The What is Computer Science Really? Panel

Computer science has a huge impact on society and significantly empowers the advances made in other technical disciplines. It has become such an interdisciplinary field that you can find people doing neuroscience, music, design, mathematics, physics, biology, linguistics, robotics, fill in your favorite topic here, in computer science departments and businesses across the globe. But it is difficult to convey what real computer science careers are like in the classroom, especially in an introductory one that has a large programming component. Yet some of the field's most endearing aspects are its fluidity, flexibility, intellectual challenge, and opportunities for making real differences in the world around us. In this panel, dynamic and interesting people that span the gamut of computer science -- in both research and industry -- will describe what their professional lives are like.

• When: Friday, September 16, 2005, Noon to 1:30 PM.
• Where: McAllister Auditorium, Harvey Mudd College.
• All CS5 students are expected to attend and others are welcome. Please bring any friends who are interested!

Discussion Questions

• Why CS? Undergraduates can't hope to leave college with all the domain-specific knowledge they'll need for their future careers. They can, however, hope to leave college feeling somewhat prepared for their career. In what ways does CS provide better preparation than other majors, and how well prepared were you by the CS courses you took?
• Where is the coolest stuff happening, in industry, academia, or somewhere else?
• Computer science stretches its fingers into a vast number of disciplines (e.g., computational biology, engineering simulation, music, etc.) Is this diversification a reason to believe that CS is "going away"? Or, is it a reason to believe that CS is assimilating other fields?. Or, is it none of the above? What are the ramifications of the wide applicability of computer science?
• If there is an external stereotype (i.e. what people outside your field perceive) you'd like to see dismantled, what would it be?
• CS is simultaneously an engineering, scientific, artistic, and mathematical discipline. What software engineering do you do? What science do you do? Identify some art in what you do. What formal mathematical work do you do?
• How much of your work is human-centric versus technology-centric?
• How do you interact with people at work and what are they like?
• What CS theory is most valuable to you? Why?
• What are the pros and cons of a more diverse CS work-force?
• What was your biggest apprehension when you started working in CS? Was this concern justified? How did you deal with it?

• Jessica Bayliss, Assistant Professor, Computer Science, RIT. Jessica is a Professor at the University of Rochester. Her thesis addressed "A Flexible Brain-Computer Interface" and was publicized internationally. Jessica has worked for places like NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and PG&E. Jessica's current work centers around games as the killer application for AI.


• Mike Chang, Head of Global Pipeline, DreamWorks Animation. Michael oversees the department that provides technical support for artists and is responsible for the smooth transition of data within and among various departments and movies at the studio. His most recent work was on the animated hit comedy "Madagascar."


• Vidya Dinamani, Director of Infrastructure for the Consumer Tax Group, Intuit. Vidya leads a team which is focused on aligning process, technology and information across Intuit's tax products and corporate systems to provide the best end-to-end experience for customers. Vidya has a background in software engineering, systems architecture, consulting and management.


• Kevin Eustice, PhD student, Computer Science, UCLA. Kevin's research interests include pervasive computing, artificial intelligence, and security. Recent projects have involved enabling simple and secure wireless network setup, and network quarantine for mobile devices. His Ph.D. dissertation deals with Spheres of Influence--a new model for managing pervasive computing interactions between physical and social networks.


• Aja Hammerly, Software Engineer, Expedia. Aja graduated from Mudd in CS two years ago. Her primary responsibility at Expedia is ensuring that their software meets its specifications. She also coordinates release efforts, acts as a customer advocate during design meetings, and assists with troubleshooting, patching, and documentation. Her current projects span a wide gamut, ranging from user interfaces to software 'bots to automated testing.


• Ashley Stroupe, PhD, Planetary Robotics Lab, JPL. Ashley graduated from Mudd with a degree in Physics in 1990. Her research at JPL focuses on multi-robot teams in complex environments and behavior-based control, with applications to exploration and mapping, dynamic target observation, and cooperative manipulation. In addition to research, she works with the Mars Exploration Rover Project.


• Peter Stone, Assistant Professor, Computer Science, University of Texas at Austin. Before coming to UT, Peter worked AT&T Labs -- Research. Peter was in on the robotic soccer scene in AI from the very start, and has been a significant presence in Robocup. Peter's current interests include machine learning, multiagent systems, robotics, and e-commerce.