Computational Science - Advanced

Task

Answer the following question in your own words concisely but substantially. 50 points.

1. What is Computational Science(CpSc)?

   • Interdisciplinary field that allows to simulate and study data through the four steps
     • Simplify
     • Analytical/Numerical Approach
     • Build Model
     • Interpret Data
   • It is the intersection of Computer Science, Mathematics, and Science that uses the three fields in solving problems to simulate scenarios and experiments that it is hard to be simulated in the real world.
   • It is the combination of science and computational thinking.

2. How did CpSc affect the conduct of scientific research?

   • Computational Science helps conducting of scientific research by creating models and simulations that can’t be done through the real world or proven to be dangerous enough to be simulated. But this does not indicates that computational science will replace the traditional scientific research since it has different methodologies which affects the results of a research.

3. How are CS and CpSc similar/different?

   • The main difference of CS and CpSc is that CS is focused only to Computer Science Field while CpSc is focused on different fields such as mathematics, physics, and other field
   • Both CS and CpSc involves algorithms and programming in doing computations.

4. How does the Computational Cycle work?

   • Selecting a real world problems and start to simplify it to create an abstraction for models.
   • Abstract ideas is converted to computational model by representing it with mathematics and algorithms which leads to computer models
   • Simulations is done through the help of computer models in an experimental testbed.
   • Through the simulations we could get some data which could generate fractions of real world situation.
   • Lastly, the data will be interpreted if it could be apply on a real world scenarios (imitation, creation of systems and etc.)

5. How are the 3 types of models different?

   • Physical Model is created to mimic the physical feel and imitate the actual product.
   • Mathematical Model uses numbers and relationships to describe some parts of the product.
   • Process Model describes the steps and process to complete a task

6. How are the 3 types of simulations different?

   • Live Simulation uses real people that uses physical and real systems to simulate real situation (Army trainings is one of the example
   • Virtual Simulation uses real people that use and operate simulated system to mimic and perform a real situation (Pilots uses this kind of simulation, AR is one of the use case of this scenarios)
   • Constructive Simulation uses simulated environment and users (people) to test different scenarios that is not capable or dangerous for people to test. This kind of simulations is facilitated by real people to show different scenarios that could be a result of different environments. (One example of this is VR)

7. What are the major areas of applications of CpSc?

   • Computational Science involves different areas but it is mostly focused on Applied Mathematics and Numerical Methods, Science Disciplines and Computer Science.

8. What are the processes involved in Computational Thinking?

   • Computational Thinking is a set of problem solving techniques which is composed of the following:
   • Decompostion is breaking down a big and complex problem to small pieces.
   • Pattern Recognition is used to identify similarities and recurring events in a problem.
   • Abstraction is identifying specific similarities and difference among similar problems to work toward a solution. Similar with NP Complete Problem
   • Algorithmic Design that allows to create a step by step process to solve a problem.

9. Which aspect of Computational Thinking you find challenging?

   • Decomposition will be always the challenging part because it requires you to have a certain knowledge about the problem you are currently solving.
   • Other than decomposition, I could also consider abstraction as challenging part due to its nature of relating different problem and creating a nearly universal model that will cater all of the abstracted problem.

10. How do you think will this subject connect to Machine Learning and CS Research?

    • Computational Science is mostly concerned with Machine Learning due to the fact that it creates a simulation of things that do not exist and which only possible through machine learning models.
      • Machine Learning enables to create different scenario that could not be achieve currently in a real world laboratories.
    • CS Research uses computational science to further expand different problems through simulations. This includes but not limited to machine bio-mimicry, augmented reality, virtual reality, and etc.