Monday, January 25, 2010

[DMANET] New MSc course in Computation and Game Theory (Liverpool U., UK)

New one-year MSc degree course in Computation and Game Theory

Department of Computer Science, University of Liverpool, UK

This is a specialized research-led degree programme, offered by the
Department of Computer Science, with contributions from the University
of Liverpool Management School.

First intake anticipated for September 2010.

A general trend in Computer Science over the past 20 years is the
perception of computers as managing the interactions between people
and organisations, as opposed to performing self-contained computations.

Who is the course aimed at?

Recent graduates in either computer science/maths or business/economics,
with interests in design of systems to support online transactions,
and associated research issues.


Course structure: one year, full time

Semester 1: modules specific to type of background of student
(computer science or economics)
Semester 2: common set of modules
Summer: research project


For information on how to apply, tuition fees, etc., see


http://www.liv.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught_courses/computation-game-theory-msc.htm


There is no formal deadline for applications, but we advise interested applicants to
apply as soon as possible, certainly well before September 2010.

Contact for enquiries: Piotr Krysta, P.Krysta@liverpool.ac.uk


Background

As computer systems become more interconnected, there is a trend towards
usage of computers to manage human iteraction, including e-commerce
systems that support trade and negotiation, systems that may make
recommendations to users. At the same time, competition for resources
on the internet has led to economic phenomena such as network congestion.

Our day-to-day activities are increasingly dominated by the use of
Internet, ranging from on-line shopping and auctioning, e-banking,
search for information, web conferencing to participating and sharing
information in social web-based networks. Behind these applications
there are hidden complex computer systems and technologies, whose
development requires knowledge and skills beyond traditional computer
science university curricula. Not only development but sometimes also
the effective use of these systems requires such advanced knowledge as
is, for instance, the case in sponsored search advertising mastered by
the search engines as Google or Yahoo!. Sponsored search advertising is
nowadays one of the most successful and vibrant market segments, not to
mention also being the most effective means of advertising, with
revenues counted in billions of dollars in quarter of a year.

The academic research field

Algorithmic Game Theory has developed and expanded within the Computer
Science community during the past 10 years. It comprises synergies
between economics and computer science at large, and game theory and
algorithmics in particular. By now this research area has grown
considerably with immense efforts of computer scientists worldwide and
even with its own dedicated fora -- conferences and workshops -- for
disseminating and exchanging research results. On the more applicable
side, companies like Google or Yahoo! have established branches and R&D
centers all around the world and recruit CS graduates for new exciting
jobs.

Liverpool

The Economics and Computation research group forms part of the Dept
of Computer Science at Liverpool; it is the first of its kind in the UK
although others exist internationally. The department itself ranked in
the top 10 nationally in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise.
The course also benefits from contributions from the University of Liverpool
Management School.


Extract from the prospectus entry

The success stories of the Internet giants like Google on the one hand
fire one's imagination and on the other hand create new professional
careers' pathways and new demands for such professionals. From the
scientific viewpoint the base for such careers is provided by the new
research area in the intersection of economics and computer science. The
MSc in Computation and Game Theory program is aimed at providing
students with a broad understanding of current issues in this new
research area while at the same time providing a focus on the underlying
algorithmic aspects; thus allowing students to gain specialist
qualification in a rapidly expanding field. The program covers a number
of foundational theoretical areas used in designing and building
electronic commerce computer systems. It includes cutting edge modules
in such areas as algorithmic mechanism design, communication
networks, and covers modern applications such as Google's sponsored
search auctions.
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