After successful completion of the course, students are able to

• read and understand current original research papers in the area of algorithmics and perform literature research for related work
• extract the key aspects and results of a research topic and organizing them for a presentation
• create presentation slides and present their research topic to their peers
• summarize the key content and results of a research topic in their own words in a scientific seminar paper
• critically review scientific papers
• participate actively in joint research discussions of open algorithmic problems and to document the observations and progress of the discussion

Our seminar topics are in the areas of graph drawing and computational geometry and cover recent research questions.

Students read original papers, perform literature research for related work and discuss their results with their advisor. They create presentation slides in LaTeX and ipe and receive feedback. They write their seminar paper using LaTeX and learn how to use bibliography management tools. Two scientific reviews are written according to a template and guidelines. Research discussions take place in groups of several students and their advisors.

Course structure

The seminar covers a recent theme in the area of graph drawing and graph algorithms. Following a general introduction into the topic students can choose their seminar topic from a list of suggestions. After two weeks they give a short presentation to introduce their topic to the seminar group. In November we will have the long presentations with subsequent discussions. In addition to the research results, presentations shall cover the remaining open research questions. In December we will discuss selected open problems in groups and develop solution strategies. These research sessions may lead to a joint publication. All presentations and research discussions in small groups are planned to take place in presence (adhering to the applicable COVID security measures).

The written seminar paper is due before the Christmas break, will be peer-reviewed and the final version is handed in in February.

ECTS breakdown

  2h introduction and topic selection
18h presentations and seminar meetings

20h work on seminar topic
15h preparations for presentation
20h seminar paper
----
75h

Attendance required

Before doing a Master's thesis in the group of Prof. Nöllenburg we recommend participating in the seminar. 

• seminar presentation (40%)
• seminar paper (40%)
• scientific reviews (10%)
• minutes of a research session (10%)

design and analysis of algorithms, in particular graph algorithms and geometric algorithms

basic geometry knowledge