McGill University

NEW Tutorial (Fall 2005):
Computer Science Orientation

* Description

Introduction to available resources, necessary skills, and useful strategies, for taking full advantage of your university experience. Presented from the perspective of a student in the computer science department.

* When and where are we meeting?

  • Every Wednesday during the Fall semester, 2:35-3:25pm.
  • Trottier 3120.

* Who should attend?

  • Anyone registered for COMP-202 or COMP-250.
  • All U1 CS undergrads (honours/major/minor).
  • All U2 and U3 CS undergrads are also welcome.

* Coordinator

  • Prof. Joelle Pineau (email: jpineau "at" cs.mcgill.ca)
  • With help from Profs Mathieu Blanchette and Joseph Vibyhal

* Website

Tentative Schedule (Check website for updates.)

* Sept 7: Welcome to SOCS!
  • Guests: Profs Doina Precup and Nathan Friedman
  • Welcome by the undergraduate program chair.
  • Brief history of the department.
  • Overview of the programs.
  • Overview of the facilities.
  • Course registration.

* Sept 14: Overview of the computing facilities
  • Guests: Andrew Bogecho and Ron Simpson
  • How do I get a computer account / email address / personal webpage?
  • Where are the computer labs, when can I use them, what hardware/software do they offer?
  • How can I learn about UNIX?
  • Where do I get help?
  • And much more...

* Sept 21: Library Services (www.library.mcgill.ca)
  • Guest: Darleen Canning
  • Where to find reserved material (textbooks, class material, etc.)
  • How to search for documents
  • How to access old exams online

* Sept 28: Computer Science Undergraduate Society (CSUS)
  • Guests: current members
  • What CSUS does for you
  • How to get involved
  • And lots more advice from senior CS students about surviving and enjoying the next three years...

* Oct 5: Robotics research at SOCS
  • Joseph Vibyhal: The Prometheus Project
  • Joelle Pineau: The Nursebot Project

* Oct 12: Pre-midterm review session.

* Oct 19: Career and Placement Services (MECC)
  • Guests: Eleanore McNaughton and Debra Hamel
  • Services include: resume clinics, job postings, career advising
  • Finding a summer job in your field
  • Internship Year for Engineering and Science (IYES)
  • Work placement services for graduating students
  • One CS student's experience

* Oct 26: Software engineering research at SOCS
  • Guests: Profs Joerg Kienzle, Martin Robillard and Hans Vangheluwe

* Nov 2: Bioinformatics research at SOCS
  • Guests: Prof. Mathieu Blanchette

* Nov 9: SOCS graduates with interesting paths
  • Guests: Jacob Eliosoff and Rachel Potvin
  • Jacob's path: from McGill, to a job in the computing industry in Ethiopia (by way of startups in Montreal, New York and Boston). Jacob's bio.
  • Rachel's path: from McGill, to a job designing games for Ubisoft, to the MBA program at UdeM. Rachel's bio.

* Nov 16: Undergraduate research projects
  • Guests: Leonid Chindelevitch, Melanie Coggan, Christopher Hundt, Robert Kaplow
    • their research project
    • how and why they got involved in research
    • if and how one can get funding
    • the pros/cons of doing research as a undergrad
  • Overview of the courses and programs that offer opportunities for undergrad research

* Nov 23: Ethical and social issues in the practice and study of computer science
  • Guests: Linda Jacobs Starkey (Associate Dean of Students) and Prakash Panangaden (Professor, SOCS)
  • Academic integrity
  • Ethical and social issues in the practice of computing

* Nov 30: End of term social.
  • Come celebrate the end of term, catch up with old friends, find new ones, meet the profs. Cookies, tea and coffee will be served.
    • WHO: COMP-202/250 students and School of Computer Science Profs
    • LOCATION: McConnell Engineering Buildling, Rm 321

School of Computer Science
McGill University
3480 University Street
McConnell Eng. Bldg., Room 106N
Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2A7
CANADA
Phone: (514) 398-5432
Fax:    (514) 398-3883
Email: jpineau "at" cs.mcgill.ca

Last updated: Tue Aug 16 8:05:15 EDT 2005