2005

Have you always been puzzled by science? Have you tried to analyze exactly how a computer works? Are you good at problem-solving, trouble-shooting, and coming up with original solutions? And when people ask you about how many languages you are familiar with, do you answer: “Three. English, French and Java.”? Then the place you want to be, from July 11th to July 15th 2005, is at McGill University’s “Computer Scientist for a Week”! Thirty students from high schools across the Montreal area will be given the opportunity to live out their passion, and learn more about the intricate sides of Computer Science! The name “computer science”, or CS for short, might give the impression that we are trying to study computers, the every day machines we use for e-mail, chatting and watching movies. But CS is not about surfing the net, making charts with Excell and writing programs. Dijkstra, a famous computer scientist, once said: “Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes.”

Instead, CS is the theoritical study of computing systems and information. It deals with design principles, requirements analysis, and implementation of hardware or software to solve problems in biology or physics, pharmacy or economy. It is the study of algorithms and of methods for analyzing, testing and verifying concepts. To sum it all up, Computer Science offers you skills that can be applied to any discipline and help you solve the “problems of the future”!

“Computer Scientist for a Week” is a free, but intensive camp. It’ll take place on the McGill University campus, in the heart of downtown! This year’s theme is “A Mission to Mars”, so every morning you will attend a cool presentation about a different field of computer science, like graphics, artificial intelligence, or robotics! Then you’ll have an in-class lecture, and be prepared to take notes because you will be given lab assignments and projects to be solved in teams. First, you’ll be given simple programming assignments, then they will progressively get complex. By the end of the camp, you will have designed and built intelligent systems, and simulated robotic behaviour! But the most exciting part is that you get to meet 29 other students from across Montreal who share similar interests to you, and who might end up being your classmates in CEGEP or university!

Team

Joseph Vybihal

Camp Director

Judy Kenigsberg

Administrator

Miriam Zia

Coordinator

Greg Dudek

Professor

Danielle Azar

Professor

Volunteers

Jonathan Li On Wing

Marc Lanctot

Jerry Leung

Sponsors

Great thanks to our sponsors for making the 2005 edition possible.

Canadian Space Agency

We promote the peaceful use and development of space, advance the knowledge of space through science, and ensure that space science and technology provide social and economic benefits for Canadians.

Computer Science Undergraduate Society

The CSUS is an elected student group tasked with improving student academics and life in the computer science department.

IGA

Discover The Joy of Eating Better.

McGill School of Computer Science

The School of Computer Science at McGill University.