Computer scientists often study algorithms at a high level of abstraction to enable mathematical tools; activities that make this more concrete can deepen learning. This project-based course challenges students to make the theory tangible through the design and fabrication of physical artifacts. Situated in the Fimbel Maker & Innovation Lab, students will be taught core "maker" techniques through hands-on lab activities while simultaneously being exposed to algorithms from computational geometry and beyond.

This course is a high-paced introduction to Topological Data Analysis (TDA), a fast-evolving field that focuses on identifying and analyzing the shape (topology) of data. TDA provides tools and concepts to analyze and understand complex high-dimensional datasets. The course will primarily focus on the theoretical aspects of TDA.