Chris Adami
Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
Professor of Physics and Astronomy
Michigan State University
http://adamilab.msu.edu
Time: September 19th 2014, 11:00am
Location: EB 3105
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Abstract: For
over fifty years, engineers have attempted to achieve machine
intelligence that rivals human performance, but with only limited
success in some specialized arenas such as chess. I will discuss what I
believe is the central reason behind this failure, and how using the
biological process of evolution can overcome that problem. I then
discuss several applications of our "evolutionary intelligence"
approach to understand brains and behavior. Bio: Christoph Adami is Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, as well as Professor of Physics and Astronomy, at Michigan State University. He obtained his Ph.D. and M.A. in theoretical physics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, as well as a Diplom in Physics from Bonn University (Germany). His main research focus is Darwinian evolution, which he studies at different levels of organization (from simple molecules to brains). He has pioneered the application of methods from information theory to the study of evolution, and designed the “Avida” system that launched the use of digital life as a tool for investigating basic questions in evolutionary biology. He wrote the textbook “Introduction to Artificial Life” (Springer, 1998), is the recipient of NASA’s Exceptional Achievement Medal, and is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).Host: Dr. Arun Ross and Dr. Xiaoming Liu |