Damien Sullivan update

From: Damien Sullivan (phoenix@ugcs.caltech.edu)
Date: Sat Nov 09 2002 - 13:56:25 MST


So, some of you may remember my asking for advice about grad schools a year
ago. As it happens, I'm now in my third month at Indiana University, going
for a joint PhD in computer and cognitive sciences. I've met Douglas
Hofstadter and am taking a group theory class from him, and we've talked about
my possibly Metacat or Letter Spirit code, but recently I've mostly been
swamped with classes -- especially Operating Systems; Computer Theory is easy
-- so haven't focused much on my potential research.

I did read through the adaptiveai website recently, and while I don't know
what I think of their ideas -- insofar as specific ideas get past the
Proprietary Curtain, which isn't far -- they list a book of Andy Clark's as a
significant reference, and he's the new head of cognitive science here. So
I've borrowed that -- from a postdoc, since Andy's skedaddled to Europe just
now -- and hopefully I'll learn a bit more.

Demograhic note: so cog sci is kind of a mix of CS, Phil, and Psych, whereas
robotics is CS and Engineering. I'd hoped Psych would significantly increase
the female percentage in my field. It may have, relative to pure CS or
robotics, but what I've seen is still male-majority. Grumble.

Right. I have to go nurse my cold now. Good thing this is the one weekend I
suddenly don't have homework. Good time to catch up on "John Doe" and wish
I'd taped more "Firefly".

-xx- Damien X-)



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