Southern Polytechnic State University
Colloquium Series
Computer Science and Software Engineering

Wednesday, September 6, 2000, 5:00 PM
Room H-121

Dr. David Gries
Professor of Computer Science
University of Georgia

Using Calculational Logic as a Tool

Abstract

Logicians don't really use logic; they study it. Because of this, logic is usually taught only as an object of study. For example, few discrete math texts use logic and its notation outside of the chapter on logic, and logic is usually taught in a week or two at the most. And NO one, including logicians, does proofs in mathematics in the way proposed by logicians. 

We believe that  ``logic is the glue that binds together methods of reasoning, in all domains'', and we teach it that way. But we don't use logic as typically taught, we use a "calculational logic", which formalizes nicely the way mathematicians and other scientists actually use math. Teaching a calculational logic and then USING it in discussing other topics (e.g. a theory of integers, set theory) imparts an appreciation for logic and rigorous proof, gives the student a skill in formal manipulation, and lessens the fear students have for mathematics and and mathematical notation.

In fact, we are so excited with the results of this approach that we believe ALL students in science  --mathematicians, physicists, etc.-- would benefit greatly from taking such a course. We'll try to convince you of this in this talk, which should be accessible to all college students in science majors.

About the Speaker

Dr. David Gries is a Franklin Professor of Computer Science at UGA. He moved there last year, after 30 years at Cornell University. He is known for his research in compiling and in programming methodology and for his books ``Compiler Construction for Digital Computers'' (1971), ``The Science of Programming'' (1981), ``A Logical Approach to Discrete Math'' (1993, with F.B. Schneider), and his new livetext ``ProgramLive`` (2000, with son Paul). This introduction to programming using Java comes on a CD, not in book form, and has almost 300 real lectures with synched animation.

Dr. Gries received a number of awards for his contributions to education: the AFIPS education award in 1985, the ACM SIGCSE award in 1991, the Taylor L. Booth Education Award from the IEEE Computer Society in 1994, and the ACM Karlstrum Outstanding Educator Award in 1995. He was also was a co-recipient of the 1976 ACM Programming Languages and Systems Best Paper award and received the Computing Research Association's Service Award in 1991. He holds honorary doctorates from Oxford University in Ohio and Daniel Webster College in Connecticut.

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