International conference at Stevens to explore the latest research on improving computer software

HOBOKEN, N.J. — Computer scientists from around the country and the world will meet at Stevens Institute of Technology this month to discuss the latest ways to create and analyze computer software. Conference participants will hear from top scientists on the frontier of computer software engineering.

The conference, titled "Mathematical Foundations of Programming Semantics" runs from Thursday, April 13, to Sunday, April 16, in various locations on the Stevens campus. (Reporters please note: Contact Cass Bruton-Ward, above, if you plan to cover this conference.)

Currently, software development depends, to a great extent, on trial and error methods, supported by automated tools for testing. Much effort can be wasted implementing flawed designs. Problems are typically corrected with compensatory "patches" because by the time testing can be done, it is too late for major structural corrections.

On the frontier, there are tools based on mathematical modeling which automatically predict in advance how software will behave in all cases. Such tools can dramatically increase productivity and reliability because they enable the software engineer to avoid design flaws in the first place.

"Today engineers know how to build bridges so that they won’t fall down — we can all rely on that. But the state of the art in software engineering is not very advanced," says Dr. David Naumann of Stevens’ computer science department, one of the conference’s local organizers.

"The truth is, software engineers are surprised often by problems in programs," he explains. "That’s why software developers have relied on testing by users, called ‘beta testing,’ to shake out problems."

With our increasing dependence on software, the need for ways to quickly and automatically analyze how it will behave is greater than ever before. Fortunately, every computer language can be translated into a series of mathematical statements — in other words, a universal language of logic and conditional behaviors. Tools — which are actually software programs themselves — can be developed to go over these mathematical representations and automatically spot flaws, including flaws that could cause critical failures in real life. Researchers who work on these tools are at the forefront of computer software engineering. They will be sharing their knowledge at the conference.

Dr. Harold J. Raveche, President of Stevens, will welcome conference participants. Among those invited to speak at the conference are Dr. Robin Milner, of the University of Cambridge, and Dr. Dana Scott of Carnegie Mellon University. Both are winners of the A.M. Turing Award, one of the computer science community’s most prestigious technical awards. The annual $25,000 award is given for technical contributions to the computing community. Lucent Technologies provides financial support.

The conference is supported by the U.S. Dept. of Naval Research, the National Science Foundation, the New Jersey Center for Software Engineering (located at Stevens and funded by the New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology) and Stevens.

The web site for the MFPS conference is at math.tulane.edu/~mfps/. For more advance information about the conference, reporters are welcome to contact Dr. Stephen Bloom, professor and director of computer science at Stevens, (201) 216-5439

About Stevens Institute of Technology

Founded in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the leading technological universities in the world dedicated to learning and research. Through its broad-based curricula, nurturing of creative inventiveness, and cross disciplinary research, the Institute is at the forefront of global challenges in engineering, science, and technology management. Partnerships and collaboration between, and among, business, industry, government and other universities contribute to the enriched environment of the Institute. A new model for technology commercialization in academe, known as Technogenesis®, involves external partners in launching business enterprises to create broad opportunities and shared value.

Stevens offers baccalaureates, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, in addition to a baccalaureate degree in the humanities and liberal arts, and in business and technology. The university has a total enrollment of 2,150 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate students, with about 250 full-time faculty. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at www.stevens.edu.  

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