Your weekly round-up of undergraduate life in The University
of Manchester
Department of Computer Science
from Paul Nutter, Director of Undergraduate Studies.
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Good morning UG! It is Monday 2nd December 2024 and it’s week 11 of teaching. It’s December already and we are in the penultimate week of teaching before the Christmas break starts. Where has the semester gone?
The first year COMP101 poster session takes place today in the foyer of the Nancy Rothwell building, 14:00 - 16:00. If you are free then please pop along to see what projects the first year groups are proposing this year.
Don’t forget that the course unit surveys are running, we’d love to receive YOUR feedback on our teaching and how well the course units have gone this semester. Don’t forget to provide us with constructive comments so that we take action and improve the student experience.
Finally, good luck to all the 1st years with the group project presentations which are happening this week. I hope they go well!
Have a good week …
Paul
Undergraduate Programme Director
Essential links: Blackboard | My.Manchester | Blackboard UG Community Space | UG Handbook | SPOT | Deadlines Chart | Y1 | Y2 | Y3 | Y4 | SSLC | Student Support Hub | Wellbeing Team | Wellbeing Support | Mitigating Circumstances | Counselling & Mental Health Service | Monday Mail Archive | CS Support Desk | University IT Support | LinkedIn
Academic Reps Natalie Sparks (Y2, CSwIE), Timothy Mak (Y2, CM), Max Beck-Jones (Y4, CS4), and Callum Bridges (Y2, CSwIE) write: As we move into week 11, ‘tis the time to give some feedback. Your voices matter. We want to listen.
To know what matters to you, we need the intel. To support you, we need to know what’s giving you a hard time. To take action, we need evidence to back up our causes.
Has a lot of your cohort faced the same concern in an assessment? Is there a broken facility in the building? Have you found a comfortable work space yet? These are some suggestions; write what comes to your mind.
Watch out for the student representatives doing shoutouts in your lectures.
If you are unsure which email to use then use soe.hub@manchester.ac.uk for general queries.
See this page for further information. You can also find general information about support services on the University Student Support webpages. Remember you’re not alone and that we're here for you throughout the closure period, whenever you need it and whatever your concerns.
You can find more information on the student news website.
For some course units there may be limited information available, either because the course unit has only been running for a few years, or because there are restrictions in place when it comes to releasing auto-marked questions used in the past. However, using the resources that are available to you for the course unit, try and work out what it is that the exam questions are asking you to do. Don't draw conclusions based on a small sample set - bear in mind the risks of overfitting. Talk to students in higher years who have sat the exam for a particular course unit, for example via PASS, and find out what they think about the exam: How did they prepare? Is there anything they regretted about their approach to revision? Try to learn from their experiences when shaping your own approach to revising for the exams in January.
What we can’t do is advise you how best to revise for an exam, as everyone has a different approach that works for them. Some find reading the notes over and over works best, others prefer to produce their own notes, while others revise by attempting past exam questions and quizzes. Some of these approaches may work for you, others, maybe not. What you should do is evaluate how effective your approach to revision is once the results are released. If you find you didn’t perform as well as you expected too, then it may be worth revisiting your approach for revising when it comes to preparing for the semester 2 exams.
It is vitally important that you plan your revision effectively. Think about how much time you may need to prepare for the exam for each course unit. Which are the course units where you are pretty comfortable with the material? Which course units will need more effort to improve your understanding of the material? Maybe you already have a solid grasp of the material for a course unit, meaning you don’t have to be as extensive in your revision. Or if you find another course unit more difficult, you may want to devote more time to revising and preparing for the exam. What’s important is that you reflect on your revision needs and plan your revision time accordingly. When you think you're in decent shape, have a go at solving a past paper, but make sure you attempt it as you would the real thing, attempting it as a timed exercise under closed book (no notes!) conditions. You need to work out whether there are any areas where you need to put in more effort, and also whether you need to practise some techniques more in case you are struggling to answer the paper in the time available. Finally, it’s important to remember that to be in the best shape for your exams, you have to look after yourself as well, so build in some time to relax and take time away from revising. Take regular breaks, or go for walks to help refresh your mind, or spend some time doing something else for 10-20 mins. We will be talking more about the technicalities of taking an exam next week.
Join us for an afternoon of inspiration and exploration as we celebrate the future of digital trust! Act fast, tickets are selling quickly - Register today to secure your seat and avoid disappointment.
[1] Eddie Antonio Santos and Brett A. Becker (2024) Not the Silver Bullet: LLM-enhanced Programming Error Messages are Ineffective in Practice, UKICER ’24: Proceedings of the 2024 Conference on United Kingdom & Ireland Computing Education Research DOI:10.1145/3689535.3689554
Ekin Dogus Cubuk from Google DeepMind leads their materials science and chemistry team. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University where he studied the physics of disordered solids and battery materials using density functional theory and machine learning. After a brief postdoc at the Materials Science Department of Stanford University, he joined Google Brain in 2017. Since then, he has been studying the scaling and out-of-domain generalization properties of large neural networks, and their applications to materials discovery for applications including clean energy and information processing.
If you are graduating in 2025 and are considering research in the future, then it’s worthwhile considering applying.
Jingyuan is a Lecturer in the Department. Prior to this, he conducted postdoc research in KU Leuven. Before that, he worked as a Senior R&D engineer in Baidu, China. Prior to working, he got his masters and Ph.D. from Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he worked at the intersection of computational linguistics and neurolinguistics. He studies how brain activities can be decoded to reconstruct linguistic and visual perception, as well as how language and visual inputs are represented in the human brain. I collect and experiment with neuro-imaging data recorded by fMRI, EEG and MEG. I publish and review papers in top-tier AI conferences and journals.
Welcome to Puzzle Corner, a range of puzzles, challenges and brain teasers set by our resident puzzle master Gareth Henshall. Every week Gareth will set you the challenge of solving a range of puzzles
Get ready to challenge your mind and explore the world with this week’s trio of brain teasers! Whether you’re a sudoku whiz, a chess strategist, or a globe-trotting explorer, Puzzle Corner has something for everyone. Clear your schedule, grab a cup of coffee, and let the fun begin!
Sudoku Challenge - Fog of Where by James Sinclair:
Normal sudoku rules apply. Some correctly-entered digits clear fog from certain cells, but those cells may be in other parts of the grid. Other digits, even when entered correctly, do not clear fog at all. When the puzzle is fully solved, all the fog will be cleared. Digits in a cage sum to the small clue in the cage's top left corner, and digits cannot repeat within a cage. Digits along an arrow sum to the digit in the attached circle (and these digits can repeat if allowed by other rules). Arrows do not cross or overlap, and all arrow sums are single-digit. Digits in cells separated by an X sum to 10. Digits in cells with a shaded square must be even. Digits in cells separated by a white dot are consecutive. If digits are separated by a black dot, one is double the other.
Chess Puzzle - Kunin Vs. Oksengoit, 1958
It’s time to sharpen your chess skills! Can you find the winning moves and secure victory on the board? Analyse the position carefully and claim checkmate!
GeoGuessr Round
This week, we’ve dropped you somewhere on Earth! Analyse the scenery, take in the landmarks, and piece together clues to figure out your exact location. Will you discover the hidden destination?
We are playing the 'Flags of the World' map. Every spot has a recognisable national flag of the place where you are standing (without moving). Some of them are tricksy. Each country or nation is featured only once. Some are technically territories or protectorates of other countries (or semi-autonomous regions within a country), but they all have their own flag and unique national identity.
Click here to play this week’s challenge!
How to Submit
Send your completed Sudoku and Chess answers to gareth.henshall@manchester.ac.uk with the subject title 'Puzzle Corner' by Friday. Don’t forget to check the GeoGuessr leaderboard to see where you stack up and see how close you got to the real location!
Winners’ Circle
Congratulations to last week’s Puzzle Masters:
Good luck and happy puzzling!
Good morning UG! It is Monday 25th November 2024 and it’s week 10 of teaching. We are rapidly approaching the end of the semester, which is when the pressure starts to pile up due to final deadlines approaching, and you need to start thinking about the impending examination period in January (Thursday 9th to Friday 24th January 2025). If you are having any problems, whether this is academically or with regards to your health, then it is vitally important that you speak to someone so that we can offer help and support. You can seek support from your academic advisor, your year tutor, or a member of our wellbeing team (see below).
The course unit evaluation surveys are now running, which give you the opportunity to provide feedback on our teaching so that we can make changes to improve the student experience. Please consider completing a survey for each of your course units.
You will notice that Monday Mail now has a new section called “Student Voice”. Student voice is really important to us, so it’s here you will find out about ways you can make you voice heard, along with reports from the Student Voice Committee in their "SVC Newsletter".
If you are a 2nd year student, then we have extended the deadline for the Kneebone bursary until 6pm Friday 29th November. We have also increased the bursary awarded from £500 to £1000. So please consider applying (see below).
Have a good week. On with today’s news ...
Paul
Undergraduate Programme Director
Essential links: Blackboard | My.Manchester | Blackboard UG Community Space | UG Handbook | SPOT | Deadlines Chart | Y1 | Y2 | Y3 | Y4 | SSLC | Student Support Hub | Wellbeing Team | Wellbeing Support | Mitigating Circumstances | Counselling & Mental Health Service | Monday Mail Archive | CS Support Desk | University IT Support | LinkedIn
Academic Reps Natalie Sparks (Y2, CSwIE), Timothy Mak (Y2, CM) and Max Beck-Jones (Y4, CS4) write: This new section of the Monday Mail is where you can find out what’s going on with the Student Voice Committee (SVC), and what your student reps are getting up to. Here, you can find information about how you can give feedback, as well as the actions taken to improve your student experience. We will also introduce a student rep each week, so you can get to know us a bit better!
At our last meeting (6/11/2024), we discussed how we can make it easier for you to provide feedback. As a result, there will soon be a notice board in Kilburn LF, student rep “office hours”, and this newsletter. We also now have a suggestions box where you can send in any ideas or feedback you have! (see the QR code) This may change over the coming week, but any submissions you send will still be reviewed. You will be able to see the full minutes of the meeting in the student experience tab of the Blackboard CS UG Community.
That’s all from us for now! We do have another meeting on 11th December so please do be sure to give any feedback you have!We are hoping to see you in our PASS session this Wednesday 1-2pm in your allocated room. We have some fun activities for you again followed by a chat about any upcoming courseworks or concerns you may have. Remember that these sessions are for you, so lead the session, tell your leaders what you want to talk about as the session plan is not set in stone, and enjoy! For any problems/queries please feel free to contact us!
Extensions can be very useful to give yourself a little extra time needed to get your work done and submitted at the standard you expect from yourself, when unforeseen circumstances arise. But extensions are a double-edged sword. Especially if you get them in multiple pieces. Time after time I see students running into difficulties caused by them taking full advantage of their extension and submitting exactly a week after the original deadline. In Computer Science the assessments come thick and fast. The programme has one of the highest volumes of coursework at the university. Taking a week extra to complete one assignment will mean, if you don't manage your time well, you will simply have one week less for the next assignment.
If you get extensions through DASS or apply for them through the wellbeing team, then it is very important that you manage your time well and use only what time you need to submit. Keeping on top of your assignments will prevent a concertina effect that risks you ending up in a worse position than when you started. It's important to note that the impact on assessment caused by extensions to deadlines is not an acceptable reason to request more extensions or mitigating circumstances. We have already turned down several requests this semester where a previous deadline extension has impacted the amount of time available for a future assessment.
Don’t forget, extensions can only be requested prior to the deadline. You can find further details on the extensions and mitigating circumstances process in your student handbook, and the main university page here.
If you are unsure which email to use then use soe.hub@manchester.ac.uk for general queries.
Whilst the questions asking for a response from strongly disagree to strongly agree are helpful, what's most important are your comments, as these provide information that allows us to take action and make improvements to our units. Think about what you like about your units - could a unit adopt ideas that would be helpful to students? Is a unit doing something really well? Let staff know so that they retain the feature, and pass it on as good practice to colleagues. If there is something you dislike about a unit, be really precise, and try to distinguish the way something is taught from any dislike you may have of the material. “I didn't enjoy the coursework” doesn't tell staff how to improve the coursework. “I didn't enjoy the coursework because there were a number of repetitive tasks, for example, this aspect of Coursework 3 already appeared in Coursework 1” allows targeted changes to be made. When considering aspects of teaching such as feedback, consider the different types of feedback you have received, in different ways, from each course unit (see the Week 7 learning tip). If a particular approach worked well, then let us know why. If something worked but could do with improving, then please be clear how. For example, don’t just say “the feedback on exercise 1 was limited”, tell us why, such as “the feedback on exercise 1 was limited because I felt that after reading it I still wasn’t sure how my work only partially met the requirements”. The more details you provide in your comments, the more likely we are to identify changes that could be made. Think about what level of detail you’d like in the feedback on your work and offer us the same!
Event Details:
What You’ll Learn:
Computer Vision tools are transforming the field of radiology, enabling faster, more accurate diagnoses. Whether you're passionate about healthcare, AI, or both, this workshop is the perfect opportunity to take your skills to the next level. Level: Intermediate. To get the most out of this session, we recommend reviewing the material from our "Intro to Deep Learning" workshop available at bit.ly/MUDS-IntroDL. Don’t miss this chance to enhance your knowledge and network with fellow enthusiasts! Register here! For questions, contact us on Instagram: @uomdss . See you on Wednesday!
Join us for an afternoon of inspiration and exploration as we celebrate the future of digital trust! Act fast, tickets are selling quickly - Register today to secure your seat and avoid disappointment.
If you are graduating in 2025 and are considering research in the future, then it’s worthwhile considering applying.
This research is conducted by the Department of Computer Science of the University of Manchester and will take place in the Kilburn Building of the Oxford Road Campus. The experiment takes approximately 50 minutes to complete and participants will be compensated for their time. If you’re interested or have any further questions, please contact me via email: sarah.clinch@manchester.ac.uk.
The competition is an ideal experience in decision making during the time of a cyber crisis. You'll meet cyber security experts and representatives from across government and industry. Networking opportunities are unsurpassed for future career opportunities. Current and previous partners have included BT, UK Civil Service, Sage, NATO, Beazley, Standard Chartered bank and the Global Cyber Alliance. You'll pit your wits against other teams as you all respond to a complex and escalating cyber-attack with national and international ramifications. Over two days, comprising three rounds, competing teams receive intelligence packs consisting of reports gathered from multiple sources. You'll work together to analyse the report, analyse the national and international implications of the content and they present your analysis and recommendations to a panel of judges from government and industry. Apply now by e-mailing Prof Danny Dresner no later than midnight 29 November '24 with answers to the following questions:
Let's make the world a safer place to live and work online! Looking forward to hearing from you..
Alex van Someren is currently Chief Scientific Adviser for National Security. He was previously a venture capital investor and entrepreneur, focusing on investing in early stage ‘deep technology’ startups. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, an Honorary Professor of Computer Science at the University of Manchester, and a current member of the Royal Society’s Science, Industry and Translation Committee. Alex participated in the development of the BBC Microcomputer & Acorn Electron at Acorn Computer in the 1980s. He subsequently co-founded several technology companies, including ANT Software plc and nCipher plc which achieved listings on AIM and the London Stock Exchange, respectively.
Jingyuan is currently a Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science, the University of Manchester. Prior to this, he conducted postdoc research in KU Leuven. Before that, he worked as a Senior R&D engineer in Baidu, China. Prior to working, he got his masters and Ph.D. from Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he worked at the intersection of computational linguistics and neurolinguistics. He studies how brain activities can be decoded to reconstruct linguistic and visual perception, as well as how language and visual inputs are represented in the human brain. I collect and experiment with neuro-imaging data recorded by fMRI, EEG and MEG. I publish and review papers in top-tier AI conferences and journals.
Welcome to Puzzle Corner, a range of puzzles, challenges and brain teasers set by our resident puzzle master Gareth Henshall. Every week Gareth will set you the challenge of solving a range of puzzles
Get ready to challenge your mind and explore the world with this week’s trio of brain teasers! Whether you’re a sudoku whiz, a chess strategist, or a globe-trotting explorer, Puzzle Corner has something for everyone. Clear your schedule, grab a cup of coffee, and let the fun begin!
Sudoku Challenge - Sudoku Upper Right Heavy Killer by Richard Stolk
Normal sudoku rules apply. In any cell that contains a digit that is smaller than the digit in the diagonally adjacent upper right cell, the sum of those two digits is given, where a question mark can be replaced by any sum ranging from 3 to 17.
Chess Puzzle - Bengtsson Vs. Degerfeldt, 2024
It’s time to sharpen your chess skills! Can you find the winning moves and secure victory on the board? Analyse the position carefully and claim checkmate!
GeoGuessr Round
This week, we’ve dropped you somewhere on Earth! Analyse the scenery, take in the landmarks, and piece together clues to figure out your exact location. Will you discover the hidden destination? We are playing the 'Flags of the World' map. Every spot has a recognisable national flag of the place where you are standing (without moving). Some of them are tricksy. Each country or nation is featured only once. Some are technically territories or protectorates of other countries (or semi-autonomous regions within a country), but they all have their own flag and unique national identity.
Click here to play this week’s challenge!
How to Submit
Send your completed Sudoku and Chess answers to gareth.henshall@manchester.ac.uk with the subject title 'Puzzle Corner' by Friday. Don’t forget to check the GeoGuessr leaderboard to see where you stack up and see how close you got to the real location!
Winners’ Circle
Congratulations to last week’s Puzzle Masters:
Good luck and happy puzzling!
Good morning, it’s Monday 18th November 2024 and it’s week 9 of teaching. I hope everything is going well and that you are managing to keep up with deadlines and are submitting your work on time.
If you are a second year student, then you have until 6pm on Friday to submit your application for the Kneebone Acorn bursary (see below), so please consider applying.
Have a good week. On with today’s news …
Paul
Undergraduate Programme Director
Essential links: Blackboard | My.Manchester | Blackboard UG Community Space | UG Handbook | SPOT | Deadlines Chart | Y1 | Y2 | Y3 | Y4 | SSLC | Student Support Hub | Wellbeing Team | Wellbeing Support | Mitigating Circumstances | Counselling & Mental Health Service | Monday Mail Archive | CS Support Desk | University IT Support | LinkedIn
* PASS1. The PASS1 team (Danyaal Ahmed (Y3, CS), David Sendula (OnIE, CS), Daniel Farr (Y3, CSwIE), Afnan Ediab (Y3, CS), and Merve Turan (Y3, CS)) write: Hello Year1s and PASS1 leaders! We are hoping to see you in our PASS session this Wednesday 1-2pm in your allocated room. We have some fun activities for you again followed by a chat about any upcoming courseworks or concerns you may have. Remember that these sessions are for you, so lead the session, tell your leaders what you want to talk about as the session plan is not set in stone, and enjoy! For any problems/queries please feel free to contact us!
You can find more information on their website, including a contact form if you want to make an inquiry.
If you are unsure which email to use then use soe.hub@manchester.ac.uk for general queries.
My personal approach to revision was to read through a section of notes and then present them out loud to someone (ideally someone also doing the course). Though just saying them out loud to myself was effective. This technique helped me memorise the information and practice my wording for exam answers. Having someone doing my course doing the same back to me, helped be pick up on areas of knowledge and understanding I might have missed.
Those students that do have the best study skills will do best when it comes to high grades and low stress levels. Luckily for you I have a great resource for you to use. My Learning Essentials is the University's one stop shop for helping you gain the skills you need to make your studies go more smoothly and hopefully up your grades. There are workshops and online resources on topics such as Referencing, Academic writing, effective learning, avoiding plagiarism, and presentation skills.
Good study skills can easily make the difference between and 2.2 and a 2.1 degree. The My Leaning Essentials page also has resources to help you develop skills around mindfulness, resilience, and other ways to generally improve your mental health and wellbeing. Alongside that there is a bunch of useful podcasts for you to listen to including podcasts on Time Management, essay writing, successful revision, and group work.
Do yourself a favour this week and book on to just one workshop or work through just one online resource. See how it goes. Block out some time for personal development on My Learning Essentials once every week or two. I promise it will be worth your time!
Once you have completed these modules and taken the Extended Working Hours test, you can apply for a pass. If you do not have access to the modules listed above, then please contact soe.programmes@manchester.ac.uk. Once access has been granted then you can use your University swipe card to enter the Kilburn building. Please note that currently access is through the main entrance opposite Crawford House. However, once the building works are completed, then access will be via the entrance opposite University place. During extended hours access is restricted to the lower first area of the Kilburn building. You will not be able to use labs or meeting spaces in any other locations in Kilburn. You may be required to show proof that you have extended hours when requested by a building attendant or security. You can find more information and full instructions in the Extended Working Hours folder in the CS UG Community Space in Blackboard.
Students often believe that marking is performed by taking a “perfect” mark, i.e. 100%, and then looking for reasons to knock marks off. However, this isn’t necessarily the case. When marking, the marker will be looking at how your work satisfies a defined set of marking criteria. Each of these criteria will have descriptions of levels of achievement against them. So, the process of marking involves comparing your work against each of the criteria and judging how well it fits the levels of achievements, with marks awarded accordingly. Often, marking is performed against a rubric to help maintain consistency and fairness, in this case the rubric acts as a source of feedback and helps you to understand to what level your work has met the marking criteria. In some cases, automated approaches will be used to evaluate assessments, in which case the marking is consistent across all students, minimising any risk of bias in the marking process, or variation across markers.
Whilst work can be marked out of 100%, it’s important to recognise that it can be very difficult to achieve high marks. What we won’t do is provide a tick list of things you need to do/achieve to achieve full marks - this will stifle your ability to think independently when it comes to evaluating your own work. Indeed, marking schemes are often designed in such a way to measure your ability to think out of the box, and think beyond the bounds of the course material and apply your knowledge in a higher way. Hence, only awarding the top marks to those students who have performed exceptionally well. If an assessment results in everyone achieving 100% then it’s poorly designed, as it is unable to distinguish between different levels of ability. However, whilst you may not have achieved 100% in a piece of work, this doesn’t mean you should be disappointed.
Our aim is to help you move towards fitting into a professional environment, and criteria for evaluating a piece of work in that context. Our marking criteria will therefore not merely look at whether you have carried out each task, or whether you have implemented each feature asked for, but how good your solution is. You can code a functional solution, but do you consider the “quality” of your code? By providing you with feedback, we help you to better understand how a piece of work may be evaluated. We encourage you to look at the teaching materials provided that give you ideas of what qualities are desirable in a solution. Personally, I don’t like using the term “marking” when it comes to assessing coursework, instead I think it’s much better to refer to it as a process of evaluation of your work, as the process is not just about creating a mark.
Event Details:
What to Expect:
This session is ideal for anyone eager to enhance their understanding of deep learning and its applications, and no prior experience is necessary! Also, this time around we will be having a book giveaway. The book Why Machines Learn By Anil Ananthaswamy is up for grabs! Register now by clicking here or scanning the QR code below. For questions, reach out to us on Instagram: @uomdss. We look forward to seeing you there!
Whether you’ve got the business know-how, creative design skills, project management skills or much more, join the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre’s very first Startup Weekend on Friday 22nd, Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th November. Interested? Register Now. This event is free for all University of Manchester students & recent graduates.
Join us for an afternoon of inspiration and exploration as we celebrate the future of digital trust! Act fast, tickets are selling quickly - Register today to secure your seat and avoid disappointment.
Over one weekend and in a central Manchester hotel, you’ll collaborate with your team (we’ll help you build one if necessary) to develop a digital solution to a challenge based on real issues facing our planet and its people. You’ll have access to cutting-edge technologies and experts in the field.
Application deadline: 30th November 2024. Shortlisted candidates will be notified 20th December 2024. To find out more, scan the QR code or follow this link.
This research is conducted by the Department of Computer Science of the University of Manchester and will take place in the Kilburn Building of the Oxford Road Campus. The experiment takes approximately 50 minutes to complete and participants will be compensated for their time. If you’re interested or have any further questions, please contact me via email: sarah.clinch@manchester.ac.uk.
The successful 4 (or 8 if we get enough qualified for 2 teams) will make a play for a place at the finals to be held in person at the BT Tower in London (19 - 20 March 2025) and the deadline for teams to register will run out sooner than you think (see the team selection deadline below). Our objective is to build a team as diverse as possible in terms of EDI, background and academic discipline (you must not be experienced working in cyber, politics or warfare or have held positions that would give you an advantage).
The competition is an ideal experience in decision making during the time of a cyber crisis. You'll meet cyber security experts and representatives from across government and industry. Networking opportunities are unsurpassed for future career opportunities. Current and previous partners have included BT, UK Civil Service, Sage, NATO, Beazley, Standard Chartered bank and the Global Cyber Alliance.
You'll pit your wits against other teams as you all respond to a complex and escalating cyber-attack with national and international ramifications. Over two days, comprising three rounds, competing teams receive intelligence packs consisting of reports gathered from multiple sources. You'll work together to analyse the report, analyse the national and international implications of the content and they present your analysis and recommendations to a panel of judges from government and industry. Apply now by e-mailing Prof Danny Dresner no later than midnight 29 November '24 with answers to the following questions:
Let's make the world a safer place to live and work online! Looking forward to hearing from you....
Mara obtained her PhD in computational magnetism in 2021 at University of York, then moved to a postdoctoral position at University of Edinburgh, working on 2D magnetism. Afterwards she returned to York as a research software engineer funded by the national supercomputer ARCHER2 via eCSE. She joined University of Manchester in July 2024 as a Lecturer in Novel Concepts/Technologies in Low Energy Computing. Besides 2D magnetism, her current research interests are in developing advanced models of magnetic materials for both fundamental studies and technological applications.
Alex van Someren is currently Chief Scientific Adviser for National Security. He was previously a venture capital investor and entrepreneur, focusing on investing in early stage ‘deep technology’ startups. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, an Honorary Professor of Computer Science at the University of Manchester, and a current member of the Royal Society’s Science, Industry and Translation Committee. Alex participated in the development of the BBC Microcomputer & Acorn Electron at Acorn Computer in the 1980s. He subsequently co-founded several technology companies, including ANT Software plc and nCipher plc which achieved listings on AIM and the London Stock Exchange, respectively.
Talk Title: “Materials for the future”. Speaker: Professor Sir Kostya Novoselov, Langworthy Professor, The University of Manchester, Director of the Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials, National University of Singapore. Abstract: Graphene and 2D materials, despite being relatively fresh materials, have already taken a firm place in research, development and applications. A number of exciting phenomena have been discovered in these crystals and they continue bringing exciting results on a regular basis. However, probably the most important characteristic about 2D materials is that they offer a possibility to form on-demand van der Waals heterostructures, where individual 2D crystals are stacked together, forming a novel, 3D structure, which composition (and thus, their properties) can be controlled with atomic precision. This have opened a new directions of research: materials on demand. The properties of the resulting heterostructure can be designed with very high precision. The space of parameters is so large that the use of machine learning methods becomes essential. So, what is next for materials science after the dream of “materials on demand” has been realised? One of the dreams are materials which have some characteristics of biological systems: those with self-healing capabilities, with memory functions, those which can evolve differently depending on external conditions. I will be discussing the methodologies to design such artificial living systems and the areas of their applications.
Join us to celebrate this unique occasion and explore the future of materials with the Nobel laureate and visionary in the field of materials physics. We look forward to seeing you there! Refreshments will be served in the Schuster Foyer from 4pm.
Welcome to Puzzle Corner, a range of puzzles, challenges and brain teasers set by our resident puzzle master Gareth Henshall. Every week Gareth will set you the challenge of solving a range of puzzles
Get ready to challenge your mind and explore the world with this week’s trio of brain teasers! Whether you’re a sudoku whiz, a chess strategist, or a globe-trotting explorer, Puzzle Corner has something for everyone. Clear your schedule, grab a cup of coffee, and let the fun begin!
Sudoku Challenge - Wessel Strijkstra by Aron Lidé (Aspartagcus)
Fill each row, column and region with the digits 1-6. Each letter corresponds to a unique digit. A cell with one letter in contains the appropriate digit. Digits in a cage sum up to the double digit number represented by two letters inside that cage. Digits may repeat in cages. The digit in the grey square is even.
Chess Puzzle - Melaa Vs. Rosenthal, 2024
It’s time to sharpen your chess skills! Can you find the winning moves and secure victory on the board? Analyse the position carefully and claim checkmate!
GeoGuessr Round
This week, we’ve dropped you somewhere on Earth! Analyse the scenery, take in the landmarks, and piece together clues to figure out your exact location. Will you discover the hidden destination?
We are playing the 'Flags of the World' map. Every spot has a recognisable national flag of the place where you are standing (without moving). Some of them are tricksy. Each country or nation is featured only once. Some are technically territories or protectorates of other countries (or semi-autonomous regions within a country), but they all have their own flag and unique national identity.
Click here to play this week’s challenge!
How to Submit
Send your completed Sudoku and Chess answers to gareth.henshall@manchester.ac.uk with the subject title 'Puzzle Corner' by Friday. Don’t forget to check the GeoGuessr leaderboard to see where you stack up and see how close you got to the real location!
Winners’ Circle
Congratulations to last week’s Puzzle Masters:
Good luck and happy puzzling!
Good morning, it’s Monday 11th November 2024 and it’s week 8 of teaching. It’s that time of the semester when pressures start to set in and you may find yourself struggling to keep up with everything and meeting deadlines for coursework. If any issues prevent you from submitting your work by a deadline (illness etc) then you should ask for an extension (if available) and complete the work and submit late, within the extension period. You may also want to consider submitting a mitigating circumstances application if you are still struggling to meet the extended deadline. If you are impacted then it’s important that you seek help and advice by speaking to either your Academic Advisor, your Year Tutor, or contact a member of the Department Wellbeing Team (see below). Students often leave it until the last minute, usually after the exams, to let us know they've been affected during the year, by which point it is too late to do anything to help. Contacting us immediately when something happens, offers you the best chance of receiving help and support when you need it.
If you are a 2nd year student, then please consider applying for the Kate Kneebone Acorn Bursary, an annual award in memory of a former student of the Department, Kate Kneebone (more details below).
Finally, don’t forget that the Department is hosting a Women in Kilburn event this Wednesday (see below).
Have a good week. On with today’s news …
Paul
Undergraduate Programme Director
Essential links: Blackboard | My.Manchester | Blackboard UG Community Space | UG Handbook | SPOT | Deadlines Chart | Y1 | Y2 | Y3 | Y4 | SSLC | Student Support Hub | Wellbeing Team | Wellbeing Support | Mitigating Circumstances | Counselling & Mental Health Service | Monday Mail Archive | CS Support Desk | University IT Support | LinkedIn
On 7th November, we held the first SVC of this academic year. In this meeting, your representatives gave praise for good teaching practice in the Department. Also discussed were ways in which your representatives can help to close the feedback loop, that is, to make it clearer to you what is being done by the SVC, what positive changes have been made, and how your views and opinions have been taken on board. Many ideas were proposed, and these will now be worked on - so stay tuned for things to come. Minutes of this meeting will be made available on the Student Voice space of the UG BB Community.
Your opinion matters! There are several ways in which you can give your opinions or suggestions to the SVC:
Please note: if you have an issue with a particular course unit, then in the first instance you should always contact the lecturer or course unit leader, who will endeavour to resolve you issue.
If you are unsure which email to use then use soe.hub@manchester.ac.uk for general queries.
Once you have completed these modules and taken the Extended Working Hours test, you can apply for a pass. If you do not have access to the modules listed above, then please contact t soe.programmes@manchester.ac.uk. Once access has been granted then you can use your University swipe card to enter the Kilburn building. Please note that currently access is through the main entrance opposite Crawford House. However, once the building works are completed, then access will be via the entrance opposite University place. During extended hours access is restricted to the lower first area of the Kilburn building. You will not be able to use labs or meeting spaces in any other locations in Kilburn. You may be required to show proof that you have extended hours when requested by a building attendant or security. You can find more information and full instructions in the Extended Working Hours folder in the CS UG Community Space in Blackboard.
When you work on coursework you have the opportunity to think about what would make a submission a good one. You will usually be told which criteria are going to be used to mark your work, but you may not necessarily receive details of how various judgements are made and how marks are determined under each marking criteria. You should consider for yourself how those criteria may be measured, and you should also be aware of teaching material that covers some of those criteria, so that you can use them to help you with this task. You may even want to think about how to judge a `good solution' before looking at anything supplied by the course unit team - it'll give you some useful insights, and improve your ability to evaluate desirable features of a solution. Feedback from previous assessments, or past papers, should also help you judge what is required under each criteria. By the time you work on your third year project you'll be asked to perform an evaluation of what you have achieved, and acquiring this skill will also help you in the future, whether you pursue postgraduate work or join the profession.
Details of the workshop will be released soon so please keep an eye out on our socials. Inform your friends from non-CS backgrounds to join if they're interested in learning programming. If you are a first year CS student, these workshops will be highly beneficial for you too to get some extra coding practice with some hands-on help and to clear concepts taught in your course earlier better.
Drinks and snacks will be provided! We really look forward to seeing you there.
Whether you’ve got the business know-how, creative design skills, project management skills or much more, join the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre’s very first Startup Weekend on Friday 22nd, Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th November. Interested? Register Now. This event is free for all University of Manchester students & recent graduates.
Professor Dame Athene Donald will discuss the critical need for more women in science and share insights from her book, "Not Just for the Boys: Why We Need More Women in Science." Despite the removal of formal barriers to women pursuing STEM subjects, there are still fewer women working in these areas as they move up the career ladder. This talk will explore the subtle and not-so-subtle reasons behind this dearth and highlight the importance of welcoming women into the scientific world for a stronger and more diverse society. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from a multi-award-winning female scientist who has made significant contributions to the field of physics and gender equality in science. For more details and to book your place, please visit the event page.
Join us for an afternoon of inspiration and exploration as we celebrate the future of digital trust! Act fast, tickets are selling quickly - Register today to secure your seat and avoid disappointment.
If you are a forward-thinking technological enthusiast, hacker, maker, coder, engineer or problem solver who is bold, inventive, creative, and deeply passionate about the role technology and digitalization has to play in creating a better world – read on.
Over one weekend and in a central Manchester hotel, you’ll collaborate with your team (we’ll help you build one if necessary) to develop a digital solution to a challenge based on real issues facing our planet and its people. You’ll have access to cutting-edge technologies and experts in the field.
Application deadline: 30th November 2024. Shortlisted candidates will be notified 20th December 2024. To find out more, scan the QR code or follow this link.
Say hello to your tomorrow as a postgraduate researcher and join our Open Day on Wednesday 13th November 2024. Register your place now.
This research is conducted by the Department of Computer Science of the University of Manchester and will take place in the Kilburn Building of the Oxford Road Campus. The experiment takes approximately 50 minutes to complete and participants will be compensated for their time. If you’re interested or have any further questions, please contact me via email: sarah.clinch@manchester.ac.uk.
Natraj Raman is a research director at JPMorgan AI Research, London. With over 20 years of experience in the financial industry, he has worked as a research scientist at Thomson Reuters and S&P Global. He holds a PhD in Computer Vision, and his research interests include Document AI, Explainable AI and Representation Learning.
In this work we explore state-of-the art atomistic models of magnetic materials able to simulate billion atoms systems for technological applications and fundamental studies. We also explore some typical examples of 2D magnetic materials, such as CrI3 and CrCl3, our findings indicating that ultrafast laser pulses can be used to manipulate spin textures efficiently in atomically thin van der Waals layers, similarly to other conventional ferromagnets.
Mara obtained her PhD in computational magnetism in 2021 at University of York, then moved to a postdoctoral position at University of Edinburgh, working on 2D magnetism. Afterwards she returned to York as a research software engineer funded by the national supercomputer ARCHER2 via eCSE. She joined University of Manchester in July 2024 as a Lecturer in Novel Concepts/Technologies in Low Energy Computing. Besides 2D magnetism, her current research interests are in developing advanced models of magnetic materials for both fundamental studies and technological applications.
Talk Title: “Materials for the future”. Speaker: Professor Sir Kostya Novoselov, Langworthy Professor, The University of Manchester, Director of the Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials, National University of Singapore
Abstract: Graphene and 2D materials, despite being relatively fresh materials, have already taken a firm place in research, development and applications. A number of exciting phenomena have been discovered in these crystals and they continue bringing exciting results on a regular basis. However, probably the most important characteristic about 2D materials is that they offer a possibility to form on-demand van der Waals heterostructures, where individual 2D crystals are stacked together, forming a novel, 3D structure, which composition (and thus, their properties) can be controlled with atomic precision. This have opened a new directions of research: materials on demand. The properties of the resulting heterostructure can be designed with very high precision. The space of parameters is so large that the use of machine learning methods becomes essential. So, what is next for materials science after the dream of “materials on demand” has been realised? One of the dreams are materials which have some characteristics of biological systems: those with self-healing capabilities, with memory functions, those which can evolve differently depending on external conditions. I will be discussing the methodologies to design such artificial living systems and the areas of their applications.
Join us to celebrate this unique occasion and explore the future of materials with the Nobel laureate and visionary in the field of materials physics. We look forward to seeing you there! Refreshments will be served in the Schuster Foyer from 4pm.
Welcome to Puzzle Corner, a range of puzzles, challenges and brain teasers set by our resident puzzle master Gareth Henshall. Every week Gareth will set you the challenge of solving a range of puzzles.
Get ready to challenge your mind and explore the world with this week’s trio of brain teasers! Whether you’re a sudoku whiz, a chess strategist, or a globe-trotting explorer, Puzzle Corner has something for everyone. Clear your schedule, grab a cup of coffee, and let the fun begin!
Sudoku Challenge - Out of Order by Blackjackfitz
Normal sudoku rules apply. Digits separated by a black dot are in a 1:2 ratio. Digits along a pink line form a consecutive set that MUST appear out of order. i.e. 4321 is not valid while 4312 is.
Chess Puzzle - Kafantaris Vs. Viachos, 2018
It’s time to sharpen your chess skills! Can you find the winning moves and secure victory on the board? Analyse the position carefully and claim checkmate!
GeoGuessr Round
This week, we’ve dropped you somewhere on Earth! Analyse the scenery, take in the landmarks, and piece together clues to figure out your exact location. Will you discover the hidden destination?
We are playing the 'Flags of the World' map. Every spot has a recognisable national flag of the place where you are standing (without moving). Some of them are tricksy. Each country or nation is featured only once. Some are technically territories or protectorates of other countries (or semi-autonomous regions within a country), but they all have their own flag and unique national identity.
Click here to play this week’s challenge!
How to Submit
Send your completed Sudoku and Chess answers to gareth.henshall@manchester.ac.uk with the subject title 'Puzzle Corner' by Friday. Don’t forget to check the GeoGuessr leaderboard to see where you stack up and see how close you got to the real location!
Winners’ Circle
Congratulations to last week’s Puzzle Masters:
Good luck and happy puzzling!
Good morning, it’s Monday 4th November 2024, welcome to week 7 of teaching. It’s hard to believe we are in November already! I hope you took some time off over reading week, enjoyed the spooky goings on, and that you are now ready for the remainder of the semester - it'll get busy from now on! Tuesday (5th November) is Guy Fawkes night (or Bonfire Night) in the UK; you may have heard lots of fireworks going off over the weekend! What’s it all about? You can find out more here.
Teaching activities resume as normal this week, so please make sure you check your personal timetable as some activities may take place at different times/locations. We are hitting that point in the semester where you may find deadlines start to bunch up. As such, it’s important to manage your time and do not leave coursework to the last minute. Don’t forget we have the deadlines chart (see below) so you can visualise the deadlines across the semester.
In this week’s learning tips item I focus on how to recognise feedback when you receive it, as it’s important to understand that feedback comes in many ways! Ben also provides some advice on applying for extensions and submitting mitigating circumstances in his welfare weekly item.
Have a good week and enjoy the fireworks. Lots of items in Monday Mail this week …
Paul
Undergraduate Programme Director
Essential links: Blackboard | My.Manchester | Blackboard UG Community Space | UG Handbook | SPOT | Deadlines Chart | Y1 | Y2 | Y3 | Y4 | SSLC | Student Support Hub | Wellbeing Team | Wellbeing Support | Mitigating Circumstances | Counselling & Mental Health Service | Monday Mail Archive | CS Support Desk | University IT Support | LinkedIn
Your ideas and views on these matters are very important, and will play an important part in how we move forwards. You can give your views in a number of ways:
Please contact Harsha or Sarah (Co-leads for MPharm Prescribing Skills) via email if you have any questions.
If you’re facing financial hardship, don’t hesitate to apply and get the support you need to focus on your studies. You can find more information about who can apply and how applications are assessed in this news item.
If you are unsure which email to use then use soe.hub@manchester.ac.uk for general queries.
1-week extensions - To request a one week extension you must apply prior to your deadline date. If the deadline date has passed then an extension is not possible. You should instead submit as soon as you can and apply for mitigating circumstances. Be aware of which of your assessments can have extensions as some cannot.
Mitigating circumstances - When applying for mitigation, the submission status of the assessment and the evidence you have to provide will have a big impact on the mitigation we can offer you, and if we can accept your application. The decision making process is complex and needs to consider assessment regulations, but here is a simplified idea to help you:
If your application for mitigation is accepted then the outcome will likely be one of the above.
Extensions of longer than one week are rare, they need to be specifically requested and are usually only given on large assessments such as the final year project. If they are given it will be clear in your outcome e-mail. At busy times, extensions can take up to five days to process so if you apply too near the deadline you may not get a response until after the deadline has passed. Mitigation applications are processed differently and will often take longer to get you an outcome. If you have any questions about extensions or mitigation then please contact us on soe.wellbeing@manchester.ac.uk or pop into the Student Support Hub.
Given their prior experience in education, it's natural that students concentrate solely on any individual written feedback that is supplied on their work, but is this really the only feedback worth your attention? There are many occasions where you will receive feedback on your work where you might realise you are receiving feedback; it’s important you appreciate that this is happening.
There are many ways in which you will receive feedback, and it’s not always written down for you on paper. It’s important you recognise this and make the most of the feedback you receive as this will help you develop the skills that will help you throughout your degree and in your future career.
Drinks and snacks will be provided! We really look forward to seeing you there.
This event is ideal for students and researchers eager to explore computer vision and AI. The research topics will be presented in an accessible manner. If you’re a student seeking project ideas or simply curious about the latest advancements and challenges in computer vision, don’t miss this chance to gain insight and connect with peers - register here! Plus, there is going to be free pizza after the event!
Join us for an afternoon of inspiration and exploration as we celebrate the future of digital trust! Act fast, tickets are selling quickly - Register today to secure your seat and avoid disappointment.
Professor Dame Athene Donald will discuss the critical need for more women in science and share insights from her book, "Not Just for the Boys: Why We Need More Women in Science." Despite the removal of formal barriers to women pursuing STEM subjects, there are still fewer women working in these areas as they move up the career ladder. This talk will explore the subtle and not-so-subtle reasons behind this dearth and highlight the importance of welcoming women into the scientific world for a stronger and more diverse society. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from a multi-award-winning female scientist who has made significant contributions to the field of physics and gender equality in science. For more details and to book your place, please visit the event page.
Ash, an entrepreneur turned investor, is the Managing Partner of Sterling Road, a venture fund that invests in early-stage B2B companies. With experience advising Bullpen Capital and working at Trinity Ventures, Ash has mentored hundreds of startups through renowned accelerator programs like Y-Combinator, Techstars, Oxford, Stanford, UC Berkeley, and Alchemist. Ash has been pivotal in the development of https://www.metofico.com and invested in UoM startups. Please review: https://www.sterlingroad.com/apply Ash will share his insights on how to take the first steps in building a successful startup. Please register for the event here.
The research does not pose professional or emotional risks and care will be taken to ensure that data captured during the study will be used solely for the purpose of the research. Information gathered from your interaction in the study, as well as your questionnaire responses will be anonymised. This means that you will not be identifiable from the published results. You will have the right to end your participation in the study at any time. This research has been cleared by the University of Manchester Research Ethics Board.
To participate, you need to be aged 18 or above and be of the typical adult population. This means that you would not have been diagnosed with conditions affecting physical, social, emotional, and cognitive functioning or development (i.e. autistic spectrum disorder, deaf and hard of hearing, colour-blindness, speech disorder or impairments). English is either your first language or you learnt it, and you can read, understand, and communicate with the English language.
If you would like to participate in this research study, or have any questions about the research, please contact me at joseph.bolarinwa@manchester.ac.uk.
MEC is the focal point for enterprise and entrepreneurship teaching, learning and startup support at The University of Manchester. They run several co-curricular activities, events and competitions, aimed at members of the University community including students. These initiatives provide valuable opportunities for all students to enhance their entrepreneurial skills, network with industry experts, and gain hands-on experience that complements their academic studies. Contact entrepreneurship@manchester.ac.uk for more information.
Say hello to your tomorrow as a postgraduate researcher and join our Open Day on Wednesday 13th November 2024. Register your place now.
Jialie Shen is currently a professor in computer vision and machine learning (Chair) with the Department of Computer Science, City, University of London, UK. His research interests spread across subareas in artificial intelligence (AI) and data science, including statistical machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, and information retrieval. His research results have been published in more than 150 publications at prestigious journals and conferences.
Natraj Raman is a research director at JPMorgan AI Research, London. With over 20 years of experience in the financial industry, he has worked as a research scientist at Thomson Reuters and S&P Global. He holds a PhD in Computer Vision, and his research interests include Document AI, Explainable AI and Representation Learning.
Welcome to Puzzle Corner, a range of puzzles, challenges and brain teasers set by our resident puzzle master Gareth Henshall. Every week Gareth will set you the challenge of solving a range of puzzles
Get ready to challenge your mind and explore the world with this week’s trio of brain teasers! Whether you’re a sudoku whiz, a chess strategist, or a globe-trotting explorer, Puzzle Corner has something for everyone. Clear your schedule, grab a cup of coffee, and let the fun begin!
Sudoku Challenge - Carved Out by Wypman
Normal sudoku rules apply. The pumpkin (orange line) is an entropic line on which each neighbouring group of three cells include one low (1,2,3), one middle (4,5,6) and one high (7,8,9) digit. The stem (green line) is a German whisper, where neighbouring digits have a difference of at least 5. The face is made up of of thermometers, on which the digits increase from the bulb end. Digits separated by an X sum to 10 and digits separated by a V sum to 5.
Chess Puzzle - Hrabusa Vs. Gregor, 2018
It’s time to sharpen your chess skills! Can you find the winning moves and secure victory on the board? Analyse the position carefully and claim checkmate!
GeoGuessr Round
This week, we’ve dropped you somewhere on Earth! Analyse the scenery, take in the landmarks, and piece together clues to figure out your exact location. Will you discover the hidden destination?
We are playing the 'Community World' map. A world map with 100k+ handpicked locations put together by over a hundred experienced players and map makers from the GeoGuessr community
Click here to play this week’s challenge!
How to Submit
Send your completed Sudoku and Chess answers to gareth.henshall@manchester.ac.uk with the subject title 'Puzzle Corner' by Friday. Don’t forget to check the GeoGuessr leaderboard to see where you stack up and see how close you got to the real location!
Winners’ Circle
Congratulations to last week’s Puzzle Masters:
Good luck and happy puzzling!
Good morning! It’s Monday 28th October 2024 and it’s week 6 - halfway through the semester! This week is reading week, which means there are no teaching activities scheduled for COMP course units. However, you may still have activities scheduled for any non-COMP course units you are taking, and may still have some coursework to complete. Please check your personal timetable if you are not sure. The University, and the Kilburn building, remain open as normal over reading week. Please make the most of this week to take a break and relax; the remainder of the semester is going to be busy so best to recharge your batteries now if you can.
It’s been great to see the Kilburn building, particularly the lower first area, so busy so far this semester. We hope you feel that Kilburn is your home!
Thursday is Halloween so have a spooktacular day! On with today’s news …
Paul
Undergraduate Programme Director
Essential links: Blackboard | My.Manchester | Blackboard UG Community Space | UG Handbook | SPOT | Deadlines Chart | Y1 | Y2 | Y3 | Y4 | SSLC | Student Support Hub | Wellbeing Team | Wellbeing Support | Mitigating Circumstances | Counselling & Mental Health Service | Monday Mail Archive | CS Support Desk | University IT Support | LinkedIn
Our first SSLC meeting of the academic year is on Wednesday 7th November (Week 7). In this meeting, we will be discussing issues and positives that you have raised to your reps, on matters such as teaching, feedback, and student life. It is very important to us that the changes brougt through the SSLC are visible and understood, therefore we will also be giving a special focus to student voice and closing the feedback loop.
Your ideas and views on these matters are very important, and will play an important part in how we move forwards. You can give your views in a number of ways:
Semester 1: 2024
Please contact Harsha or Sarah (Co-leads for MPharm Prescribing Skills) via email if you have any questions.
If you’re facing financial hardship, don’t hesitate to apply and get the support you need to focus on your studies. You can find more information about who can apply and how applications are assessed in this news item.
If you are unsure which email to use then use soe.hub@manchester.ac.uk for general queries.
When you have work to do, the idea of playing football, going to Pilates, or getting lost in the latest cinema release sounds counterproductive. But good work comes from people with a healthy body and a clear mind. Make time for yourself. It will help your physical and mental fitness and allow you to decompress in a way that will complement your studies. I'm not talking about wasting away hours playing computer games or drinking down the pub. I mean blocking out a set time, even if it's only 20 minutes.
Personally I use walking the dog to unwind after work; I use bouldering and jogging to clear my mind and focus only on the here and now; I play board games to socialise while still stimulating my brain; I look after my houseplants to find my zen; and I listen to shouty, punk, ska, and hardcore while doing the washing up to blow off steam while still being productive. What do you do to make time for you? If the answer is nothing, fix that now. It will be harder to fix when the work starts piling up.
This week, if you haven't already, sign up to one of the many societies at the Student's Union. Block out set time to do something for your physical and mental health and stick with it for the semester. It will show benefits in your work!
It is always worth checking that you have submitted your work properly; if you don’t follow the rules precisely then your work cannot be marked. For example, students often realise at the point of marking that they didn’t submit their work to Blackboard properly, they then claim this is a fault with Blackboard, when this isn’t the case. Problems with Blackboard submissions are invariably due to students failing to ensure that the work had been submitted properly, more often than not, as a result of not waiting until the submission has uploaded successfully before closing the window. Remember, it can take some time for work to be uploaded to Blackboard, so please be patient and wait for it to complete.
For git submissions, we use tags to identify the commit for marking. If your commit is not tagged correctly, it will not be marked, or if you tag the wrong commit you may not receive the mark you expect. When you tag your commit and push with tags, the submission will show in SPOT immediately. If you check SPOT and the submission does not show, check you have got the tag name correct (it is case sensitive and must match the tag name exactly). SPOT provides information about the tag name which is shown by hovering the mouse over the Tag label at the end of the assessment name. If you have made a mistake, remove the tag from GitLab and your local repository, and try again. If you are sure that the tag is correctly set, and it still does not show in SPOT, email support@cs.manchester.ac.uk and include the URL of your project in git and the name of the assignment you are trying to submit work for. Check out the useful Git and GitLab tips page for useful tips.
We will not apply mitigation, or remove any late penalty, for any late submissions due to you failing to follow the instructions for submitting your work. It is your responsibility to ensure that your work has been properly submitted. You can check your submission in a number of ways - see next item. It is important to note that SPOT is updated at 12pm and 6pm everyday, so don’t assume that your submission to Blackboard will show up straight away. It’s also important to remember that SPOT does not show submissions to Gradescope and external course units, who may employ different mechanisms for submitting work. Make it a habit to confirm that your work has been submitted properly every time!
Anyone experiencing any issues after work has been completed should contact the IT Support Centre.
In addition, when logging into My Manchester login, you will now be prompted to use 2-factor authentication or Duo to gain access. This is an additional layer of security that prompts you to verify your identity using University systems. You will already be familiar with this additional layer of security when using applications including Microsoft 365 (for University email) and Blackboard and you will have set this up as part of the IT account activation process. For more information or support with Duo, please visit Duo for taught students (The University of Manchester) or contact the IT Support Centre.
Join us for an afternoon of inspiration and exploration as we celebrate the future of digital trust! Act fast, tickets are selling quickly - Register today to secure your seat and avoid disappointment.
Prizes:
Registration closes at 23:59 on 8 November 2024. Click here for more information about the challenge, important dates and registration instructions.
Jialie Shen is currently a professor in computer vision and machine learning (Chair) with the Department of Computer Science, City, University of London, UK. His research interests spread across subareas in artificial intelligence (AI) and data science, including statistical machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, and information retrieval. His research results have been published in more than 150 publications at prestigious journals and conferences.
Welcome to Puzzle Corner, a range of puzzles, challenges and brain teasers set by our resident puzzle master Gareth Henshall. Every week Gareth will set you the challenge of solving a range of puzzles
Get ready to challenge your mind and explore the world with this week’s trio of brain teasers! Whether you’re a sudoku whiz, a chess strategist, or a globe-trotting explorer, Puzzle Corner has something for everyone. Clear your schedule, grab a cup of coffee, and let the fun begin!
Sudoku Challenge - Rainbow Kropki 2 by LJC
Normal sudoku rules apply. Digits in a cage may not repeat and sum to the given total/parity/inequality. No three contiguous cells in a row or a column can be all even or all odd. Digits separated by a coloured dot must have a difference between them indicated by the colour of the dot. All dots of the same colour (and letter) indicate the same difference and two different coloured dots may not represent the same difference.
Chess Puzzle - Kosteniuk Vs. Khademalsharieh, 2024
It’s time to sharpen your chess skills! Can you find the winning moves and secure victory on the board? Analyse the position carefully and claim checkmate!
GeoGuessr Round
This week, we’ve dropped you somewhere on Earth! Analyse the scenery, take in the landmarks, and piece together clues to figure out your exact location. Will you discover the hidden destination?
We are playing the 'Dumb Test' map, it's simpler than you think!
Click here to play this week’s challenge!
How to Submit
Send your completed Sudoku and Chess answers to gareth.henshall@manchester.ac.uk with the subject title 'Puzzle Corner' by Friday. Don’t forget to check the GeoGuessr leaderboard to see where you stack up and see how close you got to the real location!
Winners’ Circle
Congratulations to last week’s Puzzle Masters:
Good luck and happy puzzling!
Good morning! It’s Monday 21st October 2024, and it’s Week 5 of semester 1. Next week (Week 6) is reading week, which means there are no teaching activities scheduled for COMP course units. However, you may still have activities scheduled for some non-COMP course units you are taking, and may still have some coursework to complete. Reading week is a good time to catch up on your work (including your project if you are a 3rd year) as well as time for you to take a bit of a break and relax if you can - I know I’ll be taking a few days off! Well done to everyone who took part in UKIEPC on Saturday (see below) and let me express my thanks to the student volunteers who gave up their time to help make sure the event ran smoothly.
The clocks change on Sunday 27th October (at 02:00 am), going back by one hour (so 02:00 becomes 01:00) moving back to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Make the best of the extra hour in bed on Sunday morning (as if you need an excuse!).
As usual I will be having my open office hour 12:00 - 13:00 somewhere on LF on Tuesday. Please say hello!
On with today’s news, enjoy your week …
Paul
Undergraduate Programme Director
Essential links: Blackboard | My.Manchester | Blackboard UG Community Space | UG Handbook | SPOT | Deadlines Chart | Y1 | Y2 | Y3 | Y4 | SSLC | Student Support Hub | Wellbeing Team | Wellbeing Support | Mitigating Circumstances | Counselling & Mental Health Service | Monday Mail Archive | CS Support Desk | University IT Support | LinkedIn
MUDS First Workshop: Introduction to Machine Learning (ML). MUDS is dedicated to fostering collaboration among students, researchers, and industry in Data Science and Machine Learning. Join us for an engaging workshop where you'll:
Perfect for beginners, this session will provide a solid introduction to Machine Learning concepts and tools. You'll also have the chance to meet the MUDS committee, connect with fellow students passionate about data science, and enjoy snacks at the end of the workshop! We’re also hosting a giveaway, so don't miss out — register for the event through this link or by scanning the QR code! If you have any questions, you can contact us through our Instagram: @uomdss.
Twenty-two teams from Manchester took part. Of these, the teams 1kg, we <3 algeria, GoodLuck, Byte Brew Crew, Manchester Bees and MVJ all solved three problems each. Based on the time to correct solutions, the top Manchester team was 1kg, coming only 74th in the overall rankings. There was thus rather more enthusiasm than success on display at our site. Nevertheless, it was good to see so many teams taking part, all but two of which solved at least two problems. Well done to all those who participated, and thanks to the student volunteers. The final standings can be found on the UKIEPC website. Huge thanks to the student volunteers who gave up their time to help make the event run smoothly.
You can find more information on their website, including a contact form if you want to make an inquiry.
If you are unsure which email to use then use soe.hub@manchester.ac.uk for general queries.
Once you have completed these modules and taken the Extended Working Hours test, you can apply for a pass. If you do not have access to the modules listed above, then please contact t soe.programmes@manchester.ac.uk.
Once access has been granted then you can use your University swipe card to enter the Kilburn building. Please note that currently access is through the main entrance opposite Crawford House. However, once the building works are completed, then access will be via the entrance opposite University place. During extended hours access is restricted to the lower first area of the Kilburn building. You will not be able to use labs or meeting spaces in any other locations in Kilburn. You may be required to show proof that you have extended hours when requested by a building attendant or security. You can find more information and full instructions in the Extended Working Hours folder in the CS UG Community Space in Blackboard.
Offers for jobs and postgraduate degrees are typically conditional on achieving a particular classification, rather than a particular average.
What we find is that students focus too much on the marks they receive, often questioning why they did not achieve 100% after all the effort they put into completing the piece of work. The issue here is that students are often under the impression that working long hours on a piece of work automatically translates into high marks; this is not the case, as effort doesn’t necessarily translate into higher marks. Assessments are marked against a marking criteria that dictates what learning outcomes you have met by completing the work. For many pieces of work we set for you, they are structured in such a way that achieving a high mark is meant to be hard, as such we only expect a limited number of students to achieve such marks. Ideally, a good assessment should be designed to give an overall average mark across the cohort in the mid-60s. To achieve a higher mark, in particular a mark above 80%, will probably require a deep delve into the subject matter to produce something outstanding; it may require some element of self-learning, i.e. thinking beyond the material provided in the course unit. Ask yourself, do you really need to achieve 100% in everything? Is it worth working very long hours for what ultimately is going to be a small return, say a few percent extra for a piece of work? Considering how degrees are awarded, is 70% enough? What’s really important is the feedback you received … we will come back to that at a later date!
We recommend that you start making conscious decisions about your work: How much time is it worth spending on an individual piece of coursework? How will this affect your ability to keep up with your other course units? How much stress do your expectations put on you? Are you forcing yourself to give up other activities to spend all your energies on individual pieces of work where there’s little reward? Consider what a piece of work is worth overall, not just with respect to the course unit overall mark, but also your overall year mark. You may find that gaining a few extra percent on a single piece of work results in a negligible increase in your overall year mark (and hence degree mark). Is it worth it? Instead, we suggest you learn when to call it quits, and that you focus on making the most of the feedback you receive, so that you can learn how to work smarter. Remember, University is not just about work, it’s about making the most of the experience that comes with attending University - you shouldn't be spending all your time chasing all the marks available. Take a breather, balance your workload and manage your time sensibly.
Join us for an afternoon of inspiration and exploration as we celebrate the future of digital trust! Act fast, tickets are selling quickly - Register today to secure your seat and avoid disappointment.
This research is conducted by the Department of Computer Science of the University of Manchester and will take place in the Kilburn Building of the Oxford Road Campus. The experiment takes approximately 50 minutes to complete and participants will be compensated for their time. If you’re interested or have any further questions, please contact me via email: sarah.clinch@manchester.ac.uk.
If you would like more information and register for the event, then please follow this link.
Welcome to Puzzle Corner, a range of puzzles, challenges and brain teasers set by our resident puzzle master Gareth Henshall. Every week Gareth will set you the challenge of solving a range of puzzles
Get ready to challenge your mind and explore the world with this week’s trio of brain teasers! Whether you’re a sudoku whiz, a chess strategist, or a globe-trotting explorer, Puzzle Corner has something for everyone. Clear your schedule, grab a cup of coffee, and let the fun begin!
Sudoku Challenge - Mexican Standoff by Mile Lemaić
Normal sudoku rules apply. Cells separated by a (chess) knight’s move cannot contain the same digit. The digits along an arrow sum to the digit in that arrow’s circle. Along a thermometer, digits increase from the bulb end.
Chess Puzzle - Batsiashvili Vs. Sree, 2024
It’s time to sharpen your chess skills! Can you find the winning moves and secure victory on the board? Analyse the position carefully and claim checkmate!
GeoGuessr Round
This week, we’ve dropped you somewhere on Earth! Analyse the scenery, take in the landmarks, and piece together clues to figure out your exact location. Will you discover the hidden destination?
We are playing the 'Flags of the World' map: Every spot has a recognisable national flag of the place where you are standing. Some of them are tricksy. Each country or nation is featured only once. Some are technically territories or protectorates of other countries (or semi-autonomous regions within a country), but they all have their own flag and unique national identity.
Click here to play this week’s challenge!
How to Submit
Send your completed Sudoku and Chess answers to gareth.henshall@manchester.ac.uk with the subject title 'Puzzle Corner' by Friday. Don’t forget to check the GeoGuessr leaderboard to see where you stack up and see how close you got to the real location!
Winners’ Circle
Congratulations to last week’s Puzzle Masters:
Good luck and happy puzzling!
Good morning! It’s Monday 14th October 2024, and it’s Week 4 of teaching. I hope everything is going well and that you have now settled into a routine. It’s that time of year when coughs and colds are prevalent among the student and staff population. If you are ill, then you should consider staying away to minimise the spread of infection. If any illness impacts your ability to complete work by the deadline then you should request an extension before the deadline (see below). If you're unfortunate enough to be too ill to meet an extended deadline, then you will have to complete a mitigating circumstances application and tell us about all the assessments that were affected - you will need evidence to support an application.
Congratulations to those who were successful in becoming elected as student representatives in the Department. Student representatives are an important part of the student body, they form the link between students and the department with the ultimate goal of improving the student experience.
If you have anything you would like to share in Monday Mail, such as advertising an event, promoting your success in a hackathon etc, or whatever you think the UG student body will find interesting, then please get in touch.
Remember, I have my open hour on Tuesday, 12:00-13:00 on LF, so please stop by and say hello.
On with today’s news, enjoy your week …
Paul
Undergraduate Programme Director
Essential links: Blackboard | My.Manchester | Blackboard UG Community Space | UG Handbook | SPOT | Deadlines Chart | Y1 | Y2 | Y3 | Y4 | SSLC | Student Support Hub | Wellbeing Team | Wellbeing Support | Mitigating Circumstances | Counselling & Mental Health Service | Monday Mail Archive | CS Support Desk | University IT Support | LinkedIn
We welcome applications from all departments and year groups.
If you have a passion for engineering, design, web development, or technical work, we encourage you to apply! You can find out more about the Makerspace Society on our website.
As the training is completed, the list of reps will be updated on the Blackboard UG Community Space (see the Academic Reps folder linked from the left hand menu), and you will also see a weekly feature that introduces you to a different rep each week. The first SSLC meeting will be taking place just after reading week, so if you have any points or issues (be they positive, or negative), or seen examples of good teaching that you wish to share with the SSLC, then please contact one of your reps.
If you are unsure which email to use then use soe.hub@manchester.ac.uk for general queries.
We are all guilty of procrastination. When we start to let it get out of hand to the point it impacts our work, home life, and mental health, we have a problem. Symptoms of procrastination include:
Procrastination and time management issues in general have a pivotal role to play in many people coming to see me. Students start with not managing their time well; From there they fall behind in their work. This gets them stressed and anxious which makes the situation worse. Feeling in control of your workload and remaining productive is a cornerstone of good marks and better mental health. As the great philosopher Arnold Schwarzenegger once said. "Do it. Do it now."
If your mental health is impacting your day-to-day life and/or your studies, or you think you may have ADHD then contact your GP. The University Counselling Service is also there to help. DASS can also provide support to those with ADHD. Where procrastination is an issue for you, time management strategies such as creating a weekly schedule and setting realistic goals can really help.
This great set of online resources put together by the My Learning Essentials team and the Counselling service are well worth doing instead of doom scrolling. Also, while you're on your way into Uni, listen to this Podcast on beating procrastination from the Skills team at the University of Derby (33 mins). Plus this one on overcoming procrastination from the Exam Study Expert podcast (20 mins) .
Once you have completed these modules and taken the Extended Working Hours test, you can apply for a pass. If you do not have access to the modules listed above, then please contact t soe.programmes@manchester.ac.uk.
Once access has been granted then you can use your University swipe card to enter the Kilburn building. Please note that currently access is through the main entrance opposite Crawford House. However, once the building works are completed, then access will be via the entrance opposite University place. During extended hours access is restricted to the lower first area of the Kilburn building. You will not be able to use labs or meeting spaces in any other locations in Kilburn. You may be required to show proof that you have extended hours when requested by a building attendant or security. You can find more information and full instructions in the Extended Working Hours folder in the CS UG Community Space in Blackboard.
Bio: Ehud Reiter is a Professor of Computing Science at the University of Aberdeen and was formerly Chief Scientist of Arria NLG (a spinout he co-founded). He has been working on Natural Language Generation for 35 years, and in recent years has focused on evaluation of language generation; he also has a longstanding interest in healthcare applications. He is one of the most cited and respected researchers in NLG, and his awards include an INLG Test of Time award for his work on data-to-text. He writes a widely read blog on NLG and evaluation (ehudreiter.com) and has written a book on NLG which will be published in November 2024.
Welcome to Puzzle Corner, a range of puzzles, challenges and brain teasers set by our resident puzzle master Gareth Henshall. Every week Gareth will set you the challenge of solving a range of puzzles
Get ready to challenge your mind and explore the world with this week’s trio of brain teasers! Whether you’re a sudoku whiz, a chess strategist, or a globe-trotting explorer, Puzzle Corner has something for everyone. Clear your schedule, grab a cup of coffee, and let the fun begin!
Sudoku Challenge - Nobody's Perfect by Lithium-Ion.
Normal sudoku rules apply. Orthogonally adjacent cells do not contain consecutive digits. Digits in a cage do not repeat and sum to a perfect number. A perfect number is a number that equals the sum of its proper divisors, i.e. each divisor excluding the number itself. For example, 20 is not a perfect number since the sum of the proper divisors is 1+2+4+5+10=22, which is not 20.
Chess Puzzle - Yaremko Vs. Guerra, 2006
It’s time to sharpen your chess skills! Can you find the winning moves and secure victory on the board? Analyse the position carefully and claim checkmate!
GeoGuessr Round
This week, we’ve dropped you somewhere on Earth! Analyse the scenery, take in the landmarks, and piece together clues to figure out your exact location. Will you discover the hidden destination?
We are playing the 'Flags of the World' map: Every spot has a recognizable national flag of the place where you are standing. Some of them are tricksy. Each country or nation is featured only once. Some are technically territories or protectorates of other countries (or semi-autonomous regions within a country), but they all have their own flag and unique national identity.
Click here to play this week’s challenge!
How to Submit
Send your completed Sudoku and Chess answers to gareth.henshall@manchester.ac.uk with the subject title 'Puzzle Corner' by Friday. Don’t forget to check the GeoGuessr leaderboard to see where you stack up and see how close you got to the real location!
Winners’ Circle
Congratulations to last week’s Puzzle Masters:
Good luck and happy puzzling!
Good morning! It’s Monday 7th October 2024, and it’s Week 3. You may find that it starts to get busier from now on with labs starting and assessments being due, so planning and managing your time is very important. Make use of our deadline chart (see below) to help you plan your time around deadlines, but also make sure you take time off to relax. When it comes to submitting work, you should always check that you have submitted it properly, especially if you are submitting via Blackboard, which at times can be slow, so wait for the upload to finish! The onus is on you to ensure you have submitted the correct item, in the correct place, and by the deadline - we can’t offer mitigation as a result! We’ve provided some advice (see below) on how you can check whether your work has been submitted.
I’ll be having my open hour on Tuesday 12-1pm, on the lower first floor again, so please say hello and tell me what you think about assessment and feedback in the Department.
If you are a 1st year student we would appreciate your feedback on how the intro boot-up labs went (see below) as we made significant changes to these this academic year.
Finally … just a reminder that you should not switch off the PCs in the Kilburn clusters, these should be left on so updates can be applied overnight. Just log out when you have finished using them.
On with today’s news, enjoy your week …
Paul
Undergraduate Programme Director
Essential links: Blackboard | My.Manchester | Blackboard UG Community Space | UG Handbook | SPOT | Deadlines Chart | Y1 | Y2 | Y3 | Y4 | SSLC | Student Support Hub | Wellbeing Team | Wellbeing Support | Mitigating Circumstances | Counselling & Mental Health Service | Monday Mail Archive | CS Support Desk | University IT Support | LinkedIn
If you are unsure which email to use then use soe.hub@manchester.ac.uk for general queries.
You are thinking, "But I can't draw", well, arguably nor can I and this is the main reason why I want to tell you about it. For years I've avoided making art because I felt I wasn't good enough. But who cares!? I'm not suggesting you make art to put in a gallery or to sell, I'm suggesting you try making art for your own enjoyment and wellbeing. It's about reassessing why you do things. Do what you enjoy for you and nobody else. When you can put what makes you feel good first, and prioritise your own wellbeing over what others may think, or any pressures you may feel from others then you will find yourself in a better place
So here lies the moral of this article. Make sure you are doing things for the right reasons, and this includes your studies. Holding yourself to the standards and expectations of others is a surefire way to do damage to your wellbeing. And I know that for a fact because it's my job to pick up the pieces. Here are some suggestions for creating art for your wellbeing:
Have fun, get creative, go with the flow, and take care of yourself.
Once you have completed these modules and taken the Extended Working Hours test, you can apply for a pass following the instructions provided in Blackboard. If you do not have access to the modules listed above, then please contact soe.programmes@manchester.ac.uk. Once access has been granted then you can use your University swipe card to enter the Kilburn building. Please note that currently access is through the main entrance opposite Crawford House. However, once the building works are completed, then access will be via the entrance opposite University place. During extended hours access is restricted to the lower first area of the Kilburn building. You will not be able to use labs or meeting spaces in any other locations in Kilburn. You may be required to show proof that you have extended hours when requested by a building attendant or security. You can find more information and full instructions in the Extended Working Hours folder in the CS UG Community Space in Blackboard.
We will cover some more tips next week.
*!!Applications to join the GDG Academy will open sometime after the kick-off event to the attendees !!*
Welcome to Puzzle Corner, a range of puzzles, challenges and brain teasers set by our resident puzzle master Gareth Henshall. Every week Gareth will set you the challenge of solving a range of puzzles
Get ready to challenge your mind and explore the world with this week’s trio of brain teasers! Whether you’re a sudoku whiz, a chess strategist, or a globe-trotting explorer, Puzzle Corner has something for everyone. Clear your schedule, grab a cup of coffee, and let the fun begin!
Sudoku Challenge - Super Nova by Ahmadoku.
Normal sudoku rules apply. Digits along an arrow sum to the number in the attached circle. Digits joined by an X sum to 10.
Chess Puzzle - Kim Vs. Agmanov, 2024
It’s time to sharpen your chess skills! Can you find the winning moves and secure victory on the board? Analyse the position carefully and claim checkmate!
This week, we’ve dropped you somewhere on Earth! Analyse the scenery, take in the landmarks, and piece together clues to figure out your exact location. Will you discover the hidden destination?
We are playing the 'Flags of the World' map: Every spot has a recognizable national flag of the place where you are standing. Some of them are tricksy. Each country or nation is featured only once. Some are technically territories or protectorates of other countries (or semi-autonomous regions within a country), but they all have their own flag and unique national identity.
Click here to play this week’s challenge!
How to Submit
Send your completed Sudoku and Chess answers to gareth.henshall@manchester.ac.uk with the subject title 'Puzzle Corner' by Friday. Don’t forget to check the GeoGuessr leaderboard to see where you stack up and see how close you got to the real location!
Winners’ Circle
Congratulations to last week’s Puzzle Masters:
Good luck and happy puzzling!
Good morning UG! It’s Monday 30th September 2024, and it’s Week 2 of the semester 1 teaching period. I hope everything has settled down and you are now familiar with your timetable and where teaching activities are taking place. Don't forget that you have until this Friday to choose any optional course units if you have any. If you are a 1st year student who has yet to complete the intro boot-up labs, then it's essential you do so, as you will need to set up Gitlab to be able to engage with the labs for your course units. To help you with managing your workload, we’ve put together our usual deadlines chart (see below) so you can see how your deadlines fall in relation to one another.
If you are an international student, then there’s a great piece in our Welfare Weekly item that may interest you, it’s written by Nadia Chau, an intern in the Student Support and Wellbeing team. Nadia tells us about her experience of settling into life and studies in Manchester after arriving from Hong Kong.
Once again, I’ll be holding my open hour on the LF floor on Tuesday, 12-1pm. The focus of this will be assessment and feedback, so if you’ve got any feedback you’d like to give me about your experience with assessment and feedback in the department, what we could do to improve it etc (or anything else) then please pop along and say hello.
Finally, there's a free screening of The Thinking Game this Wednesday (see below), so if you fancy seeing it please register to avoid disappointment! (see below)
Enjoy your week, on with today’s news, there’s lots this week …
Paul
Undergraduate Programme Director
Essential links: Blackboard | My.Manchester | Blackboard UG Community Space | UG Handbook | SPOT | Deadlines Chart | Y1 | Y2 | Y3 | Y4 | SSLC | Student Support Hub | Wellbeing Team | Wellbeing Support | Mitigating Circumstances | Counselling & Mental Health Service | Monday Mail Archive | CS Support Desk | University IT Support | LinkedIn
New PASS1 Coordinators: We have new coordinators in the team: Afnan Ediab (CS Y3) and Daniel Farr (CSwIE Y3)! Become a PASS1 Leader! We are in lack of leaders so please contact us or your leader if interested!
If you are unsure which email to use then use soe.hub@manchester.ac.uk for general queries.
I remember two years ago, for the first time I stepped foot into The University of Manchester, I was both excited and nervous about starting my new life here. It was the first time for me to leave home and move to a completely new city. I flew for 13 hours, then found myself arriving in a city that looks similar but lonelier when compared to the one I was used to, and I found myself conversing with people in a language that was both familiar and strange to me.
As an international student, throughout the course of studying my master’s degree, I struggled quite a lot with language barrier and loneliness. In class, I was one of the two non-native English speakers in a class of twenty. During my first few months in Manchester, there were many times where I couldn’t catch up with what the lecturers were saying; and I would have to spend extra hours doing the readings just because I simply couldn’t read as fast as my classmates. When the wintertime arrived, I also started to feel quite lonely. I didn’t know many people in the UK, nor did I make a lot of friends in class. As the sky started to turn dark at four and Manchester started to get wet and grim, I started to feel blue as well.
Things got much better when I started to reach out to my instructors for help. I went to their office hours every week, and brought in questions that I had, as well as things I couldn’t understand in class or concepts I couldn’t contemplate when doing my reading. It was so helpful, and thanks to the professors’ help, I was able to finish my essays just fine. I also started to join events, inside and outside university, and met different people. For example, I began the hobby of skateboarding - something I never thought about doing when I was at home, and I met a group of friends there.
If I had to give one piece of advice to new students, as cliche as it sounds, it would be - you will need to step out of your comfort zone. Aside from reaching out to your professors to get academic support, if you want some welfare advice, you might also want to reach out to different school services. Some examples would be - the student union advising services, the student hubs and wellbeing support services, counselling and mental health services etc.
You might also want to consider joining events, so that you might get the chance to meet more people, become friends with some of them, and get emotional support from a couple of them. I would highly recommend joining societies or regular events, because it’s more likely for you to meet close friends there. If you are an international student, I would also recommend joining the events organised by the International Society. They organise weekend trips to different parts of the UK, and aside from that, they also offer language courses and other classes to students.
Also, practise your language skills at the Language Café, on the last Wednesday of each month from 12pm-2pm in the Lime Café in the Samuel Alexander Building.
Once you have completed these modules and taken the Extended Working Hours test, you can apply for a pass. If you do not have access to the modules listed above, then please contact soe.programmes@manchester.ac.uk.
Once access has been granted then you can use your University swipe card to enter the Kilburn building. Please note that currently access is through the main entrance opposite Crawford House. However, once the building works are completed, then access will be via the entrance opposite University place. During extended hours access is restricted to the lower first floor area of the Kilburn building. You will not be able to use labs or meeting spaces in any other locations in Kilburn. You may be required to show proof that you have extended hours when requested by a building attendant or security. You can find more information and full instructions in the Extended Working Hours folder in the CS UG Community Space in Blackboard.
There are generally two forms of AMP: plagiarism, which is the copying of someone else’s work as your own work, including output from AI tools such as ChatGPR, without acknowledgement; and collusion, which is working too closely with someone else to produce the same, or very similar, piece of work. In Computer Science, we find that collusion is the most common form of AMP due to the way students often work together. To help identify such cases, we use powerful software tools to identify similarities in code, even when changes such as renaming variables, changing comments, or restructuring code have been made in an attempt to make the code look different.
If you are found guilty of AMP then this can have a dramatic impact on your progression/marks. Penalties range from the zeroing of marks for the assessment where AMP has been identified as taking place, zeroing of a course unit (but the credits are passed) through to failing and having to resit a course unit. In the past, we have had students being excluded from their studies as a result of engaging with AMP. It’s natural for you to work with fellow students to understand problems and the taught material. However, make sure the work you submit is your own; it’s just not worth the risk. Everyone when joining the Department is required to complete a short module on AMP in Blackboard, so that you are aware of what it is and what the consequences are if you (even inadvertently) engage in it. For more information on AMP, see the University student guidance on plagiarism and other forms of AMP, you can view the full AMP procedure here.
Synopsis: The Thinking Game takes you on a fascinating journey into the heart of DeepMind, one of the world's leading AI labs, as it strives to unravel the mysteries of artificial general intelligence (AGI). Inside DeepMind's London headquarters, founder Demis Hassabis and his team are relentlessly pursuing the creation of AI that matches or surpasses human abilities on a wide range of tasks. Filmed over five years, the documentary puts viewers in the room for the pivotal moments of this quest, including the groundbreaking achievement of AlphaFold, a program that solved a 50-year grand challenge in biology. The Thinking Game captures the exhilaration of historic breakthroughs like AlphaFold, the crushing weight of disappointment during setbacks, and the unwavering pursuit of knowledge that defines Demis' commitment to scientific innovation. This film invites viewers to witness one of the most important scientific adventures of our time, exploring the potential of AGI to reshape our world.
Our first workshop, Get Application Ready, was successfully held last week. Our second workshop is a CV and Cover Letter Review Session which will be held this week (details to be shared soon). Make sure to attend these sessions if you are planning to apply for jobs this academic year or the next one. Keep an eye on our social media channels for regular updates on our events and opportunities.
Certificates will be awarded upon completion! The first workshop will be held on Wednesday 2nd October 2024 from 2pm - 3pm in Kilburn Theatre 1.1. We look forward to seeing you at our workshops!
The best teams from Manchester will be able to compete in the North West Europe Regional Programming Competition (NWERC), which will be held at the Delft University of Technology from 22nd to 24th November 2024. Realistically, we can expect to be able to enter two or three teams from Manchester. Note that we will enter a team to NWERC only if all of its members have competed in UKIEPC 2024. The detailed rules on eligibility are explained on the ICPC website. However, in practice, any UG or Master's student at Manchester is eligible. Have fun and good luck!
Bio: Alessandro Abate is Professor of Verification and Control in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Oxford. Earlier, he did research at Stanford University and at SRI International, and was an Assistant Professor at the Delft Center for Systems and Control, TU Delft. He received an MS/PhD from the University of Padova and UC Berkeley. His research interests are in the formal verification and control of stochastic hybrid systems, and in their applications in cyber-physical systems, particularly involving safety criticality and energy. He blends in techniques from machine learning and AI, such as Bayesian inference, reinforcement learning, and game theory.
Library staff are available to assist and support students.
Welcome to Puzzle Corner, a range of puzzles, challenges and brain teasers set by our resident puzzle master Gareth Henshall. Every week Gareth will set you the challenge of solving a range of puzzles
Get ready to challenge your mind and explore the world with this week’s trio of brain teasers! Whether you’re a sudoku whiz, a chess strategist, or a globe-trotting explorer, Puzzle Corner has something for everyone. Clear your schedule, grab a cup of coffee, and let the fun begin!
Sudoku Challenge - Little Wonder by Michael Lefkowitz.
In each N-by-N grid, normal N-by-N sudoku rules apply. The indicated diagonals have the same sum. (Normal sudoku rules in a grid of size NxN: Place the digits 1 to N, once each, into every row, column and region.)
Chess Puzzle - Firouzja Vs. So, 2024
It’s time to sharpen your chess skills! Can you find the winning moves and secure victory on the board? Analyse the position carefully and claim checkmate!
This week, we’ve dropped you somewhere on Earth! Analyse the scenery, take in the landmarks, and piece together clues to figure out your exact location. Will you discover the hidden destination?
We are playing the 'I Saw the Sign 2.0' map: Locations with the name of the place visible in front of you at the starting point (e.g. on a sign, on a building, on an advertisement). Anywhere in the world - from tiny villages to large cities.
Click here to play this week’s challenge!
How to Submit
Send your completed Sudoku and Chess answers to gareth.henshall@manchester.ac.uk with the subject title 'Puzzle Corner' by Friday. Don’t forget to check the GeoGuessr leaderboard to see where you stack up and see how close you got to the real location!
Winners’ Circle
Congratulations to last week’s Puzzle Masters:
Good luck and happy puzzling!
Good morning UG! It’s Monday 23rd September 2024, and it’s the first week of teaching of the 2024/25 academic year. It was good to see so many students around the campus last week, and to see such a great turnout at the welcome talks. If you have just joined us, then I hope you have settled into life in Manchester, have managed to get out and explore the campus and the city, and meet some new friends. I’m sure it will soon feel like home.
Please make sure you are familiar with your teaching timetable and, more importantly, where teaching activities are scheduled, as these can take place at different locations across the campus. Check out the University’s interactive map if you are not sure where buildings are located. If you are a 1st year student please make sure you have completed the COMP1INTRO Boot-up labs as you will to have Gitlab up and running for your labs this semester!
Just a reminder that there’s still time to nominate yourself as an academic representative (all years) or put yourself as teaching volunteer (years 3 and 4 only).
I hold my office hour on Tuesday, 12-1pm, somewhere on the lower first floor of Kilburn. If you want to discuss anything, ask any questions, or just have a chat, then please look out for me.
Enjoy your week, on with today’s news …
Paul
Undergraduate Programme Director
Essential links: Blackboard | My.Manchester | Blackboard UG Community Space | UG Handbook | SPOT | Deadlines Chart | Y1 | Y2 | Y3 | Y4 | SSLC | Student Support Hub | Wellbeing Team | Wellbeing Support | Mitigating Circumstances | Counselling & Mental Health Service | Monday Mail Archive | CS Support Desk | University IT Support | LinkedIn
Huge congratulations to all, really well done and just rewards for all your efforts. Give yourself a big pat on the back!
If you are unsure which email to use then use soe.hub@manchester.ac.uk for general queries.
A very common conversation I have with new students in the first week or two of the year is about them struggling to settle in. The chances that you have been put into halls with your future BFFs is probably low. But don’t be disheartened. Feeling overwhelmed, lonely and homesick are totally normal. It’s a huge change. My advice is to take steps to find people you can connect with now, before your workload starts to build.
Your first weeks of university may lead you to feel the only way to socialise is to go out drinking, and if you don't do that you will miss out. But there is so much more! Join a society through the Student's Union, sign up to a class, take up a sport or start a hobby. Joining a society, sports team or other activity allows you to get to know the people with the same interests, values, culture, or background as you. Building a network of friends is especially important if you are a long way from home. This will have a direct impact on your wellbeing and that in turn will have a direct benefit on your university work. Research has shown that students who participate in extracurricular activities are more motivated and tend to do better in their course.
If you haven’t done so already, this week take steps to join at least one society or club. Get out there and find your tribe! Check out the SU’s Tips here. Find more ideas for helping you find your tribe here.
If you have any issues with completing these modules then please contact the Student Support Hub (see above). Failure to complete these training modules will result in restrictions being put in place, for example, results not being released.
Why get involved? You’ll develop skills in leadership, negotiation, and professionalism and build great relationships across your programme. In the past reps have been key in improving assessment deadlines, changing communication methods between staff & students and improving the way students are supported. You’ll receive training from the Students’ Union and from your programme, so you don’t need any prior experience – just an interest in helping improve student experience for yourself and your peers! Interested? To sign up, head to this form and input your details by Monday 30th September, 12 noon. After this we’ll get back in touch with the next steps!
The best teams from Manchester will be able to compete in the North West Europe Regional Programming Competition (NWERC), which will be held at the Delft University of Technology from 22nd to 24th November 2024. Realistically, we can expect to be able to enter two or three teams from Manchester. Note that we will enter a team to NWERC only if all of its members have competed in UKIEPC 2024. The detailed rules on eligibility are explained on the ICPC website. However, in practice, any UG or Master's student at Manchester is eligible. Have fun and good luck!
Thee next meeting is on Monday 23rd September (*TODAY*), 1-2pm in the Makerspace, in the Nancy Rothwell (Engineering) Building. You'll need to complete some brief training to use the Makerpsace, find out more and register at bit.ly/oss-club-manchester.
Welcome to Puzzle Corner, a range of puzzles, challenges and brain teasers set by our resident puzzle master Gareth Henshall. Every week Gareth will set you the challenge of solving a range of puzzles
Get ready to challenge your mind and explore the world with this week’s trio of brain teasers! Whether you’re a sudoku whiz, a chess strategist, or a globe-trotting explorer, Puzzle Corner has something for everyone. Clear your schedule, grab a cup of coffee, and let the fun begin!
Sudoku Challenge - Mystery Product by Oddlyeven.
Normal sudoku rules apply. The grid is partially covered in fog. Placing correct digits will clear the fog from surrounding cells. Digits along a line sum to the product of the digits in the squares at either end of the line (if it is the same square, multiply that digit by itself). Digits may repeat on a line if permitted by the other rules. Lines do not branch or cross, but they may share squares with other lines.
Chess Puzzle - Gavrilescu Vs. Gallasch, 2024
It’s time to sharpen your chess skills! Can you find the winning moves and secure victory on the board? Analyse the position carefully and claim checkmate!
This week, we’ve dropped you somewhere on Earth! Analyse the scenery, take in the landmarks, and piece together clues to figure out your exact location. Will you discover the hidden destination?
We are playing the 'I Saw the Sign 2.0' map: Locations with the name of the place visible in front of you at the starting point (e.g. on a sign, on a building, on an advertisement). Anywhere in the world - from tiny villages to large cities.
Click here to play this week’s challenge!
How to Submit
Send your completed Sudoku and Chess answers to gareth.henshall@manchester.ac.uk with the subject title 'Puzzle Corner' by Friday. Don’t forget to check the GeoGuessr leaderboard to see where you stack up and see how close you got to the real location!
Winners’ Circle
Congratulations to last week’s Puzzle Masters:
Good luck and happy puzzling!
Welcome to Monday Mail, the newsletter for undergraduate students in the Department of Computer Science. Monday Mail is sent every Monday morning (hence the name) during teaching and exam periods. The goal of Monday Mail is to keep you up-to-date with what’s happening in the Department, to provide information we think you will find useful, and to publicise all the great things that you are involved with, such as a hackathon success, or to publicise a competition you are organising, anything really, as long as it's of interest to the rest of the UG cohort. If you have anything you’d like to share then please just get in touch.
If you are a new undergraduate student joining us then welcome to the Department of Computer Science, my name is Paul Nutter and I’m the Undergraduate Programme Director, which basically means I’m responsible for the day-to-day running of the undergraduate degree programmes in the Department. If you are a returning student, then welcome back! I hope you had a good summer and found some time to relax and recharge the batteries ready for another exciting academic year. If you see me around the Kilburn building then please stop me to say hello, I'd love to hear from you.
We would like you to think of the Kilburn Building as your home whilst you are studying in the Department. Make the most of the facilities available as well as the great sense of community (among students and staff) we have in the Department.
Enjoy Welcome Week, I'll hopefully see you around. On with today’s news …
Paul
Undergraduate Programme Director
Essential links: Blackboard | My.Manchester | Blackboard UG Community Space | UG Handbook | SPOT | Deadlines Chart | Y1 | Y2 | Y3 | Y4 | SSLC | Student Support Hub | Wellbeing Team | Wellbeing Support | Mitigating Circumstances | Counselling & Mental Health Service | Monday Mail Archive | CS Support Desk | University IT Support | LinkedIn
If this is something you would like to pursue, you'll need to be involved in activities such as being a PASS Leader or Coordinator or a Teaching Volunteer since the application is based on creating case studies around personal experience with teaching or supporting learning. If your third year project has a connection with education you should also be able to use your experience with that. Tom Carroll and Andrea Schalk will again provide mentoring for those interested in pursuing this option, and we'll set this up around half way through Semester 2.
Further details for our events can be found on our social media pages and for any questions please feel free to reach out to us! See our SU Page to register for a free membership and our contact information. Bring along your friends and housemates of all courses. Come have a great time with us!
If you are unsure which email to use then use soe.hub@manchester.ac.uk for general queries.
The student support webpage provides links to detailed help and support in the University. The Support and Wellbeing team can assist you with any queries or concerns you may have about your wellbeing, personal, or study struggles. We can answer any questions you have relating to mitigation of assessments and point you in the right direction for getting help from DASS or the Counselling and Mental Health Service etc.
The Student Support Hub acts as your one stop shop to access information and support for personal as well as academic and (almost) all university related issues, so do stop by. For academic queries we also recommend speaking to your academic advisor or year tutor. Our hope is that you won't need to use the support and wellbeing team. For the majority, everything will go smoothly for you and you will leave with a degree you are happy with. But don't forget we are here if you need us.
Before I go, let me link you to some useful podcasts about settling into University life, hosted by University of Manchester students, for you to listen to on your down time.
First year students will be allocated a tutor (academic advisor) who you will get to meet in the “Meet Your Tutor” lunch on Wednesday 18th September from 12 - 2pm (you will be allocated a one hour slot) which will take place somewhere in the Kilburn/IT Buildings - your personal timetable will tell you where to go. There will be other activities scheduled throughout the week, for example 1st year Introduction Labs and COMP10120 Workshops, and some activities arranged specifically for students on the CM degree programme, so please check your personal timetable to find out which activities you are scheduled to attend.
If you'd like to speak to a specific group, you can check which day they will be on and where they will be located at the fair in our Stall Allocation. From 10am on each day, there will be a Quiet hour, where people with sensory or mobility needs can feel confident in their ability to attend the fair in a safe and comfortable way. You can find out more information from the Students’ Union website.
Why get involved? You’ll develop skills in leadership, negotiation, and professionalism and build great relationships across your programme. In the past reps have been key in improving assessment deadlines, changing communication methods between staff & students and improving the way students are supported. You’ll receive training from the Students’ Union and from your programme, so you don’t need any prior experience – just an interest in helping improve student experience for yourself and your peers! Interested? To sign up, head to this form and input your details by Monday 30th September, 12 noon. After this we’ll get back in touch with the next steps!
The best teams from Manchester will be able to compete in the North West Europe Regional Programming Competition (NWERC), which will be held at the Delft University of Technology from 22nd to 24th November 2024. Realistically, we can expect to be able to enter two or three teams from Manchester. Note that we will enter a team to NWERC only if all of its members have competed in UKIEPC 2024. The detailed rules on eligibility are explained on the ICPC website. However, in practice, any UG or Master's student at Manchester is eligible. Have fun and good luck!
To register and for more information, visit CareerConnect.
If you need introductory information to help use the Library, or if you want to find out about tours and events, please go to the Library’s Get Started webpage. You can also drop-in at any of our Library sites and chat to our friendly staff about how the Library can support your studies.
Welcome to Puzzle Corner, a range of puzzles, challenges and brain teasers set by our resident puzzle master Gareth Henshall. Every week Gareth will set you the challenge of solving a range of puzzles, so get ready to challenge your mind and explore the world with this week’s trio of brain teasers! Whether you’re a sudoku whiz, a chess strategist, or a globe-trotting explorer, Puzzle Corner has something for everyone. Clear your schedule, grab a cup of coffee, and let the fun begin!
Sudoku Challenge - ISD 9/9/2024 by Grant McLean.
Put your logical thinking to the test! Normal sudoku rules apply. Digits on a thermometer must increase from the bulb end. Digits in cages must not repeat and must sum to the value given. Orthogonally connected cells must not contain consecutive digits. Can you solve it?
Chess Puzzle - Cardoso Vs. Kulpruethanon, 2024
It’s time to sharpen your chess skills! Can you find the winning moves and secure victory on the board? Analyse the position carefully and claim checkmate!
GeoGuessr Round
This week, we’ve dropped you somewhere on Earth! Analyse the scenery, take in the landmarks, and piece together clues to figure out your exact location. Will you discover the hidden destination? We are playing the 'World' map: Embark on a journey that takes you all over the world. From the most desolate roads in Australia to the busy, bustling streets of New York City.
Click here to play this week’s challenge!
How to Submit
Send your completed Sudoku and Chess answers to gareth.henshall@manchester.ac.uk with the subject title 'Puzzle Corner' by Friday. Don’t forget to check the GeoGuessr leaderboard to see where you stack up and see how close you got to the real location!
Winners’ Circle
Each week we will post the name of the 1st correct solution for the Sudoku & Chess puzzles and the person who tops the Geoguessr Leaderboard.
Good luck and happy puzzling!