Lecture during the Fruehling Semester 2008

Artificial Life

Type	Lecture with exercises
AP (ECTS)	6 Points
Lectures	Mondays, 12:15-15:45
Location	BIN 2.A.01 (Dept. of Informatics, Oerlikon campus)
Lecturers	Dr. Max Lungarella and Dr. Daniel Bisig
Assistant	Mr. Juan-Pablo Carbajal
Target Audience	"Studierende (Informatiker, Physiker, Mathematiker, Biologen) im Diplomstudiengang, im BSc Studiengang (je ab 4. Semester) sowie im MSc Studiengang"
Deadlines	Registration / cancellation can be done online through the registration tool until Friday, 13.3.2008, 17:00. After that date, please consult with at least one of the lecturers. The ultimate deadline is Friday, 14.3.2008, 17:00.
"Leistungsnachweis"	Written exam on June 9, 2008 from 14:15 to 15:15 in room BIN 2.A.01 and term project (due for 27.6.2008).

Abstract

This interdisciplinary lecture provides an introduction to the disciplines of artificial life and complex systems science. In addition to the theoretic lecture, the student will have the opportunity to further his/her understanding of the subject through the completion of a hands-on project.

The topics covered are, among others:

Emergence and self-organization
Complexity
Fractals
Pattern formation
Cellular automata
Morphogenesis
Lindenmeyer systems
Distributed and swarm intelligence
Artificial societies
Evolution of cooperation
Artificial evolution
Self-assembly
Self-replication
Computational ecologies
Agent-based modeling

Special attention will be devoted to the interrelations between these topics, and other subject matters, such as physics, biology, economy, ecology, and artificial intelligence. In order not to loose touch with the real world the course will discuss many applications of artificial life and complex systems science.

Short presentations

Every student is expected to prepare and present a single short (about 15 minutes) presentation about a topic in Alife of his/her own choice. Students should consult us about their selected topic at least one week in advance. In general, there are no restrictions to what is acceptable as topic as long as the topic has anything to do with artificial life. So students can chose to elaborate on a scientific publication, a science fiction novel, a computer game to name just a few examples.
Please arrange your talk at least one week in advance with both Juan Pablo Carbajal ( carbajal at ifi.uzh.ch ) and Daniel Bisig ( dbisig at ifi.uzh.ch )
Student Presentation Schedule

Hands-on Project and Exam

There will not be any homework assignments, but everybody will have to work on a hands-on project. It should be fun and stimulating, and should keep you "busy" for roughly 40-60 hours/person. Depending on background, students will either tackle a literature review project or a software project (e.g. using NetLogo, Matlab or any programming language of choice). The ideal result of the hands-on projet will be a "short" scientific paper/report, 4-10 pages long, written in German or in English. The project is to be completed in groups of two or individually. The deadline is June 27. The exam will take place on June 9, 2008 from 14:15 to 15:15 in room BIN 2.A.01. Note that it will be a closed-book exam (in other words: you are not allowed to bring along the lecture notes).

Please send in your ideas and proposals for the practical project via email to Juan Pablo Carbajal ( carbajal at ifi.uzh.ch ) and Daniel Bisig ( dbisig at ifi.uzh.ch )

Prep Questions

We have assembled a number of questions to give you ways to practice the contents of the lecture. You are furthermore encouraged to submit your own questions!

Contact

Max Lungarella, email = maxl AT ifi DOT uzh DOT ch
Daniel Bisig, email = dbisig AT ifi DOT uzh DOT ch

Deadlines

An-/Abmeldeschluss: Fr 14.3.2008 (18h) via Buchungstool. Achtung! Nach der offiziellen Deadline vom 14.3.08, können Sie sich nur noch via Lehrbereichssekretariat buchen oder Ihre Buchung stornieren lassen - und zwar mit Mail an: ludi@ifi.unizh.ch (mit allen erforderlichen Angaben). Zur Abmeldung muss zusätzlich das Formular "AP-Abmeldung" mitgeschickt werden (http://www.ifi.unizh.ch/ifiadmin/staff/rofrei/APS/Formulare.html)