Lectures

Computer science and physics cross-pollinate

Physics and computer science pair well, and they even help each other! Computer scientists like Landauer or Bennett sorted out thermodynamic paradoxes in which generations of physicists were tangled! Physicits (Szilard, Feynman...) have given the thermodynamic bounds on computer calculations!

Two short lectures (45 minutes each) will expose:

What computer science brings to physics. A good definition of randomness, of the complexity of physical systems, of their entropy, and in the end a way to write the second principle of thermodynamics, so simple it becomes evident.
What physics brings to computer science. A computer that performs computations heats a lot: this blazing heat is an obstacle to scale reduction. Is this nuisance inevitable? What limits physical laws impose on reversible computations (the major remedy to heat)? Szilard's thought experiment answers these questions, it was even confirmed by recent experiments.

The conferences will be given by Dr. André Hautot (ULg, department of physics).

Where? R3 (building B28 - Montefiore institute).

When? 21 and 22 February, at lunchtime (around 12:30).

Registration mandatory!

BEA's smart sensors, a highly technological mix

BEA builds sensors, which are in particular used for automatic doors. Presentation video.

The conference will be divided into three parts:

Overview of BEA – Pierre Gardier
Introduction to radar technologies – Antoine Veriter
Introduction to laser time-of-flight technologies – Gautier Rademecke

The conference will take place on Wednesday 23 November, during the lunch break (12:30 to 13:30), in the R3 room (Montefiore building, B28).

Registration is required.

After the lecture, a drink will be offered to the IEEE Student Branch members; it will be available to the others for a small fee.

Poll for the next event

The last IEEE seminar had a huge success (more 100 students ans scientists) we propose you a poll to determine the topic of the next seminar or formation.

The poll will be available from 24/2 until 2/3. Thank you for your answers.

On the other hand, here are some pictures of the last seminar

Mathematica lecture

Update: The Mathematica notebook used during the lecture is now freely available on our website.

Last minute change: due to the unexpected success, the lecture will happen in another room, the O2 (B37).

Mathematica is written for computations, first analytical (symbolic), then more and more numerical (like MATLAB). As such, it can compute analytically integrals as easily as it numerically solves differential equations. Its feature set also includes statistical analysis of data (with machine learning too) and 2D and 3D visualisation. Overall, it has distinct features from the well-known MATLAB, but is less commonly used.

The IEEE Student Branch thus proposes a Mathematica lecture on Thursday, 25th February, 13.30-17.30, that will give you a short kick-off hands-on course. The following topics will be delivered:

First steps.
Basic information.
Number, variables: Mathematica as a calculator.
Support resources.
Functions.
Basics of visualisation.
Derivatives and integrals.
Differential equations.

Many examples within this lecture are taken from the calculus course at the beginning of the engineers studies.

The lecture is mainly hands-on; hence, attendees are supposed to install Mathematica beforehand on their own laptop, in order to take the most advantage out of it; an install party will take place before the lecture, at 1pm, in the same room. The ULg offers a license for all students; relevant information is available on the university website after authentication.

The lecture is free, but registration is mandatory. Register to the lecture.