Centre aims to model the brain

by Patricia Bow

A new research centre at UW — the Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience — was approved by Senate on October 16. Once up and running, it is expected to become the focal point in Canada for this young, interdisciplinary field, says director Chris Eliasmith.

Eliasmith, an associate professor of philosophy jointly appointed to systems design engineering (where he earned his BASc in 1994), heads the UW Computational Neuroscience Research Group. The goal of theoretical (or computational, or mathematical) neuroscience is to understand how the brain functions, and especially how it manages to easily accomplish some complex tasks — such as recognizing faces — that challenge artificial intelligence. Theoretical neuroscience tries to reach this understanding by describing the organic complexities of the nervous system in mathematical terms.

Eliasmith is particularly interested in the big picture. He would like to establish “some basic principles of neural organization, some laws that govern the adaptability and function of the brain.” Towards that end he builds biologically realistic computer models of neural systems — for example (with PhD student Bryan Tripp), the areas of the brain involved in the tremors of Parkinson’s disease — that can replicate experimental research results.

His group, recently profiled in Science magazine, will be one element within the new centre, which will bring together researchers from across campus. Besides Eliasmith, the starting members of the centre are Sue Ann Campbell, applied math; James Danckert, psychology; Michael Dixon, psychology; Brian Ingalls, applied math; David Spafford, biology; and Paul Thagard, philosophy.

Two new Canada Research Chairs are proposed as part of the centre. One has gone to Eliasmith, and another will go to a new hire. Danckert already holds a CRC in Cognitive Neuroscience. The concentration of expertise will make the centre the largest of its kind in Canada and one of the largest in the world. (The largest, at Boston University, has nine faculty members.)

Research by centre members could produce new techniques to repair injured brains, safely test the effects of pharmaceuticals, and enhance machine intelligence, as well as shedding light on decision-making, remembering, and other sophisticated functions of the mind.

The centre will also offer a graduate-level diploma program, and there are plans for new research and seminar space for graduate students and visiting researchers in the proposed new building to be built adjacent to the PAS (Psychology) building. The centre is expected to attract many Canadian students who would otherwise have to go abroad for advanced studies in theoretical neuroscience, as well as foreign students who find it difficult to enter the United States.

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Space is short, says English teacher

this month’s profile from the Keystone Campaign

Judi Jewinski (left) began her life at UW back in the Trudeau years as a student in the Faculty of Arts. Although her parents were professors at Queen’s University, she chose UW because she “loved the look of the campus, the people in the Registrar’s Office who were so friendly, the fact the campus was independent of the city, and the male-to-female ratio that was 7:2!”

Starting out as a don in Ron Eydt Village, she worked towards her bachelor’s degree in English, and volunteered teaching English as a second language at Renison College as she prepared for grad school. As a master’s student in English, she began as a TA in English 109, eventually taking over the ESL version of the course, 109Z. Over the years, she balanced teaching at Renison with an involvement with the Writing Clinic. She has been a member of Renison’s faculty since 1977.

Now Jewinski is the director of Renison’s English Language Institute, responsible for year-round ESL intensive programs including “English for Success” and “English for Academic Success.” Author and co-author of several grammar and writing books, she regularly presents writing workshops and continues to teach writing, grammar, and ESL for the college.

What do you value about the University? “Besides working with so many great people, I really value the fact that UW has never had a snooty elitist attitude about academia. Work hard, and you get rewarded.”

Why do you feel the University needs funds today? “I wish we could find more funding and look at building even more classrooms at Renison. Already, our new facilities can’t accommodate any more classes on Wednesdays. I also want to see the Drama department get the space it deserves!”

What do you do in your spare time? “My husband and I are Francophiles — we spend holidays and sabbaticals in Paris where we have a small apartment. I love to cook à la française — foie gras, sauces, and such — and entertain.”

What is the strangest food you've eaten? “Whole female frogs (full of roe) — in Harbin, China, because a very good friend of mine went out of his way to order them as a treat, knowing my affinity for things French. The chopsticks complicated things.”

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And a little of this and that

A few days ago the Daily Bulletin mentioned the job match process for co-op students, noting that those in architecture and accounting programs follow separate schedules and procedures from the thousands of students in the mainstream. An e-mail message promptly advised that there’s a third outlier group: the students in the mathematics teaching option, the only remaining “teaching” program UW has. It’s a small group, says Barry Ferguson of the faculty of mathematics, because Queen’s University, which provides the professional side of the training, sets a limit of 30 new students a year. Says Ferguson: “Dean Murray is a retired secondary school math department head who is on a part-time contract with the Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing. One of his tasks is to assist me with the math teaching option, and this has come to include finding placements for, and visiting, students.” Coordinators from the co-op and career services department do sometimes see them in situations where an employer has students from other UW co-op programs as well.

Alister Mason (right), who came to UW in 2002 to be director of the school of accountancy, has finished his term and officially retired from the faculty as of September 1. After a long career as a partner in Deloitte & Touche, Mason spent a year advising the Ontario Securities Commission before coming to Waterloo; his published work was in the field of accounting and governance. His years at UW have seen the introduction of the new Accounting and Financial Management programs, as well as planning for an addition northeast of Hagey Hall to provide a new home for the accounting school.

When the UW senate was briefed last week about proposed links with Nanjing University, one of the most distinguished institutions in China, a sheet of background information was provided, listing this university’s various “memoranda of understanding and agreements” with Chinese universities. It’s a long one: Beijing, Chang’an, Chongqing, Dalian, Daqing, Harbin… 29 institutions altogether, with arrangements in fields ranging from earth sciences to language and culture. Among them are five that are already part of a “2-plus-2” agreement with the science faculty, which brings students here to complete their degrees after two years of study in China. They’re typically top-quality students, nearly all ranking near the top of their classes at Waterloo, said dean of science George Dixon. Senate was told that Nanjing University has already identified the first students who will, if all goes well, enter a similar 2-plus-2 program with UW’s faculty of environmental studies. A ceremony was held a few days ago to celebrate the beginning of their studies at Nanjing.

The September issue of the Teaching Matters newsletter, published by UW’s teaching resource office, includes a report on an “academy on internationalizing the curriculum” held last spring at Malaspina University in British Columbia, which the office’s director, Catherine Schryer, attended.… Some schedules of fall events at UW include an Internship Fair in the Student Life Centre on October 25, but it has been postponed, the department of co-op education and career services says.… The continuing education office will give a one-day course next Tuesday on “Delivering Dynamite Presentations”, and as always, UW staff members get a discount on the registration fee.…

Rajat Suri, a fourth-year chemical engineering student, has been awarded a scholarship from the McGraw-Hill Ryerson publishing company, the engineering faculty’s electronic newsletter announces. Suri is one of the organizers of UW Innovate!, an event held to help engineering students build better fourth-year design projects. The scholarship (one of 20 given in all fields, nationwide) honours “his integrity, his initiative and the difference he's made for fellow students”.

CAR

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