option for students who like to tightly combine computational science with another major. We have a core faculty and a number of students who have committed to computational science as their primary choice of a career and this speaks very loudly in terms of the recognition that this interdisciplinary field deserves.

Computational science students take courses in computer programming, mathematics, and the natural sciences. The students learn advanced computer skills such as the use of graphics workstations and high-performance computers. Furthermore, computational sciencestudents acquire interdisciplinary knowledge and apply scientific principles in solving real-world problems. Our graduates are well-prepared for future employment in industry, research, and academia. The incredible growth in the information technology sector promises many exciting opportunities for those with computational expertise. Check out the new Information Technology Initiative from the National Science Foundation about support for workforce expansion in computational sciences