Wednesday, August 22, 2012

MEBI 531 - "Life and Death Computing" (SLN #16717)

Tuesdays/Thursdays, Autumn Quarter 2012
2:30 - 3:50 p.m. in South Campus Center, Room 350
Instructor:  Ira J. Kalet, Ph.D., FACMI
                  Professor Emeritus, Radiation Oncology
                  Professor Emeritus, Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education

MEBI 531 is about the application of computer software and technology to safety critical problems in medicine and health care, as well as the use of computing ideas to unlock the secrets of life.  The programming language we will mainly use is Common Lisp, which will provide an opportunity to learn (or increase your knowledge of) this very unusual and powerful programming language, by focusing on advanced programming ideas.  These include some in depth discussion of functional programming, object-oriented programming, meta-programming, the use of macros to create higher level language constructs, and how these might be used in solving biomedical computing problems.  Prerequisites are an interest in abstract mathematical thinking, and programming knowledge at the level of CSE 142.  The particular programming language does not matter.  If you don't already know Lisp, it is easy to learn, and specific knowledge of Lisp is not a prerequisite.

Especially well prepared undergraduates, as well as any interested graduate students, are welcome to enroll.  Contact the instructor, Ira Kalet, ikalet@uw.edu, if you have any questions.