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K.-Y. Daisy Fan

Computer Science
Cornell University
5141 Upson Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853

Tel:  1.607.255.1181
Fax:  1.607.255.4428
Email:   dfan @ cs.cornell.edu

Contact Information

Office hours:
When classes are in session, please click here. Or contact my administrative assistant for an appointment.
Administrative assistant:
Randy Hess
rbhess @ cs.cornell.edu, 1.607.255.0985, Upson Hall 5147

Research

My research interests include collaborative learning methodologies and technologies in engineering education, application of systems-analysis techniques for water resources and environmental problems, and development of numerically efficient optimization methods for large-scale engineering applications. Problems I have investigated include optimal control of multiple-reservoir operation using stochastic dynamic programming and river basin water quality management.

Publications

  • Using the Matlab-based iRobot Create Simulator to Engage Introductory Computer Programming Students in Program Development and Observing Computational Errors. In Proceedings of the 2011 Frontiers in Education Conference, Rapid City, South Dakota, October, 2011. With K. Conway Dimiduk.
  • Insight Through Computing: A MATLAB Introduction to Computational Science and Engineering. 2010. Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics. With C. Van Loan.
  • A New Start: Innovative Introductory AI-Centered Courses at Cornell. In AAAI Symposium on Using AI to Motivate Greater Participation in Computer Science (AAAI tech report SS-08-08), Palo Alto, California, March, 2008. With E. Breck, D. Easley, J. Kleinberg, L. Lee, J. Wofford, and R. Zabih.
  • A comparison and evaluation of personal response systems in introductory computer programming. In Proceedings of the 2006 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, June, 2006. With C. Van Den Blink.
  • First Programming Course in Engineering: Balancing Tradition and Application. Computers in Education Journal, Vol. 13, No. 3 (July-September), 2004, pp. 55-60. With D. I. Schwartz.
  • Introductory Programming Using MATLAB. MATLAB News & Notes, October, 2002. With D. I. Schwartz.
  • The CURIE River Basin: Introduction to Engineering in a Social Context. In Proceedings of the 2001 ASEE Annual Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico, June, 2001. With K. S. Athreya and R. J. Burt.
  • Stochastic Multiple-Reservoir Optimization Using Regression Dynamic Programming. In Proceedings of 2001 World Water & Environmental Resources Congress, Orlando, Florida, May, 2001. With C. Shoemaker and D. Ruppert.

Presentations

  • Scientific Computation with MATLAB. Workshop in Escuela de Ciencia e Ingeniería de Materiales (School of Materials Sciences & Engineering), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (National Autonomous University of Mexico). Mexico City, Mexico, June 25-29, 2012.
  • Preparing Students for Industry via Low-cost Robotics Labs. Panel in American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annunal Conference. San Antonio, Texas, June, 2012.
  • A New Paradigm for Inspiring Engineering Students: Transforming Computer Programming to Scientific Computing. XIX Congreso Nacional de Egresados UIS (The XIX National Congress of Technical University of Santander Alumni). Bucaramanga, Colombia, July 2010.
  • Best Practices & Lessons Learned from Faculty Innovation in Teaching Projects. Cornell Center for Teaching Excellence Large Lecture Class Seminar Series. Ithaca, New York, November, 2009.
  • Polling technology for facilitating interactive lectures in science & engineering. American Society for Engineering Education St. Lawrence Section (ASEE) Conference. Ithaca, New York, November, 2006.

Biography

Dr. Daisy Fan teaches in the areas of programming, scientific computing, and optimization. Her recently co-authored book, "Insight Through Computing: A MATLAB Introduction to Computational Science and Engineering," is a culmination of years of teaching programming and scientific computing using MATLAB, Java, and Lego MindStorms robotics. Fan’s research interests include collaborative learning methodologies and technologies in engineering education, application of systems-analysis techniques for water resources and environmental problems, and development of numerically efficient optimization methods for large-scale engineering applications. Problems she has investigated include optimal control of multiple-reservoir operation using stochastic dynamic programming and river basin water quality management.

Fan is the recipient of the Douglas Whitney '61 Excellence in Teaching Award (2011), the Zellman Warhaft Commitment to Diversity Award (2008), and the Cornell Society of Engineers Achievement Award (2004). Fan obtained her Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering at Cornell University (2002). She was a research scholar at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria (1995).