Multidisciplinary Research in Brains, Minds, and Machines

The main thrust of this research is about acquiring diverse foundational training in order to better understand the workings of biological and artificial systems. This presentation covers a year\u27s worth of research experiences from one Informatics major seeking to apply their skills in two different labs: computer science and neuroscience. Within applied informatics and computer science, the lab work focused on autonomous systems and drone swarm behavior - looking particularly at basic elements of autonomy and systems communication. In the neuroscience lab, the main project involved monitoring a major biological system feature (circadian rhythm) indirectly via EEG analysis of brain wave activity, including set-up, testing, and operating hardware and software. Together, these experiences led to gaining insight about systemic functioning in the animal and machine, embodied intelligence, and a greater respect for interdisciplinary research environments