Computer Science | Grinnell College

Department of Computer Science

Welcome to the Department of Computer Science at Grinnell College. This site contains information primarily of interest to current students and faculty. Prospective students may find additional useful information in the CS sections of the Grinnell College website and the College Catalog.

The CS Department maintains a mailing list for current students. We routinely send announcements for department social and academic events to this list, as well as occasional job postings, reminders about upcoming deadlines, and other information likely of interest to students who are currently taking CS courses. To join the mailing list please complete the CS Students Membership Form (Grinnell login required).

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The Computer Science Department is hiring a tenure-track faculty member to start in Fall 2027. Applications received by October 2, 2026 will receive full consideration.

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News and Events

  • CS Table: Google Zero

    Tuesday, October 6, 2026, 12–1pm in CS Commons

    At our next CS table we will discuss the phenomenon Nilay Patel at The Verge calls Google Zero: when changes to Google Search mean that users make fewer and fewer visits to actual websites, instead relying on AI output or extracted text from Google’s web crawl. We’ll also talk about Google’s recent effort to manage this issue by paying sites for the content they scrape. To prepare for our discussion, please read the two articles linked below:


    If you are interested, you can read an account of what this looks like for a small business at https://housefresh.com/david-vs-digital-goliaths/.

    Join us at noon in the CS Commons for our weekly discussion of computing and its impact on society. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend.

  • CS Table: Free and Open Source Software

    Tuesday, September 29, 2026, 12–1pm in JRC 224C

    Next week at CS Table we will continue the discussion we started at the end of last week on Free and Open Source Software. What is it? Is there a difference between “Free” and “Open Source”? If so, can software be both? Why would people want to participate in such a system? Why would you (or would you not) want to use software created in this manner?

    The first reading is an overview of the difference between free and open source software, and why “free” software can cost money. https://www.openproject.org/blog/what-is-free-and-open-source-software-and-why-it-costs-money/

    The second reading covers one interpretation of the core principles of Open Source. https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/open-source-culture-9-core-principles-and-values

    The third reading (not required) describes way to start joining such projects. https://opensource.com/life/16/1/6-beginner-open-source

    Join us at noon in JRC 224C (upstairs inside the dining hall) for our weekly discussion of computing and its impact on society. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend.

  • CS Table: Digital Sovereignty

    Tuesday, September 22, 2026, 12–1pm in JRC 224C

    At our next CS Table we will discuss the growing push toward “Digital Sovereignty,” as countries around the world look to decouple or at least insulate themselves from US-based technology companies. The readings below describe an overall philosophy for the digital sovereignty movement (EFF), a recent policy change in Switzerland that is part of this broader initiative (It’sFOSS), and a German fund that supports free and open-source software as part of this initiative (Sovereign Tech Agency). Please complete the first two readings, and quickly review the overview and supported programs on the Sovereign Tech Fund site to prepare for our discussion.


    Join us at noon in JRC 224C (upstairs inside the dining hall) for our weekly discussion of computing and its impact on society. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend.

You can find older news items in the news archive.