# computer scientist

> one who studies or practices computer science

**Wikidata**: [Q82594](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q82594)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_scientist)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/computer-scientist

## Summary
A computer scientist is a professional who studies or practices computer science, focusing on the theoretical foundations of information and computation. As a type of scientist and technology specialist, they explore the theory of computation and the design of computational systems, which distinguishes them from a computational scientist.

## Key Facts
*   **Definition**: A person who studies or practices the field of computer science.
*   **Classification**: The role is classified as a profession, a subclass of scientist, technology specialist, systems analyst, and computer expert.
*   **Field of Occupation**: The primary field for this profession is computer science.
*   **Industries**: Computer scientists work across the industrial and service sectors.
*   **ISCO-08 Classification**: The International Standard Classification of Occupations code for this role is 2511.
*   **Dewey Decimal Classification**: The subject is classified under 004.092.
*   **Patron Saint**: Isidore of Seville is considered the patron saint for computer scientists.
*   **Distinction**: The role of a computer scientist is considered different from that of a computational scientist.

## FAQs
### Q: What is a computer scientist?
A: A computer scientist is a person who specializes in the study of computer science. They work on the theoretical aspects of computation and the design of computer systems, rather than just the application of technology.

### Q: What is the difference between a computer scientist and a computational scientist?
A: The provided source material explicitly states that a computer scientist is different from a computational scientist. A computer scientist focuses on the theoretical foundations of computing itself, while computational scientists typically apply computational methods to other scientific disciplines.

### Q: Who are some well-known computer scientists?
A: The source material lists several notable individuals with the occupation of computer scientist, including Tim Berners-Lee, an English computer scientist credited with inventing the World Wide Web, and Larry Sanger, a co-founder of Wikipedia.

## Why It Matters
The role of the computer scientist is fundamental to the advancement of technology and our digital world. Unlike many technology professionals who apply existing tools, computer scientists work on the theoretical underpinnings that make those tools possible. They research and develop new algorithms, programming languages, and computing paradigms that solve complex problems and push the boundaries of what is computationally feasible.

The impact of their work is vast, spanning nearly every industry. The provided examples show computer scientists working not only as programmers and software engineers but also as university professors, researchers, business executives, and even seismologists. This interdisciplinary nature demonstrates the profession's critical role in applying computational thinking to diverse fields, from creating global information networks like the World Wide Web to analyzing complex scientific data. Their work forms the scientific basis for the software, systems, and networks that modern society depends on.

## Notable For
*   **Theoretical Focus**: Computer scientists are distinguished by their focus on the theory of computation and the design of computational systems, which forms the scientific basis for software engineering and other tech professions.
*   **Interdisciplinary Application**: The profession is highly interdisciplinary. The source lists computer scientists who are also mathematicians (Taffee Tanimoto), professors (Colin Runciman), seismologists (Takashi Furumura), and psychologists (Rainer Goebel).
*   **Foundational Innovation**: Individuals in this field have been responsible for creating foundational technologies. For example, computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee is listed as the inventor of the World Wide Web.
*   **Formal Recognition**: The profession is formally recognized and classified by international standards, including the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-08 code 2511) and the Dewey Decimal Classification (004.092).

## Body
### Definition and Classification
A computer scientist is defined as "one who studies or practices computer science." The role is formally classified as a profession and is considered a subclass of several broader categories, including:
*   Scientist
*   Technology specialist
*   Systems analyst
*   Computer expert

The primary field for this occupation is computer science. The role is distinct from that of a "computational scientist" and is sometimes used interchangeably with "IT professional" or "computer science expert."

### Professional Landscape
Computer scientists are employed in both the **industrial sector** and the **service sector**. The tools of their trade include computing terminology and computer science journals. The profession is recognized with specific classification codes in various systems:
*   **ISCO-08 Occupation Class**: 2511
*   **Dewey Decimal Classification**: 004.092
*   **German National Library (GND) ID**: 4139395-8 (male), 4219059-9 (female)
*   **Library of Congress Authority ID**: sh85029497

The patron saint for computer scientists is Isidore of Seville.

### Notable Individuals
The source material identifies numerous individuals as computer scientists, often alongside other professions, highlighting the field's breadth:
*   **Tim Berners-Lee**: An English computer scientist and programmer.
*   **Larry Sanger**: An American computer scientist, philosopher, and co-founder of Wikipedia.
*   **Taffee Tanimoto**: A Japanese American mathematician, professor, and computer scientist.
*   **Vijay Atluri**: An Indian computer scientist and university teacher.
*   **Cornelia Fermüller**: An Austrian computer vision researcher and computer scientist.
*   **Satoru Fujishige**: A Japanese mathematician, writer, and computer scientist.
*   **Rainer Goebel**: A German university teacher, psychologist, and computer scientist.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "computer scientist",
  "description": "A computer scientist is a person who studies or practices computer science, focusing on the theoretical foundations of information and computation.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_scientist"
  ],
  "additionalType": "https://schema.org/Occupation"
}

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. [Nuovo soggettario](https://thes.bncf.firenze.sbn.it/termine.php?id=3051)
3. STW Thesaurus for Economics
4. Nuovo soggettario
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. YSO-Wikidata mapping project. 2023
7. [ESCO - European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations](https://esco.ec.europa.eu/uk/classification/occupation?uri=http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/e3229e40-f571-4b26-baca-29edc8fe313e)
8. National Library of Israel
9. KBpedia