About this Event
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From Ancient Algorithms to “Thinking” Machines: A Hitchhikers Guide to the Science of Computing. With Professor Benjamin Aziz.
What is computation, and what does it mean to turn reasoning into a mechanical process? This lecture takes a journey of almost four millennia tracing the ideas that gradually gave rise to what we term nowadays computer science. From Babylonian tablets and ancient Chinese procedures, through Aristotle’s formalisation of reasoning and the development of mechanical calculation, we follow the emergence of algorithms, symbolic representation and programmable machines. A decisive turning point is reached in the first half of the 20th century when the works of Gödel, Church, Rosser and Turing transformed computation from a practical procedure into a mathematical object. Their results revealed both the extraordinary power of formal systems as well as the fundamental limits to what can be computed or proved. The subsequent emergence of AI raises a related question: if reasoning can be represented computationally, can computation itself become a form of reasoning? The lecture is concluded by demonstrating that the relationship between machine and human reason is still a valid and relevant question; mathematical models, formal systems and semantics hold the key to understanding computational behaviour particularly with the rising debate on what it means to have safe and secure systems.”
This lecture is intended for anyone interested in understanding how the ideas that underpin modern computing have developed, and in exploring the remarkable questions that have shaped computer science along the way. For research students in particular, it offers an opportunity to step beyond the boundaries of their individual research areas and see their work within a much longer intellectual tradition: one concerned with algorithms, formal reasoning, computation and the limits of what machines can do. By revisiting some of the questions that fascinated the pioneers of computer science, the lecture will also consider why many of these questions remain surprisingly relevant today.”
About Professor Benjamin Aziz
Professor Aziz is a Professor of Computing Science from the College of Creative Arts, Technology and Engineering and a Fellow of Advance Higher Education. A member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Institute Engineering and Technology, British Society Computing, and academic networks and working groups including European Research Consortium for Informatics and Mathematics (ERCIM). Formal Methods for Industrial, Critical Systems and ERCIM Security.
Professor Aziz has worked on several European projects involving a substantial element of research in security and trust management, including FP6 projects GridTrust and XtreemOS and FP7 project Consequence. He is currently an Associate Editor of Wiley’s Security and Communication Networks journal and a member of several program committees for international conferences and workshops.
His research interests cover areas of formal methods, software and requirements engineering, Cyber security, the specification and analysis of complex systems (e.g. the IoT and Cloud-based systems) and the application of data science and data-driven approaches to enhance the understanding of systems security, with over 160 peer-reviewed papers and articles published in international venues.
Inaugural lectures are celebration of our academics’ outstanding research excellence and an achievement of contributions to their field of research. These celebratory events will enable the University to come together to give conferment to academics who have achieved the accolade of Professorship.
This is your chance to ask questions and delve deeper into the topics discussed. Everyone is welcome and these lectures are free to attend.
Inaugural Lectures are recorded and can be viewed in the series link on the website.
bucks.ac.uk/inaugural-lecture-series
Agenda
🕑: 04:15 PM - 05:15 PM
Lecture starts/ends
🕑: 05:15 PM - 06:00 PM
Reception at the Mezzanine Beeches
Event venue & nearby stays
Buckinghamshire New University - High Wycombe Campus, Queen Alexandra Road, High Wycombe, United Kingdom
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