Computer Science Education Week is Dec. 6-10

UNL's Schorr Center for Computer Science and Engineering
UNL's Schorr Center for Computer Science and Engineering

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering will celebrate Computer Science Education Week Dec. 6-10 with tours, demonstrations and outreach to local high schools. The department intends to raise awareness about the field and their efforts preparing students for promising and challenging careers.

The week, which has been endorsed by the U.S. House of Representatives, will be celebrated across the country with events ranging from special lectures to hands-on demonstrations. The events are aimed at bringing attention to the "critical role of computing in today's society and the imperative to bolster computer science education at all levels," according to the national campaign's website.

UNL organizers have scheduled an open house in the basement of Avery Hall and at the Schorr Center Dec. 8 from 3-5 p.m. Visitors can tour the department, visit with faculty and students, and learn about undergraduate research opportunities. Giveaways and popcorn also will be offered.

Department representatives, including students, also plan to visit Lincoln high schools to promote computer science education and the department. They'll bring along the department's "dancing robots." Undergraduate students built the robots as part of a research project a few years ago. The robots incorporate Bluetooth technology and specially created software to respond or "dance" to music.