Dear colleagues,
The deadline for application to the 2025 Nengo Summer School has been extended to 15 February, Anywhere On Earth.
The
Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience at the University of Waterloo is
excited to announce our 10th annual Nengo summer school on large-scale
brain modelling and neuromorphic computing. This two-week school will
teach participants to use the Nengo simulation package to build
state-of-the-art cognitive and neural models to run both in simulation
and on neuromorphic hardware. Summer school participants will be given
on-site access to neuromorphic hardware and will learn to run high-level
applications using Nengo! More generally, Nengo provides users with a
versatile and powerful environment for designing cognitive and neural
systems and has been used to build what is currently the world's largest
functional brain model, Spaun, which includes spiking deep learning,
reinforcement learning, adaptive motor control, and cognitive control
networks.
For a look at the last in-person summer school, check out this short video:
We
welcome applications from all interested graduate students, postdocs,
professors, and industry professionals with a relevant background.
***Application Deadline: February 15, 2025***
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, modelling 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!
Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to:
interface Nengo with various kinds of neuromorphic hardware (e.g. BrainDrop, SpiNNaker)
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 cameras and robotic systems
implement modern nonlinear control methods in neural models
neurally implement vector symbolic architecture algorithms
and much more…
Date and Location: June 1st to June 13th, 2025 at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Applications: Please visit
http://www.nengo.ai/summer-school,
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 Michael Furlong (
michael...@uwaterloo.ca). The
school is partly supported by ABR, Inc. We look forward to hearing from
you!