Computer Science 340 — Evolutionary Computation

Fall 2024

Course Description

Evolutionary computation is a family of powerful optimization algorithms often used to find solutions to computationally intractable problems. The study of these algorithms and their application to problems is a large research area within computer science. Course topics include combinatorial optimization, genetic algorithms, particle swarm optimization, search space analysis, multi-objective optimization, and neuroevolution. Research practices and technical writing will be emphasized for course assignments/projects.

Prerequisites

  • CSCI 255

  • CSCI 223 or CSCI 275

Instructor

Lecture Section 11

  • Dr. James Hughes

  • Office: Annex 20B

  • Office Hours:

    • Tuesday, 12:30 – 13:30

    • Wednesday, 12:30 – 13:30

    • Thursday, 13:30 – 14:30

    • Friday, 13:30 – 14:00

  • Email: jhughes at stfx.ca

Class Times

  • Tue 8:30 - 9:25 (K1), MULH 4024

  • Wed 10:30 - 11:25 (K2), MULH 4024

  • Fri 9:30 - 10:25 (K3), MULH 4024

Website

Textbook and Lecture Notes

Lecture notes will be posted to the website. They are provided as a courtesy by the professor. Possessing and reading these notes are not a suitable substitute for attending lectures.

The textbook for this class is:

Eiben, Agoston E., and James E. Smith. Introduction to Evolutionary Computing. Vol. 53. Berlin: springer, 2003.

Topics

Below is a list of topics in no particular order that may or may not be covered in the course:

  • Evolutionary Algorithms

    • Genetic Algorithms

    • Genetic Programming

  • Swarm Intelligence

  • Representation/Encoding

  • Common Algorithm Improvements

  • Application Areas

  • Search Space Analysis

  • Evolving Neural Networks

  • Technical Communication

    • Lecture

    • Written Reports

Student Evaluation

For this course, in general, marks are obtained by completing tasks that build on each other as opposed to losing marks from mistakes.

Final Grade Breakdown

Deliverable

Maximum Points

Mandatory

Due Date

Assignment 1

25

False

End of September-ish

Assignment 2

25

False

Mid October-ish

Assignment 3

25

False

Early November-ish

Final Project

30

True

End of November-ish

Lecture

10

False

Second Half of Semester

  • Each point equals one percent of the final grade

  • Individual assignments descriptions will include details on what tasks can be completed

  • Although there are 115 points available, the maximum grade that can be obtained is 100% (99% due to system constraints)

  • The final project is mandatory to pass

    • If not completed, the final grade will be no more than 45%

Assignments

Breakdown

The majority of the marks will come from applying what was learned in class and independent research in a series of assignments and projects. Most of these marks will be awarded for sufficiently completing tasks as opposed to a traditional method of losing marks for mistakes. Details for the breakdown for individual assignments will be included with the assignment description. To gain a general idea, consider the following example:

  • Implementing an algorithm will award 4 points

    • Adding enhancements to the algorithm may award an additional 3 points

    • Using the algorithm to solve a more complex problem may award an additional 4 points

    • Creating an effective visualization for the algorithm for the problem will award an additional 2 points

    • Writing a report will award up to 4 points

      • Using LaTeX will award an additional 2 points

      • Including proper references/citations awards an additional 2 points

      • Including figures and tables awards an additional 2 points

      • Performing an effective comparison will award an additional 2 points

Certain tasks cannot be completed without first completing a prerequisite task. For example, a report for the assignment cannot be completed without first implementing the algorithm.

The reports will be marked in a more traditional way (prose, spelling, grammar, effectiveness, etc.)

If any of this description is unclear, please ask the professor for clarification. If you prefer a conventional grading paradigm with a typical mark breakdown, please see the professor to make arrangements in the first two weeks of the course.

Submission

Instructions for the submission of assignments will be posted on the course website. It is each student’s responsibility to read and follow the instructions. Failure to follow the submission instructions may result in the assignment receiving a mark of zero.

You will be required to submit each programming assignment electronically. Details will be given in the assignment descriptions. Similarity detection software to identify possible cheating cases will be used.

Due Dates

The date and exact time assignments are due will be given in the assignment specifications. No submissions will be taken after the due date; there are no late submissions. No extensions will be given for assignments.

Marking

Assignments are marked by the Teaching Assistants, who follow marking schemes provided by instructors.

A request for adjustment in an assignment mark must be made within 2 weeks of the date on which it was first available after marking. (Beyond that date, regrading will not be considered, regardless of whether you retrieved your assignment). Such a request must be submitted to the course instructor in writing, and must include specific reasons why you believe you deserve more marks. The request must be accompanied by all materials that were originally handed in, as well as the original marker’s grade summary sheet. The instructor will inform you by email when the reevaluation process is complete.

It is each student’s responsibility to keep up-to-date backups of assignment disk files in case of system crashes or inadvertently erased files. Students must keep disk copies of all material submitted, as well as the actual graded assignment, to guard against the possibility of errors in recording marks. It is not safe to discard these materials until you are satisfied that your final mark for the course has been computed properly.

Project

Each student will complete a final project. The topic and enhancements will be decided on by the student in consultation with the professor.

Lecture

Each student will complete and present a lecture. The student, in consultation with the professor, will decide on the topic.

Email Contact

Email etiquette — Emails should be addressed to Dr./Prof. Hughes.

I may need to send email messages to the whole class or to students individually. Email will be sent to the StFX email address assigned to students. It is the responsibility of the student to read this email on a regular basis. You may wish to have mail forwarded to an alternative email address.

Note that StFX and most other email providers establish quotas or limits on the amount of space available to you. If you let your email accumulate there, your mailbox may fill up and you may lose important email from your instructors. Losing email is not an acceptable excuse for not knowing about the information that was sent.

Students are encouraged to contact their course instructor via email with brief, email appropriate questions regarding lecture materials or clarification of assignments. However, before sending email to an instructor, the student should check the course website to see if the requested information is already there. Students must send email from their StFX account and include CSCI 340 in the subject line of the email. Lengthy and in-depth questions are to be asked during office hours.

Office Hours

Office hours are provided to students to facilitate their success — students are encouraged to come to office hours.

Students must understand that the professors and TAs are not there to provide them answers to problems, but to assist students solving their problems.

Attendance

Students missing three classes without reasonable cause will be reported to the Assistant Vice-President Academic Affairs. See section 3.7 of the academic calendar for more details. You will be reported if you are repeatedly delinquent in assignments or attendance at classes or laboratories.

Class Recording Policy

Students may not create audio and/or video recordings of classes. Students creating unauthorized recording of lectures violate an instructor’s intellectual property rights and the Canadian Copyright Act. Students violating this policy will be subject to disciplinary actions.

Statement of Academic Offenses and Academic Integrity

Please ensure that you are aware of the policy on Academic Integrity. Details can be found here.

Scholastic offenses are taken seriously and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offense. See section 3.8 of the academic calendar.

It is your responsibility to understand what academic misconduct is. Ignorance of the rules is not an admissible excuse for academic misconduct. I will pursue academic offenses fully. I will apply -100% (not 0) as a grade. I will also advocate for an automatic failure in the course, or expulsion from the university when allowed.

Use of Plagiarism-Checking Software

All required papers/submissions may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the detection of plagiarism. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system.

Use of Cheating-Analysis Software

All submitted work may be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating (MOSS).

Tutoring

The role of tutoring is to help students understand course material. Tutors should not write assignments or take-home tests for the students who hire them.

Information about Requesting an Accommodation at StFX

If you have a different learning ability and would like to request accommodations, please contact the instructor during the first week of the semester so that your accommodations may be provided in a timely manner. Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) provides assistance in determining and facilitating appropriate accommodations for students with verified disabilities.

Tramble Center for Accessible Learning

The Tramble Center for Accessible Learning welcomes students with documented permanent disabilities and offers them a student-centered program of support. Located in Room 108 of the Angus L MacDonald Library, new and returning students meet with program staff to discuss options for support. Deadline for registering with the Center is two weeks prior to the end of classes each semester and 3 Business Days’ notice is required for booking all accommodated tests and exams. To book an appointment please use the following link: Accessible Learning | St. Francis Xavier University (stfx.ca).

Academic Accommodation for Medical Illness

Those unable to attend class, submit an assignment, or write a test, should refer to sections 3.7 and 3.9 of the academic calendar.

Scent Policy

For the benefit of the many students that have a scent sensitivity, my classroom is a no-scent zone; please respect this policy.

Statement on Equitable Learning

Everyone learns more effectively in a respectful, safe and equitable learning environment, free from discrimination and harassment. Instructors and students are invited to work together to create a classroom space — both real and virtual — that fosters and promotes values of human dignity, equity, non-discrimination, and respect for diversity.

Please feel free to talk with your course instructor about your questions or concerns about equity in our classroom or in the StFX community in general. Should students have additional questions, they are encouraged to talk to the Chair/Coordinator of the Department/Program or the Human Rights and Equity Advisor, contact information can be found at Directory | St. Francis Xavier University (stfx.ca).

Preferred Pronouns

Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender, gender variance, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student’s legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records. See policies at Policies | St. Francis Xavier University (stfx.ca).

Support Services

There are various support services around campus and these include, but are not limited to:

  1. Student Life: Student Services | St. Francis Xavier University (stfx.ca)

  2. Office of the Registrar: Registrar’s Office | St. Francis Xavier University (stfx.ca)

  3. Health & Counselling Centre: Health and Counselling Centre | St. Francis Xavier University (stfx.ca)

  4. Academic Advising: Academic Advising | St. Francis Xavier University (stfx.ca)

  5. Academic Success Centre: Academic Success Centre | St. Francis Xavier University (stfx.ca)

  6. Student Career Centre: Student Career Centre | St. Francis Xavier University (stfx.ca)

  7. Office of Internationalization: Internationalization | St. Francis Xavier University (stfx.ca)

  8. Financial Aid Office: Financial Aid Office | St. Francis Xavier University (stfx.ca)

Health and Wellness

As part of a successful undergraduate experience at St. Francis Xavier University, we encourage you to make your health and wellness a priority. StFX provides several on-campus health-related services to help you achieve optimum health and engage in healthy living while pursuing your degree. For example, to support physical activity, all students receive membership to the StFX Athletics & Recreation Centre as part of their registration fees. Please visit the Athletics & Recreation website at Campus Recreation | St. Francis Xavier University (stfx.ca) for opportunities including intramural sports. Numerous cultural events are offered throughout the year. Please check out the Department of Music web page Music | St. Francis Xavier University (stfx.ca), the StFX Art Gallery (https://www.stfx.ca/art-gallery) or Theatre Antigonish (Theatre Antigonish | St. Francis Xavier University) (stfx.ca) for various events.

Further information regarding health and wellness-related services available to students may be found at Wellness@X | St. Francis Xavier University (stfx.ca). If you are in emotional or mental distress please refer to the various mental health supports provided through Health & Counselling at Health and Counselling Services | St. Francis Xavier University (stfx.ca).