CSE 143

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Exploration Sessions

Wednesdays, 3:30-4:20 in room EEB 105.

Each week we will offer a different opportunity to explore extra topics in computer science with one of our TAs. There will be a homework assigned each week. You will accumulate one "exploration point" for each week that you attend the lecture and do the homework. At the end of the quarter, your total exploration points will be divided by 3 and will be added to your homework points. There will be 170 homework points total, so this isn't adding a lot to your potential score. As an example, if you were to participate in 3 exploration sessions, you would have 1 point added to your homework points, which is like getting one more point on a weekly programming assignment. The idea is to give people a small reward, but not something that is so large that people feel obligated to participate in these optional sessions.

Week 9: Resource Constrained Environments - Wednesday, March 12

CSE PhD student Nicola Dell will discuss computing in resource constrained environments. She will describe how technology can improve the lives of underserved populations in low-income regions.

Week 8: Cryptography - Wednesday, March 5

CSE 142 head TA Zorah Fung will discuss cryptography, the processes by which your data is kept secure. She will show why it's important, as well as some cryptographic systems throughout history, including the current state-of-the-art processes.

Week 7: Computational Biology - Wednesday, February 26

Simone Schaffer will discuss three of the ways computer science is being used in the field of Biology, including exploring DNA sequences, programming molecules to begin autonomous computing, and mathematical modelling. You will look at how Scientists use the BLAST Algorithm to find matching sequences of DNA, how they are rethinking of the way in which we will build computers in the future, and how the patterns that flocks of birds chose to fly in can be modeled using computational techniques.

Week 6: Cellular Automata - Wednesday, February 19

CSE alum Alex Miller will discuss cellular automata. Some label the field of cellular automata as "recreational science". As Alex will discuss, a cellular automaton is no more than a strange sort of game. However, these games turn out to have extraordinary implications in many fields, and some think they can explain the nature of the universe! You will take a close look at some interesting cellular automata and discover why mathematicians and computer scientists are so obsessed with them.

Week 5: Networks - Wednesday, February 12

Allison Obourn will discuss the basics of computer networks.

Week 4: Ubiquitous Computing - Wednesday, February 5

UW CSE PhD student Mayank Goel will tell you about the work being done in the UW ubiquitous computing lab.

Week 3: Artificial Intelligence - Wednesday, January 29

Head TA Kevin Quinn will give you a look at artificial intelligence. He will show you different problems in the area and the sorts of things that computer scientists are doing to make computers more "intelligent."

Week 2: Binary - Wednesday, January 22

142 Head TA Zorah Fung will show you how computers represent all information with just 0s and 1s.

Week 1: Working in Computer Science - Wednesday, January 15

  • Join us for a panel of former UW CSE students who will talk about their day-to-day work. You'll learn that there are lots of different kinds of jobs for those with a background in CSE, hear a bit about the kinds of problems that the panelists work on and get a chance to ask your own questions. Be sure to come with at least one question!