On A ``Grand Challenges'' Task Force

Dines Bjørner
CSE: Computer Science and Engineering
IMM: Informatics and Mathematical Modelling
Building 322, Richard Petersens Plads
DTU: Technical University of Denmark
DK-2800 Kgs.Lyngby, Denmark
E-Mail: db@imm.dtu.dk, URL: www.imm.dtu.dk/~db

June 19, 2003: 8 am

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Abstract:

We outline thoughts about a European Task Force that could investigate the notion of Grand Challenges for Computing Science with a special emphasis on Formal Methods cum Programming Methodology (for Software Engineering).

After a very brief overview of current effort in the broader areas of computer & computing science, primarily in the form of web reference, we bring a tentative list of some 20 European scientists from some 10-12 countries.

Contents

• Background
• On the Nature of Grand Challenges
• Initial Task Force Members
• Reference to Repository for ``Grand Challenge'' Proposals
• Agenda: June 2003 -- May 2004
• About this document ...

Background

The computer & computing sciences, we believe, need to owe up to its status as an independent discipline, one that is on level with such other scientific disciplines as mathematics, physics, biology, etc.

One way to illuminate this (``owing up to'') is to gather sufficient support - in our (the computer & computing sciences) community -- for a small set of ``grand challenges'' that computer & computing science faces.

Some such ``grand challenges'' have been ventured:

• CRITERIA FOR A GRAND CHALLENGE - as suggested by the UKCRC Grand Challenges Working Party
  (Current members: Tony Hoare, Robin Milner, Martyn Thomas, and Alan Bundy) Revised by Tony Hoare, 30 May 2002.
• Tony Hoare: The Verifying Compiler: A Grand Challenge for Computing Research
• WORKSHOP ON GRAND CHALLENGES FOR COMPUTING RESEARCH:
  24-26 November 2002. National E-science Centre, Edinburgh.
• The UK Grand Challenge Web Site
• The CRA Conference on ``Grand Research Challenges'' in Computer Science and Engineering
  June 23-26, 2002, Airlie House, Warrenton, Virginia, USA
• The US National Academy of Sciences Press: Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence (1997)
  Chapter 3: ``Grand Challenge Areas''
• I-Rescue Research Project: Centre for Intelligent Systems and their Applications
  School of Informatics, The University of Edinburgh, Scotland
• Michael L. Brodie The Grand Challenge in Information Technology and the Illusion of Validity

On the Nature of Grand Challenges

This section is an edited quote of 17 grand challenge criteria reported by Tony Hoare:

• The Verifying Compiler: A Grand Challenge for Computing Research.
• Journal of the ACM, Vol.50, No.1, January 2003, pp 63-69.

We edit, while in the process of seeking formal permission, our quote - where `it' normally refers to any proposed grand challenge -- into:

Fundamental: It relates strongly to foundations, and the nature and limits of a discipline.

Astonishing: It implies constructing something ambitious, heretofore not imagined.

Testable: It must be objectively decidable whether a grand challenge project endeavour is succeeding or failing.

Revolutionary: It must impy radical paradigm shifts.

Research-oriented: It can be achieved by methods of academic research -- and is not likely to be met sôlely by commercial interests.

Inspiring: Almost the entire research community must support it, enthusiastically -- even while not all may be engaged in the endeavour.

Understandable: Comprehensible by and captures the imagination of the general public.

Challenging: Goes beyond what is initially possible and requires insight, techniques and tools not available at the start of the project.

Useful: Results in scientific or other rewards - even if the project as a whole may fail.

International: It has international scope: Participation would increase the research profile of a nation.

Historical: It will eventually be said: It was formulated years ago, and will stand for yers to come.

Feasible: Reasons for previous failures are now understood and can noe be overcome.

Incremental: Decomposes into identified individual research goals.

Co-operative: Calls for loosely planned co-operation between research teams.

Competitive: Encourages and benefits from competition among individuals and teams - with clear criteria on who is winning, or who has won.

Effective: General awareness and spread of results changes attitudes and activities of scientists and engineers.

Risk-managed: Risks of failure are identified and means to meet will be applied.

Initial Task Force Members

We intend to gather a small group of some 20 European computing scientists to discuss ``Grand Challenges''
related to Formal Methods, first by means of E-Mails, then during a workshop planned for early 2004.

Reference to Repository for ``Grand Challenge'' Proposals

We refer to the separate:

• Grand Challenges for `Formal Methods'

In the above document we will try build, over the next 10 months or so a list of references to proposals.

Agenda: June 2003 -- May 2004

The following illustrates a possible agenda of action:

1. June 2003: Drafting of this web page.
2. June 2003: Budget for task force expenses.
3. June 2003: Initial contacts to some 10-20 potential task force members.
4. July-August 2003: Initial E-mail ``Conferencing''.
5. September 2003: Possible first mini-workshop at FM03: The Formal Methods Symposium, at Pisa, the week of 7-14 September, 2003.
6. September 2003: First report on Initial E-mail ``Conferencing'' and possible task force workshop.
7. October 2003 - March 2004: Ongoing E-mail ``Conferencing''.
8. April 2004: Second report on Ongoing E-mail ``Conferencing''.
9. May 2004: First Workshop on ``Grand Challenges'' for Formal Methods.

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About this document ...

On A ``Grand Challenges'' Task Force

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