Computing: Third Tool for Scientific Discovery and Prediction

In the last decade, use of computer simulation technology has grown to include modeling multi-scale systems to facilitate research in virtually every field. "Originally, scientists' research methodologies were theory and experiment," says Parviz Moin, Ph.D., the Franklin P. and Caroline M. Johnson Professor in the School of Engineering. Moin is also Director of the Center for Turbulence Research (CTR) and Stanford's Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering (ICME). "Computing now forms the third leg of a stool for scientific discovery and prediction and for studying the performance and behavior of physical systems."

Stanford researchers use computer simulation tools to explore a broad range of real-world challenges, including: more efficient jet engines, surgical strategies with better outcomes, improved understanding of protein folding in health and disease, and optimized Internet traffic. The private sector uses simulation tools for cost-effective testing of products in a growing number of industries—automobile, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, alternative energy, and more. As the use of these tools spreads, the need for highly educated, modern computational engineers promises to grow in the coming decades.

New Interdisciplinary MS Degree Program Available Online

ICME is now offering, on a part-time basis and completely at a distance, the degree of Master of Science in Computational and Mathematical Engineering. Students must be admitted as Stanford University graduate students through the regular admissions process. "To do mathematics and mathematical applications requires the breadth and strength of a top-rated university like Stanford," says Moin. The Stanford Center for Professional Development (SCPD) will deliver it to industry students over the Internet and via local television broadcast.

Eric Shaqfeh, Ph.D., Professor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, heads the faculty curriculum committee of more than a dozen members. "The committee aimed to create an educational foundation allowing students to master the skills necessary to create simulations in fields ranging from management science and engineering to aeronautics and astronautics," he says. The curriculum includes new courses specifically developed for the graduate program, as well as an expanding selection of electives that draw from all these areas of research.

New core CME courses will be available online, beginning with CME 302 Numerical Linear Algebra in autumn of 2005. SCPD already offers many electives from different departments that are included in the new CME master's curriculum:

• AA 214A Numerical Methods in Fluid Mechanics
• AA 214B Numerical Computation of Compressible Flow
• AA 214C Numerical Computation of Viscous Flow
• AA 215 A,B Advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics
• CS 315A Parallel Computer Architecture/Programming
• CS 348A Computer Graphics: Geometric Modeling
• CS 221 Artificial Intelligence: Principles and Techniques
• CS 228 Probabilistic Models in Artificial Intelligence
• CS 229 Machine Learning
• CS 255 Introduction to Cryptography
• EE 278 Introduction to Statistical Signal Processing
• EE 376A Information Theory
• EE 363 Linear Dynamic Systems
• EE 364 Convex Optimization
• MS&E 220 Probabilistic Analysis
• MS&E 223 Simulation
• ME 335A Finite Element Analysis
• ME 335B Finite Element Analysis
• ME 335C Finite Element Analysis
• ME 469 A,B Computational Methods in Fluid Mechanics
• ME 484 Computational Methods in Cardiovascular Bioengineering

Admissions

Admissions to the program and graduation requirements are the same for part-time and fulltime students. For details, visit: http://icme.stanford.edu/admissions/index.html.

Industry students may pursue degrees on a part-time basis while continuing employment. Deadlines for applications to the part-time CME MS program are as follows: March 1st for autumn quarter admission, July 31st for winter, October 31st for spring.

Inside ICME

Faculty Spotlights

• Gianluca Iaccarino, a Research Associate in CTR, teaches ME469B Computational Methods in Fluid Mechanics Using Commercial Codes, a course designed specifically to bridge the gap between theoretical analysis and industrial applications. In discussing the course, one student says, "These are tools we work with every day, not strictly theory in an abstract sense … having someone three thousand miles away give me guidance showed me that distance education really can work." Read our spotlight on ME469B.
• Gene H. Golub, Professor of Computer Science (and, by courtesy, of Electrical Engineering) will teach CME 302 Numerical Linear Algebra this autumn, available from SCPD online for industry students.

The ICME will expand the number of courses broadcast through SCPD in the coming year. Bookmark this page and visit often for the latest developments, faculty spotlights and new online courses.

Faculty Spotlight - Parvis Moin