Biography
Dr. Char's research interests include computer algebra (systems, applications, theory); symbolic/numeric computing; scientific computation; parallel and distributed computation; computer environments for technical problem solving; software components for scientific computation; and educational uses of computer technology for computer science and engineering instruction. Dr. Char works in the areas of symbolic and numeric mathematical computation, parallel computation, interactive multimedia for education and problem-solving environments. Dr. Char was instrumental in developing Maple, a general purpose computer algebra system that performs both symbolic and numerical calculations and has facilities for interactive two- and three-dimensional graphics. Prior to joining the Drexel faculty, he was a professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Dr. Char is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery, the Mathematical Association of America, the IEEE Computer Society, and the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. He is the author or co-author of five books and more than 70 articles and papers.
Research Interests
Symbolic mathematical computation, algorithms and systems for computer algebra, parallel and distributed computation, computer science education, use of computing for STEM education.
Academic Distinctions
- PhD, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California
- BA, Mathematics (with Honors), Swarthmore College