Module Identifier CS19010  
Module Title HOT TOPICS IN COMPUTER SCIENCE  
Academic Year 2005/2006  
Co-ordinator Dr Mark J Neal  
Semester Semester 1  
Other staff Dr Mark J Neal, Dr Reyer Zwiggelaar  
Pre-Requisite None  
Co-Requisite None  
Mutually Exclusive None  
Course delivery Lecture   19 x 50 minutes  
  Seminars / Tutorials   2 x 50 minute seminars  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam1.5 Hours SEMESTER EXAMINATION  100%
Supplementary Assessment1.5 Hours SUPPLEMENTARY EXAMINATION  100%
Further details http://www.aber.ac.uk/compsci/ModuleInfo/CS19010  

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
describe how research questions and experiments to test them might be formulated.

describe a number of particular areas of research in which the department performs research.

demonstrate understanding of a number of common features of some of these areas of research.

Aims

The module is intended to introduce a wide range of topics which are the subject of ongoing research in the discipline. This is intended to give the students a view of the way in which various parts of the discipline relate to each other as well as to identify common challenges and aspects of computer science between research areas. This is intended to motivate the students by providing a strong link in our taught course to the cutting edge research that is happening in the department.

Brief description

The module will present a basic description of how and why research in computer science is performed and then focus on a selection of topics and projects that are active areas of research within the department. Finally common aspects of the various areas will be identified, discussed and considered in the wider context of computer science as a whole.

Content

Introduction to research in computer science (2 lectures)

A non-technical and non-philosophical description of the general scientific method and principles such as Occam's razor will be given. This will move on to ways in which research questions (hypotheses) can be expressed and subsequently to how they can be tested. General issues of experimental design and gathering of results will also be discussed.

Topics in artificial intelligence (3 lectures)

An overview of the current state of the art and hard problems in AI research will be given, with a bias towards the topics which form the basis of research currently underway in the department. This will be followed by more focussed description and discussion of particular research projects currently being undertaken in the department in AI.

Topics in robotics (3 lectures)

An overview of the current state of the art and hard problems in robotics research will be given, with a bias towards the topics which form the basis of research currently underway in the department. This will be followed by more focussed description and discussion of particular research projects currently being undertaken in the department in robotics.

Topics in vision and graphics (3 lectures)

An overview of the current state of the art and hard problems in vision and graphics research will be given, with a bias towards the topics which form the basis of research currently underway in the department. This will be followed by more focussed description and discussion of particular research projects currently being undertaken in the department in vision and graphics.

Topics in qualitative reasoning (2 lectures)

An overview of the current state of the art and hard problems in QR research will be given, with a bias towards the topics which form the basis of research currently underway in the department. This will be followed by more focussed description and discussion of particular research projects currently being undertaken in the department in QR.

Topics in bioinformatics (3 lectures)

An overview of the current state of the art and hard problems in bioinformatics research will be given, with a bias towards the topics which form the basis of research currently underway in the department. This will be followed by more focussed description and discussion of particular research projects currently being undertaken in the department in bioinformatics.

Topics in computer science education (2 lectures)

An overview of the current state of the art and hard problems in computer science education research will be given, with a bias towards the topics which form the basis of research currently underway in the department. This will be followed by more focussed description and discussion of particular research projects currently being undertaken in the department in computer science education research.

Wrap-up and analysis (1 lectures)

Common themes, problems, sub-problems and strategies will be identified in each of the areas described above. These will be related to and discussed within the context of computer science as a whole and related to modules and topics available to the students later in their studies.

Module Skills

Research skills Students will be encouraged to research the topics presented through printed and online material, and will be guided on how to read research papers and publications.  
Information Technology Effective use of library and web search tools will be encouraged and exercised.  
Personal Development and Career planning Understanding the various facets of computer science and how they interrelate and relate to the wider world will help the students to select modules and make intelligent choices about their learning.  

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4