With the start of the 2012-13 school year, the National Science Foundation (NSF) yesterday released the first issue of the second volume of CS Bits & Bytes, focusing on biomimetic robotics, relating optimal control to the 2012 Summer Olympics. The issue highlights the work of Emanuel Todorov’s Movement Control Laboratory at the University of Washington, includes links to related videos, and contains a culminating activity that asks students to define performance metrics for sports, helping them realize all that must go into optimal control and performance.

CS Bits & Bytes is a biweekly newsletter developed to make computer science more accessible to educators and learners around the world. Each issue of CS Bits & Bytes highlights innovative computer science research, often at the intersection with other disciplines, and includes profiles of the individuals who do this exciting work, links for further exploration, and interactive activities. During the first year of production, over 1000 subscribers from more than 17 countries used the newsletter to enhance computer science education.

The enthusiasm for the newsletter quickly caught on last year — with one rave review from a New York high school teacher named “Rose T.” stating:

“I devour your newsletter for ideas and inspiration for my programming classes. As the only CS teacher in the district, I truly enjoy connecting in some way with other educators who are challenged with keeping the flame of innovation and programming alive in our schools, even without mandates for its instruction.”

The CS Bits & Bytes team at NSF is building on the successes of the first year and will continue to highlight exciting computer science research for students. The hope is educators will continue to use CS Bits & Bytes to inspire students to further engage in the multi-faceted world of computer science to become not just users, but also creators of technology.

To learn more about CS Bits & Bytes, read past issues, or to subscribe to the e-newsletter, please visit CS Bits & Bytes on the web.

If you would like to contribute to a forthcoming CS Bits & Bytes issue, please e-mail csbitsandbytes@nsf.gov with your idea(s). And be sure to look for the next issue to be released on Monday, Sept. 24th, focusing on smart health and wellbeing!

(Contributed by Ann Drobnis, Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, Division of Computer Networks and Systems, NSF/CISE)