The Minds & Machines Program
Fall 2007
Overview
• M&M Program
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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
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Artificial Intelligence
Cognitive Modeling
Robotics
Human-Computer Interaction
Cognitive Engineering
Cognition as it applies to:
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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
Minds & Machines Program
Research
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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
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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 nonfreshmen
• 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:
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Credit
Pizza
Experience
Fun!
• Interested? Contact Bram (heuveb@rpi.edu)
Paperwork
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Declare Major
– Fill out Change of Major form (part B)
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Declare Minor
– Fill out Minor Approval Form
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Undergraduate Thesis
– Need to fill out Thesis Form to register
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1 credit for M&M meetings
– Fill out Independent Study Form
– “Minds & Machines Seminar”
– Deadline: Course add deadline
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URP
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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!