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

Welcome to Caltech Welcome to Caltech WorkshopWorkshop

Michael FosterMichael Foster

March 15, 2007March 15, 2007

What’s New?What’s New?• Interesting questions are increasingly complex Interesting questions are increasingly complex

and computationaland computational– Exact answers only possible by watching and Exact answers only possible by watching and

waiting (computation)waiting (computation)– Computing insights may give partial answers.Computing insights may give partial answers.

• Biology: how do proteins control structure and Biology: how do proteins control structure and function?function?

• Economics: what is market equilibrium in the Economics: what is market equilibrium in the face of dynamic and incomplete information?face of dynamic and incomplete information?

• Meteorology: what will the weather be next Meteorology: what will the weather be next week?week?

• Computing: how will an ensemble of a million Computing: how will an ensemble of a million interacting computers behave?interacting computers behave?

• Communication: how will a protocol or policy Communication: how will a protocol or policy change affect internet congestion?change affect internet congestion?

NewPhysics, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Geosciences, Statistics…

Cyber-enabled Discovery

Data

Core Concept ExperimentTheory

Visualization, simulation, Computational Science

Interpretation

InsightsDomains of inquiry

ManufacturingProcesses

Statistical learning

DNA Transcription

Current

Cyber-enabled Cyber-enabled DiscoveryDiscovery

From PDEs to From PDEs to ComputationsComputations

• Interesting problems embed Interesting problems embed computationcomputation– Analytic, numerical solutions not Analytic, numerical solutions not

enoughenough

• Complete prediction is impossibleComplete prediction is impossible– Chaos, emergent propertiesChaos, emergent properties

• Some insights are still possibleSome insights are still possible– Bounds, impossibility results, …Bounds, impossibility results, …

Computational Discovery Computational Discovery in Educationin Education

• Functions and operators Functions and operators described precisely as described precisely as computational computational algorithmsalgorithms

• Forced to be precise Forced to be precise and meaningfuland meaningful

• Description becomes a Description becomes a tooltool

• Students learn by Students learn by simulation and symbolic simulation and symbolic executionexecution

Status of CDIStatus of CDI

• In President’s FY08 RequestIn President’s FY08 Request– NSF-wide initiativeNSF-wide initiative

• Knowledge extractionKnowledge extraction• Complex interactionsComplex interactions• Computational experimentationComputational experimentation• Virtual environmentsVirtual environments• Educating students and researchersEducating students and researchers

– $52M in FY08, rising to $250M in FY12$52M in FY08, rising to $250M in FY12• Under intense discussion in NSFUnder intense discussion in NSF

– Distributed fundsDistributed funds– How to coordinate?How to coordinate?

What I Need From YouWhat I Need From You• ExamplesExamples

– Results from the algorithmic worldviewResults from the algorithmic worldview• In another fieldIn another field• With testimonialsWith testimonials

• EpigramsEpigrams– 25 words or less25 words or less– Differentiate CDI from computational scienceDifferentiate CDI from computational science– Beat: Advancement of science and engineering Beat: Advancement of science and engineering

through augmentation of core concepts with through augmentation of core concepts with computational models and reasoning, through computational models and reasoning, through computational experimentation, and through computational experimentation, and through extraction of knowledge from data.extraction of knowledge from data.

– Beat: CDI casts computation as a basis for science Beat: CDI casts computation as a basis for science and engineering, in core ideas as well as simulation and engineering, in core ideas as well as simulation and data management. Computational thinking tells and data management. Computational thinking tells us what is possible, knowable, and usable.us what is possible, knowable, and usable.

The Want AdsThe Want Ads

NSF HighlightsNSF Highlights

• Convince the US public that Convince the US public that research is worth paying forresearch is worth paying for

• Succinct, interesting vignettesSuccinct, interesting vignettes– Show a result, not an expenseShow a result, not an expense– Layman’s languageLayman’s language– Graphics if possibleGraphics if possible

• NSF Uses the best onesNSF Uses the best ones– Budget requestsBudget requests– Performance reportsPerformance reports– Public relationsPublic relations

Help from the Help from the CommunityCommunity

• Send your best ideas to NSFSend your best ideas to NSF– Consistent with focus & goals of the Consistent with focus & goals of the

programprogram– We want high risk / high reward proposalsWe want high risk / high reward proposals

• Suggest and encourage good panelists Suggest and encourage good panelists who can do justice to the proposals who can do justice to the proposals and our focusand our focus

• Volunteer to be a reviewer and panelistVolunteer to be a reviewer and panelist• Engage with the CCC Engage with the CCC

http://www.cra.org/ccc/http://www.cra.org/ccc/

NSF Staff SoughtNSF Staff Sought

• Program DirectorsProgram Directors– Theory of Computing: Theory of Computing:

Applications by May 4, 2007Applications by May 4, 2007– Openings in all areas in 1-3 yearsOpenings in all areas in 1-3 years

• Interdisciplinary capabilityInterdisciplinary capability– Across cluster, division, NSF, and Across cluster, division, NSF, and

globallyglobally

ContactContact

Dr. Michael FosterDr. Michael FosterDivision Director, Computing and Division Director, Computing and

Communication FoundationsCommunication FoundationsNational Science FoundationNational Science Foundation4201 Wilson Boulevard4201 Wilson BoulevardSuite 1115Suite 1115Arlington, VA 22230Arlington, VA 22230703-292-8910703-292-8910mfoster@nsf.govmfoster@nsf.gov