PROSPECTUS
"Challenging Turing 2012" is an academic research event, with the usual peer review, aimed at celebrating Alan Turing's inquiry in the spirit of that inquiry: by the rigorous and systematic analysis of computational paradigms, their logical foundation for their own sake and their ability to characterize or reproduce behaviors in the world, including intelligent behavior.
We seek to reignite the inquiry, clarify the Challenges that Turing addressed, how Turing would view contemporary interpretations of computation, and hope to stimulate and, perhaps, make further progress. Therefore, the nature of computation is a central theme of the conference.
Alan Turing's work has been broadly influential and it is our intent that the conference attract participation across disciplines that utilize computation to characterize or reproduce natural behaviors.
The question concerning computation in biophysics, for example, is most often incorrectly stated. It is not so much "What is the computational model of biophysical behavior by current standards?" but rather Turing's Challenge that can be summarized as: "Are the current standards of computation sufficient?" and, if not, "How may we identify a computational paradigm that allows us to characterize biophysical behavior?"
Alan Turing would not have supported contemporary expectations that the standard model of computation is sufficient. He acknowledged, in particular, the issue of non-locality in what he termed "consciousness" but put the question aside in order to make progress. And, indeed, he did make progress, demonstrating that it is possible to imbue machines with aspects of our intelligence.
As a consequence the Turing model of computation has been hugely successful and has transformed modern culture, societies and the fortunes of nations. This success deserves celebration in its own right. Yet Turing fully recognized that his contribution was far from a final solution. And so in this event we seek to rekindle an interest in the hard foundational questions that Turing faced.
There will be many pedagogical events celebrating Alan Turing in 2012. Continuing his inquiry and encouraging further progress is a unique way for Stanford University and the Silicon Valley community to recognize and honor Alan Turing's contributions. We plan for the event to be held September 5th thru 7th, 2012.
