4 ms·

What I noticed is how many references there were to wanting mathematicians to learn to code. It's weird because it's a good idea and I don't see that in job ad

by Natsu 15y ago

What I noticed is how many references there were to wanting mathematicians to learn to code. It's weird because it's a good idea and I don't see that in job ads any more.

vinutheraj 15y ago
I guess at 1959 there was no(not many?) computer science majors, and it might have been the norm for a mathematician to start programming, then.
sakopov 15y ago
Perhaps computer science wasn't widespread as formal area of study in universities at the time, so people were looking for the next best candidate, who is someone good at physics and math?
- hughw 15y ago
  Lol "the next best candidate". C'mon. [edit to explain that gut reaction] Physics and math practitioners would be far better candidates than a general computer scientist, for the domains described in this ad, even today.
- dons 15y ago
  The first comp sci degree in the US wasn't offered until 1962 (though cambridge com. lab had coined it in 1953)
mseebach 15y ago
Yes you do. The branching out just happens already at university. The coding mathematicians are known as computer scientists.
- ams6110 15y ago
  Anecdotally, most computer scientists I know (excluding undergrads... I'm talking about PhDs, graduate and professional academic researchers etc.) don't write code and do a fairly poor job when they try.
  - mseebach 15y ago
    Sure, but certainly they had the same problems in 1959. My point was that CS is a branch of Mathematics.
- Natsu 15y ago
  You might be surprised at how many of us didn't go into CS proper, but can still code. My degree was CMS and I still have to explain what it consists of all the time.
  - mseebach 15y ago
    Given how I'm in the field, I've met several, so, no, I'm not surprised. Just because mathematics then, and CS today, is the obvious path into the field, that doesn't make it the only one.
    - Natsu 15y ago
      I didn't really mean you specifically, but a lot of the people I've met lately seem to think that way.

by Natsu 15y ago

What I noticed is how many references there were to wanting mathematicians to learn to code. It's weird because it's a good idea and I don't see that in job ads any more.

vinutheraj 15y ago

I guess at 1959 there was no(not many?) computer science majors, and it might have been the norm for a mathematician to start programming, then.

sakopov 15y ago

Perhaps computer science wasn't widespread as formal area of study in universities at the time, so people were looking for the next best candidate, who is someone good at physics and math?

hughw 15y ago
Lol "the next best candidate". C'mon. [edit to explain that gut reaction] Physics and math practitioners would be far better candidates than a general computer scientist, for the domains described in this ad, even today.
dons 15y ago
The first comp sci degree in the US wasn't offered until 1962 (though cambridge com. lab had coined it in 1953)

mseebach 15y ago

Yes you do. The branching out just happens already at university. The coding mathematicians are known as computer scientists.

ams6110 15y ago
Anecdotally, most computer scientists I know (excluding undergrads... I'm talking about PhDs, graduate and professional academic researchers etc.) don't write code and do a fairly poor job when they try.
- mseebach 15y ago
  Sure, but certainly they had the same problems in 1959. My point was that CS is a branch of Mathematics.
Natsu 15y ago
You might be surprised at how many of us didn't go into CS proper, but can still code. My degree was CMS and I still have to explain what it consists of all the time.
- mseebach 15y ago
  Given how I'm in the field, I've met several, so, no, I'm not surprised. Just because mathematics then, and CS today, is the obvious path into the field, that doesn't make it the only one.
  - Natsu 15y ago
    I didn't really mean you specifically, but a lot of the people I've met lately seem to think that way.