FENS webinar on “Empowering future neuroscience with modern computing paradigms: the training perspective”
21 March 2022
FENS News
Computers have been present in neuroscience research for many decades. Their role in model verification through simulations has been established since Hodgkin and Huxley simulated their spike generation model, and their utility in data analysis and experiment management was recognised early on.
However, the potential of modern and not-so-modern computing paradigms has not yet been fully explored in neuroscience. As the complexity of experiments increases, proper data handling becomes imperative in order to avoid getting lost in the masses of collected data and to assure reproducibility of analytical protocols. The required automation of analytical protocols needs formalised description in the form of computer scripts which ideally satisfy a number of requirements not traditionally taught in biology departments.
The recent excitement in biologically inspired computations and interactions between machine learning, deep learning paradigms and the way the brain computes may affect both how we think about the brain and how we approach computations. Given the demands of modern research, it is time to completely rethink the placement of computing within neuroscience in general, and within neuroscience training in particular, and consider practical ways to introduce the needed change.
In this FENS live webinar, four speakers will discuss aspects of computing that are particularly relevant for neuroscience, as well as different ways we should teach them to the new generation of neuroscientists.
Dr Ashley Juavinett will start with the basic aspects of programming for neuroscientists from a perspective of university curricula. Dr Thomas Wachtler will follow with a more infrastructural and FAIR data perspective, sharing his experience from traditional intensive schools. Then, Dr Megan Peters, the President of Neuromatch Inc. will share lessons from the world’s largest training effort in computational neuroscience, Neuromatch Academy, and her cognitive neuroscience perspective. The event will close with a student’s perspective from Mr Mateusz Kostecki who is behind multiple Open Science initiatives, including the Transatlantic Behavioral Seminars and Summer Schools, involved in computational aetiology.
Registration* is open until 7 April 2022, 4:55 pm CEST (*free event, but limited number of places).
Date & Time
Thursday 7 April, 5 pm – 6 pm CEST
About this event
This webinar is organised by the FENS Committee for Higher Education and Training (CHET).