In the modern postindustrial society fundamental knowledge forms the basis of knowledge economy as new achievements in this area lie at the basis of modern technologies and essential applied tasks solving. The development of informatics and mathematics is a result of the research of issues of the mathematical theory and problems arising in the other fundamental sciences as well as the further development of new technologies. Modern information technologies form technological base of knowledge economy as they underlie mathematical simulation, data storage, processing and search, and communication technologies. In turn, they are based on the innovations in fundamental sciences such as mathematics, physics, biology and chemistry.

The education at NSU in mathematics, mathematical simulation and information technologies was created on the base of the world’s leading scientific schools founded by such outstanding scientists as M.A. Lavrentyev, S.L. Sobolev, I.N. Vekua, L.V. Kantorovich, A.I. Maltsev, A.D.Alexandrov, A.P. Ershov, A.A. Lyapunov, N.N. Yanenko.

Mathematical simulation forms the base for the description of various natural and technical processes and phenomena studied in different fields of science and technology (physics, chemistry, biology, Earth science, machine engineering, economics, sociology and others).

With the development of computer engineering application of information technologies and high-performance computing systems played important role in mathematical modeling. With the progress of simulation results there is a need in consideration of more complex models and increasing demands on their accuracy and precision. There are new practical and theoretical issues such as the search for effective methods to model complex phenomena of different scales, methods of investigation of non-linear processes as well as methods that allow efficient use of modern computer systems.

This master program is designed for:

• training graduates according to the learning paths to prepare them for education and research work at postgraduate schools;
• training highly qualified specialists ready to develop and use new approaches, methods and technologies of parallel data processing to solve complex computational problems in fundamental and applied research in different fields of science and technology;
• training highly qualified specialists ready to solve a variety of analytical and research problems arising in different industries

Graduates of the program will receive extensive training in the field of modern theory and practice of mathematical modeling, data processing, parallel computing. They will be able to creatively apply their basic knowledge and tools to solve complex application problems and get the skills of independent research. In particular, graduates of the program will understand the theoretical principles of creating and analyzing mathematical models of parallel computation, notably the organization of the architecture of modern high-performance computing systems, the strengths and weaknesses of the modern tools of system and applied parallel programming, as well as the specifics of parallel computing techniques and methods of data processing.

The main majoring areas are:

• Computing Mathematics,
• Computing Physics,
• Information Biology,
• Information technologies in decision-making problems,
• Processing, transmission and storage of information

These areas are closely related to the applied problems arising in aerospace engineering, protection against natural and human-induced catastrophic phenomena, chemical and electronic industry, nanotechnologies etc.

TARGET AUDIENCE

The Master’s program is designed for university graduates and specialists using the methods of mathematical and computer simulation for scientific and industrial applications.

To start training within the master training program one must have a Diploma of Higher Education confirmed by a state-recognized document (Bachelor’s/specialist’s degree) in mathematics, applied mathematics, mechanics or physics.

COMPETENCES ACHIEVED

A graduate of Master’s program in Informatics and Computer Science should possess the following professional competences according to the type of activity:

Research activity

• to creatively apply theoretical knowledge and tools for effectively fulfilling scientific and practical computing tasks; for critically assessing the results, for identifying perspective areas; for analyzing existing algorithms in order to choose the optimum one for solving specific problems; for applying the methods of mathematical simulation required to research various natural and social processes including
• the use of numerical techniques to solve the tasks of mathematical physics, chemistry, biology, geology etc.;
• the creation and research of specific mathematical models and their hierarchies for linear and non-linear processes;
• the search of accurate and approximate problem solution and the quality research of models behaviour;
• the assessment of problems and the analysis of the results for identifying behaviour patterns of the researched systems;
• the creation of mathematical models and software systems that make it possible to efficiently solve specific applied problems requiring high-performance computer facilities;
• the analysis of existing algorithms in order to choose the optimum one required for solving specific problem;
• the ability to carry out computing experiments and conduct research aimed to examine the nature and characteristics of specific parallel computing architectures, software and database systems.

To know theoretical principles for developing effective numerical algorithms including;

• methods for solving systems of linear equations and spectral problems;
• methods for constructing finite difference schemes ;
• methods for discrete modelling;
• methods for parallelizing sequential algorithms and constructing parallel algorithms, methods of solving large-scale practical problems on parallel computers, mathematical models and methods of elaboration and research of parallel systems and processes
• basic organizational principles of parallel computing architectures; the opportunities of parallel programming; the peculiarities of parallel computing methods;
• results of latest research and publications in leading professional magazines within the field of specialization;
• basics of management and organization in conducting research;
• classification and comparative analysis of parallel database architectures, principles of querying in database parallel systems; strategies of data distribution and loading parallel computation system.

To use modern numerical methods for studying natural phenomena and technological processes including:

• theoretical basis for computational algorithms development
• finite-difference methods for solving nonlinear problems in liquid and gas mechanics
• paralleling methods for computational algorithms and data processing programs of extra-large data storages.

Engineering and manufacturing

To be able to apply modern computing technologies to solve problems in mathematical physics as well as:

• to prepare technical specifications required for elaboration of complex design solutions, mathematical models and software systems for solving applied problems;
• to draw up methodical and regulatory documents as well as suggestions and schemes for projects and programs realization;
• to create parallel computing programs, to verify their consistency, to conduct debugging and architecturally oriented optimization including using special purpose software;
• to design efficient applications aimed at working with extra-large data storages.

To know mathematical models and technological principles for solving applied problems including:

• computer simulation;
• engineering and development of software products designed for various computer platforms, operational systems and modern high-performance computer systems;
• principles of engineering and administration of computer systems;
• principles of management and organization of design-and-engineering work.

To be able to design software systems and informational systems including:

• development and implementation of informational systems based on the technologies for the design of web applications and relational database;
• the use of mathematical packages Matlab, MathCAD etc;
• the basics of programming using the programming languages, applied for realization of numerical algorithms (C++, Fortran);
• the development of parallel programs using MPI library.

Project activities:

• to be aware of standards of programming languages and design techniques of software systems;
• to be able to apply methods for computer geometric simulation in computer-aided design as well as principles of programming and documenting software systems.

Scientific and Educational research to be able to document the research work and present the results of research, to take part in scientific debates, to compose analytical reviews on the current state of the subject area; to assess research results; to identify prospective areas of research; to know the the features of scientific report; to be able to apply modern technical facilities of preparation and performance of presentation, modern methods of teaching Mathematical Modelling and IT-technologies in higher education.

Realization of the master training program is provided by qualified teaching staff. 100% of the teachers, engaged in the educational process, are Doctors or Candidates of Sciences. Students are guided by their scientific supervisors working at research institutes of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences as well as hi-tech manufacturing companies. The supervisors have academic degrees and broad research experience in mathematical simulation and IT-technologies.