What is computer science?

After the chat with Greg and the gang today it’s become obvious that I have no idea what computer science really is. My conception of the field has always been AI, data structures, distributed computing, stuff like that.

Given this very poor frame of reference I am nowhere near qualified to decide what would be of scholarly value for my dissertation. Some time this week I have to make a list of vague potential ideas and send it to someone (not really sure who) at Liverpool, to see if I’m on a good track.