Connectionists: Summer School on Large-Scale Brain Modelling

[Peter Blouw]

Hello! [All details about this school can be found online at
http://www.nengo.ca/summerschool]

The Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience at the University of Waterloo is
inviting applications for an in-depth, two week summer school that will
teach participants how to use the Nengo simulation package to build
state-of-the-art cognitive and neural models. Nengo has been used to build
what is currently the world's largest functional brain model,
Spaun<http://www.nengo.ca/build-a-brain/spaunvideos>[1], and provides
users with a versatile and powerful environment for
simulating cognitive and neural systems.

We welcome applications from all interested graduate students, research
associates, postdocs, professors, and industry professionals. No specific
training in the use of modelling software is required, but we encourage
applications from active researchers with a relevant background in
psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, or a related field.

[1] Eliasmith, C., Stewart T. C., Choo X., Bekolay T., DeWolf T., Tang Y.,
Rasmussen, D. (2012). A large-scale model of the functioning brain.
Science. Vol. 338 no. 6111 pp. 1202-1205. DOI: 10.1126/science.1225266. [
http://nengo.ca/publications/spaunsciencepaper]

***Application Deadline: February 15, 2014***

Format

Participants are encouraged to bring their own ideas for projects, which
may focus on testing hypotheses, modelling neural or cognitive data,
implementing specific behavioural functions with neurons, expanding past
models, or provide a proof-of-concept of various neural mechanisms.
Projects can be focused on software, hardware, or a combination of both.
Amongst other things, participants will have the opportunity to:

- build perceptual, motor, and cognitive models with spiking neurons
- model anatomical, electrophysiological, cognitive, and behavioural data
- use a variety of single cell models within a large-scale model
- integrate machine learning methods into biologically oriented models
- use Nengo with your favorite simulator, e.g. Brian, NEST, Neuron, etc.
- interface Nengo with a variety of neuromorphic hardware
- interface Nengo with cameras and robotic systems of various kinds
- implement modern nonlinear control methods in neural models
- and much more…

Hands-on tutorials, work on individual or group projects, and talks from
invited faculty members will make up the bulk of day-to-day activities.
There will be a weekend break on June 14-15, and fun activities scheduled
for evenings throughout!

Date and Location: June 8th to June 21st, 2014 at the University of
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

Applications: Please visit http://www.nengo.ca/summerschool, where you can
find more information regarding costs, travel, lodging, along with an
application form listing required materials.


Questions about the summer school and application process can be directed
to Peter Blouw (pblouw at uwaterloo.ca)


We look forward to hearing from you!
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