Computational Science: Ensuring America's Competitiveness

Abstract : Computational science is now indispensable to the solution of complex problems in every sector, from traditional science and engineering domains to such key areas as national security, public health, and economic innovation. Advances in computing and connectivity make it possible to develop computational models and capture and analyze unprecedented amounts of experimental and observational data to address problems previously deemed intractable. Yet, despite the great opportunities and needs, universities and the Federal government have not effectively recognized the strategic significance of computational science in either their organizational structures or their research and educational planning. These inadequacies compromise U.S. scientific leadership, economic competitiveness, and national security. Universities and the Federal government's RD design, prototype, and evaluate new hardware that can deliver larger fractions of peak hardware performance on key applications; and focus on sensor- and data-intensive computational science applications in light of the explosive growth of data.