English

The Internet of Things (IoT), where a large number of physical objects embedded with computing power and sensors connect to the network for seamless cooperation between the cyber domain and the physical world, is revolutionizing our lives. This course serves as an introduction to the IoT and provide a holistic view of the entire spectrum of the IoT system architecture from the devices to the fog and the cloud computing. The focus is on designing IoT systems that balance both the functional and non-functional (communication bandwidth, security, safety, power) requirements. 

This interactive course revolves around problem-solving and both playing and analyzing mathematical games. Throughout the course, students are given a sequence of carefully selected problems to solve individually. Students are given ample time to think about the questions - with hints from the instructors as needed - and they receive follow-up problems after each problem solved. Later in the course, the solutions and key learnings are presented by the instructors. Topics include mathematical games, graph theory, chapters from combinatorics, information theory, and invariants.

This course examines the major developments in the field of Postcolonial Theory. The course starts with Said's observation that colonialism affected both the colonizing countries as well as the colonized peoples. As such, Postcolonial Theory provides a variety of methodological tools for analyzing literature and culture that are of special relevance in the age of globalization. Students focus on the development of a postcolonial consciousness, the implication of literature and other cultural forms in the colonizing process, and as forms of resistance. Students become familiar with all major issues in the field of Postcolonial Studies and acquire a number of theoretical perspectives that apply to the interpretation of literature and other forms of culture.

This course examines the craft of writing hard and soft news stories for a range of digital and print mass media news publications. With an emphasis on news writing, it covers what news is and how (and why) news priorities and story treatment may differ between print, broadcast and online; how to write news and feature stories; accuracy, as well as clear and concise language; and professional codes of ethics and editorial policies.

This course offers a cultural history journey of the Mediterranean, employing the lens of food as a unique entry point. Through critical reflection on the intricate interplay of tradition and innovation in food systems within Syracuse, Florence, and Istanbul, the course traverses the Mediterranean's evolution from antiquity to the modern era. The exploration analyzes the social history of exchanges, interactions, and cultural encounters, emphasizing their pivotal role in shaping sustainable food practices. Drawing upon the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a guiding framework, the course facilitates an understanding of the relationship between innovation and sustainability in contemporary food systems. Key themes covered in the course are as follows: 1) Relational Dynamics: Explore regionalism, cosmopolitanism, and orientalism as distinct forms of relationality that shape cultural encounters within the Mediterranean. These dynamics, whether resulting in rapprochements or conflicts, provide a conceptual toolbox for comparative analysis across the three city modules. 2) Historical Impacts: Discuss the transformative impact of the opening of the Atlantic and the Columbian exchange on food systems and Mediterranean trade relations. Critically analyze imperial networks within the Mediterranean, highlighting the pivotal role of port cities as hubs for economic interactions among diverse cultures. 3) Cultural Encounters: Study various forms of cultural encounters and their implications for the development and transformation of regional and local identities. Through this exploration, students gain insights into the intricate dynamics that have shaped the cultural tapestry of the Mediterranean.
 

This course studies the nature of immigration policy and politics in Japan. In comparative immigration literature, Japanese policy is characterized as highly restrictive, reflecting a preference for an ethnically homogenous society. However, large-scale migration flows to and from the Japanese archipelago occurred under the Japanese empire, and more recently, immigration has increased ethnic and cultural diversity in some local communities. As Japan faces the demographic challenge common to advanced industrial societies of a shrinking labor force, management of immigration and the social integration of foreign residents/immigrants assume an even greater importance for public policy. While retaining a comparative perspective, we discuss immigration in Japan in terms of legal framework; policy making; public discourse, and views of immigrant communities themselves.