Author: John Woodward, Reader in Computer Science, Loughborough University

Here’s one definition of science: it’s essentially an iterative process of building models with ever-greater explanatory power. A model is just an approximation or simplification of how we think the world works. In the past, these models could be very simple, as simple in fact as a mathematical formula. But over time, they have evolved and scientists have built increasingly sophisticated simulations of the world as new data has become available. A computer model of the Earth’s climate can show us temperatures will rise as we continue to release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Models can also predict how infectious…