tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post108480326682966857..comments2024-03-27T19:58:17.387-05:00Comments on Computational Complexity: Randomized BlogspaceLance Fortnowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752030912874378610noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1085527070941912252004-05-25T18:17:00.000-05:002004-05-25T18:17:00.000-05:00These criticisms are exactly what the Kanellakis p...These criticisms are exactly what the Kanellakis prize was founded to handle. It's given every year to a result in theoretical computer science that has had a significant impact on practitioners. Of course, this leaves open the criticism that all of these theorists are only producing one practical accomplishment each year, but I would like to think that the Kanellakis prize results aren't the only ones that have had an impact (although I must admit that there are vast numbers of papers that will only be looked at by theorists, and a significant number that will never be looked at by anybody).<br /><br />By the way, it was Prabharkar Raghavan who commented that practitioners consider all areas of university computer science departments, and not just theory, as "academic research."<br /><br />Peter ShorAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1084937994683514032004-05-18T22:39:00.000-05:002004-05-18T22:39:00.000-05:00Before the embittered and hostile taint our online...Before the embittered and hostile taint our online mutual admiration society, let me respond to some criticisms that seem to be coming up on this thread:<br /><br />1. Almost all work done in a computer science or computer engineering department is "theoretical work". Even though they have more grant money slushing around and gads of relatively easy to land tenure slots, all those systems, database, VLSI CAD and architecture people are still writing a bunch of papers that few people read (just like us, and all other academics). Relatively few of their works make an impact on practice.<br /> Case in point: I know a guy who does the university outreach for a major chip manufacturer. He tries to bring innovations from university research to their product. Now, some of the embittered ex-theoreticians out there might think "those academics doing architecture/VLSI CAD are really doing practical work, sure beats tweaking gadgets in PCPs", but this guy gets nothing but derision for his efforts. His peers say "It's all theoretical, it will go nowhere. Think of your career and stop this outreach nonsense".<br /><br />2. We (the TCS community) are the ones who are being honest about what we do. We say it's theoretical, and we mean it. <br /><br />3. Ultimately (good) TCS is doing what a good theory should do: addressing what is possible with computation, and developing a framework to explain it all. Maybe the going is a little slow for some who wanted to prove P != NP years ago, but, hey, that's just how it goes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1084913454258089462004-05-18T15:50:00.000-05:002004-05-18T15:50:00.000-05:00Who do most people do mathematics? Not because the...Who do most people do mathematics? Not because they think it is eminently practical but because there is beauty in it that that draws them into it and won't <br />let go. Same with some theory. For the student who<br />asked as to why one does theory - mainly because it <br />strikes you as interesting and beautiful. Relevance<br />is nice but not necessary for doing something. Whether one should get paid for it is a different matter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1084909815396421902004-05-18T14:50:00.000-05:002004-05-18T14:50:00.000-05:00Answer to the students who asked:
"how professiona...Answer to the students who asked:<br />"how professional scientists handling it?"<br />They form mutual admiration societies that collectively<br />ignore the issues.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1084900556071926942004-05-18T12:15:00.000-05:002004-05-18T12:15:00.000-05:00I am still a student with very strong interest in ...I am still a student with very strong interest in theoretical computer science. I do have to admit I have a hard time convincing people getting into theory is not a bad choice. I get the same arguments over and over ("nobody is asking for a solution to ... =?= ...") and even other computer scientists seems to question the relevance of theoretical work. How do professional scientist handle these comments?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1084897237185103252004-05-18T11:20:00.000-05:002004-05-18T11:20:00.000-05:00That theory has had no significant results is
an e...That theory has had no significant results is<br />an extreme view - one could debate theory's<br />impact on practical computer science but in<br />terms of significant results there are many<br />fantastic achievements that any scientific<br />discipline would be proud of.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1084893015507839392004-05-18T10:10:00.000-05:002004-05-18T10:10:00.000-05:00It basically turned out to be a debate about the s...It basically turned out to be a debate about the success of theory, in a crowd of theoreticians. No surprise, everyone thought theory was doing pretty well.<br /><br />Karp is not an aggressive or argumentative person. Many outsiders would argue better that the achievements of theory are not very significant and not very relevent, especially considering the amount of time and effort put into them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1084841313484407532004-05-17T19:48:00.000-05:002004-05-17T19:48:00.000-05:00The lion is the mascot of Columbia UniversityThe lion is the mascot of Columbia UniversityAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1084831121973423822004-05-17T16:58:00.000-05:002004-05-17T16:58:00.000-05:00Rocco neglected to mention the cryptic yet stylish...Rocco neglected to mention the cryptic yet stylish "Theory Lions" tee-shirts made available to all attendees. <br /><br />What's the backstory on these shirts?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com