The need for mathematics in industry has increased dramatically in the last ten years. Nowhere is the need more evident than in the fields of computational science and engineering. My particular specialty is known as numerical analysis. It involves a blend of mathematics, computer science, engineering, and physics.

The particular project I have been involved with deals with semiconductor device modeling. The motivation for this project came about from a problem which scientists had noticed in computers that were placed out in space, such as the ones found in communication satellites and space probes like the Voyager. These computers are used to control vital functions such as navigation, and must operate in very harsh environments. Cosmic rays, for example, are continuously damaging the transistors within the computers. Cosmic rays are made up of protons or heavy ions that can have energies exceeding billions of electron volts. There is no easy way to repair a damaged computer once it has been placed out in space, so it is very important that the computers operate for as long as possible to fulfill their mission. I should also point out that there is no known way to shield the computers from cosmic rays, so that the only alternative is to design computers that are resistant to radiation damage.