Carnegie Mellon School of Computer Science

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SCS at Carnegie Mellon Carnegie Mellon University Gates Hillman Complex west side.jpg
SCS at Carnegie Mellon

The School of Computer Science (SCS) at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US is a school for computer science established in 1988. It has been consistently ranked among the top computer science programs over the decades. As of 2022 U.S. News & World Report ranks the graduate program as tied for second with Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley. [1] It is ranked second in the United States on Computer Science Open Rankings, which combines scores from multiple independent rankings. [2]

Contents

The Gates-Hillman Complex, home to Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science. Gates-Hillman Complex at Carnegie Mellon University 3.jpg
The Gates-Hillman Complex, home to Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science.

In the past 15 years,[ when? ] researchers from Carnegie Mellon's School of Computer Science have made developments in the fields of algorithms, artificial intelligence, computer networks, distributed systems, parallel processing, programming languages, computational biology, robotics, language technologies, human–computer interaction and software engineering.

History

In July 1965, Allen Newell, Herbert A. Simon, and Alan J. Perlis, in conjunction with the faculty from the Graduate School of Industrial Administration (GSIA, renamed Tepper School of Business in 2004), staff from the newly formed Computation Center, and key administrators created the Computer Science Department, one of the first such departments in the nation. Their mission statement was "to cultivate a course of study leading to the PhD degree in computer science, a program that would exploit the new technology and assist in establishing a discipline of computer science." The educational program, formally accepted in October 1965, drew its first graduate students from several existing academic disciplines: mathematics, electrical engineering, psychology, and the interdisciplinary Systems and Communications Sciences program in the Graduate School of Industrial Administration. The department was housed within the Mellon College of Science.

With support from Newell, Simon, Nico Haberman, Provost Angel Jordan and President Richard Cyert, the computer science department began a two-year status as a "floating" department in the early months of 1986. Then, the Department began to grow, both academically and financially. In 1988, the School of Computer Science was established, among the first such schools in the country. The Computer Science Department was the original department within the school. [3]

Structure in the 1970s

During the 1970s the Computer Science Department offered only a PhD study program, with no master's degree as an intermediate step. The PhD program required a minimum of six years of residency. It was called the "do or die" program among the graduate students, because a student could not drop a PhD and receive a master's degree. It had quickly focused on computer networking, operating systems (Hydra, Accent, Mach), and robotics.

SCS today

Organizational units

Student organizations

Women@SCS is an educational program at Carnegie Mellon whose mission is to create, encourage, and support women's academic, social and professional opportunities in the computer sciences and to promote the breadth of the field and its diverse community. Women@SCS has initiated programs, such as the Big/Little Sister program for undergraduates, the invited Speaker Series for graduates, as well as dinners and other social and academic events. Women@SCS also sponsors outreach projects such as "Is there a robot in your future?" workshop for middle school girls. In general, the committee strives to promote a healthy and supportive community atmosphere.

SCS4ALL is an umbrella organization at Carnegie Mellon that promotes diversity in the School of Computer Science and coordinates outreach programs to broaden interest, understanding, and diversity in computing. SCS4ALL shares many of the core goals of Women@SCS and has expanded to develop more inclusive programs. Within SCS, the organization works to develop social and professional activities and leadership opportunities, such as the social trivia night, the "Develop Your Elevator Pitch" event, panel discussions with industry leaders, and the annual celebration of diversity SCS Day. In outreach, the organization organizes interactive presentations about computer science at local elementary, middle, and high schools. SCS4ALL is open to all students in the SCS and seeks to involve all communities in SCS in shaping the organization and its events.

Gates and Hillman Centers

Gates and Hillman Centers CMU Gates Hillman Complex.jpg
Gates and Hillman Centers
The Randy Pausch memorial bridge has LEDs that glow different colours at night. Carnegie Mellon University Pausch Bridge rainbow.jpg
The Randy Pausch memorial bridge has LEDs that glow different colours at night.

The Gates Center for Computer Science and the Hillman Center for Future-Generation Technologies are home to much of the School of Computer Science. The $98 million complex was opened in 2009. [4] It has 217,000-square-foot (20,200 m2) of floor space, including about 310 offices, 11 conference rooms, 32 labs, 8,000 square feet (740 m2) of project space and the Planetary Robotics Center. It also houses 12 classrooms, including a 250-seat auditorium. [5]

Additionally, the Gates Center connects to the Purnell Center, which houses the School of Drama, via the Randy Pausch Memorial Footbridge. The bridge represents Professor Pausch's own devotion to linking computer science and entertainment, as he was a co-founder of Carnegie Mellon's Entertainment Technology Center. [6]

Mack Scogin Merril Elam Architects of Atlanta, Georgia were the lead architects. [4] The Gates and Hillman Centers have received LEED Gold Certification. [7]

Traditions

Smiley face

SCS research professor Scott Fahlman is credited with the invention of the smiley face emoticon. He suggested the emoticon on an electronic board in 1982 as a way for board readers to know when an author was joking. The text of Fahlman's original post was lost for nearly 20 years but was later recovered from backup tapes: [11] 

19-Sep-82 11:44    Scott E  Fahlman             :-) From: Scott E  Fahlman <Fahlman at Cmu-20c> I propose that the following character sequence for joke markers: :-) Read it sideways.  Actually, it is probably more economical to mark things that are NOT jokes - given current trends.  For this, use :-(

Tartan Racing

Tartan Racing is a collaboration between Carnegie Mellon and General Motors Corporation that competes in the DARPA Grand Challenge. The Grand Challenge is a competition for driverless cars sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Tartan Racing is led by Carnegie Mellon roboticist William L. "Red" Whittaker. [12]

In 2007, Tartan Racing won the DARPA Urban Challenge, in which 11 autonomous ground vehicles raced over urban roadways. In the challenge, team vehicles were required to obey all California driving laws, share the road with other drivers and robotic cars, and complete the course in under six hours. Tartan Racing won the $2 million cash prize with Boss, a reworked 2007 Chevy Tahoe. Averaging about 14 miles (23 km) an hour for a 55-mile (89 km) trip, Boss beat the second-place team, Stanford Racing, by just under 20 minutes. [13]

SCS honors and awards

The School established a number of honors and awards. [14]

Faculty

Faculty members from the School of Computer Science have received international recognition for achievements within their fields. These honors include memberships and fellowships in the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Association for Computing Machinery, the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers and The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. [15] Twelve SCS faculty and alumni have won the A. M. Turing Award, the Association for Computing Machinery's most prestigious award, [16] often called the "Nobel Prize of computing." These include Raj Reddy, Manuel Blum and Edmund M. Clarke of the active faculty, in addition to Emeritus Faculty Dana Scott. [17]

Notable faculty

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. ↑ "America's Best Graduate Schools 2022". U.S. News & World Report. Archived from the original on 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  2. ↑ "Computer Science Open Rankings" . Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  3. ↑ "A history of SCS | SCS25 - Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science". www.cs.cmu.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
  4. 1 2 Carnegie Mellon University. "Feb. 20: Henry L. Hillman Foundation Gives Carnegie Mellon $10 Million For Research Building in New Computer Science Complex". cmu.edu.
  5. ↑ "SCS Complex Information and Blog » Overview". Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-16.
  6. ↑ "Error - Page Not Found". pittsburghlive.com. Archived from the original on 2009-02-10.{{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  7. ↑ University, Carnegie Mellon. "Press Release: Carnegie Mellon's Gates and Hillman Centers Awarded LEED Gold Certification - News - Carnegie Mellon University". www.cmu.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  8. ↑ "Mobot: Winners". Archived from the original on March 15, 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-16.
  9. ↑ "Mobot". cmu.edu.
  10. ↑ "SCS Day 2015 - A Celebration of Diversity in SCS". cmu.edu.
  11. ↑ "SMILEY:31 YEARS OLD AND NEVER LOOKED HAPPIER!". cmu.edu.
  12. ↑ "Tartan Racing @ Carnegie Mellon". tartanracing.org.
  13. ↑ Carnegie Mellon University. "Nov. 4: Carnegie Mellon Tartan Racing Wins $2 Million DARPA Urban Challenge". cmu.edu.
  14. ↑ "SCS: Achievements". Cs.cmu.edu. Archived from the original on June 23, 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  15. ↑ "SCHOOL OF COMPUTER SCIENCE, Carnegie Mellon". Archived from the original on June 23, 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  16. ↑ "A.M. Turing Award". acm.org. Archived from the original on 2009-12-12.
  17. ↑ "SCS FACULTY AWARDS". cmu.edu.
  18. ↑ "Untitled Document". cmu.edu.
  19. ↑ "President Obama Honors Nation's Top Scientists and Innovators". whitehouse.gov . 2014-10-03 – via National Archives.
  20. ↑ macfound.org Archived 2011-06-09 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ↑ "Google to Finance Moon Challenge Contest". washingtonpost.com.
  22. ↑ "William L. "Red" Whittaker". cmu.edu. Archived from the original on 2009-09-15. Retrieved 2009-02-16.
  23. ↑ Fenton 2000, p.197.
  24. ↑ "rrlong". cmu.edu. Archived from the original on 2018-04-20. Retrieved 2009-02-16.
  25. ↑ Fenton 2000, p.200.
  26. ↑ "Origins of the American Association for Artificial Intelligence". AI Magazine. 26 (4): 5–12.[ verification needed ]
  27. ↑ "Foundations and Grand Challenges of Artificial Intelligence". AI Magazine. 9 (4): 9–21.[ verification needed ]
  28. ↑ "Takeo Kanade". Ri.cmu.edu. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  29. ↑ "Robotics Institute: Mobile Robot Lab". Archived from the original on May 14, 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-16.

Further reading


40°26′37″N79°56′40″W / 40.44371°N 79.94443°W / 40.44371; -79.94443

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