Model building is essential to all modern science and technology. This class explores how to formulate and solve extremely powerful models with a broad range of applications.

The models that will be studied in 2008 are:

Week 1: The Monte Carlo Method and Cellular Automata
Week 2: Deterministic Chaos and Fractals
Week 3: Turing Machines and Genetic Algorithms
Week 4: The Turing Test and Neural Nets

Course Information
GIS 129 Bulletin Board

Monte Carlo
Cellular Automata
Deterministic Chaos
Fractals
Turing Machines
Genetic Algorithms
The Turing Test
Neural Nets

A Brief Introduction to Monte Carlo Methods

Monte Carlo Example 1
Monte Carlo Example 2
Monte Carlo Example 3

A Brief Introduction to Random Walks

One-Dimensional Random Walks Example 1
One-Dimensional Random Walks Example 2
One-Dimensional Random Walks Example 3
Two-Dimensional Random Walks

A Brief Introduction to Brownian Motion

Einstein and Brownian Motion
Brownian Motion Example 1
Brownian Motion Example 2
Brownian Motion Example 3
Brownian Motion Example 4
Brownian Motion Example 5

A Brief Introduction to Monte Carlo History

Metropolis and the Maniac
Fermi's Monte Carlo Trolley
Ulam, von Neumann, and Monte Carlo
The Memorable 1947 Memo by Ulam
The 1948 Fermi-Richtmyer Report
The 1949 Publication by Metropolis and Ulam