Abstract

In 2005 Gilles Kahn discussed with Rick Rashid, Stephen Emmott and myself a proposal for Microsoft Research, Cambridge and INRIA to establish a joint research laboratory in France, building on the long-term informal collaboration between the two institutions. The research focus of the joint laboratory was an important point of discussion. In addition to building on our mutual strengths in areas such as software specification an important topic was a shared desire to create a programme of researching the area of computational science – using the concepts and methods of computer science to accelerate the pace of scientific development and explore the potential for new approaches to science exploiting computer science concepts and methods. This paper explores what computational science is and the contribution it can make to scientific progress. It is in large part abridged from a report “Towards 2020 Science” published by a group of experts assembled by Microsoft Research who met over three intense days to debate and consider the role and future of science, looking towards 2020 and, in particular, the importance and impact of computing and computer science in that vision.

Introduction

Computers have played an increasingly important role in science for 50 years. At the end of the twentieth century there was a transition from computers supporting scientists to do conventional science to computer science itself becoming part of the fabric of science and how science is done.