The Minds & Machines Program

Fall 2007

Overview

• M&M Program– Objective– New Format– Concentrations– Labs– Luncheons– News– Research Projects

• Paperwork

Minds & Machines Program

Objective• The Minds & Machines program brings

together students and faculty from various disciplines with a common interest in finding out how the mind (human or otherwise) works, and/or how this knowledge can be applied.

Minds & Machines Program

Example Areas of Interest• Artificial Intelligence • Cognitive Modeling• Robotics• Human-Computer Interaction• Cognitive Engineering• Cognition as it applies to:

– Arts– Architecture– Management – Economics– Political Science– Education– Etc.

Minds & Machines Program

What Do I Get Out of the Program?• Discussion of ideas in cognitive science and technology with other

students and faculty• Support on designing a suitable curriculum• Biweekly luncheons (free lunch) during which faculty and students

share latest research findings• Get actively involved in any of our research labs• Diversify skill set:

– Do science as well as engineering, – investigate as well as design, – think critically as well as creatively

• Be prepared for ‘cognitive revolution’• Develop professional connections

– letters of recommendation – internships – job opportunities

Minds & Machines Program

Research• M&M students are strongly encouraged to do hands-on research• Minds and Machines students can conduct research in various labs:

– Rensselaer AI and Reasoning Lab• AI, logic, robotics• Director: Dr. Selmer Bringsjord (brings@rpi.edu)

– CogWorks Lab• Cognitive psychology, cognitive modeling, ‘medium-level’ cognition• Director: Dr. Wayne Gray (grayw@rpi.edu)

– PandA Lab (including Virtual Reality lab)• Perception and action, low-level cognition• Director: Dr. Brett Fajen (fajenb@rpi.edu)

– Human-Level Intelligence Lab• High-level, knowledge-based cognition

– Others• Dr. Ron Sun (sunr@rpi.edu): Cognitive Architectures• Dr. Mark Changizi (changm@rpi.edu): Neuro-Cognition• Dr. Bram van Heuveln: Logic Puzzles

• Check out the Cognitive Science department web pages, check out the research that’s going on, and contact the relevant professor if interested!

Minds & Machines Program

Biweekly Minds & Machines Luncheons• There are biweekly (roughly) luncheons on Wednesday

at noon during which students or faculty present their ideas and research.

• By attending these luncheons Minds & Machines students can receive 1 credit:– Fill out Independent Study form:

• PHIL or PSYC• 200 level (2940) for freshmen; 400 level (4940) for non-freshmen• Title: ‘Minds & Machines Seminar’

– Every meeting you miss will cost you a letter grade, but you can make up missed lectures by going to the Issues in Cognitive Science lecture series, which is every other Wednesday at noon (the M&M talks alternate with the Issues in Cognitive Science talks)

Minds & Machines Program

Undergraduate Research Program• Undergraduate Research Program (URP)

– http://www.rpi.edu/dept/urp– Fill out URP form:

• You have to write a 500+ words proposal!• for course credit (deadline: 9/10)

– Fill out an Independent Study/URP Registration form

• for $ (deadline: 9/14)

• Research can be great lead-in to Senior Thesis!

Minds & Machines Program

How to Enroll• Talk to me: Bram van Heuveln (heuveb@rpi.edu)• M&M students are encouraged to have a dual

major:– 1 aimed at ‘Minds’ (e.g. PSYC or PHIL)

– 1 aimed at ‘Machines’ (e.g. CSCI , CSE, ME, EE)

• If not a dual major, think about adding a minor

Minds & Machines Program

News• B.S. in Game Studies & Simulation is official

– Has concentration in Cognitive Science

• B.S. in Cognitive Science still in the works (we’re shooting for Fall 2008)

• Some interesting courses offered this semester:– PHIL-4260 Philosophy of AI

– PSYC-4320 Behavioral Neuroscience

Minds & Machines Program

Ideas• Senior Capstone Project Day end of Spring

– Students present (through short talk or poster) their senior research

• Robotics Laboratory– Cognitive Robotics course

Minds & Machines Program

Help!• I could use some student help with a few things:

– Web Pages• Program web pages are down, and web pages are being

changed at departmental and school (H&SS) level -> good opportunity to update Minds * Machines web pages

– Web-based research• Cognitive Science programs (undergrad, grad)• Cognitive Science Jobs and internships• Cognitive Science in the News

Minds & Machines Program

Wanted: TA’s for LEGO Robot Competition!!• We are in need of TA’s for the LEGO Robot competition as part of the

freshman Minds & Machines course.• Preferably, this is someone who has done the project as a freshman

themselves, but this is not required.• Job Duties:

– Oversee student groups for 1.5 hours each week for last 6 weeks of semester (per section)

• there are 5 sections we need TA’s for– Offer conceptual/technical/programming help to student groups– Disassemble last year’s robots!

• What you get:– Credit– Pizza– Experience– Fun!

• Interested? Contact Bram (heuveb@rpi.edu)

Paperwork

• Declare Major– Fill out Change of Major form (part B)

• Declare Minor– Fill out Minor Approval Form

• Undergraduate Thesis– Need to fill out Thesis Form to register

• 1 credit for M&M meetings– Fill out Independent Study Form– “Minds & Machines Seminar”– Deadline: Course add deadline

• URP– Fill out URP form– For credit: fill out Independent Study form as well– Deadline: Course add deadline for credit; next week Friday for $– Credits to be determined by project advisor– Make sure to include 500 word proposal!