1 Introduction



next up previous
Next: 1.1 Is there a Up: OV Chapter Previous: OV Chapter

1 Introduction

 

Presently there is no generally accepted definition of Computational Science. In broad terms it is about using computers to analyze scientific problems. Thus we distinguish it from computer science, which is the study of computers and computation, and from theory and experiment, the traditional forms of science. Computational Science seeks to gain understanding principally through the analysis of mathematical models on high performance computers. The term computational scientist has been coined to describe scientists, engineers and mathematicians who apply high performance computer technology in innovative and essential ways to advance the state of knowledge in their respective disciplines. More recently, computational science has begun to make inroads into other areas such as economics, music and visual arts.

We shall use the term ``computational science'' as a convenient shorthand for ``computational science and engineering.'' A well-known characterisation of computational science activities was presented by K. Wilson in 1986 [1]. He summarized the characteristics of computational science problems in whatever discipline as those;

  1. having a precise mathematical statement,
  2. being intractable by traditional methods,
  3. having a significant scope,
  4. requiring an in-depth knowledge of science, engineering or the arts.
At that time Wilson also addressed a number of open issues concerning computational science, all of which are still open issues today and will be addressed in the following sections.





verena@csep1.phy.ornl.gov