COLLOQUIUM EHRENFESTII 2026

initiated by Paul Ehrenfest in 1912
currently organized by Subodh Patil (read about its history)


Dinner participants: 52 | Follow the live stream

Balasubramanian

Vijay Balasubramanian

U. Penn USA

October 14

7:30 p.m.

CM 1.26

How the brain makes you

The human brain has 100 billion neurons connected by 100 trillion synapses. In its computational function, each neuron is a simple electrical device, like a transistor or diode in a microchip, which converts input signals into voltage pulses that transmit to other neurons. In the brain, the electrical fluttering of neurons in a vast network creates the intelligent mind, with its capacity for perception and action, memory and imagination, affection and indifference. In this talk, I will consider how this transmutation occurs using examples from vision, navigation, and learning, and while drawing comparisons to artificial neural networks

The Colloquium Ehrenfestii takes place Wednesday evenings starting at 19:30 hours in the Gorlaeus building, lecture hall CM 1.26 (first floor, near main entrance on Einsteinweg 55). Before the Colloquium, there is a common dinner in the Beta Café (far end of the first floor, see map). This dinner starts at 18:00 hours sharp and is free of charge, under the condition that one attends the colloquium and that one has made a reservation before noon on the Tuesday preceding the colloquium.

We count on your presence if you register, please do show up. Meal registrations may close earlier, when 80 persons have signed up.

Colloquium Ehrenfestii Program 2026

14 Jan

Eran Sharon (Hebrew University, Israel)

Non-Euclidean Sheets - From Growing Leaves to Self-Morphing Architecture and to Locomotion

15 Apr

Roberto Car (Princeton University, USA)

Studies of the ferroelectric phase transition in the age of artificial intelligence

27 May

Emanuela Del Gado (Georgetown University, USA)

Connected matter: the architectures of soft materials.

23 Sep

Tomaž Prosen (University of Ljubljana)

Quantum Chaos Without a Classical Correspondence

14 Oct

Vijay Balasubramanian (U. Penn USA)

How the brain makes you

11 Nov

Bernard Derrida (College de France)

TBA

02 Dec

Mariangeles Serrano Moral (University of Barcelona)

TBA

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