[Alta-Logic] Alan Turing Centenary: Alan Turing and the Patterns of Life (Przemyslaw Prusinkiewicz, October 9)

[Richard Zach]

*** Please distribute! ***

2012 marks the centenary of Alan Turing, mathematical genius, WWII
codebreaker, pioneer of computing, and gay icon. The Departments of
Computer Science and Philosophy with support from the Faculties of Arts
and Science as well as the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical
Sciences are hosting a series of events honouring Turing's life and work
throughout 2012.

http://ucalgary.ca/turing
http://facebook.com/TuringYYC

Watch previous lectures in this series on Mathtube:
http://mathtube.org/conference/lecture_video/Alan%20Turing%20Year

Listen to part one of CJSW Presents on Alan Turing:
http://cjsw.com/program/cjsw-presents/alan-turing-episode-1/

Next event:

*** Alan Turing and the Patterns of Life  ***

Przemysław Prusinkiewicz
Professor of Computer Science
University of Calgary

Tuesday, October 9, 4-5:30 pm, ICT 121
http://ucalgary.ca/turing/node/28


In 1952, Turing published his only paper spanning chemistry and biology: 
"The chemical basis of morphogenesis". In it, he proposed a hypothetical 
mechanism for the emergence of complex patterns in chemical reactions, 
called reaction-diffusion. He also predicted the use of computational 
models as a tool for understanding patterning. Sixty years later, 
reaction-diffusion is a key concept in the study of patterns and forms 
in nature. In particular, it provides a link between molecular genetics 
and developmental biology. The presentation will review the concept of 
reaction-diffusion, the tumultuous path towards its acceptance, and its 
current place in biology.

Poster:
http://ucalgary.ca/turing/files/turing/aty2012prusinkiewicz%20.pdf


*** Mark your calendars ***

November 6: Alan Turing, the Politics of Sexual Science, and the Making 
of a Gay Icon (Chris Waters, Williams College)
http://ucalgary.ca/turing/node/31

December 4: Turing and Intelligent Machines (Nicole Wyatt, University of 
Calgary)
http://ucalgary.ca/turing/node/32