CSC 400

Problem Seminar (Introduction to Graduate Study)

Spring 2021.

Course Schedule (evolving)

Note:  assigned reading must be completed before class. 
Also: some of the links to readings may work only from UR IP addresses; if you’re off campus, you’ll need to extablish a VPN connection before you can follow them. 

Fri. Feb. 5
First day of class.
Overview, intro (notes).
Due today: visit the Voicethread link in Blackboard and record a self-introduction before class
Fri. Feb. 12
Guest: Allegra Tennis, UR Libraries
Due today: curate your homepage; create your CV.  Either put the CV on your home page or post it to Piazza. 
Fri. Feb. 19
The paper submission and review process; professional ethics regarding the same.
Read before class: Policy on Roles and Responsibilities in ACM Publishing
Also skim the full set of ACM Publications Policies and Procedures
Due today:
Fri. Feb. 26
Brief presentations of favorite research papers.
Due today: pick a paper published in the last three years (perhaps one you found in your survey of recent conferences) and prepare an 8-minute presentation for the rest of the class.  Keep in mind that you will not have enough time to explain all the content.  Rather than try, think of your presentation as the “movie trailer” for the paper:  convey a sense of what the paper is about, why it’s interesting, and what the main contributions are.  You will know you were successful if people want to go read the paper to learn more. 
Fri. Mar. 5
Brief presentations of favorite research papers (continued).
(Also graduate recruiting weekend.) 
Fri. Mar. 12
Brief presentations of favorite research papers (continued).
Discussion of paper reviews.
Due today: Read the papers found in Blackboard, write reviews using the provided template, and post to Piazza.
Fri. Mar. 19
Discussion of paper reviews (continued).
Tips for writing in LaTeX.
Fri. Mar. 26
Guest lectures by Ehsan Hoque and Len Schubert
Fri. Apr. 2
The grant proposal process.
Due today: Read the material found in Blackboard; come prepared to present an idea for a grant proposal.
Fri. Apr. 9
Guest lectures by Daniel Štefankovič and Sreepathi Pai
Due today: Post your grant proposal to Piazza (see Blackboard); comment on the proposals of at least three peers.
Fri. Apr. 16
Guest lectures by Fatemeh Nargesian and Jiebo Luo
Fri. Apr. 23
Guest lecture by Yuhao Zhu
Discussion of ITRG proposals. 
Fri. Apr. 30
Further discussion of ITRG proposals. 
Fri. May 7
Guest lecture on technology & ethics by Jonathan Herington of the UR Philosophy department.


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Last Change:  22 April 2021 / Michael Scott's email address