Favourite Thing:

Working with researchers across the world in a wide range of different areas/sciences — it’s amazing where you can apply “computational thinking” or novel computing techniques to do cutting-edge research.

Me and my work

I research how to make next-generation microprocessors run more efficiently, as well as teaching my university students programming and mathematics.

My research is at the hardware/software interface: making microprocessors run more efficiently, as well as developing tools and languages to use them more effectively.

Some of my recent research is in provably optimal code generation: this basically means that I use mathematics (formal logic) to prove when computer code is as efficient as possible. While this work is theoretical, it has very practical benefits: today, it is increasingly important for devices such as modern mobile phones, where power consumption is the one thing we still have problems with, to efficiently use their resources. We develop these amazing gadgets, have incredible applications to run on them and yet the batteries run out after using them for less than a day. This is a problem! I hope my research will provide a way of making our devices much more efficient.

I also enjoy communicating my research (as well as science in general) to schools and the general public, especially to highlight the importance/relevance of computing — please take a look at my blog: Computing: The Science of Nearly Everything or follow me on Twitter: @DrTomCrick!

My Typical Day

Solving large complex problems on high performance computers (clusters and supercomputers), as well as a bit of teaching.

What I'd do with the money

Run activities to raise the general public’s awareness and highlight the importance of computing and technology — it’s the future!

I want to change people’s perception of computing as an academic subject and key research area, but also what it contributes to our daily lives.

I am already involved in trying to change how computing is taught at schools in the UK. I am the Leader in Wales of Computing at School (CAS), an organisation that aims to make computing more stimulating at school (i.e. not just focused on using software like in ICT), by understanding how computers (and computation) work and showing how important technology is to us all.

Winning IAS2011 would be an excellent start!

My Interview

• How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

  Hardworking sporty geek.

  Who is your favourite singer or band?

  From iTunes Top 25 most played: Bob Marley, Mumford & Sons, Tracey Chapman, Dizzee Rascal, LTJ Bukem…

  What is the most fun thing you've done?

  12,000ft skydive over Lake Taupo in New Zealand.

  If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

  1) To continue to do interesting research that hopefully makes a genuine contribution to science and society. 2) Be successful in my job, maybe become Professor Crick some day! 3) Be happy and live a long life!

  What did you want to be after you left school?

  Apart from wanting to play professional sports, I think it was originally to do particle/quantum/atomic physics! But gradually moved over to computing and technology (I’m still probably a bit of a physics/maths geek now).

  Were you ever in trouble in at school?

  Often when I was trying to be clever/funny and show off!

  What's the best thing you've done as a scientist?

  Presented my research to MPs at the House of Commons in 2010 (see pic above).

  Tell us a joke.

  Embrace your inner geek and read http://xkcd.com/