What is Computer Science ?
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Computer Science covers a huge amount, from the design of computers, through to
programming them, and onto applications in areas as diverse as Science, Engineering
and the Arts.
In addition it is about the understanding of the limits of what computational
techniques can do. By clicking on the image to the right you can access a set of short essays we have written to explain different areas of computer science. They are aimed at a pre-University, sixth-form audience, and we hope to be adding to the list in the next few months. In some sense Computer Science is thinking about and investigating what a computer can do. One can do this in a completely theoretical way. However, almost all computer scientists work not only on the theoretical aspects of computers but also on real programs. At Bristol we put great emphasis in the first year on getting students to learn to program in four different computer languages: C, Java, Haskell and Verilog. In the pages below we collect together a series of articles and links which you may find helpful in investigating what computer science is about. |
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Computational Thinking
Thinking in a computational way is now becoming all pervasive. It underlies much of modern science, and provides a break with the traditional emperical way of working. The following article by Prof J. Wing of Carnegie Mellon University in the United States explains what is meant by Computational Thinking.CS4FN
CS4FN is a website and magazine devoted to explaining the applications and techniques of computer science. It is aimed at the age group of 14-18 year olds, but actually is suitable for any age. At Bristol we have helped with several articles for CS4N, which are linked below.- Spot the penguin
- Turning silicon into gold
- Design your own Mediascape
- Was the first computer a 'Bombe'?
- Can computers help understand the brain?
- Who Built The First Modern Computer?
Computer Science Unplugged
This is a web site from New Zealand which aims to introduce Computer Science concepts to an earlier age group than CS4FN, namely 5-12 year olds.Women in Computer Science
The Department of Computer Science actively promotes women in Computer Science. As a department we try to take positive action in increasing the number of women participating in Computer Science (both entering and remaining) as well as encouraging women into the computing industry as a whole.
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Prospective female students may be interested in knowing that we offer a prize just for women kindly donated by Google. It is awarded each year to a female student who is studying in the Department. The prize is intended to encourage women to enter and remain in the field of Computer Science at Bristol, and to demonstrate the continuing development in the relationship between Google and the Department. Prize Details |