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  • Feb
    1

    CS Seminar: A new approach for simulating randomness in computation, and resulting directions of research (Roei Tell)

    Department of Computer Science (CS)

    10:00 AM 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)

    EVENT DETAILS

    Wednesday / CS Seminar
    February 1st / 10:00 AM
    Hybrid / Mudd 3514

    Title: A new approach for simulating randomness in computation, and resulting directions of research

    Speaker: Roei Tell

    Zoom Link

    Livestream

    Abstract:
    Randomness is used throughout computer science, but when does it actually make computation more efficient? A central area in theoretical computer science studies the value of randomness for solving various types of problems, and the ways to simulate true randomness by deterministic algorithms.

    I will describe a new algorithmic approach that I introduced for simulating randomness, which avoids using pseudorandom generators, and instead tailors custom-made pseudorandomness to each individual algorithm. This approach enabled new directions of research that I have been pursuing, and I will mention two of those:

    1. Free lunch theorems: Simulating randomness for rich classes of algorithms at *no observable cost* (under suitable assumptions), avoiding overheads that are inherent to classical pseudorandom generators.
    2. Strengthening certain connections in computer science: Proving that simulating randomness is *equivalent* to solving problems from complexity theory, cryptography, learning theory, and other areas.

    I will also present recent progress in circuit complexity, which is a path towards proving that P ≠ NP that is closely connected to simulating randomness. Specifically, I will describe new results and methods of mine on a main current frontier in this area: Proving better limitations for simplistic models of shallow neural networks, called threshold circuits.

    Biography:
    Roei Tell is a theoretical computer scientist whose research focuses on randomness in computation, and more broadly on complexity theory. He is currently a postdoc at the Institute for Advanced Study, joint with DIMACS, and prior to that he was a postdoc at MIT. He completed his PhD and MSc at the Weizmann Institute of Science, following undergraduate studies in psychology, math, and computer science.

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    TIME Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

    LOCATION 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)    map it

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    CONTACT Wynante R Charles    wynante.charles@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)

  • Mar
    27

    Spring Break Ends

    University Academic Calendar

    All Day

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Monday, March 27, 2023

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    CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR University Academic Calendar

  • Mar
    27

    CS Seminar: Designing Formally Correct Intermittent Systems (Milijana Surbatovich)

    Department of Computer Science (CS)

    12:00 PM 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Monday, March 27, 2023 at 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

    LOCATION 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)    map it

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    CONTACT Wynante R Charles    wynante.charles@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)

  • Mar
    28

    Spring Classes begin 8 a.m. (Northwestern Monday: Classes scheduled to meet on Mondays meet on this day)

    University Academic Calendar

    All Day

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Tuesday, March 28, 2023

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    CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR University Academic Calendar

  • Apr
    3

    CS Seminar: AI for Scientists: Accelerating Discovery through Knowledge, Data & Learning (Jennifer J. Sun)

    Department of Computer Science (CS)

    10:00 AM 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Monday, April 3, 2023 at 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

    LOCATION 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)    map it

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    CONTACT Wynante R Charles    wynante.charles@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)

  • Apr
    21

    How ChatGPT and Generative AI Will Change Legal Services

    McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

    9:00 AM Levy Mayer Hall

    EVENT DETAILSmore info

    TIME Friday, April 21, 2023 at 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM

    LOCATION Levy Mayer Hall    map it

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    CONTACT Daniel W. Linna Jr.    daniel.linna@law.northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

  • Apr
    28

    Bagel Friday

    Department of Computer Science (CS)

    9:30 AM 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Friday, April 28, 2023 at 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

    LOCATION 3514, Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library)    map it

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    CONTACT Wynante R Charles    wynante.charles@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)

  • May
    29

    No classes - Memorial Day

    University Academic Calendar

    All Day

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Monday, May 29, 2023

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    CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR University Academic Calendar

  • Jun
    1

    CS End of Year Ice Cream Social

    Department of Computer Science (CS)

    1:00 PM

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Thursday, June 1, 2023 at 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

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    CONTACT Wynante R Charles    wynante.charles@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR Department of Computer Science (CS)

  • Jun
    3

    Spring classes end

    University Academic Calendar

    All Day

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Saturday, June 3, 2023

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    CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR University Academic Calendar

  • Jun
    11

    Northwestern Engineering PhD Hooding and Master's Degree Recognition Ceremony

    McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

    1:30 PM Welsh-Ryan Arena/McGaw Memorial Hall

    EVENT DETAILSmore info

    TIME Sunday, June 11, 2023 at 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

    LOCATION Welsh-Ryan Arena/McGaw Memorial Hall    map it

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    CONTACT Northwestern Engineering Events    northwestern-engineering-events@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science