The workshop is funded through the National Science Foundation and is a part of its "Future of Semiconductors" program. The two-day event aims to introduce the basic science behind the materials and devices necessary for brain-inspired computing in simple enough terms for members of the general public, and to draw students interested in the field and the broader semiconductor research community in the Bay Area.
"This workshop is just as much about workforce development as it is about the future of semiconductors," said UCSC assistant professor of physics Aiming Yan in a statement. "Being so close to Silicon Valley, we want to help students across the region realize that this is a promising area to pursue a career in."
The event will feature presentations, panel discussions, group activities and lectures by scientists on the cutting edge of their respective fields such as Yan, who will talk about "atomically thin two-dimensional materials for brain-inspired computing" and UCSC assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering Jason Eshraghian, who championed the artificial intelligence language learning mode, SpikeGPT, which operates more like the human brain to reduce its energy consumption.
Eshraghian also recently co-authored a study showing that a language learning model can be powered with about the same amount of electricity as a lightbulb with custom hardware developed by the study's team in just a few weeks. His lecture titled "How can we make artificial intelligence as efficient as the human brain?" is scheduled for July 26.
Other lecturers include University at Buffalo professor Wei Chen who will discuss "Discovery and design new materials with computers" and Foroozan Koushan from Ferroelectric Memory Company who will talk about "Device and material selection for AI application: Considerations and Approach."
UCSC Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor Nobuhiko Kobayashi will talk about the future of semiconductors and the importance of hardware research. His lecture, slated for July 26, is called "Deciphering resistive switches."
"In a world where software is everywhere, hardware is much less appreciated," said Kobayashi in a statement. "But hardware drives everything, and we want more young people to be aware of this."
For information, visit news.ucsc.edu.
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