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For Meliora weekend the math department is again having an alumnus come speak. Dr. Robert Kurshan, class of '65, did his graduate work in mathematics at the University of Washington. He has spent much of his career at Bell Labs Research (now Lucent) working on both "pure math" problems and applications of mathematics to problems in technology.
One of his long time interests is in program verification. How can you be sure that a computer program will perform correctly under unexpected circumstances? Once a program reaches a certain level of complexity it can't be checked simply by exhaustive testing -- strategy is required and, if possible, automation.
Sometimes pure math is the best way to understand a very practical problem!
The necessity of the best possible error checking is emphasized by the millions of dollars lost in high profile space probe disasters caused by the unexpected behaviors of programs controlling the rockets.
This lecture is designed for the general public and everyone is encouraged to attend. An open house at 4pm in the Undergraduate Math Lounge (9th floor of Hylan) precedes the lecture.
Here's the info:
Program Verification
Dr. Robert P. Kurshan, '65
Fellow, Cadence Design Systems
5:00 pm, Friday, October 11 -- 209 CSB (Computer Science Building)
Reception and open house: 4:00 pm, Friday, October 11 --
Undergraduate Math Lounge, 9th floor Hylan
More about Kurshan and program verification.
Posted by Michael Gage on 10/9/02; 3:12:15 PM
from the dept.
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