MARS

Models, Algorithms, Computers and Systems


Fields of research

Abstract
Modern high tech research in science and technology requires to a great extent an interdisciplinary approach. This applies particularly to wide areas of the methodological sciences mathematics and informatics, where generally one or more aspects of a chain of consecutive closely interlocked fields of research are considered. These start with a mathematical model, continue with algorithmic problems and finally cover aspects of the implementation on computers or high performance computing environments and therefore also issues on the efficiency of computer systems.
The objective of MARS is to educate doctoral students in the research fields models, algorithms, computers and systems and also to achieve new insights and research findings especially with regard to the inter-dependency of these fields of research. The focus will be on important topics relevant for the Salzburg research site. MARS fields of research (see below) form particularly from a methodological point a cohesive and closely linked line of research and cover a wide spectrum of scientific interests. The members of the support team from the departments of mathematics and computer science are without exception methodical and due to their fundamental formal science approach are able to work closely together on the research proposal of the doctoral program.
Joint activities constitute the structured doctoral program in MARS. These include seminars with external guest speakers, one day workshops with external guests and multi day retreats away from the university, as well as summer schools on the topics of MARS.

  • MARS Models. The focus is on two model classes: analytical models, which are described by partial differential equations and the problems of variational calculus or its discretization in terms of the numerical solution process, and discrete models, which are presented in form of graphs, algebraic structures or difference equations.
  • MARS Algorithms. The investigation of numerical algorithms for the solution of discretization of partial differential equations, and algorithms for the solution of discrete and integer problems, in particular algorithms for large parallel and distributed dynamic systems.
  • MARS Computers. The main focus is on strategies for the parallel implementation of algorithms on modern computers or high performance computing environments, in particular on the systems set up for the Salzburg University computing environment Hochleistungsrechnen PLUS.
  • MARS Systems. The aim in the MARS systems field of research is to implement scalability regarding typical MARS specific applications from MARS models, MARS computers and MARS algorithms for increasingly powerful hardware.