University, ANL establish institute to bring together computer science and other fields

The University and Argonne National Laboratory have established a new Computation Institute to bring the most advanced tools of computer science to bear on fields ranging from the sciences to the arts and humanities.

The latest in a broadening series of scientific interactions between the laboratory and the University, the Computation Institute of the University and Argonne is the first joint, institutional-level structure. Its goal will be to focus on large-scale projects requiring teamwork between the computational sciences and other disciplines.

“Advanced computation is having a profound impact on the conceptualization and analysis of problems across a broad spectrum of intellectual activity. The Computation Institute will further the leadership position of the University and Argonne in research and education in this important and rapidly developing area,” said Robert Zimmer, the University’s Deputy Provost for Research.

Of special interest to the institute is research requiring computational simulation, modeling or massive data analysis, said Frank Fradin, Argonne’s interim director.

“Plans call for activity across the physical, biological and social sciences as well as humanities and the arts,” Fradin said. “Further plans involve analyzing the economic, social and cultural impact of information technology.”

The new institute’s co-directors are Ridgway Scott, Professor in Computer Science and Mathematics at the University, and Rick Stevens, director of mathematics and computer science at Argonne.

Other appointments to the institute from among University and Argonne researchers will be made over the next six months.

Argonne is operated by the University as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s national laboratory system.