[PRL] [Fwd: Kevin Sullivan] NSF Workshop: Science of Design, Software Intensive Systems

[Mitchell Wand]

I thought this might be of interest.  --Mitch 

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From: "Kevin Sullivan" <sullivan at cs.virginia.edu>
To: "'Kevin Sullivan'" <sullivan at virginia.edu>
Subject: NSF Workshop: Science of Design, Software Intensive Systems
Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2003 16:21:36 -0400

Dear Colleague:

The purpose of this message is to ensure that you are aware of an =
upcoming,
NSF-sponsored workshop, "Science of Design: Software-Intensive Systems." =
 A
CFP, finalized last week, was distributed through the SEWORLD mailing =
list.
I apologize for any duplication. =20

Best regards,
Kevin Sullivan
Associate Professor and VEF Faculty Fellow
University of Virginia Department of Computer Science


- ---------------------

                   Science of Design: Software-Intensive Systems
                A National Science Foundation Invitational Workshop
                   November 2-4, 2003, Airlie Center, Virginia
                             Call for Position Papers
                       Submission Deadline: October 1, 2003

OVERVIEW

The National Science Foundation's (NSF's) Directorate for Computer and=20
Information Science and Engineering is sponsoring an invitational=20
workshop on the topic of Science of Design with a particular emphasis=20
on Software- Intensive Systems.  The workshop will be held at Airlie=20
Center, 30 miles from Dulles International Airport, November 2-4,=20
2003.  The workshop objective is to help the NSF better define the=20
field and its major open problems and to prioritize important research=20
issues.  This call seeks contributions from both U.S. and=20
international participants. Invitations will be based on a short=20
position statement, the author's likely contribution to workshop=20
objectives, and factors such as diversity of views and backgrounds.

SCOPE

Essentially every modern technological artifact, system, or process=20
is Based on a design--an idea, plan, or scheme for the structure,=20
behavior, function,and value of that thing.  A design is the product=20
of a process of designing of that desired artifact, system, process. =20
Moreover, the design itself is an artifact and is designed.  A science=20
of design, then, is an organized body of knowledge about the designs=20
and designing of artifacts and the designs and designing of their =
designs. =20
For example, the designing of a software-intensive system yields an =
overall=20
system design, including designs for its computational processes=20
in the form of software artifacts. The system, its component processes,=20
and the system and software designs are all subject to designing.  A=20
science of design thus pertains to both end products (e.g., safety,=20
ease of use) and to their designs (e.g., modularity, analyzability). =20
The workshop scope is broad enough to include all of these levels,=20
with a particular emphasis on the role of computation and software in=20
the context of software-intensive systems. The term design here is not=20
meant to refer merely to an idealized stage of software development=20
between specification and coding.

Past research investments in understanding the design of software- =
intensive
systems have paid off handsomely in improved design capabilities.=20
Nevertheless, software-intensive systems are creating tremendous=20
possibilities, posing significant risks, and having great impacts on=20
our society; and our knowledge of how to design them effectively---and=20
our knowledge of the nature of design itself---still falls far short=20
of what is needed. The goal of this workshop is to address this need by=20
providing guidance to the National Science Foundation of the formulation =

of a science of design (subject, scope, methods, norms, etc.), major =
open=20
problems, and important research priorities for a ten-year time frame.

Position papers may address issues to include but not limited to the=20
following. While ideas are welcome from all fields where design is a=20
focus,the emphasis is on fundamental issues for software and software-=20
intensive systems.

* Representations and notations for designs and design tasks
* Role of problem formulation, value, and purpose in design
* Problem-solving techniques and processes involved in design
* Design, task, contract, and industry structures
* Complexity, fit, adaptability between natural & software-intensive =
systems
* Implications of changing technology-networks, agents, wireless, =
sensors...
* Automation of design for software-intensive systems
* Human and social issues in software and software-intensive system =
design
* The statistical nature of software designs and design processes
* Evaluation of software and software-intensive system designs
* Representing and addressing complexity in software-intensive systems
* Relationship of science, practice, & education in software-based =
systems
* Nature and limits of a science that could account for design and =
designing
* Broader impacts on society

SUBMITTING

By submitting a paper you agree to attend the entire workshop should you =

be invited.  Papers, written in English, must be submitted by 12:00 noon =

EDT, on Wednesday, October 1, 2003.  Papers must be formatted as PDF=20
files in 11 point type and must not exceed two U.S. letter size pages.=20
Longer papers will not be considered.  Papers should state a position or
perspective and include the author's background relevant to the=20
workshop. Send position papers to sod-submission at cs.virginia.edu. =20
Responses will be sent out as soon as possible.

SCHEDULE

Work will begin on the evening of Sunday, November 2, giving most=20
participants an option but not an obligation to fly in on Saturday,=20
November 1. Work will end at 3:00 PM, Tuesday November 4, in time=20
for most participants to return home that day.

ETHOS

The workshop will be organized for collaborative thinking and=20
interaction. Position papers will not be presented in conference=20
fashion, but they will be made available to all participants and all=20
participants will be expected to read them prior to the workshop. =20
Participants will be discouraged from advocating for their own research=20
agendas and will encouraged to step back from current research topics=20
and agendas, to think broadly and reflectively, and to move toward a=20
new set of problem formulations and research priorities.

FUNDING

The workshop budget is sufficient to cover most reasonable participant=20
expenses, up to a defined limit, to include travel, accommodations,=20
and meals.

WEB SITE

The workshop web site is =
http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~sullivan/sodsis.html

PROGRAM COMMITTEE

* Baldwin, Carliss, Harvard Business School
* Brooks, Fred, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Computer =
Science
* Dym, Clive, Harvey Mudd College Department of Engineering
* Green, Cordell, Kestrel Institute
* Jackson, Michael, Consultant
* Kay, Alan, HP Labs; Viewpoint Research Institute; UCLA
* Kiczales, Gregor, University of British Columbia, Computer Science
* Morrisett, Greg, Cornell University Department of Computer Science
* Nielsen, Jakob, Nielsen Norman Group
* Notkin, David, University of Washington Computer Science and =
Engineering
* Shaw, Mary, Carnegie Mellon University Computer Science Department
* Sullivan, Kevin, University of Virginia Computer Science (Chair)
* Taylor, Richard, University of California, Irvine, Information & =
Computer
Science



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