Research Topics
- Can machines think?
- What is artificial intelligence?
- Design of a computer using stored-program concept
- Analysis of programming algorithms
- Semantics of context free languages
- Why is GOTO statement considered a bad programming?
- Probabilistic public key encryption
- What is a zero knowledge proof?
- Design of a compiler
Further Reading
http://www.computersciencedegreehub.com/30-most-influential-computer-scientists-alive-today/ – most influential contemporary computer scientists
https://www.computerhope.com/people/index.htm – a huge database of computer science pioneers
Additional Role Models in Computer Science
The table below presents other influential figures in computer science that you may be interested in researching further.
Name | Occupational fields | Most notable achievements | University of Reading module links |
---|---|---|---|
Charles Babbage (26/12/1791 - 18/10/1871) | Mathematics, philosophy, mechanical engineering | First mechanical computers - difference engine and analytical engine | CS1FC16 Fundamentals of computer science |
George Boole (2/11/1815 - 8/12/1864) | Mathematics, logic, philosophy | Boolean algebra | CS1FC16 Fundamentals of computer science CS1MA16 Mathematics for computer science |
Douglas Carl Engelbart (30/1/1925 - 2/7/2013) | Computer-human interaction | Computer mouse, development of interactive computing | |
John McCarthy (4/9/1927 - 24/10/2011) | Cognitive science, artificial intelligence | Early work on AI, inventing programming language Lisp | CS1AC16 Applications of computer science |
Éva Tardos (born on 1/10/1957) | Mathematics, algorithms | Research on analysis of algorithms, network flow algorithms | CS1FC16 Fundamentals of computer science CS2AO17 Algorithms and operating systems |
Radia Perlman (born on 1/1/1951) | Software design, network engineering | Spanning tree protocol, network and security protocols | CS1FC16 Fundamentals of computer science |
Roberta Williams (born on 16/2/1953) | Video games design | Pioneering work on graphic adventure games - Mystery House, Wizard and the Princess, King's Quest | |
Tommy Flowers (22/12/1905 - 28/10/1998) | Electrical and mechanical engineering | Designing and building Colossus - first programmable computer | CS1FC16 Fundamentals of computer science |
Herbert Alexander Simon (15/6/1916- 9/2/2001) | Cognitive science, cognitive psychology, philosophy of science | General problem solver, work on decision making, contributions to AI | CS1AC16 Applications of computer science |
Bjarne Stroustrup (born on 30/12/1950) | Mathematics, computer science | Creating programming language C++ | CS1PR16 Programming |
Marian Rejewski (16/8/1905 - 13/2/1980) | Mathematics, cryptography | Early work on decrypting Enigma messages | |
Linus Torvalds (born 28/12/1969) | Software engineering | Developing the Linux kernel, creating Git and Subsurface | CS1SE16 Software engineering |
Mark Zuckerberg (born on 14/5/1984) | Programming, software development | Co-founding Facebook |
This list is by no means exhaustive, as there are many more role models in computer science that can be found online, should none of the ones presented suit you.