“Computing and Mathematics at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Past, Present, and Future”

The Department of Energy’s National Laboratories are an outgrowth of investment in scientific research by the U.S. Government during World War II, and today tackle large-scale complex research problems in the interest of the nation. I discuss the origins of mathematics and computing and the labs, followed by current capabilities, initiatives, and research efforts in these areas at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), with an eye towards the future. I conclude with opportunities for engagement with ORNL and the national laboratories.

Michael Parks is the Director of the Computer Science and Mathematics Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Prior to moving to ORNL, he was the manager of the Computational Mathematics department in the Center for Computing Research at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His research interests include nonlocal models, especially peridynamics, multiscale modeling and simulation, domain decomposition methods, and iterative solvers. He holds bachelor’s degrees in computer science and physics as well as a master’s degree in computer science from Virginia Tech. He earned his Ph.D. in computer science with the scientific computing group at the University of Illinois.