Date Monday 9th December 2013
Time 6:00 for 6:30 pm
Location Room M404 (4th Floor), George Moore Building, Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BE
Speaker Tim Storer (University of Glasgow)
Convenor Tejinder Singh Lota
Abstract: In November 2009, a large amount of research material was leaked from the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) at the University of East Anglia. The material consisted of emails, academic papers, research proposals, data and a substantial collection of source codes (over 75,000 lines across more than 1000 files) and program binaries.
Much of the material in the archive (particularly the email correspondence) has already been subject to substantial analysis discussion and controversy concerning the integrity of the data and results contained. This debate is clearly significant given the conclusions that have been drawn from the results and the implications for wider climate change policy. However, relatively little attention has been given to quality of the software source code and accompanying documentation.
This talk will present an analysis of the leaked source code to highlight the challenge of applying software engineering methods to the development of high quality scientific software. The results of these analyses are then discussed in the broader context of the use of computer programs for producing scientific results.
Bio: Chris Brown now works for OCF Plc as a Consultant in Data Analytics in the recently formed Analytics Division, prior to joining OCF Chris was a consultant in Cloud Computing and Application Modernisation technologies. Previously Chris worked for HP as a corporate Director of Strategy in HP’s Mission Critical Business Systems Group where his main role was to lead the development of business and technical strategies for the Engineering teams, focusing on customer and partner requirements and leveraging key HP technologies.
Before joining HP Chris managed a number of Software companies in the UK, latterly focusing on Travel and CRM systems. Chris started out in IT as a software engineer and although he does not write code anymore still retains that keen engineering interest in software technologies and their advancement. Chris was educated in the UK and has lived and worked in the Middle East, the United States as well as the UK.
Abstract: In November 2009, a large amount of research material was leaked from the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) at the University of East Anglia. The material consisted of emails, academic papers, research proposals, data and a substantial collection of source codes (over 75,000 lines across more than 1000 files) and program binaries.
Much of the material in the archive (particularly the email correspondence) has already been subject to substantial analysis discussion and controversy concerning the integrity of the data and results contained. This debate is clearly significant given the conclusions that have been drawn from the results and the implications for wider climate change policy. However, relatively little attention has been given to quality of the software source code and accompanying documentation.
This talk will present an analysis of the leaked source code to highlight the challenge of applying software engineering methods to the development of high quality scientific software. The results of these analyses are then discussed in the broader context of the use of computer programs for producing scientific results.
Climatic Research Unit Data Leak and the Implications for Software Engineering for Computational Science
Description changed:
Abstract: In November 2009, a large amount of research material was leaked from the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) at the University of East Anglia. The material consisted of emails, academic papers, research proposals, data and a substantial collection of source codes (over 75,000 lines across more than 1000 files) and program binaries.
Much of the material in the archive (particularly the email correspondence) has already been subject to substantial analysis discussion and controversy concerning the integrity of the data and results contained. This debate is clearly significant given the conclusions that have been drawn from the results and the implications for wider climate change policy. However, relatively little attention has been given to quality of the software source code and accompanying documentation.
This talk will present an analysis of the leaked source code to highlight the challenge of applying software engineering methods to the development of high quality scientific software. The results of these analyses are then discussed in the broader context of the use of computerprograms for producing scientific results.
Area changed:YesEdited at by jarofgreen