The Algorithmic Lens: How the Computational Perspective by Christos H Papadimitriou

ICTS at Ten

ORGANIZERS: Rajesh Gopakumar and Spenta R. Wadia

DATE: 04 January 2018 to 06 January 2018

VENUE: International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, Bengaluru

This is the tenth year of ICTS-TIFR since it came into existence on 2nd August 2007. ICTS has now grown to have more than fifteen faculty in a number of areas in the theoretical sciences. Over 150 programs and discussion meetings have been held. The ICTS at Ten event is an opportunity to reflect on the journey thus far, and to go ahead with renewed energy into our second decade, through a small celebratory scientific gathering.

There will be broad perspective talks (of 30 minutes each) across several different themes in the theoretical sciences:

Astrophysics and Cosmology
String theory and Quantum Gravity
Mathematics
Theoretical Computer Science
Condensed Matter and Statistical Physics
Physical Biology
These reflect ICTS' present profile as well as the directions we would like to grow into in the coming years. The talks, by a galaxy of distinguished researchers, will give a broad perspective on some exciting frontier questions in these areas.

CONTACT US: [email protected]

PROGRAM LINK: https://www.icts.res.in/discussion-me...

Table of Contents (powered by https://videoken.com)
0:00:00 Start
0:00:05 The Algorithmic Lens: How the Computational Perspective is Transforming the Sciences
0:00:24 A Brief History of Computer Science
0:00:34 1936-1995: the Computer
0:00:58 1995-: the Internet
0:02:38 1995-: the Universe
0:03:13 Computation as a lens on the Sciences Physical Social Life
0:04:07 Statistical Physics and Algorithms
0:05:27 Quantum computation: Turning a question on its head
0:07:00 "Quantum computation is as much about testing Quantum Physics as it is about building powerful computers."
0:07:31 Economics: Nash's Theorem, 1950
0:09:36 Evolution 150 years later:questions still unanswered
0:11:35 Evolution 150 years later, CS version
0:15:55 Recall the questions still unanswered
0:16:47 Brain and Computation: The Great Disconnects
0:17:40 How does the Mind emerge from the Brain?
0:18:15 How does one think computationally about the Brain?
0:18:33 David Marr (1945 - 1980)
0:19:28 The Specs: [Ison et al. 2016]
0:21:15 ... work with...
0:21:22 Speculating on the Hardware
0:21:52 Speculating on Hardware (cont.)
0:22:33 Cells (or concept cells)
0:22:58 Algorithm?
0:23:07 A computational challenge
0:23:49 Associations?
0:23:59 But how does one verify such a theory?
0:24:03 Our Model
0:25:16 What we can prove: a qualitative narrative
0:26:03 What we can prove (cont.)
0:26:23 Stronger results under G n,p ++
0:27:19 Recall the "Clique" Challenge
0:27:59 Open problems (two of ~300)
0:28:28 Sooooooo...
0:28:32 Happy 10th, ICTS! And thank you!
0:28:45 Q&A