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As middle-school students fill one of the computer laboratories
in the Department of Computer Science (CS), Maria Ordonez,
a Cyber-SHARE Research Scholar and CS graduate student,
begins her presentation to introduce the applications of cyberinfrastructure for research.
[see photos below] The presentation uses
the Artic Ice Module, designed by Dr. Brian Giza, as a middle-school
outreach activity. The world of computers is not just for
the tech-savvy anymore, and one of the goals of the College
of Engineering ExcITES Summer Program is to emphasize the
training of young students in working with computers and
teaching the science behind computing applications within
various fields. Researchers and scholars of the Cyber-ShARE
Center began participating in ExcITES in the summer of 2008
by offering cyberinfrastructure-related workshops to young
students of the El Paso del Norte community. Eager students
take their places in front of their computers at every workshop
while Cyber-ShARE scholars describe the center and their
multidisciplinary work with the departments of Computer
Science, Geological Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Environmental
Science, and Teacher Education.
This year’s summer program helped attending students to
develop basic skills using open source programs for image
manipulation and web site development. During this summer
activities and presentations, students engaged in discussions
on the benefits of scientific research using topics such
as knowledge representation through ontologies, creation
of Earth models, and the impact of climate change. Hands-on
activities focused on the benefits of using cyberinfrastructure
for research in computer science and environmental science.
The team of scholars included computer science undergraduate
students Natalia Avila, Arely Mendez, Gloria Berumen, Ivan
Gris, and Ph.D. student Julio Olaya, as well as sophomore
volunteer Daniela Field. For more information please contact
Dr. Rodrigo Romero via email at
raromero2@utep.edu
or visit
http://engineering.utep.edu/plaza/excites/index.html.
Photos
(Click on photos to enlarge)
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