Gerald Ratzer
Here is a link to the Computers in Engineering
WWW 308-208 course site!
Here is a link to the Introduction
to Computer Systems 308-273 course web site!
Use User Name public
and guest as the password
Here is a link to the MicroComputers
WWW 308-573 course site!
Here is the link to the McGill School of Computer Science www.cs.mcgill.ca
Background
Born in England, educated in Scotland at Kelvinside Academy and Glasgow
University. First degree in Honours Physics. Started graduate studies at
the Maths Lab at Cambridge University, England. This included programming
EDSAC 2 in machine language, using paper tape!
Awarded an IBM Fellowship and came to McGill University in Montreal,
as the first graduate student in Computer Science, in 1964. Founding member
of the School of Computer Science at McGill in 1970.
Current Activities
Teach "Computers in Engineering" (308-208A/B) to most incoming McGill Engineering
students (about 250/year). Teach 308-273 "Introduction to Computer Systems",
an introductory course on computer architecture and assembly language programming.
See links to course material. Teach "Microcomputers" (308-573B) to senior
undergraduates and graduates. Students enjoy this course, as they have
an opportunity to develop a computer application of their own choosing
- but this turns out to be more work than expected! The students
have to give a standup presentation in class, as well as a demonstration
of the software they have developed and a final written report.
Research interests include modelling and simulation as used in real
time applications, such as air traffic control simulators. Software derived
from this research is running in 34 countries. Computer Assisted
Learning (CAL) for several different fields ranging from high school to
university level courses, both in Canada and overseas. This work is reflected
in the course material that has created on the web at the links above and
below.
Committee work includes being Chair of the SOCS Development Committee,
a member of the Undergraduate Committee and SOCS Advisor.
University level activities include the Educational Technology Workgroup,
which is actively researching the best use of new technologies for McGill
courses, the Joint Senate Board Committee on Technology Transfer, and the
Royal Bank Teaching Innovation Grant Selection Committee.
Recent Awards
-
Royal Bank Teaching Innovation Award 1994, 1995, 1997
-
Faculty of Engineering Course Improvement Award, 1997
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Faculty of Science Course Development Award, 1998
-
National Science and Engineering Research Council and the Conference Board
of Canada University-Industry Synergy R&D Partnership Award.
-
Federation d'Informatique du Quebec - OCTAS '96 Award for Innovation -
Passport Consortium - McGill U., DREV, ATS Aerospace Inc., CRIM and Laval
U.
-
National Research Council - IRAP Award with ATS Aerospace Inc., and Dr.
S. Hyder for computer-based calligraphy. 1996/97
-
Canadian Space Agency STEAR 10 SAFIRE Project, with Profs. de Mori, V.
Hayward, ATS Aerospace and MPB Technologies, 1996/97
-
Appointed Secretary - Treasurer and Director of McGill Systems Inc., the
McGill company responsible for commercializing computer software. Recent
successes include the sale of Host Explorer micro/mainframe connectivity
software to Hummingbird Inc.
- Full Professor 1998.
Other Interests
Policy Issues currently of concern to Prof. Ratzer
and under discussion at McGill are:
-
A fair Grading Scheme for McGill, which will encourage excellence and give
students the full recognition they deserve.
The current McGill grading scheme is non linear, and heavily penalizes
a student for one or two poor grades.
-
The policy issues that surround Copyright, software ownership and Intellectual
Property in a university setting.
McGill has been trying, for many years, to establish a new policy on
ownership and exploitation of Intellectual Property.
Outside Interests
Policy Issue currently of concern
to Prof. Ratzer and under discussion outside McGill:
-
Creation of a set internationally accepted standards for Air Traffic Control
simulators. A similar set of standards exist for flight simulators
and have been partially responsible for a large industry that has made
a major contribution to flight safety. Professor Ratzer has been
in touch with the ICAO, IATA, the FAA, NavCanada, industry suppliers and
end users to start the standards definition and approval process.
-
Honorary Secretary of the Oxford-Cambridge Society of Montreal. Any graduate
from either university in the Montreal area should please forward their
coordinates to Professor Ratzer. Any student interested in applying
to either of these universities is also invited to discuss their plans.
Professor Gerald Ratzer
McGill University
Computer Science
McConnell Engineering Room 330
3480 University Street
Montreal, Quebec
Canada
H3A 2A7
Tel: (514) 398-7082 Fax: (514) 398-3883
E-Mail: ratzer@cs.mcgill.ca
Here is a link to the Computers in Engineering
308-208 course web site!
Here is a link to the Introduction
to Computer Systems 308-273 course web site!
Here is a link to the MicroComputers
WWW 308-573 course site!
Here is the link to the McGill School of Computer Science www.cs.mcgill.ca
-
E-mail: ratzer@cs.mcgill.ca
-
Office: McConnell Engineering Building , Room 330
-
Office Phone:(514) 398-7082
-
Office FAX: (514) 398-3883
Last Modified: 01/03/99 Copyright © McGill University,
1999