A New Era for Discrete and Computational Geometry

计算几何是计算机科学理论的一个分支，研究用几何形式表述问题的算法。这些问题来自于地理信息系统、机器人、计算机辅助设计与制造、计算机图形学、数据分析与可视化、分子建模、工程仿真等方面的应用。1986年，古德曼和波拉克（纽约大学）在圣克鲁斯的一次科学会议上创办了后来成为旗舰期刊的《离散计算几何》，当时计算几何还是一个年轻的领域。它以及随后在霍利奥克山（1996年）、蒙特维里塔（1999年）和雪鸟（2006年）举行的会议，对定义和指导该领域产生了巨大的影响。该项目支持美国参与者（主要是年轻研究人员）参加在瑞士阿斯科纳的苏黎世联邦理工学院研讨会中心Monte Verita举行的“离散和计算几何的新时代”科学会议。2016年，我们将再次回顾这一领域的历史，展望未来。初级研究人员尤其会从中受益——从综述中学习背景，并为创造未来做好准备。美国国家科学基金会国际科学与工程办公室和计算机与信息科学与工程办公室的联合支持为美国的参与者扩大了机会。

Computational Geometry is a branch of the theory of computer science that studies algorithms for problems best stated in geometric form. The problems arise from applications in Geographic Information Systems, robotics, computer-aided design & manufacturing, computer graphics, data analytics and visualization, molecular modeling, engineering simulation, etc. Computational Geometry was a young field in 1986 when Goodmann and Pollack (NYU) launched what would become the flagship journal, "Discrete & Computational Geometry," with a scientific conference in Santa Cruz. It, and follow-up conferences at Mt. Holyoke (1996), Monte Verita (1999), and Snowbird (2006), had a huge impact in defining and directing the field. This project supports US participants, mainly young researchers, in a scientific conference, "A New Era of Discrete and Computational Geometry," at the ETH Zurich seminar center Monte Verita, in Ascona, Switzerland. It is fitting to revisit Monte Verita in 2016 to review this field's history and look to its future; junior researchers especially will benefit -- learning context from the review, and becoming equipped to create the future. Joint support from NSF's office of International Science and Engineering and from Computer and Information Science and Engineering broadens the opportunity for US-based participants.