(r5) WebHome < ComputationalEcology

ComputationalEcology Web>WebHome (revision 5)~~EditAttach~~

Field Course in Computational Population Biology

Field Course in Computational Population Biology

Instructors:�� Tanya Berger-Wolf (UIC)

�� Daniel Rubenstein (Princeton)

�� Iain Couzin (Princeton)

<![if vml]><img width=503 height=330 src="KenyaCourse_files/image004.jpg" align=left hspace=12 alt=collage1 v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1"><![endif]>A unique highly integrated pilot field course is offered in Kenya (at the Mpala Research Centre) where US biology (graduate from Princeton University) and engineering students (graduate from UIC) are working with faculty in both disciplines to learn how to ask questions, frame hypotheses and understand how and why the disciplines and cultures do this differently. The course began with a �boot camp� where students learned the key concepts and approaches from biology, computer science and engineering. The initial interdisciplinary orientation was followed by a research project in the field. The on-location course was followed up throughout the semester at each university, culminating in a min-conference of student presentations.

<![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>Course projects

<![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>Course wiki

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: .1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>Kenya travel blog

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: .1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>Pictures and videos

<![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>UIC news article about the course

<![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>Ability to integrate a wide range of technical computer science knowledge and apply it in the context of solving problems in population biology

<![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>Ability to function as part of an interdisciplinary team to bring an idea to a finished computational product

<span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:green'>Students are expected to cover half of the travel expenses. Estimated cost of participation: about $1,250

<span style='font-size:14.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:green'>(thanks to a generous donation of Bill Unger, member of the CoE Advisory Board,� that covers half of the expenses)

<![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>Basic biology

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: .1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4'><![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>Calc I

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: .1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4'><![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>Statistics

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: .1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4'><![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>Computer Literacy

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: .1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4'><![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>For biologists: basic ecology, population biology

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: .1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4'><![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>For engineers: mathematical foundations, algorithms, computational thinking

<![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>Beginning of December: meet with students, give information about the course, and prepare for the course

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: .1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4'><![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>Jan 4 � Jan 23:� Field portion of the course

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: .1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4'><![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>January 25 � end of the semester: On-campus portion of the course

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: .1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4'><![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>April 30 (tentatively): videoconference where all teams will present their final project results.

<![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>Agent based simulations and modeling

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: .1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4'><![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>Basics of control theory

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: .1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4'><![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>Data mining

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: .1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4'><![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>Social network analysis

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: .1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4'><![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>Streaming algorithms

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: .1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4'><![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>GIS

<![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>Identification of individuals (who?)

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: .1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4'><![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>Location of individuals (where and when?)

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: .1pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.01gd;mso-para-margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4'><![if supportLists]>� <![endif]>Interactions (who is with whom?)