USTC-Yale Joint Research Center for High-Confidence Software

May 19, 2010, Professor Shao Zhong made a presentation in classroom 3124 of "Combining Foundational and Lightweight Formal Methods to Build Certifiably Dependable Software".Professor Yiyun Chen hosted the talk. Students of Computer Science and other interested students and teachers attended the meeting part.

Professor Shao started his talk with a report form New York Times which is a survey of the most innovation in the past 30 years. The survey showed that most of these innovations wholly or in part is computer-related, such as the Internet, PC and laptop , e-mail, multi-processors.Computer-related research results have been widely used and affects all areas of human life, but now the computer system resources (such as the processor) are not fully used. Many software or even the entire computer system are facing security challenges. The current situation leads people to looking forward to more computer research and technological innovation, but also brings more topics for computer science students and researchers.Professor Shao said sincerely: "What a lucky generation!"This aroused the audience's enthusiasm and interest here.

As more and more software is widely used , whether the software is reliable, how to measure software reliability and other issues to become major challenges of computer scientists.Professor Shao then shows that: why we need to software with proof, what is a proof-carrying software, how to construct reliable software, OCAP framework and verification of low-level code.

He highlights the program verification and shows that certified software is of great market and research value in embedded systems. Then he talks about the recent progress of program verification.He thinks that the domestic computer research has great potential, encouraged everyone to work hard in peacetime, less impetuous, enthusiastic audience response.

Finally Professor Shao gives a brief introduction of USTC - Yale Joint Research Centre of High Confidence Software. He said that we need to establish a goal of "to build world-class research" so as to maximize our potential.Joint Research Centre was formally established in early 2009, but the two sides of the joint research has been carried out of 5 to 6 years. Joint center has published 3 papers in PLDI. Currently, the Joint Center has three students doing research at Yale University, Professor Shao welcomes those who wish to join the Joint Research Centre.

After the report, students actively ask questions, Professor Shao patiently answered their questions.

Speaker Introduction:
Professor Shao Zhong is graduated from USTC and is a master chair professor. In recent years, Professor Shao Zhong focused on the theories and technologies to build large scale high confidence software.