Transcript Parallel and Distributed Computer Systems

Master Computer Science at
the Vrije Universiteit
Computer Science Programmes
Parallel and Distributed Computer Systems
Dr.-Ing. Thilo Kielmann
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Why Study Computer Science at Vrije Universiteit ?
• Good organisation
• Well-structured course plans
• Close student supervision
• Excellent computer facilities
• Extensive contacts with companies, broad expertise
• Department with a strong (inter)national reputation
• Campus university, easy to reach, in a booming
area
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Master’s Programmes at the Department of Computer
Science of the Vrije Universiteit
• Artificial Intelligence
• Bioinformatics
• Business Mathematics and Informatics
• Information Science (1 year)
• Computer Science (6+1 programmes)
• Parallel and Distributed Computer Systems
(top master)
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WO Monitor of VSNU
– 100% of VU Computer Science
alumni had jobs
– 100% of them were happy with
their jobs
– 100% said their degree was
needed for their job
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Computer Science Programmes
- Internet and Web Technology
- High Performance Distributed
Computing
- Software Engineering
- Technical Artificial Intelligence
- Multimedia
- Formal Methods and Software
Verification
- Computer Science and Communication
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Which Programme Suits You?
More practical:
Software Engineering, Multimedia
More technical:
Internet and Web Technology,
High Performance Distributed Computing
More theoretical:
Formal Methods and Software Verification
Multidisciplinary:
Technical Artificial Intelligence
Society-oriented:
Computer Science and Communication
There is ample room for choice within each
program, to fit it to your preferences
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General Structure
• Lasts 2 years, 120 ECTS (possibly extended with
premaster)
• Compulsory courses
• Compulsory choices
• Optional courses (recommendations are given)
• Seminars, literature study
• Programming projects
• Master's project of 36 ECTS
• Courses mostly in english
• Your study programme approved by examination
board
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Premaster
• For HBO students, usually a premaster is required
• Consists usually of theoretical and program-specific
courses
• Up to 30 ECTS
• Contact the Master coordinator for more info
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Technical Artificial Intelligence
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Endows the student with the developments on the area
of artificial intelligence and computer science.
• The realisation of intelligent computer programs is the
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central subject. Artificial intelligence is in part inspired by
human cognition and nature.
One aim is to obtain computer programs that can reason
with symbolic representations of this knowledge. The
computer is also used for recognition of structures in raw
data, from which conclusions can be drawn.
vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
1 year Technical AI
(compulsory)
Evolutionary Computing
6
Distributed Systems
6
Machine Learning
6
ICT in a Social Context
4
Neural Networks
6
Design of Multi-Agent Syst.
6
Programming in Prolog
4
Project Knowledge Systems
6
vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Compulsory Choices
Software Engineering course
Theoretical Computer Science course
(recommended: Logical Verification)
Mathematics course
(recommended: Probability and Statistics)
vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Some Recommended Choices
• Data Mining Techniques
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Knowledge Management and Modeling
Experimental Psychology
Organisational Dynamics
Automated Reasoning in AI
• Robotica (UvA)
vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Some Master's Projects
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Negotiating agents for e-commerce
Recognition of handwriting
Knowledge support by a domain expert system
Ecological knowledge system
Collaborative bookmarking
Interpreter for medical guidelines
vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Master's Projects - Contacts
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Companies , eg., Rabobank, Shell, Arthur Andersen
Consulting, Sentient Research Amsterdam,
Swedish electricity company
• At the VU:
• AI Department
• Department of Law
• Other universities, e.g.:
• Academisch Ziekenhuis Groningen
• Vrije Universiteit Brussels
• University of Adelaide, Australia
vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Formal Methods and Software Verification
• Formal specification and verification techniques: How
can we check the correctness of
algorithms/protocols?
• Decidability, expressivity of programming formalisms
• Foundations of computation
• Also: distributed computing, software engineering,
mathematics, ICT in a social context, ...
• Close collaboration with UvA for optional courses
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Some Master's Projects
• Verification of an electronic voting protocol for the Dutch
parliamentary elections
• Quantum complexity classes
• Well-foundedness of higher-order recursive path
ordering in Coq
• Formele specificatie van een workflow engine: van UML
naar ObjectZ
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Multimedia
The arrival of broadband Internet has enabled the combination
of formerly disjoint media, such as interactive television.
Hot topics are authoring, information retrieval, human
computer interaction, software architecture, and 3D-graphics.
Special attention is given to the use of 3D virtual environments
for the disclosure of multimedia information.
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Some Topics in Multimedia
• Clima Futura: a game to gain experience with the
parameters of climate change
• Second Life: a virtual world at the VU
• Intelligent Multimedia: 3D virtual environments based on
agents technology
• Game design
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Internet and Web Technology
– Focus:
Technology for the Internet and the Web
– Large-scale computer systems
(e.g. Web server architectures)
– Network protocols
– Peer-to-peer technology
– Security in the Internet (e.g. worms, honeypots)
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High Performance Distributed Computing
• Focus:
Large-scale computing
• Parallel computing: clusters, grids, mainframes
• High-performance computers and networks
• Scientific and commercial applications: e.g., genome
sequencing, designing new medicines, oil-field
discovery, stock-market predictions, Google's and
Amazon's services
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State-of-the-art equipment
DAS3, the distributed ASCI super
computer, is operated from the VU
Nodes are situated at
Leiden, Delft, Amsterdam (UvA,VU)
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Parallel and Distributed Computer Systems
Some courses:
• Distributed Systems
• Parallel Programming
• Cluster and Grid Computing
• Network Security
• Distributed Algorithms
• Protocol Validation
• Network Programming
• Research Proposal Preparation
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What is a Top Master's ?
• International (students from Europe, USA, India, China)
• Research oriented
• Selective admission
• Practical orientation (many labs, projects)
• Narrowly focused on systems
– Operating systems, networks, distributed systems
– Multiprocessors, clusters, Internet, grids
– Parallel algorithms / languages / systems
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Andrew S. Tanenbaum
• Small, reliable, secure, operating systems
• Wide-area distributed systems
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IWT / HPDC / PDCS Master's Projects
- Turtle - secure P2P
- Monitoring in Globule
- Content placement for video-ondemand
- Visualization / computer graphics
projects
- Parallel bioinformatics applications
- Energy-aware wireless epidemics
- Grid security infrastructures
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Software Engineering
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Software engineering is an important field:
Shift, from “construction”, “programming-inthe-large” to interplay between organization
and application portfolio
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Shift, from product orientation to service
orientation, from production to use
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Shift towards the “Internet of Things”
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Software Engineering Dimensions
Glue systems,
Create added value,
Use services
Build systems,
Master technology,
and complexity
Engineering
Usage
Human
Support daily work,
Envisage culture,
Plan for global use
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SoftwareEngineering@VU
IMSE – Information Management and
Software
Engineering
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IT portfolio needs proper asset
management and maintenance
Build systems to be used
and to make life easier
Architecture is the base
for communication and
decision making
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Some Courses
Advanced Topics in Software Design
Software Architecture
Software Asset Management
Software Configuration Management
Project Information Systems
(team effort for an industrial customer)
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Double Degree Programmes (in Europe)
One year at the VU, one year Abroad
Two Master degrees (from both
universities)
International experience, contact with
other cultures
Complement your studies with different
courses, enrich your CV
Many possibilities for scholarships
For more information:
www.few.vu.nl/internationalisering
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Global Software Engineering European Master
• One Master, two degrees
Learn how to master IT/Software projects in
an international environment
• One year at the VU, one year at a VU Partner
Mälardalen University (Sweden)
University of L'Aquila (Italy)
University of Westminster (UK)
• Three profiles:
Software Architecting
Real-Time Embedded Systems
Web Systems & Service Engineering
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Erasmus “Long Life'' Exchange Programme
VU has an exchange programme with a large number of
European Universities
Scholarship of 287 euro per month
You do not need to pay a fee to the foreign university
Go to www.few.vu.nl/onderwijs/buitenland/Erasmus.html
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Interested in International Experience?
Are you a first year CS Master student? Or
are you starting the coming academic
year?
Start thinking about your European
experience now!
Pre-register now to go in September 2009,
contact us for detailed information!
[email protected]
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Computer Science and Communication
This variant consists of two parts:
- Training in Computer Science at Master level
- Communication theory and practices
Compulsory courses:
- Communication Sciences
- Research Methods
- Science Journalism
- Internship / research project
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Master Coordinators
• Technical AI:
• IWT / HPDC, PDCS :
Martijn Schut ([email protected])
Thilo Kielmann ([email protected])
• Software Engineering:
Hans van Vliet ([email protected])
• Multimedia:
Anton Eliens ([email protected])
• Formal Methods and Software Verification:
Roel de Vrijer ([email protected])
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More Information
www.few.vu.nl/
(Dutch)
www.few.vu.nl/en/
(English)
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Registration
Simply go to www.studielink.nl
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