CS^2 (CS Squared)
Connect and Support for Computer Science Students
The Problem Space
Like most departments at Brandeis, Computer Science offers a wealth of resources, events, and tools for its students — but they're scattered across different platforms, which makes them hard to find. That gap falls hardest on underrepresented students, who can already feel on the margins of the CS community. Without easy access to the same support other students rely on, they're more likely to fall behind and, ultimately, to leave the major. We set out to build a technical solution to that problem, and CS² is it.
The Role of Technology
Technology is a natural fit here because it removes the physical barriers of in-person connection, letting students reach out for help without needing to be in the same room or even know each other. For anyone who finds in-person interaction intimidating — whether because of nerves, language, or anything else — that option matters. It also lets a single solution meet students wherever they are: CS students spend much of the day at a computer but are constantly on the move, so we designed CS² to work across as many devices as possible.
Resources
Collaborators: Yixin (Venus) Sun and Xiaodong Qu
Project Proposal
Write-Up