Call for Papers

1st HBP Curriculum workshop series -
Cognitive systems for non-specialists
13-15 March 2018, 
Technical University Munich

https://education.humanbrainproject.eu/web/cognitive-systems-workshop

Description
Cognitive systems are devices that are designed to mimic cognitive
skills of higher developed biological organisms at varying levels of
complexity and performance. Models of these skills can be either
abstract functional descriptions from the vast field of cognitive
science or detailed simulations of brain circuits from neuroscience.

Novel hardware designs and the steadily increasing availability of
cheap computing resources have recently yielded remarkable results
especially with the latter models.  The goal of this course is to
provide a definitive introduction to the theory of cognitive
systems. Drawing from advances in brain research, the topic is
approached from a computational-neuroscientific perspective rather
than an abstract-psychological one, bridging the gap between the
physical structure of the brain and the logical organization of its
cognitive capabilities. Special focus is put on the role of robotics
as a means to ground cognitive function in bodies that physically
interact within different types of environments.

Workshop Structure
Lectures
Discussion sessions
German Museum visit
Lab visit
Social evening
Experiments

Application
This workshop is open to the whole student community and early
post-docs upon application.  Applications from young female
investigators are highly encouraged.

Application is required as space may be limited.  Applicants selected
for participation will be informed within two weeks after the
application deadline.  Seven travel grants will be available upon
request (European students only). Accommodation can be provided for 30
students (first come, first served).

Scientific Director
Alois Knoll | TUM
Florian Walter | TUM

Organised by
HBP Education Programme Office | MUI
Florian Walter | TUM

Upcoming Deadlines
Application deadline: 17 January 2018

Contact
HBP Education Programme Office
Medical University Innsbruck
Müllerstraße 59, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Phone: +43 512 9003 71244
E-mail: curriculum.edu@humanbrainproject.eu
Website: https://education.humanbrainproject.eu/web/cognitive-systems-workshop

Lectures
Alois Knoll, TUM
Welcome and Introduction
Introduction to Neurorobotics
Lars Muckli, UGLA
Internal models and counterfactual cognition predicting our environment
Cyriel Pennartz, UvA
Structure and Function of the brain
Hans-Ekkehard Plesser, NMBU
Introduction to Spiking Neural Network Simulation
Spiking Neural Network Simulation: Case Studies
Tony Prescott, USFD
tbc
Ron Sun, Renesselaer Polytechnic Institute
Computational Cognitive Architectures and Human Creativity
Florian Walter, TUM
Learning and Development

The Venue
The university was founded in 1868 to provide the state of Bavaria
with a center of learning dedicated to the natural sciences. The
university played a vital role in Bavaria's transition from an
agricultural to an industrial state – and accelerated the pace of
technological advancement across Europe.  Now the Technical University
of Munich is one of Europe's top universities. It is committed to
excellence in research and teaching, interdisciplinary education and
the active promotion of promising young scientists.  The university
also forges strong links with companies and scientific institutions
across the world. TUM was one of the first universities in Germany to
be named a University of Excellence. Moreover, TUM regularly ranks
among the best European universities in international rankings.
Keywords Cognitive systems, counterfactual cognition, spiking neural
network simulation, biological organisms, brain circuits, neuroscience