Brian Harvey (lecturer)

Brian Harvey was a computer science lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley, known primarily for his introductory computer science courses, particularly CS 61A, Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs. His teaching focused on fundamental programming concepts, recursion, abstraction, and functional programming using the Scheme dialect of Lisp, later transitioning to Python.

Harvey's teaching style was celebrated for its clarity, enthusiasm, and accessibility. He emphasized the importance of understanding core principles over rote memorization of syntax. He co-authored the widely-used textbook Simply Scheme: Introducing Computer Science, and later adapted the CS 61A curriculum for use with Python.

Beyond CS 61A, Harvey was involved in other aspects of computer science education. He advocated for the use of Logo, a programming language designed for educational purposes, and contributed to its development. He retired from UC Berkeley in 2018.