Computer Science has become indispensable to scientific inquiry and is permeating science in a transformative manner. This project will develop a framework for a two-course sequence that introduces science majors to computational thinking, to the parallels between computational concepts and scientific models, and to the role of computation in exploring and understanding of physical phenomena. Annual workshops will be held at Purdue to facilitate interaction with other institutions striving for the same goal and to build a broader community developing the principles of a computing education for science undergraduates.
The intellectual merit lies in the recognition of computing as a core activity of the sciences and the need for the next generation of scientists to have a deeper understanding of computational thought. This project will develop an expedient approach for accomplishing this goal by introducing into Purdue's science undergraduate curriculum a full exposition of the many parallels between computational and scientific models. The approach will provide multi-disciplinary exposure and will foster computational and algorithmic thinking. Broader implications of the work include scientists trained in the principles of computing and able to apply computational thinking, as well as having an appreciation of parallels between disciplines. Employing a visual, multi-disciplinary, and team-oriented approach will facilitate comprehension and interest.
