IGERT: Non-equilibrium dynamics across space and time : A common approach for engineers, earth scientists, and ecologists Computer Science Areas: Databases, Data Mining, Sensor (networks), … with Geo-Spatial and/or Spatio-temporal focus

Outline What is IGERT? What is IGERT? Overview of UMN Project Overview of UMN Project 1 st Year Course 1 st Year Course

What is IGERT ? Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Developed by NSF Developed by NSF To improve graduate experience To improve graduate experience Interdisciplinary Interdisciplinary Generous Traineeship Generous Traineeship –$30,000 a year plus tuition and fees Details: Details:

Why Interdisciplinary ? "In the last 10 years, there has been a growing realization that the really big problems in science are not going to be solved within one discipline. The big complex problems, like those affecting the environment or advances in information technology, will require expertise from many areas." "In the last 10 years, there has been a growing realization that the really big problems in science are not going to be solved within one discipline. The big complex problems, like those affecting the environment or advances in information technology, will require expertise from many areas." --Jim Teeri, Director, IGERT Program. Real-life problems and their complex solutions are multi-faceted and complex Real-life problems and their complex solutions are multi-faceted and complex Details: Details:

Is interdisciplinary relevant to Comp. Sc.? Isn’t google (or social networking) cool enough ? Isn’t google (or social networking) cool enough ? –Wasn’t netscape?.com? …? Maturing of Computer Science Maturing of Computer Science –1960s – 1980s – Cool technology, inward view –1990s – internet brings C.S. to masses –2000s – dot com bust, enrollments down, … What is the future of Computer Sc. ? What is the future of Computer Sc. ? –Most visions point to interdisciplinary future  Ex. Third leg of science (PITAC)  Ex. Cyber-enabled discovery and innovation (NSF, CRA) –Minnesota has an edge in interdisciplinary computing  IGERT ( Ecology, Environment, Computing)  Minnesota Supercomputing Inst., Digital Tech. Center, CBCB, …  Strategic focus at the U  …

Why choose IGERT ? A sizeable stipend ($30,000 per year). A sizeable stipend ($30,000 per year). Support for tuition and fees. Support for tuition and fees. Funds for research equipment and supplies. Funds for research equipment and supplies. Research assistanceship and teaching assistanceship opportunities. Research assistanceship and teaching assistanceship opportunities. Opportunities for international experience. Opportunities for international experience. Internships in industry and government. Internships in industry and government. Work with similar-minded graduate students Work with similar-minded graduate students –from different disciplines on similar research topics. Great post-IGERT career and employment options. Great post-IGERT career and employment options.

Eligibility ? Wants to be a scientist for the future Wants to be a scientist for the future –more flexible, more collaborative, –more adept at linking issues in the life, earth, and social sciences, –more able to solve the global issues that face us today. Demonstrated strong interest and motivation Demonstrated strong interest and motivation – in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Completed a bachelor's degree Completed a bachelor's degree –in a relevant discipline. Is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

5-Year Plan FallSpringSummer Year 1Team-taught Course Journal Club Initiate Research Team-taught Course Journal Club Initiate Research Itasca Retreat Research Year 2ResearchGroup Project History Project Pre-thesis Seminar Research Year 3Communication Seminar Group Project Research Group Project Research Conference Research Year 4Group Project Research Defend Group Project Research Conference Research Year 5Write Thesis Apply for Jobs Write Thesis Defend Thesis

How to express interest ? IGERT Coordinator IGERT Coordinator –Claudia Neuhauser ( IGERT Faculty Members IGERT Faculty Members –Shashi Shekhar ( ) IGERT students IGERT students –James Kang ( ) Computer Science Staff Computer Science Staff –( or

(1) Conceptual Framework Coupling and integrating biological and physical processes from microscopic to field scales: non-equilibrium and scaling Coupling and integrating biological and physical processes from microscopic to field scales: non-equilibrium and scaling Importance of magnitude, variability, and intermittency of fluctuations Importance of magnitude, variability, and intermittency of fluctuations Foundation to address environmental problems that are the focus of the solution-oriented fields of ecological or environmental engineering Foundation to address environmental problems that are the focus of the solution-oriented fields of ecological or environmental engineering

Space Time Micro-Particle Image Velocimetry System RUSS MICA Motes Remote Sensing microbes landscape Chemical and Physical processes (isotropic)

Environmental Research and Data moleculesecosystems Spatial scale Amount of data available Need for new quantitative methods

(2) Fundamentals of Energy and Material Transport in Non-equilibrium Systems Human activities impact Human activities impact –Biogeochemical cycles –Agricultural systems –Urban areas → Acceleration of element and energy transport Instrumentation for all scales to understand energy and material transport and their variability in non-equilibrium systems Instrumentation for all scales to understand energy and material transport and their variability in non-equilibrium systems

Consequences of Nonlinearities: Ecological and Biogeochemical interactions across… (3) …spatial and temporal scales (3) …spatial and temporal scales –Network models –Coupling of scales (4) …interfaces (4) …interfaces –Urban-water –Urban-agriculture

1 st Year Course Team taught Team taught TA provided TA provided Lecture and lab Lecture and lab 1 st semester 1 st semester –Reconciliation of quantitative background –Conceptual framework –Instrumentation –Data management 2 nd semester 2 nd semester –Case studies and student projects

Instrumentation Micro-scale Micro-scale –Micro-particle image velocimetry system (micro PIV) Fine scale Fine scale –RUSS –MICA motes Large scale Large scale –Remote sensing (LIDAR,…)

1 st Semester Weeks 1-3: Introduction to research themes 2-4 Weeks 1-3: Introduction to research themes 2-4 Weeks 4-5: environmental, physical, and chemical indicators across scales Weeks 4-5: environmental, physical, and chemical indicators across scales Weeks 6-7: reconcile quantitative background Weeks 6-7: reconcile quantitative background Weeks 8-9: instrumentation Weeks 8-9: instrumentation –Micro PIV –RUSS and MICA motes –Remote sensing Weeks 10-13: wireless sensor networks Weeks 10-13: wireless sensor networks

2 nd Semester Case studies Case studies –Led by advisors/co-advisors of participating students –Weekly small group meetings of project participants –Monthly meetings of all participants Student projects Student projects –Development of thesis research –Might lead to joint thesis project Itasca Retreat (May) Itasca Retreat (May) –Itasca as a research facility –Instrumentation –Short courses –Presentation of research

Other Components Journal Club for 1 st year students Journal Club for 1 st year students Communication Seminar Communication Seminar International Collaborations (on webpage) International Collaborations (on webpage) Career Preparation Career Preparation –PFF, internships, leadership Outreach Outreach –Science Museum –Minnesota Historical Society K-12 Assessment Assessment

Retreat early in the fall semester (October? NCED?) Retreat early in the fall semester (October? NCED?) Journal Club Journal Club –Coordinator? –List of papers? IGERT Seminar IGERT Seminar –4-6 speakers per spring semester Ethics issues Ethics issues –Occasional seminars, some joint with Nano-IGERT –Coordinator? Assessment Assessment