British Colloquium for Theoretical Computer Science
Encyclopedia
The British Colloquium for Theoretical Computer Science (BCTCS) is an organisation that hosts an annual event for UK
-based researchers in theoretical computer science
. A central aspect of BCTCS is the training of PhD
students.
The purpose of BCTCS is:
The scope of BCTCS includes all aspects of theoretical computer science, including algorithm
s, complexity
, semantics
, formal methods
, concurrency
, types
, languages
and logics
. An emphasis on breadth, together with the inherently mathematical nature of theoretical computer science, means that BCTCS always actively solicits both computer scientist
s and mathematician
s as participants, and offers an environment within which the two communities can meet and exchange ideas.
BCTCS is primarily for the benefit of UK-based researchers. However, to help promote British theoretical computer science in the wider community, BCTCS is also advertised at the international level; participants from outside of the UK are welcome to attend the annual meeting, and the programme of invited talks regularly includes high-profile researchers from outside of the UK.
The first BCTCS meeting was organised in 1985 by John V. Tucker
at the University of Leeds
.
The BCTCS operates under the direction of an Organising Committee, with an Executive consisting of a President, Secretary and Treasurer. The current President is Faron Moller
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-based researchers in theoretical computer science
Theoretical computer science
Theoretical computer science is a division or subset of general computer science and mathematics which focuses on more abstract or mathematical aspects of computing....
. A central aspect of BCTCS is the training of PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
students.
The purpose of BCTCS is:
- to offer a regular forum in which UK-based researchers in all aspects of theoretical computer science can meet, present research findings, and discuss recent developments in the field;
- to foster an environment within which PhD students undertaking research in theoretical computer science may gain experience in presenting their work in a formal arena, broaden their outlook on the subject, and benefit from contact with established researchers in the community; and
- to provide a platform by which the interests and future well-being of British theoretical computer science may be advanced.
The scope of BCTCS includes all aspects of theoretical computer science, including algorithm
Algorithm
In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm is an effective method expressed as a finite list of well-defined instructions for calculating a function. Algorithms are used for calculation, data processing, and automated reasoning...
s, complexity
Complexity
In general usage, complexity tends to be used to characterize something with many parts in intricate arrangement. The study of these complex linkages is the main goal of complex systems theory. In science there are at this time a number of approaches to characterizing complexity, many of which are...
, semantics
Formal semantics of programming languages
In programming language theory, semantics is the field concerned with the rigorous mathematical study of the meaning of programming languages and models of computation...
, formal methods
Formal language
A formal language is a set of words—that is, finite strings of letters, symbols, or tokens that are defined in the language. The set from which these letters are taken is the alphabet over which the language is defined. A formal language is often defined by means of a formal grammar...
, concurrency
Concurrency (computer science)
In computer science, concurrency is a property of systems in which several computations are executing simultaneously, and potentially interacting with each other...
, types
Type theory
In mathematics, logic and computer science, type theory is any of several formal systems that can serve as alternatives to naive set theory, or the study of such formalisms in general...
, languages
Formal language
A formal language is a set of words—that is, finite strings of letters, symbols, or tokens that are defined in the language. The set from which these letters are taken is the alphabet over which the language is defined. A formal language is often defined by means of a formal grammar...
and logics
Mathematical logic
Mathematical logic is a subfield of mathematics with close connections to foundations of mathematics, theoretical computer science and philosophical logic. The field includes both the mathematical study of logic and the applications of formal logic to other areas of mathematics...
. An emphasis on breadth, together with the inherently mathematical nature of theoretical computer science, means that BCTCS always actively solicits both computer scientist
Computer scientist
A computer scientist is a scientist who has acquired knowledge of computer science, the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and their application in computer systems....
s and mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
s as participants, and offers an environment within which the two communities can meet and exchange ideas.
BCTCS is primarily for the benefit of UK-based researchers. However, to help promote British theoretical computer science in the wider community, BCTCS is also advertised at the international level; participants from outside of the UK are welcome to attend the annual meeting, and the programme of invited talks regularly includes high-profile researchers from outside of the UK.
The first BCTCS meeting was organised in 1985 by John V. Tucker
John V. Tucker
John Vivian Tucker is a British computer scientist and expert on computability theory, also known as recursion theory. Computability theory is about what can and cannot be computed by people and machines...
at the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
.
The BCTCS operates under the direction of an Organising Committee, with an Executive consisting of a President, Secretary and Treasurer. The current President is Faron Moller
Faron Moller
Faron George Moller is a Canadian-born British computer scientist and expert on theoretical computer science, particularly infinite-state automata theory and temporal logic...
.
Past presidents
- John V. TuckerJohn V. TuckerJohn Vivian Tucker is a British computer scientist and expert on computability theory, also known as recursion theory. Computability theory is about what can and cannot be computed by people and machines...
(1985–1992) - Alan Gibbons (1992–1998)
- Iain Stewart (1998–1999)
- Paul DunnePaul DunnePaul Dunne was an Irish soccer player during the 1950s and 1960s in the League of Ireland.Dunne joined Bohemians in 1959 after spells with Transport F.C. and Rathfarnham. He started off in the Bohs "B" team but progressed to the first team and made his debut against Cork Hibernians in October 1959...
(1999–2001) - Chris ToftsChris ToftsChris Tofts is an English computer scientist.Chris Tofts studied mathematics as an undergraduate at Clare College, Cambridge, followed by a Diploma in Computer Science from the same college. He went on to do a PhD supervised by Robin Milner in the Laboratory for Foundations of Computer Science at...
(2001–2004) - Faron MollerFaron MollerFaron George Moller is a Canadian-born British computer scientist and expert on theoretical computer science, particularly infinite-state automata theory and temporal logic...
(2004–)
Past secretaries
- Mark JerrumMark JerrumMark Richard Jerrum is a British computer scientist and computational theorist.Jerrum received his Ph.D. in computer science in 1981 from University of Edinburgh under the supervision of Leslie Valiant...
(1989–1992) - Paul DunnePaul DunnePaul Dunne was an Irish soccer player during the 1950s and 1960s in the League of Ireland.Dunne joined Bohemians in 1959 after spells with Transport F.C. and Rathfarnham. He started off in the Bohs "B" team but progressed to the first team and made his debut against Cork Hibernians in October 1959...
(1992–1999) - Julian Bradfield (1999–2005)
- Graham Hutton (2005–2011)
- David Manlove (2011-)
Past treasurers
- David Rydeheard (1989–1996)
- Chris ToftsChris ToftsChris Tofts is an English computer scientist.Chris Tofts studied mathematics as an undergraduate at Clare College, Cambridge, followed by a Diploma in Computer Science from the same college. He went on to do a PhD supervised by Robin Milner in the Laboratory for Foundations of Computer Science at...
(1996–2001) - Faron MollerFaron MollerFaron George Moller is a Canadian-born British computer scientist and expert on theoretical computer science, particularly infinite-state automata theory and temporal logic...
(2001–2004) - Stephan Reiff-Marganiec (2004–)
Past (recent) postgraduate representatives
- Temesghen Kahsai Azene (2007–2008)
- Haris Aziz (2008–2009)
- Julian Gutierrez (2009–2010)
- Radhakrishnan Delhi Babu (2010–2011)
- Laurence E. Day (2011-)
See also
- Formal Aspects of Computing Science, a British Computer SocietyBritish Computer SocietyThe British Computer Society, is a professional body and a learned society that represents those working in Information Technology in the United Kingdom and internationally...
Specialist Group.