A first-of-its-kind undergraduate degree program will launch at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign next fall, according to U of I officials. The program combines computer science and animal sciences, and is dubbed “CS + Animal Sciences.”
More school districts are introducing computer science education in their classrooms. But Illinois doesn’t have any standards for teaching that subject and teachers say it’s time to come up with a clear plan. Plus, decades ago, a cutting edge stem cell treatment from umbilical cord blood saved one Illinois woman's life. And, earlier this month she met her donor and his parents for the first time. Also, we’ll talk to a University of Illinois geology professor about her work how to better forecast volcanic eruptions.
On the 21st: University of Illinois researchers are teaching computers to imitate subtle human movements - like that of a music conductor. Plus, we discussed whether or not lawmakers will reach a budget agreement before Dec. 31, and the Chicago band Grandkids talked about their latest album.
Statistics are playing a larger role in election coverage than ever before. Websites like Five Thirty Eight and Upshot from the New York Times analyze opinion polls to predict the winner in the race for the White House, as well as US Senate races. Those websites have a strong track record of predicting winners, but there’s a site on the University of Illinois Urbana campus that’s done even better.
On the 21st: We discussed a new study about homelessness and learned what may be driving an increase in the number of women getting into computer science in Illinois. We also learned about an urban gardening program that provides job training for at-risk youth.
