Awarding of an Honorary Doctorate and Conference - Geoffrey Hinton, keystone researcher in artificial intelligence, visits the Université de Sherbrooke

SHERBROOKE, QC, Feb. 19, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - The speech-recognition capabilities of our smart phones would still be the stuff of science fiction if it hadn't been for the discoveries made by Professor Geoffrey Hinton at the University of Toronto. The Université de Sherbrooke awarded this eminent researcher an honorary doctorate in 2013. Professor Hinton will be in Sherbrooke on February 21 to attend the ceremony in his honor and to give a conference on his work in artificial intelligence and on the concept of deep neural networks.

Because of his research, which has significantly contributed to a number of scientific breakthroughs, and to his scientific publications, which have been cited over 58,000 times, Geoffrey Hinton is considered one of his generation's most remarkable scientists. In addition to having expanded our understanding of the basic principles underpinning learning and its integration into computer systems, his contributions have had a considerable impact on industry. The world's best systems for product recommendation and speech/object recognition (computer vision) are based on technologies developed by Geoffrey Hinton.

"The Université de Sherbrooke is very pleased indeed to count Professor Hinton among our honorary doctors. I'm convinced that his visit will serve as a stimulus for our colleagues in the Faculty of Science who are already distinguishing themselves in the area of artificial intelligence. Professor Hinton is also a source of inspiration for our students who want to have a career in research," stated Luce Samoisette, President of the Université de Sherbrooke.

In 2001, Professor Hinton was the first recipient of the David E. Rumelhart Prize, which is given to researchers in recognition of their significant contributions to the theoretical foundations of human cognition. He is also an honorary foreign member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a fellow of the Royal Society of London. His recognition in Canada includes being the recipient of NSERC's 2010 Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal in science and engineering and the 2012 Killam Prize in engineering from the Canada Council for the Arts.

Conference: Deep Neural Networks and Their Applications

The Université de Sherbrooke invites media representatives to attend a ceremony in the Orford foyer of the Université de Sherbrooke's cultural center at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, February 21, during which Professor Geoffrey Hinton will receive his honorary diploma, followed by his conference entitled Deep Neural Networks and Their Applications. His conference, delivered in English with simultaneous translation, is also accessible to people who are not specialists in the area.

A Peerless Mentor and Source of Inspiration for an Entire Generation of Researchers

The scientific heritage of this pioneer cannot be measured simply in terms of his research work. Geoffrey Hinton has also taken part in the training of many students who are now established leaders in their fields. Indeed, in following in the footsteps of the Toronto specialist, Professor Hugo Larochelle (Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science) is engaged in work aimed at having machines learn like humans do through the use of artificial neural networks patterned on the functioning of the human brain. In a video clip available on the Université de Sherbrooke's Web site, Professor Larochelle explains how Professor Hinton has influenced his work as well as his contributions to knowledge and technology.

About the Université de Sherbrooke

The Université de Sherbrooke lies at the center of one of Quebec's three major research hubs. Recognized for its sense of innovation, the university is a key partner of senior and regional governments to promote social, cultural, and economic development. Moreover, the university stands out because of the significant growth in its research activities in recent years, its technology-transfer successes, and its open-innovation and entrepreneurial initiatives in collaboration with industry and social communities.

See the video clip

Information about the conference

SOURCE: Université de Sherbrooke

Judith Lavallée, Media-Relations Officer
Communications Department | Université de Sherbrooke
819-821-8000, extension 65472 | Cell: 819-578-9976 [email protected]

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