Seminars

We regularly offer seminars at both Bachelor and Master levels including

All seminars follow the same fundamental structure:

Participants are grouped randomly into teams (>=1 members depending on the total number of participants). One topic is assigned to each team. References are provided as possible entry points into the topic.

Following the kick-off meeting on [date and location to be specified], literature and online research is required to produce a written research proposal (in form of slides) to be produced jointly by all team members and to be submitted by [date to be specified during the kick-off meeting]. This preliminary version of the proposal is defended by each team during a 10 [8-12] minute oral presentation (MOTIVATE; see below) on [date and location to be specified during the kick-off meeting]. Feedback provided during this presentation should be used to improve the proposal.

15 [13-17] minute intermediate oral discussions of selected aspects of the individual topics (TEACH; see below)  are scheduled for [date and location to be specified during the kick-off meeting]. 

The members of each team produce separate, closely coordinated written reports (max. 10 pages each) covering different aspects (both theoretical and practical, e.g, algorithms, applications, reference implementations) of the joint topic (PUBLISH; see below). The reports  must be submitted by [date to be specified during the kick-off meeting]. All reports need to be accompanied by a signed Declaration of Compliance [german][english] with the Ethical Guidelines for the Authoring of Academic Work [german][english].

15 [13-17] minute final oral presentations (SELL; see below) are scheduled [date and location to be specified during the kick-off meeting]

The final grade is weighted as MOTIVATE (slides, presentation) 10%, TEACH (slides, presentation) 25%, SELL (slides, presentation) 25%, PUBLISH (report)  40%. Each stage needs to be passed separately (grade < 5.0).

Following the kick-off meeting a three-week trial period is granted during which withdrawal from the seminar is possible without further consequences. Later withdrawal will be equivalent to not passing the seminar.

Proposal and its Presentation (MOTIVATE, 10% of final grade)

The proposal's aim is to get first and early feedback on the team's research plan. Its oral presentation is supposed to MOTIVATE the research agenda. Imagine that your next semester's salary depends on the quality of this presentation ...

Hints:

  • Use the provided LaTeX template for slides covering
    • problem description
    • state of the art and literature survey
    • work plan including milestones, deliverables, and risk management.
  • Stay within the allocated time frame.
  • All team members must participate equally.

Intermediate Presentation (TEACH, 25% of final grade)

TEACH an aspect (for example, a proof of a theoretical result or an algorithm) of your research to the audience. The character of this intermediate presentation is similar to that of a lecture. Try to get close to your ideal lecture. Surely you must have a very clear idea of what a perfect lecture should be like ...

Hints:

  • Keep the amount of theory minimal. Explain it with the help of examples.
  • Use the LaTeX template for slides.
  • Use the whiteboard / overhead projector as appropriate.
  • Stay within the allocated time frame.
  • All team members must participate equally.

Final Presentation (SELL, 25% of final grade)

SELL your final report. Your report is a publication. Publications are supposed to be read by other people. You need to generate interest in your work if you want it to become a best seller.

Hints:

  • Provide an overview of your report's contents.
  • Summarize problems, theoretical results, and algorithmic solutions.
  • Discuss the state of the art and provide examples for relevant applications and ongoing related research and development projects.
  • Give an outlook to potential follow-up projects.
  • Use the provided LaTeX template for slides.
  • Stay within the allocated time frame.
  • All team members must participate equally.

Report (PUBLISH, 40% of final grade)

The written report is the ultimate outcome of your work. It should be based on the  LaTeX template provided and cover

  • problem description
  • state of the art including literature survey
  • contribution (e.g, own reference implementation and experiments; own examples)
  • conclusion
  • bibliography
  • project management (contributions of the individual team members to all stages from MOTIVATE to PUBLISH)

The report should be submitted in pdf format by email to info@stce.rwth-aachen.de. Source code of sample implementations should contain a README text file covering at least how to build and run the resulting program.

General Guidelines

  • Stay within the allocated time frame.
  • Have extra material available in case you finish early.
  • Practice your presentation.
  • Never copy and paste.
  • Use a spell checker.
  • Check the hardware (connection to projector) prior to your presentation.