Speak math, not code

At an exclusive dialogue at SMU on 14 January 2020, held in conjunction with the SMU-Global Young Scientists Summit 2020, Dr. Leslie Lamport, winner of the 2013 Turing Award, explained how thinking mathematically can be a useful step to specifying the algorithm for computer programmes, as it can help programmers clarify their thinking and make programs more efficient. Although math is both powerful and elegant when it comes to describing algorithms, many people are intimidated by it and shy away from using it. "Some students have asked us when can they stop doing and reviewing the math and start the software programming," said SMU Vice Provost (Research) and Professor of Information Systems (Practice) Steven Miller.