Category Archives: Computer Science
Attorney General bans TikTok across the agency’s office – KVOA Tucson News
TUCSON, Ariz (KVOA) - The Arizona Attorney Generals Office (AAGO) has officially banned the usage of TikTok across all computers, mobile phones, and tablets owned by the AAGO.
The announcement was made today by Attorney General Kris Mayes, citing the apps potential security risks concerning its parent company, ByteDance. The Chinese company has been criticized by U.S. officials for their apps data collection practices along with its potential to be used as a tool for espionage by foreign governments.
Data security is paramount, especially for government agencies that handle sensitive information, said Attorney General Mayes.
We cannot risk the potential exposure of our data to foreign entities. Banning TikTok on state-owned devices is a necessary measure to protect our operations, and I urge other state agencies to take the same proactive steps to safeguard their data.
Attorney General Mayes also added that she was not reassured by recent testimony given by the CEO of TikTok to a Congressional panel.
Given the inability of TikToks CEO to definitely state that the Chinese government cannot access data collected from U.S. users, I remain unconvinced that the apps security risks have been adequately addressed, said Attorney General Mayes
The ban does not apply to privately-owned devices used by AAGO employees
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Attorney General bans TikTok across the agency's office - KVOA Tucson News
UVU Takes Home the Gold in 2023 State SkillsUSA Competition – Utah Valley University
In keeping with university tradition, Utah Valley University (UVU) has once again ranked No. 1 at the annual State of Utah SkillsUSA Championships, garnering the most gold medals by a significant margin in the career and technical education contest.
The competition, held from March 21-24, brought UVU 22 gold medals, totaling 37 medals for the school in a variety of industries from computer programming and mechatronics to culinary arts and additive manufacturing. The first and second runners-up totaled 25 and 20 medals, respectively.
The win also takes the gold-medal-winning students to Atlanta to participate in the SkillsUSA Nationals held from June 19-23. UVU SkillsUSA director and professor of architecture and engineering design Darin Taylor expressed his gratitude that, despite UVUs university status, the school remains at the forefront in the state in fields of trade, technical skills, and industry.
It's interesting to hear that many in the community think that since we've gone to a university, we're just a traditional research institution and we are not, Taylor said. [This win] proves that our technology programs are very alive and well, because we're coming out and beating all the other universities in the state, including all the technical colleges.
There is absolutely no question we couldn't get this done with quality students, Taylor added, but also the common denominator in all these wins is that same group of faculty in the same departments year after year after year.
UVU Gold Medal Winners (State Champions):
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UVU Takes Home the Gold in 2023 State SkillsUSA Competition - Utah Valley University
What Are The Highest-Paying Majors In College? – Forbes
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
Its no secret that a college degree can lead to higher lifetime earnings. But your major can play a big role in your earning potential. The average starting salary for all college graduates with a bachelors degree was $55,260 in 2021, but some majors can earn significantly more.
If youre still deciding what to study in college, learning about the best college majors in terms of typical salaries can help you narrow down your choices.
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When thinking about salaries after graduation, the best majors in college tend to be related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) winter 2023 salary survey, the highest-paying majors for college graduates with bachelors degrees are all in STEM. While other majors like marketing and business can earn lucrative salaries, workers usually reach those numbers only after working in their fields for several years.
NACEs report looked at the average starting salaries for entry-level positions; it did not take into account other compensation like bonuses, commissions or additional benefits. Based on the median projected starting salaries reported in NACEs analysis, the 10 highest-paying majors are as follows:
The highest-paying major is petroleum engineering. On average, graduates with a degree in this major earn $30,000 more than all bachelors degree graduates.
Petroleum engineering majors learn about how to find and safely use oil resources. After graduation, you can work in an office or at drilling sites to design and develop methods for extracting oil and gas deposits.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for all petroleum engineers was $130,850 in 2021.
Computer engineering deals with hardware rather than software. Computer engineering majors learn how to research, design and test computer systems and supporting components.
After graduation, you can work in laboratories or manufacturing facilities to build and test computer hardware. The median salary for computer hardware engineers was $128,170 in 2021, as reported by the BLS.
For more information, check out our guide that compares computer science vs. computer engineering.
What is a software engineer? At some schools, software engineering is included in a computer science curriculum. More colleges are beginning to offer a specific major in software engineering as the field grows.
Software engineering majors use engineering principles to develop, design, test and troubleshoot computer software. As a highly specialized field, this major tends to require more hands-on, practical skills than some other computer science majors.
After graduation, a degree in software engineering can lead to a career in software development and quality assurance. The median pay for all software developers was $120,730 in 2021, according to the BLS.
The systems engineering major can encompass building, analyzing and managing systems. Systems engineering majors can learn to manage electrical, mechanical or chemical systems.
After graduation, a systems engineer can work in a variety of industries for differing employers, from military divisions to for-profit corporations.
The median salary depends on the area you specialize in, but ranges from $95,300 for industrial engineers, according to the BLS, to $105,550 for chemical engineers, also as reported by the BLS.
Nuclear engineering majors study how nuclear power can generate carbon-free electricity, which can be used to create radiation and radioactive materials. Students in a nuclear engineering major study advanced computational techniques, strategies for recycling and managing nuclear fuel and the development of new reactor and radiation shielding designs.
Some nuclear engineering programs allow students to concentrate in a particular area of the field. Potential concentrations include nuclear power generation, nuclear waste management, space nuclear power and thermal hydraulics.
The BLS reports that nuclear engineers made a median annual salary of $120,380 as of 2021.
An aerospace and aeronautical engineering major teaches students to design, manufacture and maintain aircraft and aerospace vehicles. On-campus classes take place in engineering labs, and students can expect to tackle research projects while completing their degree program.
Students in aerospace and aeronautical engineering programs learn engineering principles practiced in the real world by government organizations and major companies.
Aerospace and aeronautical engineers are employed by manufacturers and government agencies. As of 2021, the median pay for aerospace engineers was $122,270, as per the BLS.
Chemical engineering majors learn the principles of chemistry, biology, physics and math. They can use that knowledge to launch careers with pharmaceutical companies, food production companies, refineries and other industries.
Students in a chemical engineering major learn to develop, design and operate chemical processes and products. Graduates with a bachelors in chemical engineering often go on to earn masters degrees in the field.
The BLS reports that the median salary for chemical engineers was $105,550 in 2021.
While electrical engineering is often offered as a specialty within an engineering or systems engineering major, some schools offer it as a standalone major. As an electrical engineering major, youll build a foundational knowledge of physical sciences, technology and engineering.
Electrical engineering majors can get jobs with government agencies or in the corporate sector. As an electrical engineer, you can expect to design, develop and maintain electrical equipment, including power or utility systems.
The median salary for electrical and electronics engineers was $101,780 in 2021, according to the BLS.
In an engineering technology major, students learn to apply various engineering techniques in real-world scenarios. The engineering technology major tends to be hands-on.
Engineering technology majors may learn about how to research the implementation and capabilities of different technologies. Students in this major might explore tracking technology in areas like defense and space exploration.
Engineering technology graduates go on to pursue a variety of technologist and technician jobs. The median annual salaries for different engineering technologist and technician roles are as follows:
Environmental engineering majors learn how to design sustainable solutions to the environmental issues facing society. This major involves chemistry, soil science, physics and biology, along with the study of certain social sciences.
Environmental engineers are seeing increased demand as the threat of climate change intensifies. These engineers are responsible for infrastructure and processes that supply society with clean air and water, among other critical resources.
According to the BLS, environmental engineers earn a median annual salary of $96,820.
So, what should you major in? When choosing a major, its a good idea to look up the typical starting salaries for recent graduates. However, the starting salary is just one part of the overall picture. Some majors can lead to high-paying careers after earning advanced degrees or gaining some work experience.
For example, the highest-paying careers in the U.S. do not necessarily align with the majors listed above. According to the BLS, the highest-paying occupationsall earning median annual salaries exceeding $208,000are all in the medical field. The 10 highest-paying jobs as of 2021 were:
While earning potential should play a role in your choice of major, its not the only factor to consider.
You should also think about your interests, passions, skills and the amount of student loan debt you would take on. To find out if a major is right for you, also make sure to talk to people who work in your fields of interest. If possible, pursue internships to get firsthand experiencecheck out our guide to learn how to find internships.
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Make creativity part of study programs for scientists-in-training … – Science Daily
The bioinformatician Professor Dr Martin Lercher from Heinrich Heine University Dsseldorf (HHU) and his colleague Professor Dr Itai Yanai from New York University (NYU) are focusing on the topic of creativity in research. In the latest editorial in the scientific journal Nature Biotechnology, they advocate teaching the importance of creative processes for the advancement of science especially in graduate study programmes.
The authors observe that the rate of scientific innovation appears to be slowing down: The proportion of research projects that push science in new directions by breaking with previous understanding has decreased since the second half of the 20th century. Such projects have been replaced by more results-oriented approaches, which advance research areas but rarely result in transformative science. This reflects a fundamental development: Publicly funded research projects are being dominated by hypothesis-driven approaches, which tend to confirm the hypotheses rather than seeking genuinely new and unexpected results.
Professor Martin Lercher, head of the Computational Cell Biology research group at HHU and Professor Itai Yanai, Director of the Applied Bioinformatics Laboratories at NYU, believe there is a need to rethink how scientists-in-training are educated. They write that "graduate study programmes should renew an emphasis on creativity by teaching the tools of innovative thinking."
The two authors have been calling for the "promotion of the creative side of the scientific process" for years. Their approach draws on the concept of "day science" and "night science" developed by the Nobel Prize winner Franois Jacob: "Day science" refers to modern science as a systematic, well-planned process guided by hypotheses developed in advance, while "night science" is the non-systematic, creative part of science, namely free thinking and the often intuitive exploration of ideas.
Lercher: "The first thing scientists-in-training learn today is how to establish a foothold in the world of research through the definition of highly specific projects, which lead to predictable results, which in turn lead to citable publications. Knowing and practising this is of course important as it enables incremental advances in research areas and the provision of reliable answers to detailed questions." Yanai adds: "Yet, we cannot see this as the be-all and end-all, as this structured process rarely results in new discoveries, which are however critical for the advancement of science."
In Nature Biotechnology, the two authors call for the integration of scientific creativity courses into the curricula of graduate study programmes. The most powerful tool for creative science might be improvisational, open scientific discussions, both with close colleagues and with experts in related fields. By gaining an insight into the creativity toolbox of other subjects, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows can learn to pose new questions from different perspectives. Lercher and Yanai believe that "inventing the right question can advance science more than answering an existing one."
Finally, the authors emphasise in their editorial that placing an emphasis on creativity in the sciences would also help to reduce misconceptions among the public about the scientific process, encouraging increased numbers of creative young people to pursue a career in science.
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Make creativity part of study programs for scientists-in-training ... - Science Daily
New website helps students with course registration – Daily Trojan Online
Danial Asaria, the mind behind Trojan Courses, said integrating Trojan Courses into Web Registration is his end goal. (Drake Lee | Daily Trojan)
As Fall 2023 registration opened for continuing students March 27, one student is harnessing artificial intelligence to streamline the course-searching process.
Danial Asaria, a junior majoring in computer science and business administration, is the mind behind Trojan Courses (trojancourses.com), a website that aims to help students find classes by searching via the content of the courses rather than exact keywords. Asaria said he launched the website because, while USC has numerous interesting classes, it may be challenging for students who want to explore new fields to find them.
The upfront work to manually sift through and find classes that you really want causes people to give up completely and stay within the bounds of whatever their major is, Asaria said.
On the front end, users enter what they wish to learn and then the website returns a list of classes and their descriptions. Upon clicking the link for the class theyre interested in, users are redirected to USCs Schedule of Classes for the specific course, where students can get more relevant information.
Trojan Courses, launched Tuesday, uses AI-powered semantic search, which looks at the intent or meaning behind the users search rather than matching keywords. The website relies on a vector database, which turns words into numbers and then compares these numbers to determine close matches on which to base its results. The website has access to all courses for Fall 2023 through USCs Schedule of Classes Application Programming Interface
As of the time of publication, the website had 1,349 unique visitors and 2,596 page views. Jacqueline Guo, a freshman majoring in computer engineering and computer science, and a user of Trojan Courses, said the website is convenient to find classes.
In order to find a class, you typically find it through the specific name of the class or by the course number, Guo said. Especially if youre looking for a fun class this is probably a better way to search for those directly.
Sunny Singh, a graduate student studying business administration, said he was unfamiliar with USCs course Catalogue and wasnt aware of the meaning of each abbreviation making it especially time-consuming for him to find the specific entrepreneurship and finance classes he was looking for. Trojan Courses helped him solve this issue.
While the website is innovative and relatively easy to use, he said, there is scope for further enhancements and more features to help students.
It would be interesting for me to see when certain classes are offered or if theyre only offered in certain semesters, like Fall or Spring, so that I could do a better job of potentially populating my course selection, Singh said.
Asaria said he plans to introduce further updates, such as adding the number of units, matching the class timing with classes the student has already registered for and integrating Google Calendar. Furthermore, he proposed personalizing the classes suggested by the website based on the track the student is interested in or their major.
Some classes are annoying you have to have certain requirements to take them or be in a certain major, Asaria said. Maybe you can personalize it more. This is my major, these are the classes and then that filters out through the classes that only apply to me.
Asaria said integrating Trojan Courses into Web Registration, which is how students search and register for classes, is his end goal.
I have emailed a few teachers after developing it, asking if I can try to integrate it, Asaria said. One of my teachers is really responsive She said shell show it in meetings in a few weeks and maybe that will help, but I havent gotten any specific leads yet.
Although his website is currently only for USC students, Asaria said he hopes it can expand to other schools.
My code is pretty generalized, he said. All I need is their classes and the rest is already done. If I can get their classes in the same format as USC or I can even turn it into the format I did, then I can definitely expand this to different schools.
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New website helps students with course registration - Daily Trojan Online
Computer science department works to close the gender gap – The Daily Tar Heel
The computer science department, typically a male-dominated field of study, has seen an increase in students identifying as non-binary and female over the past few years.
Roughly 30 percent of the graduating students in the computer science department are non-binary or female, compared to only 20 percent in 2015, according to Kris Jordan, a computer science professor, and director of the Computer Science Experience Labs.
However, male UNC computer science students are twice as likely to have access to a second computer monitor to complete their assignments compared to female and non-binary students, according to a report by the CSXL and the University.
He said the disparity between resources is due to an opportunity gap.
That's an example where there's an unequal playing field outside of the classroom for doing classwork because no professors would work on a 13-inch monitor, he said.
The CSXL hosts a co-working space and community hub for UNC students.
Jordan said the addition of monitors into the CSXL initiative is one way to "level the playing field" and improve student success.
He also said that many computer science programs make the incorrect assumption that all students have access to equipment used by professionals.
It's just so different from, say, biology, where no student is expected to have a high-powered microscope in their dorm, he said.
Meghan Sun,co-president of Girls Who Code an organization that teaches middle and high school girls to code said that different majors within the computer science department were also united in the CSXL space with inclusion for female and non-binary students.
She voiced the importance of creating a space of this inclusive nature.
I feel like you're able to build more relationships and get to be exposed to more people's perspectives, she said.
Assistant Professor Danielle Szafir has been teaching at UNC for two years, and she saidthere is a larger sense of inclusion within the UNC community compared to her previous teaching locations.
We meet very regularly in large groups, most decisions impacting the entire program are made with the input and the consent of the full faculty, she said.
She also said working in a male-dominated field often leads to women completing unwanted tasks, specifically serving on search committees as a diverse perspective.
They said point blank, we realized we didn't have any women in our department who knew about this particular topic. So, we wanted you to help us out if you're able and willing, because we need a more diverse perspective,' Szafir said.
She also said women are more likely to receive unsolicited advice concerning career paths.
Student Sneha Jaikumar is a diversity, equity and inclusion ambassador within the computer science department and said she remembers feeling intimidated by the male-to-female ratio in her introductory classes.
I'd feel more comfortable going after class to talk one-on-one with the professor than raising my hand during class or anything, she said.
Szafir said professors can create a more inclusive environment by informing students on upcoming events, creating assignments based on topics of interest and seeking out personal blindspots.
The computer science DEI ambassadors regularly hold events for students to attend and connect with the community. Jaikumar said these events are largely student-led.
I think these DEI initiatives are helping to an extent, but I think we do have to improve our reach and get out to more people, she said.
As a piece of advice to students considering computer science as a major, Sun said while there is a sense of discomfort that comes along with unfamiliar experiences, it is important to embrace the change.
You're not alone with your fears. Everyone does experience it, but just knowing the end result can be really rewarding, she said.
Szafir further warned against being deterred by a program due to a lack of representation if the field is of personal interest.
Jordan also attributed the growing representation in the CS department to a diverse array of teaching assistantswho build individual connections with students.
I think seeing people who share similar backgrounds and identities as you succeeding in a field that has a reputation for not being very diverse is a good motivator to know that you can succeed in this too, Jordan said.
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Computer science department works to close the gender gap - The Daily Tar Heel
Computer science and statistics Ph.D. candidates win Three Minute Thesis competition | Cornell Chronicle – Cornell Chronicle
For the first time in Graduate School history, two doctoral candidates tied for first place in the eighth Cornell Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, held on March 30, on Zoom.
Yurong You, a doctoral candidate in computer science, and Kim Hochstedler, a doctoral candidate in statistics, wowed the judges and took home co-first place for their presentations, Can Autonomous Vehicles Learn from Their Own Memories? and The Heart of Misdiagnosis, respectively. Each were awarded the top prize of $1,500.
Alongside six other finalists, Hochstedler and You presented their dissertation research in just three minutes to a panel of judges and a virtual audience from across campus and around the world. Presentations were judged by how clearly and compellingly students summarized their research to a general audience, using only one static slide.
Read more on the Graduate School website.
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Amazon to fund access to computer science education for more than … – About Amazon
Amazon is committed to providing access to computer science education for 2 million students, across almost 8,000 U.S. schools, by the end of the 20222023 academic year.
Through Amazon Future Engineer, Amazon aims to inspire millions of students from underserved and historically underrepresented communities to pursue science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers. The program helps students build skills in computer science and coding, preparing them to obtain jobs that will be in high-demand in the near future.
Nearly all Amazon Future Engineer schools serve a student body with a significant percentage of students from historically underrepresented communities in the technology industry. Further, more than 80% are Title I eligible, indicating a high percentage of the schools students come from families who need financial assistance.
While the Amazon Future Engineer program has made tremendous progress since it began in 2019, studies show that only about half of U.S. high schools offer computer science courses. Rural, urban, and economically disadvantaged schools with Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) students are even less likely to offer the curriculum.
Every young person should have equitable access to the education they need to reach their full potential, said Victor Reinoso, global director of philanthropic education initiatives at Amazon. At Amazon, we are committed to creating a diverse pipeline of tech students and hiring homegrown talent to help keep our communities strong for years to come.
Amazon Future Engineer increases student access to computer science education in three ways:
"Our partnership with Amazon represents a shared commitment to increase access to equity-driven initiatives that will help close digital learning gaps by ensuring computer science opportunities for students in all communities, said Lien Diaz, interim executive director and board member of BootUp PD, a nonprofit professional development provider specializing in elementary school education. It is the first ongoing national sponsorship focused on implementing sustainable, districtwide computer science. Were extremely proud to be a part of something that will have a measurable, positive impact for decades to come.
Amazon Future Engineer is currently available in Canada, France, Germany, India, the UK and U.S. In 2022, the program reached 3.2 million students from underrepresented communities globally with real-world-inspired virtual and hands-on computer science project learning.
Learn more about Amazon Future Engineer, Amazon's childhood-to-career computer science education program.
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Amazon to fund access to computer science education for more than ... - About Amazon
Lanier High recognized for Computer Science Female Diversity – The Atlanta Journal Constitution
By connecting students to role models, that often helps them get more involved, said Reilly. Our corporate supporter, State Farm, has many of their women participate as role models. And we also have many former students who have gone onto college and jobs in the industry who reach back to our group.
The school has also recruited female students to be part of its robotics team.
We have about 100-plus in that group, and its about 50% girls, said Reilly. In fact, were really proud that were about 50-50 in everything we do.
The recent award isnt the first one the school received for a girls initiative. Reilly was named teacher of the year by the National Center for Women and Information Technology for supporting girls who want to study computer science. In 2013, a quarter of the Georgia winners from the same organizations Girls Aspiration Awards came from Lanier.
Getting more girls involved in technology is also part of a district-wide push, said Sallie Holloway, director of Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science, a job created about two years ago when the Gwinnett schools implemented a computer science-for-all program.
Were being strategic by having all our cluster schools offer computer science, she said. Were working on increasing the number of certified teachers and providing training for schools so they have the resources to teach these classes. Lanier does a great job of recruiting students and making spaces where all kids have a place to come in with their interests and backgrounds. And we have passionate teachers who are invested in robotics, computer science and engineering competitions outside the classroom.
Holloway said that women account for about 18% of computer science bachelors degrees and make up just 28% of the STEM workforce.
So Lanier is getting closer to closing that gap, she said, and thats an exciting step.
Information about Lanier High is online at gcpsk12.org/LanierHS.
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Lanier High recognized for Computer Science Female Diversity - The Atlanta Journal Constitution
Arogundade named Chair of the Lewis-Clark State Business … – bigcountrynewsconnection.com
LEWISTON, ID - Ayodeji Arogundade, who has been teaching at Lewis-Clark State College since 2015, has been named chair of the Business & Computer Science Division.
Arogundade, who was named to the position following a nation-wide search, will begin new role on July 1. He has been serving as interim chair of the division since July of last year when the previous chair, Luther Maddy, took the dean position.
Arogundade came to LC State in 2015 as an assistant professor of marketing and helped develop the marketing research class, the Marketing and Management certificate program, and the Associate of Marketing program in the division. In 2020, he became an associate professor and in 2021, he was named the assistant division chair.
Arogundade graduated from the Post-Doctoral Bridge Program in the Hough Graduate School of Business of the Warrington College of Business at the University of Florida with an area of specialization in marketing and management. He also holds a doctorate and master's degree in Biological and Agricultural engineering from the University of Idaho, coupled with another master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) and bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering from the Federal University of Technology Akure in Nigeria.
Arogundade began his career as an assistant banking officer at the Universal Trust Bank (now Union Bank) in Nigeria. He later worked with the Business Development Units of Oceanic International Bank (now ECOWAS bank) and United Bank for Africa before relocating to the United States.
In 2022, Arogundade co-authored a book on Unintended Consequences of Internationalization in Higher Education: Comparative International Perspectives on the Impacts of Policy and Practice. He was invited to present the book in Washington, D.C., earlier this year. In addition, he won the LC State Annice Edmundson Faculty Excellence Award in 2021.
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Arogundade named Chair of the Lewis-Clark State Business ... - bigcountrynewsconnection.com