CSCI 1210: Computer Modeling

Fall 2012

Credit Hours: 3
Instructor: Dan Everett, drdan@uga.edu (706) 542-2749
Office Hours:
10-12 MW in room 418 Boyd
11-12:15 T Th in room G11 Brooks
Other times by appointment
Textbooks:
Limits to Growth: the 30-year edition, by Donnella Meadows et. al, Chelsea Green press
Computer Modeling, unpublished notes by Dan Everett and Jeffrey Smith (available on
eLC)
Grading:
In-class tests: 30%
Lab exercises: 30%
eLC Assessments 10%
Pop Quizzes 10%
Final Exam: 20%
Course Outcomes: At the end of CSCI 1210, students will be able to do the following:
Recognize models when they are used in their professional lives and in the public
discourse
Differentiate between valid and useful models, and identify the key parameters and
assumptions in each
Recognize that models are involved when multiple scenarios for the same possible future
outcome are presented
Use a spreadsheet program to set up models for simple scientific, financial, and academic
situations
Employ what-if-analysis and scenario generation to explore possible outcomes of the
models they generate
Recognize the role that scientific uncertainty and ideology play in public debates over
controversial issues relating to the economy and the environment

Day Date Topic Readings

M Aug 13 Modeling, science, and knowledge Notes, chapter M
W Aug 15 Linear models: weighted averages Notes, chapter LM
F Aug 17 Linear Models: indices and regression Notes, Chapter LM
M Aug 20 Linear Models: Ecological Footprint Limits, Chapter 1
W Aug 22 Population and Exponential Growth Limits, Chapter 2
F Aug 24 Population and Exponential Growth Notes, Chapter P

M Aug 27 Limits, Logistic Growth, and stability> Notes, Chapter p

W Aug 29 Growth and Limits in the World Model Limits, Chapter 3</td
F Aug 31 Behavior modes of dynamic systems Limits, Ch. 4

M Sep 3 Labor Day Holiday --yippee!

W Sep 5 Resource Limits: Peak Oil Notes, chapter L2
F Sep 7 State and flow models: epidemiology Notes, chapter Ep

M Sep 10 Epidemiology and the AIDS pandemic Notes, chapter EP

W Sep 12 Discrete models Notes, chapter D
F Sep 14 Ballistics and computational error Notes, chapter B

M Sep 17 Ballistics and computational error Notes, chapter B

W Sep 19 Review for Test 1
F Sep 21 Test 1 -- covers up through Sep 14! Yikes!

M Sep 24 Test 1 solutions; Economic models Notes, chapter E

W Sep 26 Economic models: growth, deficits, and debt Notes, chapter Ec
F Sep 28 Guest video lecture: modeling the 2008 Economic crisis

Economic modelss: Keynesianism and

M Oct 1 Notes, chapter Ec
monetarism
W Oct 3 Economic models: Employment and inequality Notes, chapter Ec
F Oct 5 Probability and Stochastic models Notes, chapter D

M Oct 8 Probability and Stochastic models Notes, chapter D

W Oct 10 DNA family trees and "Eve" Notes, chapter Ev
F Oct 12 Evolution vs. Intelligent Design ---

M Oct 15 The Gaia Hypothesis ---

W Oct 17 Human Population Growth
Th Oct 18 Midterm withdrawal deadline (no class)
F Oct 19 The Ozone story Limits, Chapter 5
M Oct 22 Fun models from science and engineering ---
W Oct 24 Fun models from science and engineering ---
F Oct 26 Fall Break --yippee!

M Oct 29 Astronomy and scientific revolutions Notes, chapter A

W Oct 31 Big things hitting Earth Notes, chapter A
F Nov 2 Markets and Sustainability Limits, Chapter 6

M Nov 5 Markets and Sustainability Limits, Chapter 7

W Nov 7 Review for Test 2
F Nov 9 Test 2 -- Covers up through Nov 2! Yikes!

M Nov 12 Test 2 solutions; Global warming

W Nov 14 Guest lecture: The Acid Sea by Mark Farmer
Global warming: forcings, feedbacks, and
F Nov 16 Notes, Chapter W1
buffers

M Nov 19
W Nov 21 Thanksgiving Holiday! Yippee!
F Nov 23

M Nov 26 Global warming: emissions and economics Notes, Chapter W2

W Nov 28 Global warming: the contrarians Notes, Chapter W3
F Nov 30 Global warming: global response

M Dec 3 Special topic TBA

T Dec 4 Final Exam review
W Dec 5 Reading Day (no class)
M Dec 10 Comprehensive Final Exam -- 8:00 AM! Yikes!