Living systems acquire and process information with exceedingly high efficiency, possibly three orders of magnitude greater than that seen for contemporary computing platforms. This talk will explore the differences between natural and synthetic computing and attempt to outline principles by which living systems accomplish efficient computation. In doing so, the speaker will review current estimates of the cost of neural signaling and mechanisms of efficient sensing and information processing.
About the speaker
Prof Tom Daniel received his BS and MS from University of Wisconsin and his PhD in Duke University. He has been a faculty member in the University of Washington (UW) since his initial appointment in 1984 and was the founding chair of the Department of Biology at UW from 2000 to 2008. Prior to working at the UW, he was the Bantrell Postdoctoral Fellow in Engineering Sciences at the California Institute of Technology. He is currently the Komen Endowed Chair of Biology, Professor of Neuroscience, and Adjunct Professor of Bioengineering. He is also the co-Director of the UW Institute of Neuroengineering and the Director of the Air Force Center of Excellence on Nature-Inspired Flight Technologies.
Prof Daniel received several awards including the MacArthur "Genius" Award, the Guggenheim Fellowship, and the Awards for Teaching and Mentoring at UW. He is on the editorial board of the Science Magazine, and is also on the Board of Directors and the Scientific Advisory Board of the Allen Institute of Brain Science. He has been a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science since 2012.
Prof Daniel’s research programs focus on biomechanics and sensory systems, addressing questions about the physics, engineering and neural control of movement in biology.
For attendees’ attention
The lecture is free and open to all. Seating is on a first come, first served basis.
Light refreshments will be served from 10:00 to 10:30 am.
