The Minds & Machines Program Fall 2007

1. The Minds & Machines ProgramFall 2007

2. Overview • M&M Program • Objective • New Format • Concentrations • Labs • Luncheons • News • Research Projects • Paperwork

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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!

7. 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)

8. Minds & Machines ProgramUndergraduate 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!

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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)

14. 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!