The rapid growth over the last quarter-century in the speed- and data-handling capabilities of high-performance computers has transformed the methodology of scientific investigation. Scientific computation—combined with the development of novel algorithms—has joined experiment and theory as one of the fundamental tools of investigation, altered the kinds of experiments performed, and expanded the scope of theory. 

The Center for Scientific Computation and Mathematical Modeling (CSCAMM) was created in 2001 by the University of Maryland as a “major impact” project that aims to address the challenges offered by these scientific developments. CSCAMM encourages cross-fertilization of research activity that lies at the interface between different scientific fields utilizing scientific computation and mathematical modeling. Recent examples of such fields include weather forecasting based on multi-scale modeling/simulations of atmosphere-ocean-land interactions, nano-structures, protein folding, and turbulence and transport in fluids and plasma.

The primary goal of CSCAMM is to foster research and educational activities that highlight novel computational algorithms and mathematical modeling and their interplay with the physical sciences, biological sciences, and engineering. To stimulate such research activity, CSCAMM joins UMD scientists with world-renowned scholars for whom computation is an essential part of their research program. 

CSCAMM also:

• Fosters joint research programs to develop novel computational algorithms and related mathematical tools for addressing fundamental scientific problems.

• Sponsors an active visitors program by running workshops and conferences.

• Supports an educational program through a series of tutorials and an active involvement with UMD’s graduate program in Applied Mathematics & Statistics, and Scientific Computation (AMSC).