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Research Trends in Computer Science and Challenges for Japan — Findings from the International Science Awards — View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY TRENDS QUARTERLY REVIEW No.13 / October 2004 4 Research Trends in Computer Science and Challenges for Japan — Findings from the International Science Awards — AKIHIRO FUJII Information and Communications Research Unit on the discovery of algorithms, proposals for 1 Introduction computational models, and the elucidation of computational complexity. In Japan, too, awards Securing top-quality research personnel have been established for computer science, such is an essential for science and technology as the Japan Prize, the Kyoto Prize, and the Japan policy[1,2]. One possible measure for research IBM Science Award. promotion is to increase the number of winners By reviewing the history of these awards of international awards and prizes [3 -5]. This and prizes for the past ten years or so, this article focuses on trends in computer science article discusses world-wide research trends in research from the viewpoint of science awards in computer science. It also summarizes the current computer science, such as the Turing Award, and Japanese research environment surrounding discusses how to facilitate academic development computer science research through interviews in this area. with prominent Japanese researchers about the Computer science emerged as an academic level of Japanese research and education as well discipline in the mid 20th century and achieved as possible measures for promotion in the area. rapid development. No matter how outstanding, commercial success has not necessarily been 2 What the awards valued from the academic perspective. This and prizes indicate means that it is a field in which academic about recent computer science structure and the boundaries between basic theory and application technology are subject to 2-1 The Turing Award constant review. (1) Recent laureates and characteristics In the field of computer science, which has of the award undergone such a transformation, the Turing Essential research on the information was Award has been known for its consistent review established in the mid 20th century, leading and recognition of research results since 1966. to the basic principles of the computer and To highlight certain aspects of research trends in communications. One of these fundamental computer science, this article traces the history of principles is a concept known as the “Turing the Turing Award. machine,” which was introduced by Alan M. There are many other awards and prizes Turing. His research results, represented in that honor achievement in computer science. his 1937 paper “Computable Numbers,” later The Gödel Prize is particularly intended for contributed to the birth of the computer and achievement in basic theory. The prize is given probably created a turning point in the entire for outstanding papers in theoretical computer world of science that furthered its advancement. science. Since its institution in 1993, the prize Alan J. Perlis, the first winner of the Turing has been presented to, among others, papers Award, praised Turing’s achievement in his 44 45 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY TRENDS QUARTERLY REVIEW No.13 / October 2004 commemorative lecture as having “completely already envisioning the computer of the future captured the imagination of one generation of in the 1960s, when ideas like the mouse and researchers and demanded all their thinking the laptop computer were revolutionary in the power”[12]. world of computer systems. His winning of the The Turing Award was established in honor of Turing Award was recognition of his long-lasting Turing’s achievement, and has been recognizing contribution to both the computer system and outstanding research achievements since its human beings. first presentation in 1966. Currently, a prize In 2001, Kristen Nygaard and Ole-Johan of 100,000 U.S. dollars is provided by the Intel Dahl received the award for their research into Corporation. object-oriented technology. This was another Table 1 shows the names of the Turing Award research effort that had a significant impact winners of the past 10 years, along with their on computer science. During the development achievements. Since the Turing Award honors process of a programming language named “general technical achievement in the field of “Simula I,” they invented a scheme for building computer science,” each of the listed research a layered control structure for computing, achievements has made a significant contribution based on the notion called the “object.” This to the computer science and the development “object-oriented” programming paradigm has of information and communications technology triggered a fundamental change in how programs today. are designed and developed. Not only has the For example, as early as in the 1960s, award-winning scheme been strongly inherited Douglas Engelbart, the 1997 winner, was in today’s programming languages, such as C++ seeking innovative ideas about the functions and Java, which are widely used for system characteristic of the current models of development, but it also exerts a considerable information terminals, including those on the influence on software development processes and precursor to the mouse that is in widespread design concepts. use today and a camera-based interface for the The 2002 recipients are Ronald L. Rivest, Adi personal computer. He and his colleagues were Shamir and Leonard M. Adleman, the inventors of Table 1 : Turing Award for the past 10 years Year Laureate Name Achievement Ronald L. Rivest, Contribution to the development of RSA cryptography and the subsequent advancement of 2002 Adi Shamir, cryptographic technology Leonard M. Adleman Kristen Nygaard, Establishment of the ideas fundamental to object-oriented programming through the design 2001 Ole-Johan Dahl of the programming languages, including Simula I Research in the theory of computation, especially computational complexity, cryptography, 2000 Andrew Chi-Chih Yao and communication complexity, based on the theory of pseudorandom number generation 1999 Frederick P. Brooks, Jr. Contributions to computer architecture, operating systems, and software engineering 1998 James Gray Contributions to database and transaction processing research and system implementation Presentation of a vision of the future of interactive computing between the human and the 1997 Douglas Engelbart computer, and invention of key technologies to help realize this vision Introduction of temporal logic into computing science and outstanding contributions to 1996 Amir Pnueli program and systems verification Contributions to the foundations of computational complexity theory and its application to 1995 Manuel Blum cryptography and program checking Edward Feigenbaum Pioneering research on the design and construction of large-scale artificial intelligence 1994 Raj Reddy systems, demonstrating the practical application of artificial intelligence technology Richard E. Stearns 1993 Establishment of the foundations of the field of computational complexity theory Juris Hartmanis Source: Compiled by the author based on Reference[7]. 44 45 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY TRENDS QUARTERLY REVIEW No.13 / October 2004 RSA public key cryptography. Their achievement, have been supplied in the area of natural science, which is a technology providing basic principles particularly over the past half-century. for ensuring electronic information security, has One characteristic of computer science is that had a significant impact on the computing world. there are many researchers who used to work in As society becomes increasingly computerized, the area of mathematics or applied physics. This a framework for electronic security protection is can be attributed to the short history of computer expected to play an essential role in a variety of science as well as to the academic position of areas. Security capability for these purposes will computer science as a discipline that lies on the be enabled based on public key cryptography. boundary between existing academic disciplines An example of award-winning research such as mathematics, communication engineering achievement more inclined to basic theory is that and electrical engineering. of Andrew Chi-Chih Yao, who was honored with Another characteristic is that, for achievements the Turing Award in 2000 for his contribution to in such fields as cryptography, database theory quantum computing. He established a completely and software engineering, laureates not only new computational paradigm based on the write theoretical papers, but also concurrently principles of quantum mechanics. He succeeded develop practical systems. In fact, the essential in proving the equivalence between quantum objectives of their projects have often been the circuits in quantum mechanics and the Turing design of practical systems. machine in computer science. This achievement As these findings indicate, for a scientist to indicates that algorithms used on regular receive the Turing Award, his or her achievement computers can be realized at the quantum level. must involve the discovery or elucidation of These findings have provided new possibilities a fundamental principle. In addition to this, for innovation such as the development of practical application of this principle must computer mechanisms based on new principles be demonstrated, or alternatively, a concept and ultra high-speed communications systems. established by the researcher must be inherited Award recipients in other theoretical fields
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