Science Board Computing Committee

During 1971 and 1972 there was much discussion in the Science Board of the SRC on the computational needs of theoretical physics and chemistry. It was the view of some that the way forward was to set up institutes researching these subjects and to concentrate the personnel and computing power at these institutes. Such an idea for theoretical chemistry institutes was floated by Brian Flowers (who was then Chairman of SRC) but it rather soon sank. An idea that seemed more buoyant was that of Meeting Houses whose origin lay probably with Prof. R. (Ron) Mason. He was until 1971 Professor at the University of Sheffield, when he went to the University of Sussex. From 1969 he was Chairman of the Chemistry Committee of the Science Board, and from 1972 to 1975 he was Chairman of the Science Board itself. He went on to be Chief Scientist at the Ministry of Defence, Sir Ronald Mason KCB, and to hold some important positions in public life. The fruition of his idea as far as computational chemistry is concerned begins with a memorandum by Jack Howlett to the Science Board in October 1972, which is worth quoting from rather extensively. Howlett wrote ... 

National Researeh Council. (2011). Learning science through computer games and simulations. Committee on science learning Computer games, simulations, and education, M. A. Honey M. L. Hilton (Eds.), Board on Science Education, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. Washington, DC The National Academies Press. 

The lEUBK model has been more exhaustively validated and calibrated than any like model being used today as a site-specific risk assessment tool by EPA or others. This evaluation ranged from verifying the basic computational soundness of the model to the range of its applications, independently evaluated by EPA s Science Advisory Board, Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (SAB/CASAC). SAB approved its use in stationary source air Pb exposure assessment and at hazardous waste sites containing lead (SAB/ CASAC, 1989, 1992). 

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