DATE: February 06, 2007

CONTACT: Caron St. John, (864) 656-5963
scaron@clemson.edu

WRITER: Teresa C. Hopkins, (864) 656-1222
teresa.hopkins@clemsonews.clemson.edu

Renowned Computer Scientist to Speak at Clemson

CLEMSON — Nationally renowned computer scientist Fred Brooks of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill will speak at Clemson University on Monday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m. in Tillman Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

Brooks, Kenan Professor of Computer Science at UNC-Chapel Hill, coined the phrase “computer architecture” when he was a project manager for development of the IBM Corporation’s System/360 computers and Operating System/360 software. His 1975 work “The Mythical Man-Month: Essays on Software Engineering” is still used in classrooms today.

Using examples of cathedrals, nuclear submarines, software and business, Brooks will talk about the role of individuals and groups in the design of creative and complex systems.

“We are simply thrilled to have Dr. Brooks visit with us to share his unique insights about the design process. He is the first in a series of speakers on the topic of design – a topic of interest to students and faculty from many programs and colleges,” said Caron St. John, interim associate dean of the College of Business and Behavioral Science.

Brooks founded the department of computer science at UNC-Chapel Hill in the 1960s. In 1999, he received the Association for Computing Machinery’s A.M. Turing Award, considered the “Nobel Prize of Computing.” He was awarded the prize for significant contributions to computer architecture, operating systems and software engineering. In 1985, he received the National Medal of Technology. His research on real-time, 3-D computer graphics has propelled that field forward, driven by the goal of creating tools that enable scientists and engineers to tackle problems formerly beyond their reach.

Brooks received his undergraduate degree in physics from Duke University in 1953. He earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in computer science at Harvard University.