CSI 991 Section 003*
Space Sciences Seminar -- Fall Semester 2004

Fall 2004 Seminar Schedule

* (NOTE: CSI 991/003 meets in 2 parts: the Earth Sciences Seminar meets at the same time in S&T I, room 206) line

Information for Enrolled Students:

·   Course Website:  http://classweb.gmu.edu/kborne/csi991/  

·   Seminar Day/Time:  Wednesday 3:00-4:15 PM

·   Seminar Location:  Room 237, Johnson Center

·   Course Instructors:   Kirk Borne, Associate Professor, Astrophysics and Computational Science,  and  John Guillory, Sr. Contract Professor, SCS

·   Office:  K.Borne in David King Hall, Room 1014A.   J.Guillory in S&T I, Room 107.

·   Office Hours:  By appointment

·   Office Telephone with voice mail:  703-993-8402 (K.Borne). 703-671-8761 (J.Guillory)

·   E-mail:  kborne@gmu.edu and Email-TBD (for J.Guillory)

·   Mail box:  SCS Office, Room 101, S&T I

Course Description:

  • (From GMU course catalog):  Considers selected topics in a specific area of computational sciences and informatics either not covered in fixed-content courses or as an extension of fixed-content courses.  Format for presentation is that of a seminar with student participation.  May be repeated for credit; however, a maximum of 3 credits of CSI 898, 899, and 991 may be applied toward the PhD.      (Prerequisites:  None)
  • A one-credit space sciences research seminar, with talks from invited speakers and some GMU speakers.  It is anticipated that there will be 13 weekly talks.  Everyone, whether registered for the course or not, is invited to attend the seminars.  There is no textbook.

Grading:   Up to a maximum of 100 points can be earned toward the final course grade:

  • 3 points for each week’s attendance.  Student must sign attendance sheet each week to receive credit for attending.
  • Up to 9 points for each weekly written report:  Summary and/or Analysis is due within one week of that week’s talk.  Expected length of report = 1-2 pages (300-600 words).
  • 50 points for presenting one of the weekly seminars.  The talk must be based upon the student’s (or the student’s advisor’s) own publishable research.

Course Letter Grades:

  • A = 90-100 points                    D = 60-69 points
  • B = 80-89 points                      F = <60 points
  • C = 70-79 points

Course Objectives:

1.      to explore a variety of research areas in space science;

2.      to become familiar with current topics, trends, and techniques in space science research;

3.      to acquire knowledge in space science research that will enable the student to progress to their own research projects or to employment opportunities that require research capability.

Author: Kirk D. Borne
Last Update: September 8, 2004