When: Monday, March 26, 09:15 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

Where: 3305 Newell-Simon Hall

Symposium on Computational Thinking
Jointly hosted by Microsoft Research and Carnegie Mellon

Abstract:
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast and Opening Remarks

Welcome
JARED COHEN, President, Carnegie Mellon University
Microsoft Introduction
RICK RASHID, Senior Vice President, Microsoft Research

Computational Thinking and the Future of Computing
JEANNETTE M. WING
President's Professor and Head, Computer Science Department, Carnegie Mellon

• Computational thinking is a way of solving problems, designing systems, and understanding human behavior based on concepts fundamental to computer science. It involves thinking in multiple layers of abstraction at once and gives us the power to scale beyond our imagination.

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Research Mind Swap 1
Computer – Human Synergies and Automated Creativity
HENRY COHN
Theory Group, Microsoft Research
LUIS VON AHN
Computer Science Department

• Humans are good at solving some problems, while computers are good at solving others. This session will explore how humans and computers can work together to solve problems neither could handle separately.

11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Break

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Research Mind Swap 2
Using Type Theory and Program Logics to Build More Dependable Computational Systems
DAVID TARDITI
Advanced Compiler Technology Group, Microsoft Research
JOHN REYNOLDS
Computer Science Department, Carnegie Mellon

• Reasoning about programs is a fundamental aspect of computational thinking. Research at both Carnegie Mellon and Microsoft is focusing on how to use type theory and program logics to reason about programs. Carnegie Mellon has a distinguished history of developing improved type theories and program logics for these purposes and Microsoft Research is studying how to apply them in the Singularity project to build more dependable computational systems. Discussion will focus on our current research efforts in this area and how they complement each other.

12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch: Newell-Simon Hall Perlis Atrium
Hosted by RICK RASHID and MICROSOFT RESEARCH

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Research Mind Swap 3
Auctions, Game Theory, and Algorithms
NICOLE IMMORLICA
Theory Group, Microsoft Research
TUOMAS SANDHOLM, AVRIM BLUM
Computer Science Department, Carnegie Mellon

• Auction design and game-theoretic issues are playing an increasing role in how we model computational problems and how we use and think about computation today. This session will highlight some of the work going on at Carnegie Mellon and Microsoft Research on these topics.

2:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Roundtable Discussion

Interdisciplinary Computational Education Roundtable

Computing expertise is now necessary to solve hard problems in most disciplines. What are the specific computational challenges facing computing in other disciplines? How do educators prepare students for those challenges?

Introduction
TONY HEY
Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Corporation

Moderator: YAN XU, Microsoft Research

Panelists:
LENORE BLUM, Computer Science Department, Carnegie Mellon
TOM CORTINA, Computer Science Department, Carnegie Mellon
DAVID KAUFER, Department of English, Carnegie Mellon
ROGER DANNENBERG, Computer Science Department and School of Art, Carnegie Mellon
DAVID YARON, Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon
STEPHANIE ROSENTHAL, Senior, Computer Science Department, Carnegie Mellon

4:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Break

4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Jared Diamond Lecture
McConomy Auditorium, University Center

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