1. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9 NOT

2. Welcome to Caltech Workshop Michael Foster March 15, 2007

3. What’s New? Interesting questions are increasingly complex and computational Interesting questions are increasingly complex and computational – Exact answers only possible by watching and waiting (computation) – Computing insights may give partial answers. Biology: how do proteins control structure and function? Biology: how do proteins control structure and function? Economics: what is market equilibrium in the face of dynamic and incomplete information? Economics: what is market equilibrium in the face of dynamic and incomplete information? Meteorology: what will the weather be next week? Meteorology: what will the weather be next week? Computing: how will an ensemble of a million interacting computers behave? Computing: how will an ensemble of a million interacting computers behave? Communication: how will a protocol or policy change affect internet congestion? Communication: how will a protocol or policy change affect internet congestion?

4. New Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Geosciences, Statistics… Cyber-enabled Discovery Data Core Concept ExperimentTheory Visualization, simulation, Computational Science Interpretation Insights Domains of inquiry Manufacturing Processes Statistical learning DNA Transcription Current Cyber-enabled Discovery

5. From PDEs to Computations Interesting problems embed computation Interesting problems embed computation – Analytic, numerical solutions not enough Complete prediction is impossible Complete prediction is impossible – Chaos, emergent properties Some insights are still possible Some insights are still possible – Bounds, impossibility results, …

6. Computational Discovery in Education Functions and operators described precisely as computational algorithms Functions and operators described precisely as computational algorithms Forced to be precise and meaningful Forced to be precise and meaningful Description becomes a tool Description becomes a tool Students learn by simulation and symbolic execution Students learn by simulation and symbolic execution

7. Status of CDI In President’s FY08 Request In President’s FY08 Request – NSF-wide initiative Knowledge extraction Knowledge extraction Complex interactions Complex interactions Computational experimentation Computational experimentation Virtual environments Virtual environments Educating students and researchers Educating students and researchers – $52M in FY08, rising to $250M in FY12 Under intense discussion in NSF Under intense discussion in NSF – Distributed funds – How to coordinate?

8. What I Need From You Examples Examples – Results from the algorithmic worldview In another field In another field With testimonials With testimonials Epigrams Epigrams – 25 words or less – Differentiate CDI from computational science – Beat: Advancement of science and engineering through augmentation of core concepts with computational models and reasoning, through computational experimentation, and through extraction of knowledge from data. – Beat: CDI casts computation as a basis for science and engineering, in core ideas as well as simulation and data management. Computational thinking tells us what is possible, knowable, and usable.

9. The Want Ads

10. NSF Highlights Convince the US public that research is worth paying for Convince the US public that research is worth paying for Succinct, interesting vignettes Succinct, interesting vignettes – Show a result, not an expense – Layman’s language – Graphics if possible NSF Uses the best ones NSF Uses the best ones – Budget requests – Performance reports – Public relations

11. Help from the Community Send your best ideas to NSF Send your best ideas to NSF – Consistent with focus & goals of the program – We want high risk / high reward proposals Suggest and encourage good panelists who can do justice to the proposals and our focus Suggest and encourage good panelists who can do justice to the proposals and our focus Volunteer to be a reviewer and panelist Volunteer to be a reviewer and panelist Engage with the CCC http://www.cra.org/ccc/ Engage with the CCC http://www.cra.org/ccc/

12. NSF Staff Sought Program Directors Program Directors – Theory of Computing: Applications by May 4, 2007 – Openings in all areas in 1-3 years Interdisciplinary capability Interdisciplinary capability – Across cluster, division, NSF, and globally

13. Contact Dr. Michael Foster Division Director, Computing and Communication Foundations National Science Foundation 4201 Wilson Boulevard Suite 1115 Arlington, VA 22230 703-292-8910mfoster@nsf.gov