Lego sumo wrestling.
If that isn鈥檛 enough to convince you that there鈥檚 more to computer science than meets the eye, how about learning hacks for the XBox Kinect? Or perhaps you鈥檇 be up for a lesson in Python 鈥斅燼 tech language not nearly as constrictive as it sounds.
If you鈥檙e a high school student in Nova Scotia鈥攚here there aren鈥檛 many hands-on computer science opportunities in the school system鈥攊t鈥檚 not always easy to figure out what, exactly, a CS degree could entail.
That鈥檚 where Dal鈥檚 annual comes in. Hosted by the Faculty of Computer Science, the event lets high school students test drive the CS experience with fun activities in programming, gaming and problem solving.
This year鈥檚 CS day takes place Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Goldberg Computer Science Building. The full-day, free event invites students and their parents, teachers and friends to hear from professors on how to creatively personalize a degree in computer science along with opportunities to speak with current and former students on their co-op opportunities, entrepreneurial ventures and post-graduation experiences.
Cool demonstrations
鈥淚鈥檇 never done anything in computer science before 鈥� I鈥檇 never even touched a program,鈥� says Leah Brown, who attended CS Day when she was a student at Charles P. Allen High School. She鈥檚 now a third-year Dal CS student.
鈥淚t was really cool to see demonstrations of the tech-y stuff鈥he possibility that I could learn enough to understand, implement and use those technologies really hit me.鈥�
鈥淲hen I was in grade 12, I wasn't sure which degree I wanted to take - but going to CS Day at AV俱乐部 definitely helped me with that decision,鈥� explains Sarah Morash, a second-year computer science student.
鈥淸It] made me realize there are many different types of computer science-related careers that I may be interested in and never knew existed.鈥�
Where people and machines meet
CS Day also offers a window into Dal鈥檚 Informatics program, which studies the relationships between computer systems and people within real-world organizations.
"Computer Science Day helped me to realize that Informatics would give me the necessary skills, both technical and personal, to be successful in the IT industry,鈥� says Geoff Miller, a third-year Bachelor of Informatics student. 鈥淵ou have to be ready for change in the technology industry and I feel that my degree and co-op terms prepare me for that."
While the students are busy leading robots into sumo-wrestling matches or building a drawing app using Python, Michael Shepherd, dean of the Faculty of Computer Science will host a special information session for parents to answer any questions relating to the degree program.
All participants will eat lunch in one of Dal鈥檚 residence dining halls and will be taken on a campus tour. There is no cost to attend this full day of programming, but space is limited.
Register online at