Education

Abstract

This edition of the Education section is an excellent demonstration of the breadth of the section. The first paper is a general treatment of the subject of computational science and engineering that serves as an overview and introduction to this emerging field, while the second is a specific example from the field of finance that can be used in teaching and studying applied linear algebra. The authors of the first paper, O. Yacar and R. Landau, characterize computational science and engineering (CSE) education as having moved recently from its "infancy" to its "early growth" stage. Their paper, "Elements of Computational Science and Engineering Education," serves as a guide to CSE educational programs at this still-early stage of their existence, concentrating on undergraduate offerings. (Thus it complements the SIAM working group study " Graduate Study in Computational Science and Engineering" that was printed in this section in volume 43 (2001), pp. 163--177.) The paper should be of keen interest to both students and faculty, from different perspectives. For students who are considering studying CSE, this paper provides a very useful perspective on what to expect from a CSE education. Student advisors will want to keep it handy for this purpose! Faculty and departments will find it's useful in designing CSE curricula. Its strengths include a comprehensive collection of the issues confronting CSE curricula, a comparison of approaches to undergraduate CSE programs, and suggestions of the emerging core components of an undergraduate CSE curriculum. Of particular interest to all readers is an analysis of computer science, CSE, and applied physics curricula that serves to highlight the balance between computing, mathematics, and applied science that appears to be a distinguishing feature of CSE curricula. "Designing a 401(k): A Case Study," by P. Laumakis, provides a nice, nonstandard, and self-contained application of linear algebra that should be useful in introductory applied linear algebra courses or in the portion of introductory numerical computation courses that deal with the solution of linear equations. As the title states, the example is taken from finance, an increasingly important application area for numerical computation, but not one that is often used in examples in introductory courses. The setting for the example is making investment choices for a retirement plan---not the most pressing concern of most undergraduates---but even the financial issues that are covered have much more general applicability. The example utilizes knowledge of singularity of matrices, existence of solutions to linear equations, and Gaussian elimination and so can be used to reinforce all these notions nicely from a practical and real-world viewpoint. It certainly is ideal for a linear algebra or numerical computation course taught to business or finance students, but as the author's own experience shows, it is suitable for general undergraduate audiences as well.