1996 Bower Science Award Theme: Applied Mathematics/Computer Science
Frederick P. Brooks received an A.B. in Physics from Duke University in 1953, and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Harvard University in 1956.
Dr. Brooks worked for IBM Corporation, in Poughkeepsie and Yorktown, New York, from 1956 to 1965. For his pioneering work as the architect of the Stretch and Harvest computers, as well as managing the development of the System/360 computers and OS/360 software, he received a National Medal of Technology.
In 1964, Dr. Brooks founded the Department of Computer Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and chaired it for 20 years. Currently, he is Kenan Professor of Computer Science. His principal research is in real-time, three dimensional, computer graphics--"virtual environments." His research has helped biochemists solve the structure of complex molecules and enabled architects to "walk through" buildings still being designed. He is pioneering the use of force display to supplement visual graphics.
Information as of 1996