# David May

> British computer scientist (born 1951)

**Wikidata**: [Q92730](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q92730)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_May_(computer_scientist))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/david-may

## Summary
David May is a British computer scientist and engineer born in 1951, known primarily for his development of the occam concurrent programming language and influential research in computer architecture. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society and has held significant academic positions.

## Biography
- **Born:** 1951-02-24 in Holmfirth, United Kingdom
- **Nationality:** United Kingdom
- **Education:** King's College, University of Warwick, Queen Elizabeth Grammar School
- **Known for:** Development of the occam concurrent programming language (inception 1983)
- **Employer(s):** University of Bristol (primary), affiliated with University of Warwick Institute for Employment Research
- **Field(s):** Computer Science, Computer Architecture, Concurrent Programming

## Contributions
David May is most renowned for conceiving and developing the occam concurrent programming language, which debuted in 1983. Occam provided a formal and executable framework for building concurrent systems, significantly impacting the design of parallel computing architectures and software. His work directly addressed the complexities of programming multiple processors simultaneously, influencing subsequent language designs and research in parallel computing. As a computer scientist and engineer, May also contributed to computer architecture research and held leadership roles in the UK computing community, including the UK Computing Research Committee, shaping national research priorities.

## FAQs
### Q: Where and when was David May born?
A: David May was born on 24 February 1951 in Holmfirth, United Kingdom.

### Q: What is David May best known for?
A: David May is best known for creating the occam concurrent programming language in 1983, a significant contribution to parallel computing.

### Q: What major recognitions has David May received?
A: He is a Fellow of the Royal Society (since 1991), a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and received the Clifford Paterson Medal and Prize in 1992.

### Q: Where did David May study?
A: David May studied at King's College, University of Warwick, and Queen Elizabeth Grammar School.

## Why They Matter
David May fundamentally shaped the field of concurrent computing through his design and implementation of the occam language. Occam provided a practical and theoretically sound foundation for building parallel software, directly influencing the development of subsequent parallel programming paradigms and architectures. His work bridged the gap between theoretical models of concurrency and real-world implementation, making parallel programming more accessible. As a Royal Society Fellow and leader in the UK Computing Research Committee, he also exerted significant influence on national research policy and direction, fostering advancements in UK computing infrastructure and innovation.

## Notable For
- Creator of the occam concurrent programming language (inception 1983)
- Fellow of the Royal Society (elected 1991)
- Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering
- Recipient of the Clifford Paterson Medal and Prize (1992)
- Member of the UK Computing Research Committee

## Body
### Early Life and Education
- David May was born on 24 February 1951 in Holmfirth, United Kingdom.
- His education included attendance at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, followed by King's College and the University of Warwick.

### Academic and Research Career
- Primarily employed by the University of Bristol.
- Affiliated with the University of Warwick Institute for Employment Research (located in the United Kingdom).
- Serves as a university teacher and holds occupations as a computer scientist and engineer.
- Member of the UK Computing Research Committee.

### Major Contributions and Recognition
- **occam:** Developed the occam concurrent programming language, first introduced in 1983. This language was a significant contribution to the field of parallel and concurrent computing.
- **Honors:** Elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1991. Also elected Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. Awarded the Clifford Paterson Medal and Prize in 1992.
- **Archives:** His work and records are held at the Computer History Museum.
- **Identities:** Known aliases include Michael David May and 마이클 데이비드 메이.

### Identifiers
- ISNI: 0000000113307915
- VIAF ID: 3127161332353052420008
- GND ID: 1226788440
- dblp Author ID: m/DavidMay
- Scopus Author ID: 7202898524
- Library of Congress Authority ID: nb2011010050
- PRabook ID: 2068186
- SNAC ARK ID: w6kj3713
- Freebase ID: /m/07wqm0
- Idref ID: 127033769
- NUKAT ID: n2005092086
- Nationale Thesaurus voor Auteursnamen ID: 074939637

### Language and Media
- Speaks, writes, or signs English.
- Associated Wikipedia articles exist in Arabic (ar), Egyptian Arabic (arz), Catalan (ca), German (de), English (en), and Malagasy (mg).

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. [Source](https://www.theiet.org/impact-society/thought-leadership/expert-panels/uk-computing-research-committee-ukcrc/members-of-ukcrc/ukcrc-members/)
3. [Source](http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102746024)
4. SNAC