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Computer Science @ Rochester
Thursday, February 05, 2009
3:25 PM
Sloan Auditorium, 101 Goergen Hall
Dr. William Wulf
University of Virginia & National Academy of Engineering
Responsible Citizenship in a Technological Democracy
The U.S. is the most technologically sophisticated society that has ever existed, and hence is also the most technologically dependent. As a consequence many of our most important public policy issues have a critical technological dimension. Unfortunately, most citizens of the U.S. do not know enough science and engineering concepts to be meaningful participants in informed discussions of things like energy policy, climate change, electronic voting, etc. This talk explores the kinds of concepts everyone should know in order to be a responsible citizen.

Bio: Dr. Wulf was on leave from the University from mid 1996 to mid 2007 to serve as President of the National Academy of Engineering. Together with the National Academy of Sciences, the NAE operates under a congressional charter and presidential executive orders that call on it to provide advice to the government on issues of science and engineering.

In 1988-90 Dr. Wulf was on leave from the University to be Assistant Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) where he headed the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE). CISE was responsible for computer science and engineering research as well as for operating the National Supercomputer Centers and NSFNET (the precursor ro today’s Internet). While at NSF, Dr. Wulf was deeply involved in the development of the High Performance Computing and Communication Initiative and in the formative discussions of the National Information Infrastructure.

Administrative Experience: President, National Academy of Engineering, 1996-2007 Assistant Director, National Science Foundation, 1988-90 Chairman & CEO, Tartan Laboratories Incorporated, 1981-1987. Acting Head, Department of Computer Science, Carnegie- Mellon University, 1978-1979.