The Institute for Scientific Computation is an interdisciplinary research center devoted to the applications of computer technology in mathematics, engineering, and applied sciences. The computational investigation of applied problems is now widely recognized as a third scientific methodology in addition to the traditional theory and lab experiment. This new approach has played a significant role in the development of new technology in science and industry. Exploiting this new approach requires multidisciplinary teams of researchers with expertise in physical processes, mathematical modeling, numerical analysis, efficient algorithm design and computer visualization. The ISC actively promotes this kind of collaboration through an interdisciplinary atmosphere for research that crosses traditional academic boundaries.

The Institute fosters these interdisciplinary research teams by providing powerful computational facilities, infrastructure, and support to many faculty member and graduate students at the University of Wyoming. The Institute maintains an array of parallel computers, including a Beowulf cluster, and a number of SCI computers which include Indy, Indigo II, and O2 workstations, a two-processor Power Challenge, and two 4-processor Origin 200's. The interdisciplinary program of research in scientific computation emphasizes state-of-the-art numerical techniques and modern parallel techniques. In addition, the Institute supports high speed networking and high performance computing for affiliated researchers.

The research areas currently supported by ISC include
 

• computational fluid dynamics and aeroacoustics
• mathematical modeling of fluid flow in porous media
• numerical methods for stochastic differential equations
• numerical methods for simulating molecular dynamics
• library development of various finite element objects
• computational modeling of compaction and fluid flow in sedimentary basins

Most of these research areas require an ability to model nonlinear and statistically uncertain factors, which in turn requires development of complicated and sensitive numerical models to accurately predict experimental or field data. This study often involves a very complex process and requires extensive parameter estimate and prediction capability, as well as the use of sophisticated computers and software in both laboratory and field situations. A critical component of ISC's research is to develop robust and scalable computational simulators for use in a variety of physical and geological settings.

The Institute is interested in building collaborative research ties with other national and international research teams.  Please contact Dan Stanescu for more information on collaborations.