Theoretically, I think that the ideal situation would be for a Computer Scientist to be someone who performs fundamental research in computation while a Software Engineer (I think that something like Computer Engineer would be a better term) applies computation research. Analogous to the relationship between a Physicist and an Electrical Engineer.

However, as the terms are currently used, I see Computer Scientist as analogous to Electrical Engineer. On the other hand, it seems to me that Software Engineer is used to suggest that developers don't need to know the theory behind computation.

Therefore, I currently think that the way "Software Engineer" is used respresents a lot of what's wrong with current software development.

What would be the computing equivalent of an Engineering Physicist?