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.