2008
          BIOLOGICAL SIMULATION TECHNIQUES: Course Information

Instructor:   Prof. Keen

Office:       Room 724 Dow  

Office        Wednesday 9-10:30 am or by appointment.  For appointments, ask
 Hours:       after class or during lab, or send email.

Email:        <rekeen@mtu.edu> You will submit many assignments via email.  Feel
              free to use email also to ask questions, set up appointments, etc.

Textbook:     Computer Simulation in Biology: A BASIC Introduction  by Keen &
              Spain, ISBN 0-471-50971-X.  This book is out of print.  Inexpensive
              photocopies of the book are available in the bookstore.

Conflict of   Any royalties received by the instructor as a result of assigning
 Interest:    this text to classes at MTU are donated to the Michigan Tech Fund.
 
Objectives:   This course is a practical introduction to the use of computer
              simulation as a tool in biological research.  It is intended for
              persons who want to be professional biologists.  The approach to
              the subject is practical and applied, and emphasizes techniques
              that are useful across all of the biological disciplines.
              Diligent students will be capable of understanding advanced
              material in the literature.

              It is not an objective of the course to teach computer program-
              ming.  As part of learning simulation, some elementary program-
              ming techniques will be used.  Of necessity, students will spend
              much of their time in the lab working with computers, since
              computers are necessary for simulation.  However, the emphasis
              will be on the logic of simulation programs, rather than on
              various techniques of computer manipulation.

Grading:      The subject of grading is covered on separate handouts.

Labs:         Labs will be arranged during the first periods.  Lab sessions
              provide an opportunity for students and instructor to interact in
              solving problems of computer use.  Labs will be scheduled so that
              all students have the opportunity for at least two-three hours
              contact with the instructor each week.

              Lab sessions will be held in Room 708 Dow.  Attendance is not
              required, but is certainly recommended.

              The procedures for using computers in the lab are covered in a
              separate handout.

Schedule:     The schedule of lecture topics is listed on a separate handout.

Plagiarism:   In this class, all assignments are expected to be the result of
              the individual work of each student.  A separate handout on
              copying has been prepared.  Please consult it.

BASIC:        As you might expect from the title of the textbook, BASIC will be
              the computer programming language used in this course. However,
              you are NOT restricted to BASIC.  Any other general algebraic
              computer language will be acceptable, including FORTRAN, Pascal,
              PL/1, Algol, and C++.  A student who selects another language will
              be responsible for its implementation, however. Check with the
              instructor if you want to use another language.