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Background
There have been rapid advancements and investments in research and development in brain sciences, neurotechnology, neural data modelling and neuro-inspired artificial intelligence (AI). These advancements have not only led to deeper understanding of brain functions and disorders, but also the development and application of powerful AI and machine-learning algorithms that affect our everyday life.
The Computational Neuroscience, Neurotechnology and Neuro-inspired AI (CN3) Autumn School aims to train the next generation of researchers on these state-of-the-art developments. This short course will touch on the areas of computational neuroscience, neural data science, neurotechnology and neuro-inspired AI. The School is unique in that important and timely topics either not delivered in other Schools or taught courses, or delivered only individually, will be delivered here in an integrated way. These topics include computational modelling of neural-glial systems, neuromodulators and cognition, neurotechnology, self-repaired intelligent machines and cognitive robotics. Moreover, although neural computation and neuro-inspired AI research are conducted in the island of Ireland, there is very little relevant training and taught courses, especially for early career researchers, in the region; this School aims to bridge this gap.
ISRC-CN3 Autumn School
The Autumn School will be held at the Intelligent Systems Research Centre (ISRC), a major research unit within the School of Computing, Engineering and Intelligent Systems at Ulster University in Derry~Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The ISRC is dedicated to the creation of intelligent computational systems, taking inspiration from, and learning from, biology and neuroscience. Its research is focused on the design, development and implementation of intelligent computational systems that are capable of learning, reasoning, adapting and evolving and interacting with their environment in a manner which humans would consider “intelligent”. The ISRC is housed in a large, purpose-built facility, with state-of-the-art resources, including neuroimaging, neurotechnology and robotic facilities, and high-performance computing (HPC) facility for big data analytics and large-scale computational simulations. The ISRC is multidisciplinary, with arguably the largest cluster of computational neuroscientists and neuro-inspired AI researchers in the island of Ireland, with strong collaborations with many clinical, biomedical, neuroscience, AI and mental health centres, and industrial partners, allowing its research output to quickly translate into applications.
Academic researchers at the ISRC and invited external speakers will contribute to the delivery of this 5-day School, which consists of lectures during the day and tutorials and labs in the evening. Tutorials and labs will consist of modelling and analysing data related to the lectures, resulting in 'mini' projects to consolidate the lectures’ content and encourage active and creative participation. Attendees will have the opportunity to present and share their research work on the final day. Class materials will be made available in advance of the event. Required software (Python and MATLAB) can be downloaded and configured before the event. Foundational topics in mathematical techniques and computer programming will be provided.
Although the School will focus on research communities especially within the Island of Ireland due to its lack of such training, wider participations are welcomed. We particularly encourage applications from advanced undergraduate, masters, graduate diploma, early stage career (Ph.D. students and postdoctoral) researchers, and research scientists and engineers in industrial and clinical sectors. Ideally, participants will have some mathematical background at the UK GCE A level / Irish Leaving Certificate level, some familiarity in computer/scientific programming in languages such as Python, MATLAB or R, or some background knowledge in biology, neuroscience, medicine or psychology.
The School aims to be inclusive by providing high accessibility including those who are underrepresented and/or with caregiving responsibilities, disabilities, and limited funds, and bursaries may be available (please request during registration). In light of this, and the ongoing pandemic, the School will adopt a hybrid (physical and virtual) format, and if the pandemic situation becomes worse, it will be a completely virtual event.
Lecturers and speakers:
Dr. Saugat Bhattacharyya (ISRC, Ulster University)
Assistant Professor Áine Byrne (School of Mathematics & Statistics, University College Dublin)
Prof. Damien Coyle (ISRC, Ulster University & CEO of NeuroCONCISE)
Amanda Fullerton (Knowledge Transfer Partnership, Ulster University)
Prof. Jim Harkin (ISRC, Ulster University)
Dr. Shane Harrigan (ISRC, Ulster University)
Prof. Nikola Kasabov (School of Engineering, Computing & Mathematical Sciences, Auckland University of Technology & ISRC, Ulster University)
Associate Professor Simon Kelly (School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, University College Dublin)
Prof. J. A. Scott Kelso (Center for Complex Systems & Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University & ISRC, Ulster University)
Dr. Mehdi Khamassi (Sorbonne Université & Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)
Prof. Liam McDaid (ISRC, Ulster University)
Dr. Elaine K. Murray (Northern Ireland Centre for Stratified Medicine, Ulster University)
Dr. Cian O'Donnell (Department of Computer Science, University of Bristol & ISRC, Ulster University)
Prof. Girijesh Prasad (ISRC, Ulster University)
Dr. Savitha Ramasamy (Institute for Infocomm Research, A*STAR)
Prof. Arleen Salles (Center for Research Ethics and Bioethics, Uppsala University & Neuroethics Program, Centro de Investigaciones Filosoficas)
Dr. Jose M. Sanchez-Bornot (ISRC, Ulster University)
Dr. John Wade (ISRC, Ulster University)
Dr. KongFatt Wong-Lin (ISRC, Ulster University)
Teaching assistants (ISRC, Ulster University):
Day 1 - Farajollah (Fred) Tahernezhad-Javazm & Przemyslaw Cichy
Day 2 - Marinus Toman & Rahul Gupta
Day 3 - Massoud Khodadadazadeh & Vahid Saranirad
Day 4 - Aqib Javed & Niamh McCombe
Schedule (UK/Ireland time):
Day 1 (25th Oct)
09:00-09:30 Welcome & opening speech (Pro Vice-Chancellor Research, Ulster University & Research Director, ISRC, Ulster University)
09:30-12:00 Introductory neuroscience (Elaine Murray)
12:00-13:00 Lunch
13:00-15:30 Cognitive neural systems and behaviour (Simon Kelly)
15:45-18:00 Mathematics for neuroscience: An overview (Áine Byrne)
18:00-19:00 Dinner
19:00-21:30 Evening Lab 1: Essential Python & MATLAB programming
Day 2 (26th Oct)
09:00-11:00 Computational modelling of plasticity & learning in brains (Cian O'Donnell)
11:15-13:00 Glia cells: Capturing human intelligence in AI systems; ; Brain inspired hardware self-repair (Liam McDaid & John Wade)
13:00-14:00 Lunch & tour of labs
14:00-16:00 Neural network dynamics and modelling of cognitive functions (KongFatt Wong-Lin)
16:15-18:00 An introduction to model-free and model-based reinforcement learning and their application to cognitive neuroscience (Mehdi Khamassi)
18:00-19:00 Dinner
19:00-21:30 Evening Lab 2: Neural & cognitive modelling
Day 3 (27th Oct)
09:00-11:00 Investigating time series neural data: Experimental design & processing (Saugat Bhattacharyya)
11:15-13:00 Non-invasive brain-computer interfaces: Enhancing applicability using computational intelligence and technological advances (Girijesh Prasad)
13:00-14:00 Lunch
14:00-16:00 Introduction to the statistical methodology for brain connectivity analysis (Jose M. Sanchez Bornot)
16:15-18:00 Decoding mental imagery from electroencephalography (EEG) and applications of AI-enabled wearable neurotechnology for communication and rehabilitation (Damien Coyle)
18:00-19:00 Dinner
19:00-21:30 Evening Lab 3: Neural data processing, neural data science & applications
Day 4 (28th Oct)
09:00-11:00 Neuro-inspired computation: Spiking neural networks (Nikola Kasabov)
11:15-13:00 Meta-cognition and learning from high-dimensional streaming data (Savitha Ramasamy)
13:00-14:00 Lunch
14:00-16:00 Building reliable and secure embedded systems with neuromorphic computing (Jim Harkin)
16:15-17:15 Towards responsible brain research and applications (Arleen Salles)
17:30-18:30 Evening Lab 4: Neuro-inspired AI & applications
19:30- Dinner, Halloween dressing up, social events, etc.
Day 5 (29th Oct)
10:15-11:15 Neuromorphic vision (Shane Harrigan)
11:45-12:05 Understanding the benefits of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) for businesses, academics and graduates (Amanda Fullerton)
12:05-12:25 Translating AI-enabled, neurotechnology research and experiences of developing an award winning neurotech startup (Damien Coyle)
12:25-12:30 Q&A
12:30-13:30 Lunch
13:30-15:45 Project pitches by attendees
16:00-17:00 Closing talk - Understanding behavior and the brain from the perspective of a dynamical theory of coordination (J. A. Scott Kelso)
17:15 Closing remark
Organising committee: KongFatt Wong-Lin (k.wong-lin@ulster.ac.uk ), Louise Gallagher (l.gallagher@ulster.ac.uk ), Elaine Duffy, Cheryl Mullan, Damien Coyle
Sponsors
The Autumn School coincides with the popular Derry Halloween festival. If you are attending the Autumn School in person, you can participant in the various events all over town and get into the festive spirit!
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