Computer and Computational Algebra is a fast growing field with many applications in education, science, engineering, medical fields, etc. To develop and explore such applications close cooperation is needed between mathematicians, computer scientists, engineers, and scientists. To facilitate such cooperation the Department of Mathematics at Oakland University is organizing an international conference during the month of July 2007 at Oakland University. The main goals of this conference will be to promote the applications of Computer Algebra and Symbolic Computation and to bring together researchers from mathematics, computer science, engineering, and other sciences in order to further cooperation.
The applications discussed in the conference are important in areas such as education, mathematics, computer science, electrical engineering, industrial applications etc. For example, one of the sessions is organized by Charles Wampler who is the head of the GM Research and Development group on robotics. The group's main activities are based on techniques which make heavy use of computer algebra. These techniques will be discussed in detail in the conference and will introduce other researchers and students to the needs of the auto industry, which is quite important for the economy of the Detroit area. Other applications include coding theory and cryptography which are very important decoding terrorist threats and securing safe communication channels. Several of the session organizers are members of the NATO Advanced Study Institute which will be organized in Albania in 2008. This summer institute is funded by NATO and aims at training mathematicians, computer scientists, and engineers from Eastern Europe and Mediterranean countries to monitor the terrorist elements in those countries. Finally, the organizers of the Applications of Computer Al- gebra (ACA) conference at Oakland University hope that the new ideas generated in this conference will have direct impact on industrial applications and combating terrorism.
