Observer-dependent Models @ the Philosopher's Web Cafe

 

I gave a talk called "Observer-dependent Models" to the Philosopher's Web Cafe on December 11. I have made the slides available here, and the recording is here. Thanks to Jesse Parent (Orthogonal Lab Manager) and Charlotte Guo (series host) for hosting. It will be almost like being there (almost). 

The talk involved reviewing and redefining the role of observers in empirical and simulated systems. "Observer" refers mostly to computational agents (agent-based simulation and AI), although many of the ideas introduced here may apply to the analysis of empirical observations (experiments). Here is the abstract:

In many areas of science and philosophy, observers are seen as an integral part of understanding the natural world. Aside from a pedagogical role, observers are seen as less important in computational forms of inquiry. In this talk, I will reconsider a role for the observer in computational models as fully integrated with the agent. perhaps more fundamentally, causal outcomes and system dynamics are seen to be contingent on observers, while empirical observations themselves are dependent upon the actions of observers. As this is an article of faith in some interpretations of quantum mechanics, we extend this to algorithmic systems with a combinatorial solution space. The role for observers in computational and empirical investigations is established superficially using a number of concepts, including cybernetics, embodiment, and perceptual information processing. Then we will be introduced to more concrete examples of observer-oriented computational agents, such as observer-emitter systems and viewpoint networks. Finally, we will discuss how this approach goes beyond constructivism to consider multiple observers, multiple perspectives (relativism), and how they affect the interpretation of results.

There is a lot to follow up on from this talk, including a number of themes to explore within the topic of agent-based observers, with more to come in the new year. 

Upcoming DevoWorm talk to the OpenWorm group

This Friday (9/12) at 9am PDT, I will be presenting a talk to the OpenWorm consortium Journal Club on the DevoWorm project. For those of you who are unfamiliar, DevoWorm is a collaborative attempt to simulate and theoretically re-interpret C. elegans development.

Cover slide with a list of the DevoWorm collaborators, circa September 2014.

The structure of the talk will loosely follow the white paper, with some additional theoretical and translational information. We are also trying to organize/raise money for a "science hackathon", which would greatly improve the state of the project [1].

 An explanation of a scientific hackathon (sensu DevoWorm Collaboration).

The talk will also deal with the issue of whole-organism emulation. In this case, we are using a sparse representation of the organism to model developmental processes. The key is to balance tractability with biological realism. Sparko the Robotic Dog and the EPFL's Human Brain Project are used as examples.

We also discuss the potential usefulness of C. elegans emulations to biological problems. One problem we identified was the need to emulate and identify the precursors and mechanisms of phenotypic mutants. While our discussion of this will be limited to only a few slides, DevoWorm has the potential to model the possibility space of phenotypic mutants and perhaps even suggest developmental precursors to phenotypic mutations. 

If you are interested in attending, here is the Google Hangouts link. Look forward to a good presentation.

UPDATE 9/12:

The talk went very well. We also changed the name to "DevoWorm: raising the (Open)Worm". Lots of discussion about the potential for future collaboration and the regenerative capacity of C. elegans (or lack thereof). The talk was recorded to YouTube, and the link is here.

NOTES:

[1] Improvements largely involve physically bringing the group together, solving some problems related to data analysis, and perhaps even planning out additional data collection. Apparently, the term "hackathon" has a rather broad definition. But if you are interested in participating/helping to facilitate this, please contact me.