Connectionists: Feb. 15 Application Deadline - 2016 Nengo Summer School

[Peter Blouw]

[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 our 3rd annual summer school on large-scale brain
modeling. This two-week school will teach participants how to use the Nengo
software package to build state-of-the-art cognitive and neural models to
run in simulation and on neuromorphic hardware. Nengo has been used to
build what is currently the world's largest functional brain model, Spaun
[1], and provides users with a versatile and powerful environment for
designing cognitive and neural systems to run in simulated and real
environments.

We welcome applications from all interested graduate students, research
associates, postdocs, professors, and industry professionals. No specific
training in the use of modeling software is required, but we encourage
applications from active researchers with a relevant background in
psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, robotics, neuromorphic
engineering, computer science, or a related field. For a look at last
year's summer school, check out this short video: https://goo.gl/wy4dNC

[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, 2016****
*Format*: A combination of tutorials and project-based work. Participants
are encouraged to bring their own ideas for projects, which may focus on
testing hypotheses, modeling neural or cognitive data, implementing
specific behavioural functions with neurons, expanding past models, or
providing a proof-of-concept of various neural mechanisms. 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. A project
demonstration event will be held on the last day of the school, with prizes
for strong projects!

*Topics Covered*: Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to:

   - build perceptual, motor, and sophisticated cognitive models using
   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
   - interface Nengo with various kinds of neuromorphic hardware (e.g.
   SpiNNaker)
   - interface Nengo with cameras and robotic systems
   - implement modern nonlinear control methods in neural models
   - and much more…

*Date and Location*: June 5th to June 17th, 2016 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.

If you have any questions about the school or the application process,
please contact Peter Blouw (pblouw at uwaterloo.ca). We look forward to
hearing from you!
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