Time for Computer Science to Grow Up | August 2009 | Communications of the ACM

Description

Time for Computer Science to Grow Up

As the computer science field has evolved, so should the methods for disseminating computing research results.

Unlike every other academic field, computer science uses conferences rather than journals as the main publication venue. While this made sense for a young discipline, our field has matured and the conference model has fractured the discipline and skewered it toward short-term, deadline-driven research. Computer science should refocus the conference system on its primary purpose of bringing researchers together. We should use archive sites as the main method of quick paper dissemination and the journal system as the vehicle for advancing researchers' reputations.

In his May 2009 Communications Editor's Letter,

Moshe Vardi challenged the computer science community to rethink the major publication role conferences play in computer science. Here, I continue that discussion and strongly argue that the computer science field, now more than a half-century old, needs to adapt to a conference and journal model that has worked well for all other academic fields.

Why do we hold conferences?

To rate publications and researchers.

To disseminate new research results and ideas.

To network, gossip, and recruit.

To discuss controversial issues in the community.

The de facto main role of computer science conferences is the first item: rating papers and people. When we judge candidates for an academic position, we first check the quality and quantity of the conferences where their work has appeared. The current climate of conferences and program committees often leads to rather arbitrary decisions even though these choices can have a great impact particularly on researchers early in their academic careers.

But even worse, the focus on using conferences to rate papers has led to a great growth in the number of meetings. Most researchers don't have the time and/or money to travel ...

Original URL

http://cacm.acm.org/magazines/2009/8/34492-time-for-computer-science-to-grow-up/fulltext

http://cacm.acm.org/magazines/2009/8/34492-time-for-computer-science-to-grow-up/fulltext