A GLIMPSE into the world of neuroscience, neuro-robotics and brain-inspired computing is on offer to visitors in Glasgow at Europe’s biggest brain research initiative.

The University of Glasgow is hosting the three-day Human Brain Project (HBP) summit at the Scottish Events Campus (SEC) and today’s open day will give people the chance to see inside one of the biggest projects of its type in the world, as well as to meet world-leading neuro, computer and robotics scientists.

In the Science Market, visitors can learn about building brains for robots, with the latest in neuro-robotics, brain simulation, and neuromorphic computing (computers that run on spiking neurons like our brains), as well as hear speakers on topics ranging from quantum computing to teaching robots how to smile.

The University of Glasgow’s Professor Lars Muckli said: “The University of Glasgow is delighted to be hosting the Human Brain Project Summit. We encourage the public and media to come to the open day, where they will be able to find out more about the project as well as get up close to the research in the Science Market.

“If we look towards the scientific landscape of brain research in 10 years’ time, our understanding of brain mechanisms will have changed.

“This neuroscience of the future will incorporate big data, large-scale simulations, activity recordings at multiple scales, artificial intelligence, robotics and supercomputing infrastructure.

“The Human Brain Project is today setting the stage for these future scientific revolutions and societal breakthroughs.

“The open day will be an event for anyone who has ever wondered how their brain works, or who may be curious about building brains for robots, or someone who just wants to know more about the biggest brain science project in Europe.”

HBP researchers will present their work in the booths of the Science Market, including projects mapping and simulating the brain, understanding cognition, neuromorphic computers, medicine, supercomputing, neurorobotics, neuroinformatics and neurophilosophy.

The chair of the Science and Infrastructure Board, Professor Katrin Amunts, said she was delighted to have as a guest speaker the US tech entrepreneur Robert “Bo” Ewald, a pioneer in the field of computing.

Ewald, whose company D-Wave is bringing the first quantum computers to market, will give the highlight presentation at the open day.

Formed in 1999, D-Wave has sold the first versions of it quantum computer to Lockheed Martin, Google, and Los Alamos Laboratories.