Turing Minds
About Turing Minds
Turing Minds is an annual event that brings together the brightest minds in computer science. Named after Alan Turing, the father of computer science, this series features talks from Turing Award winners, sharing their groundbreaking research and insights into the future of technology.
Our Distinguished Speakers
'Question & Answer'
Dr. Avi Wigderson, recipient of the 2023 A.M. Turing Award from the Association of Computing Machinery, has had a distinguished career spanning decades of groundbreaking contributions to computer science. In 2021, he was awarded the Abel Prize shared with László Lovász. In 2019, he published a book that is an invitation to the theory of computing, that is available for free online at https://www.math.ias.edu/avi/book/
'Question & Answer'
Dr. Joseph Sifakis is a pioneering computer scientist and 2007 Turing Award recipient, sharing the honor with Edmund M. Clarke and E. Allen Emerson. His groundbreaking work on formal verification of systems and the development of model checking has revolutionized the field of computer-aided verification. Dr. Sifakis's contributions have fundamentally transformed how we ensure the reliability and security of software and hardware systems, setting new standards for system design and verification that continue to shape the industry today.
'Question & Answer'
Dr. Leslie Valiant, honored with the 2010 Turing Award, is a visionary computer scientist whose work has redefined the landscape of computational learning theory and artificial intelligence. His pioneering development of the 'probably approximately correct' (PAC) learning model has become a cornerstone in machine learning theory and practice. Dr. Valiant's groundbreaking contributions continue to drive innovation in AI algorithms and applications, influencing countless advancements in the field.
Dr. James Gosling
October 18th, 1pm EST
'Question & Answer'
Dr. James Gosling, often referred to as the 'father of Java', is a renowned computer scientist whose creation of the Java programming language has revolutionized software development. His work has enabled the 'write once, run anywhere' paradigm, fundamentally changing how applications are developed and deployed across various platforms. Dr. Gosling's contributions have had a profound impact on the tech industry, influencing everything from web applications to mobile devices, and continue to shape the landscape of modern computing.
'Question & Answer'
Dr. Vint Cerf, often hailed as one of the 'fathers of the Internet', is a pioneering computer scientist whose work has fundamentally shaped our modern digital world. Awarded the 2004 Turing Award alongside Robert E. Kahn, Dr. Cerf co-designed the TCP/IP protocols and the architecture of the Internet, laying the foundation for global connectivity. His visionary contributions continue to underpin the entire structure of internet communication, enabling the digital revolution that defines our era.
'Question & Answer'
Dr. Geoffrey Hinton, renowned as the 'godfather of deep learning', is a cognitive psychologist and computer scientist who has revolutionized the field of artificial intelligence. Awarded the 2018 Turing Award alongside Yoshua Bengio and Yann LeCun, his pioneering work on artificial neural networks and deep learning algorithms has been instrumental in propelling machine learning and AI to new heights. Dr. Hinton's groundbreaking research continues to drive innovation across numerous industries, from healthcare to autonomous systems, reshaping our understanding of machine intelligence.
'Question & Answer'
Dr. Michael Stonebraker, recipient of the 2014 Turing Award, is a pioneering computer scientist whose work has revolutionized database systems. As the inventor of INGRES and Postgres, and a key contributor to several other innovative database systems, he has been instrumental in advancing both relational and post-relational database technologies. Dr. Stonebraker's fundamental contributions to database management systems have shaped the entire landscape of data management, from his early work at UC Berkeley to his later innovations at MIT. His research and entrepreneurial ventures have enabled the data-driven technologies that power today's information age, influencing everything from traditional relational databases to modern big data and machine learning systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Turing Award?
The Turing Award is often referred to as the "Nobel Prize of Computing." It is an annual award given by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) to an individual for contributions of lasting and major technical importance to the computer field.
How can I attend the speaker series?
By RSVPing on our website when we release the event RSVPs.
Are the talks recorded?
At the speakers discretion, some talks are recorded and will be made available on our website after the event. However, we encourage live attendance for the opportunity to participate in Q&A sessions.
Is there a cost to attend?
The event is free for all.
How can I suggest a speaker for future series?
We welcome suggestions for future speakers. Please send your recommendations to our hosts whos' emails can be found below.
Speaker Series Advisors
These are the people who helped make this event possible.
Dr. Zvi Galil
Creator of OMSCS, Former Dean of Computing at Georgia Tech, Professor at Columbia University
Zvi Galil is noted for his research in algorithms, complexity, and cryptography. Former Dean of Computing at Georgia Tech, he has written over 200 scientific papers and is recognized for his contributions to computer science education.
Edward Feigenbaum is a pioneer in artificial intelligence, known as the 'father of expert systems.' He is a joint winner of the 1994 ACM Turing Award for his work in AI and expert systems.
Moshe Vardi is a University Professor and the Karen Ostrum George Distinguished Service Professor in Computational Engineering at Rice University. He is renowned for his contributions to logic and computation, database theory, and artificial intelligence.
Jeffrey Ullman is a renowned computer scientist known for his work in database theory, data mining, and software engineering. He is a co-recipient of the 2020 ACM Turing Award.
Leslie Lamport is a computer scientist and mathematician. He received the 2013 Turing Award for his fundamental contributions to the theory and practice of distributed and concurrent systems.
Who are we?
We are two Online Master's in Computer Science students at Georgia Tech. If you have any inquiries or need further information, please don't hesitate to contact us!
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