1. The Minds & Machines Program Fall 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-Cognitionchangm@rpi.edu 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 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!

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!