Dear Members and Guests:

Please join us on Friday October 20, to learn more about Robotics and the research and other community related activities that are taking place at our local university Western Washington University (WWU). This month we have the pleasure of inviting Professor Jianna Zhang of WWU to talk about artificial intelligence and robotics. She will touch on trends in robotics research and applications nationally as well as internationally. This should be an interesting presentation whether you are interested in robotics and its industrial applications, domestic or hobby robotics or you are just curious to learn more about the future of artificial intelligence.

Ms. Zhang will also talk about the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Society (BAIRS) which is a nonprofit organization that she helped establish and that is made up of Whatcom County residents who are interested in building or learning about robots. BAIRS is a non-academic and non-profit organization although it is affiliated and supported by the Computer Science Department at Western Washington University.

This will be a popular meeting so please RSVP by clicking as soon as possible.
Date and Time: Friday, October 20, 2006 from 12:00 - 1:15 pm.
Location: DIS building at 1315 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham, WA
Cost: Free for members, $10.00 at door for non-members to cover lunch.



Professor Jianna Zhang (pronounced "Jahng") joined Western Washington University's Computer Science faculty as an Assistant Professor in 2002. Zhang actively researches machine learning, intelligent robots, and natural language processing. Born in Beijing, China, Zhang incorporates the Chinese language in many of her past and current projects. Professor Zhang received her PhD at the University of Regina in Canada and then did her post doctor research at the University of Waterloo. Following her research, Zhang began teaching as an Assistant Professor at Brock University and the University of Manitoba, both in Canada. Zhang established the laboratory for Machine Learning & Robotic Research after she came to Western, and is actively involved in students' research projects. Previously she has supervised 12 graduate students during the last 3 years. Currently, she has 3 graduate students research on genetic algorithms and robotics. In addition to her teaching, research, and advising, Zhang has established the Bellingham Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Society. Last May, the society hosted the Bellingham Robot Festival.

 

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