What is Scientific computing: Definition and 34 Discussions

Computational science, also known as scientific computing or scientific computation (SC), is a rapidly growing field that uses advanced computing capabilities to understand and solve complex problems. It is an area of science which spans many disciplines, but at its core, it involves the development of models and simulations to understand natural systems.

Algorithms (numerical and non-numerical): mathematical models, computational models, and computer simulations developed to solve science (e.g., biological, physical, and social), engineering, and humanities problems
Computer hardware that develops and optimizes the advanced system hardware, firmware, networking, and data management components needed to solve computationally demanding problems
The computing infrastructure that supports both the science and engineering problem solving and the developmental computer and information scienceIn practical use, it is typically the application of computer simulation and other forms of computation from numerical analysis and theoretical computer science to solve problems in various scientific disciplines. The field is different from theory and laboratory experiment which are the traditional forms of science and engineering. The scientific computing approach is to gain understanding, mainly through the analysis of mathematical models implemented on computers. Scientists and engineers develop computer programs, application software, that model systems being studied and run these programs with various sets of input parameters. The essence of computational science is the application of numerical algorithms and/or computational mathematics. In some cases, these models require massive amounts of calculations (usually floating-point) and are often executed on supercomputers or distributed computing platforms.

View More On Wikipedia.org
  1. T

    Scientific Computing: Method of Undetermined Coefficients in Python

    In a self learning project I am fooling around book https://faculty.washington.edu/rjl/fdmbook/ I want to do some of the computation myself to better understand the concepts but the book is Matlab based and Matlab is too expensive. Does anyone by any chance have some of the codes provided by...
  2. S

    Moving from Computer Science to a PhD in Computational Astrophysics

    Hi I am planning to do phd in computational astrophysics or planetary science or scientific computing simulation (least preferred in case i am not allowed to the other two). Right now I have bachelors in computer science and planning to do masters in the same. My query is should i join...
  3. T

    A Implicit Euler method with adaptive time step and step doubling

    For Initial Value problems I want to implement an ODE solver for implicit Euler method with adaptive time step and use step doubling to estimate error. I have found some reading stuff about adaptive time step and error estimation using step doubling but those are mostly related to RK methods. I...
  4. GoldenBear

    Suggestions for books about scientific computing using Python

    Looking for suggestions on books (or other learning material) that will help me improve my skills using Python for scientific computing. I am comfortable with Python programming (syntax, conditional statements, loops, etc.), and use it for data analysis in my undergraduate experimental physics...
  5. M

    I How can you know if a numerical solution is correct?

    Hi PF, Suppose I numerically solve a nonlinear system of differential equations. How can I know if my solution is correct (if there is no known analytic solution)? What are the standard practices people do? I have a couple of ideas, but I want to know what people are already doing. Danke!
  6. G

    Studying Self-Studying Scientific Computing for future graduate study

    I like to start a graduate program in scientific computing within the next 4-5 years, once my kids are a little older, my wife finishes her degree, and I have more money saved. In the meantime, I’m not going to waste time. Using the MIT challenge completed by Scott Young as inspiration, I’ve...
  7. G

    Programs MS in scientific computing or statistics from online courses

    I find both subjects interesting, to the point where every night after putting the kids to bed, I spend a few hours self-studying, but I wonder if going back for a master's degree would be worth the effort. I know that if I want to do professional work in either of these two subjects I'll need...
  8. Technik

    Programs What path to follow for scientific computing?

    I am 26 years old and currently working on my B.Sci. in Computer Science. I am also interested in astronomy and physics as well, and my dream job would be something where I can combine those interests and work alongside scientists and researchers. I love science and as long as I make a...
  9. Q

    Studying How should I prepare for a computational science masters?

    Hi I am a computer science undergraduate planning to do a master's degree in computational science(scientific computing) winter 2018. Since I have a bachelor's degree in computer science, I want to prepare before I apply for a degree. As of now I am following basic mathematics from A level...
  10. Q

    Other Job prospects in scientific computing

    Which sub field of scientific computing has better employ ability and job prospects? (within computational physics & computational biology). I meant both in industry and research oriented jobs where we would use the skills and knowledge relevant to the degree.
  11. Q

    Other Books about scientific computing

    Hello, can someone suggest me some introductory, or basic books on scientific computing(computational physics or computational biology) ? I m planning to study masters in it and I want to grasp the basics of it before i commit.
  12. Q

    Physics Simulation and model science or quantum computing

    I am a computer science under graduate,I am more interested in scientific research, so I am preparing to enrol myself masters in quantum computing or simulation sciences. before i join i want to research what are the scope and job opportunities are available for simulation sciences(like...
  13. davidbenari

    Other Careers for someone who mostly knows about scientific computing?

    I study Physics and my major requires me to take 6 optional courses in any area of my interest. I am interested in pursuing a career as a programmer, but my university doesn't allow me to choose Computer Science courses due to their high demand. Perhaps I can take one or two CS courses but...
  14. MexChemE

    Python Learning Python: IDE or Not for Scientific Computing?

    Hello, PF! I've recently begun learning Python the hard way (you know, the online lessons by Zed Shaw), and so far I'm doing great. He does talk down to you at some times, but I don't mind that at all, and he encourages memorizing absurd things, but I like his minimalistic approach at...
  15. fluidistic

    How can scientists trust closed source programs?

    I wonder how can scientists trust closed source programs/softwares. How can they be sure there aren't bugs that return a wrong output every now and then? Assuming they use some kind of extensive tests that figures out whether the program behaves as it should, how can they be sure that the...
  16. Abdul Quader

    Need suggestions for PhD on Computational Physics

    Though there are several posts regarding Compuational Physics, I think my post is a little bit different from them. Currently I am doing my MS in Physics in Miami University and I am in my first year. I am searching a PhD program/group who work experimental and theoretical (computational) work...
  17. P

    Setting up a server for scientific computing

    Hello everyone, I have a cluster computing that I am going to be setting up for scientific computing. I have never done this before and I was wondering, on a server what kind of operating system would be approiate to place on the cluster? As in, would a desktop or server operating system be...
  18. M

    Scientific Computing vs Applied Math at UMN

    I'm graduating this year with a B.S in Computational Physics (the difference is the second semester upper division physics courses aren't required, and are replaced with a year of numerical analysis and a CS minor. But I took the 2nd semester physics back when I was a physics major anyways) and...
  19. \Theta

    Intro to Java book for scientific computing?

    Hey everybody, I need to learn Java for a course I'm taking in the spring(my C++ course fulfills the prereq for our java intro to data structures course) and I need to get a working knowledge of java. I've been reading the book for the class I'm not taking, but it's essentially built around a...
  20. \Theta

    Scientific Computing Application Area?

    Hi everyone! I have a question for you all. I'm a 3rd year undergraduate math student who took 4 years away from school and I'm going to be returning this Fall(^.^). Prior to leaving school, I'd take courses in C++, Numerical Methods, Two additional semesters of Numerical Analysis, Modern...
  21. A

    From simple scientific computing into beginning development

    Hey guys I need some advice: I am a Math/Physics freshman whos pretty much a noob to programming in general; I have some experience with Fortran (taught as part of laboratory) and Python (self taught) but only in the context of elementary numerical methods / scientific computing. I have...
  22. epenguin

    Advice how to up my scientific computing with I-pad and otherwise.

    When there are answers this might be suitable for Math Learning Materials My untrusty HP48GX graphic scientific calculator conked out two or three years ago and since then for my limited needs (e.g graphs on this forum) in that time I used odd little programmes I found around for graphics and...
  23. R

    Interested in optimization for scientific computing, where to start?

    I've just started programming with Python this summer, and I'm taking a course in computational physics this semester. I've been really enjoying it and programming in general, but I don't have much knowledge in computer science save for intro stuff (string/list methods, functions/classes...
  24. T

    What are the applications of CAD in scientific computing and engineering?

    Hi everyone. I've been looking at some computer aided design software, FreeCAD, and while it's to my understanding that engineers use programs like this constantly I wanted to ask if anyone knew if there programs are used in scientific computing or computational science and engineering. From...
  25. S

    Python, scientific computing, and supercomputers

    Hi there! I'm currently having great fun using numpy/scipy in python for astronomical data analysis. (I've been using C for this before, but it takes too much time to implement simple things that are in numpy/scipy already) Recently I've been told that most of people are using C or Fortran...
  26. MathWarrior

    Programs Scientific Computing / Simulation and Modeling Degrees?

    I just was wondering if anyone here has pursued a degree in scientific computing / high performance computing / computational simulation and modeling, type of degree. For example Georgia Tech's Computational Science and Engineering degree or Computational and Mathematical Engineering degree, or...
  27. T

    Scientific computing and efficient memory usage

    Hi! I wonder if it is possible to get some book recommendations on the subject of efficient data structures and memory management in scientific computing? I do a bit of parallel programming in C/C++ with MPI, and I'm now considering trying my hand at some GPU programming as well. When...
  28. G

    What is the Best Object-Oriented Language for Scientific Computing?

    I'm in my first year of theoretical physics master and I'm considering of following the path of scientific simulations. At the moment I use C for my simulations. I would additionally like to learn an object oriented language. I followed a course in Java about 2 years ago, so that would be easier...
  29. S

    Fortran Fortran 2008: The Final Steps of Standardization for Scientific Computing

    http://www.nag.co.uk/sc22wg5/ It looks like Fortran 2008 is going through its final steps of standardization. What does this mean for scientific computing? Since people still use Fortran 90 despite new revisions up to 2003, will this go under the radar, or will this be a new and useful...
  30. L

    Scientific Computing Jobs: Resources & Opportunities After BS

    I plan on finishing up a B.Sc. in math with a minor in physics in the next few years. Afterward I would like to get a job for a few years and then continue in graduate school learning more about scientific computing and the like. My question is what sorts of jobs are available in scientific...
  31. R

    Where Can I Discuss Scientific Computing?

    Anyone know of a forum where scientific computing can be discussed?
  32. O

    Programs Thinking about getting a PhD in Scientific Computing

    So I've got an MSc in Engineering physics and I'm now deciding if I should go find a job in the industry, or stay in school to get a PhD, more specifically in Scientific computing and numerical analysis. Getting the PhD is very temping, but the main thing holding me back is that I don't know how...
  33. F

    Scientific computing advice needed

    Hello folks, I'm a budding physicist who needs advice on science-related software that's used in The Real World (TM). I've recently had a look at Octave, Maxima, matplotlib (python plotting), gnuplot, Ocaml and "The R environment for statistical computing". Problem is, I can't make up my mind...
  34. cronxeh

    Is Scientific Computing by Heath Worthwhile for Engineers?

    I'm wondering whether I should enroll in this course. This is the book they use: Did anyone ever use this book? If so let me know if there's anything worthy in it for engineers
Back
Top