Weekly Download, March 30, 2021

EVENTS AND LECTURES

Student Events

• Dean Livesay's Open Office Hours: Fri., Apr. 2, 3-4 pm, virtually or in-person (Rekhi 224)
• CyberCorps Info Session #2: Tues., Mar. 30, 6-7 pm, Download a flyer about this event
• Graduate Research Colloquium, Thur.-Fri., Apr. 1-2
• Blue Marble Security Enterprise Info Session: Thurs., Apr. 1, 7 pm, PW: bms, visit BMS website
• Summer Classes Registration Deadline, Summer courses with insufficient enrollment by Monday, April 5, may not be offered this summer. Heads up for those interested in EET courses, in particular.
• Design Expo: Thur., Apr. 15
• Graduation Celebration: Fri. Apr. 30

Lectures

• CS Dept. Lecture: Tim Frick, MightyBytes, Fri., Apr. 9, 3 pm
• ICC Distinguished Lecture: Alina Zare, Univ. of Florida, Fri., Apr. 16, 3 pm.

OUR STORIES: Dr. Robert Pastel, Computer Science

Dr. Robert Pastel, Associate Professor of Computer Science

A faculty member at Michigan Tech for about 20 years; teaching for 30 years overall

PhD, University of New Mexico, Physics

MS, Computer Science, Michigan Tech

Faculty Profile

Advisor to Humane Interface Design Enterprise (HIDE)

Researcher with the Human-Centered Computing group of the Institute of Computing and Cybersystems (ICC)

Classes you teach: 

• CS5760 - Human-Computer Interaction - Usability Evaluation and Testing 
• CS4791 and CS4792 - Senior Design
• ENT1960 - ENT5960 - Humane Interface Design Enterprise

The “coolest” class you teach, and why: All my classes are "cool" because they all involve making applications that will be used by people. The "coolest" class is CS4760 - User Interface - Design and Implementation where students work with scientists across the world to make citizen science applications.

The importance of your class topics to the overall understanding of Computing and your discipline: In all my classes, students learn to design and implement usable applications for people.

Your teaching philosophy: My teaching philosophy is that students learn best by experience and working with others. Consequently students work in teams on project for clients. 

Research projects in which students are assisting: 

• StreamCLIMES - Large collaborative project studying bio diversity of intermittent streams. I'm responsible for developing a web applications monitoring the stream.
• FloodAware - Large collaborative project recording and modelling flooding in urban areas. I'm responsible for developing the citizen science effort.
• KeTT - Keweenaw Time Traveler - Historical geospatial information citizen science website for user to record region's history and explore the maps and stories. 

Interests beyond teaching and research: The outdoors: skiing, biking and hiking. Every summer, Dr. Pastel takes a one-month backpacking trip.

View the blog post here.

SCHOLARSHIPS

• CyberCorps Info Session #2: Tues., Mar. 30, 6-7 pm EST

• Last Mile Education Fund for Women: Scholarships for degree completion for striving low-income women in computing-related degree programs.

COMPUTING LEARNING CENTER

• Link to CLC webpage
• Open for online appointments Mon. to Fri., 2-5 pm, schedule here
• Walk-in hours, 7 days, 7-10 pm, via Zoom
• Upper-level CS courses help: grad student James Michniewicz is available Sun., Tues., and Thurs. 7-9 pm
• Get to know the CCLC coaches
• Discord server
• Canvas page: self-registration
• Canvas page link

UNIVERSITY EVENTS

Always Room for Rain
March 30, 8:00 a.m–8:00 p.m
Exhibit reception: FRI Mar 2, 5:00 PM - 6:30pm Conversation with the artists: 5:30pm free Gallery Hours: M-F 8 AM - 8 PM Sat 1 PM - 8 PM This exhibit...
Campus Forum on Army Research Laboratory Collaboration
March 30, 11:00 a.m–12:00 p.m
Dr. Matthew Tenan Integrated Capability Enhancement Branch Future Soldier Technologies Division U.S. Army Research Laboratory In this forum, Dr. Tenan will present a brief...
Social Sciences Brown Bag
March 30, 12:00 p.m–1:00 p.m
Join us for the Social Sciences Brown Bag Speaker Series where Oscar Rodríguez Cavielles will present "A “perfect” marriage: Industrial heritage and tourism in Asturias...

LinkedIn Series: Getting Started
March 30, 12:15 p.m–1:00 p.m
Should you be on LinkedIn' Yes, you should. Learn the basics of LinkedIn-- why it's necessary, where to begin, and how to set up a profile.
FEAST Eigensolver: Theory, Recent Developments and Applications
March 30, 1:05 p.m
Eric Polizzi, Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst Abstract: The...

PhD Defense: Sean Gohman
March 30, 1:30 p.m–2:30 p.m
Indust Heritage & Archaeology Advisor: Patrick Martin A Kinetic Landscape of Unalloyed Potential: Landscape Perspectives of Michigan's Native Mass Copper Mining Industry
Leveraging Closed-Loop Nervous System Dynamics to Enhance Human Performance via Imperceptible Stimulation
March 30, 3:00 p.m–4:00 p.m
KIP Spring Seminar Series Dr. Matthew Tenan Integrated Capability Enhancement Branch Future Soldier Technologies Division U.S. Army Research Laboratory Presentation...
PhD Defense: Saeedeh Ziaeefard
March 30, 3:00 p.m–4:00 p.m
Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Advisor: Nina Mahmoudian Extending Maneuverability of Internally Actuated Underwater Gliders, an Attempt to Develop an Open...

ACADEMIC CALENDAR

View the full Academic Calendar

Spring 2021

• Sun., Mar. 28, 12 am: Fall Registration Ends
• Fri., Apr. 23: Last Day of Regular Classes
• Mon., Apr 26: Final Exam Period
• Fri., Apr. 30: Spring Commencement

Summer 2021

• Monday, May 10, 2021: Session A Begins
• Monday, May 10, 2021: Full Session Begins
• Monday, May 31, 2021: Memorial Day Recess
• Tuesday, Jun 1, 2021: Classes Resume
• Thursday, Jun 24, 2021: Session A Ends
• Friday, Jun 25, 2021: Session A Exams
• Monday, Jun 28, 2021 Session B Begins
• Monday, Jul 5, 2021: Independence Day Recess
• Tuesday, Jul 6: Classes Resume
• Thursday, Aug 12: Session B Ends
• Thursday, Aug 12: Full Session Ends
• Friday, Aug 13: Final Exam Period