The four-volume set LNCS 2657, LNCS 2658, LNCS 2659, and LNCS 2660 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the Third International Conference on Computational Science, ICCS 2003, held concurrently in Melbourne, Australia and in St. Petersburg, Russia in June 2003. The four volumes present more than 460 reviewed contributed and invited papers and span the whole range of computational science, from foundational issues in computer science and algorithmic mathematics to advanced applications in virtually all application fields making use of computational techniques. These proceedings give a unique account of recent results in the field.

Study the past, if you would divine the future. -CONFUCIUS A well written, organized, and concise survey is an important tool in any newly emerging field of study. This present text is the first of a new series that has been established to promote the publications of such survey books. A survey serves several needs. Virtually every new research area has its roots in several diverse areas and many of the initial fundamental results are dispersed across a wide range of journals, books, and conferences in many dif ferent sub fields. A good survey should bring together these results. But just a collection of articles is not enough. Since terminology and notation take many years to become standardized, it is often difficult to master the early papers. In addition, when a new research field has its foundations outside of computer science, all the papers may be difficult to read. Each field has its own view of el egance and its own method of presenting results. A good survey overcomes such difficulties by presenting results in a notation and terminology that is familiar to most computer scientists. A good survey can give a feel for the whole field. It helps identify trends, both successful and unsuccessful, and it should point new researchers in the right direction.

Graduate students depend on this series and ask for it by name. Why? For over 30 years, it's been the only one-stop source that supplies all of their information needs. The new editions of this six-volume set contain the most comprehensive information available on more than 1,500 colleges offering over 31,000 master's, doctoral, and professional-degree programs in more than 350 disciplines.New for 1997 -- Non-degree-granting research centers, institutes, and training programs that are part of a graduate degree program.Five discipline-specific volumes detail entrance and program requirements, deadlines, costs, contacts, and special options, such as distance learning, for each program, if available. Each Guide features "The Graduate Adviser", which discusses entrance exams, financial aid, accreditation, and more.Interest in these fields has never been higher! And this is the source to the 3,400 programs currently available -- from bioengineering and computer science to construction management.