We at last have a reasonable answer to the original problem. Be sure that you
understand the ways in which we improved the model, the method, and the
implementation in arriving at an answer.
There's one last step in the assessment process: we need to ask whether the
problem that we've just solved has anything to say about the question that we
originally asked. In the beginning, we were wondering whether or not the world
is overpopulated. Does the fact that there were around 310,000 square feet per
person in 1990 help you decide whether or not the world is overpopulated? Try
to answer that question yourself. While you're at it, think about what role
scientists and engineerings should play in shaping public policy.
Joseph L. Zachary
Hamlet Project
Department of Computer Science
University of Utah