Semiconductors: A pillar of pure and applied physics

We give an overview of the central role semiconductor research that has played in basic, applied, and computational science. Our focus is on basic science. However, we will make general comments about applications, such as the transistor, integrated circuits, solar devices, and lasers, which evolved from basic research, and about simulations using computational science, which has enormously benefited from semiconductor research. We will make reference to links with other branches of physics and more generally other areas of science and fields like electrical engineering, computer science, material science, medical science, and chemistry that have made significant contributions to our everyday life.