September 19th, 2018

I am Andres Aravena

  • Assistant Professor at Molecular Biology and Genomics Department
  • Mathematical Engineer, U. of Chile
  • PhD Informatics, U Rennes 1, France
  • PhD Mathematical Modeling, U. of Chile
  • not a Biologist
  • but an Applied Mathematician who can speak “biologist language”

I come from Chile

world

Chile

chile

Small country of 17 million people

Spanish colony 500 years ago (so language is Spanish)

Independent Republic 200 years ago

First Latin American country to recognize Turkish republic

Everyday life very similar to Turkey

Chileans like Turkish soap operas

binbirgece

Latin America in Turkey

Foreigners enrich the hosting countries. Just look at the food:

  • Corn is from North and South America: maiz
  • Tomato is Mexican: tomates
  • Potato is from Chile and Peru: patatas

Diversity increases opportunities

Why computers?

for Science and beyond

Computers are rule changers

Modern computers were created to solve math equations

Then they were used to handle big databases

They became cheap and found everywhere

They became communication tools

They transformed society and science

How many computers do you use?

  • Cellphone
  • TV
  • Cable decoder
  • Microwave oven
  • Washing machine
  • Car motor
  • Metro
  • Elevator
  • Notebook

Computers transformed

  • The banking industry
  • The air travel industry
  • The manufacturing
  • The cars
  • The movies
  • Science

Four Paradigms of Science

according to Microsoft

1 Empiric

  • observation of isolated facts
  • description of related facts
  • e.g. Botany, naming stars, Arab astronomers, Galileo, Tycho Brahe, Carl Linneaus

2 Theoretical

  • Abstract models and theories
  • Usually expressed in mathematical formulas
  • Correct predictions validate the models
  • e.g. Mendel laws of inheritance, Darwin natural selection theory, Kepler law of planet’s motion, Newton’s law of Gravity

3 Simulation Based

  • Models that cannot be expressed in formulas
  • Formulas that cannot be solved
  • e.g. Protein structure prediction, three body problem, galaxy modeling
  • Computational Astronomy, Computational Biology

John Von Neumann

4 Data Based

  • Discovering patterns hidden in data
  • Huge volumes of data
  • Complex interactions
  • e.g. Bioinformatics, Astroinformatics, Data mining

Computers

Short history

1940’s
First electronic computers. Used in the 2nd World War. Solving models for Manhattan project
1950’s
Big computers sold to Governments for census, taxes
Programs written manually by experts
1960’s
Big computers in Banks and Airlines. Room size
Mini-computers in research institutes. Wardrobe size
First high level programming languages

More history

1970’s
UNIX system made all mini-computers compatible
first micro-computers at home. Desktop
Internet at the US military
1980’s
IBM made the first Personal Computer
Microsoft created D.O.S. for personal computers
Apple Macintosh, first home computer with windows and mouse
Internet on Universities
1990’s
Internet at home
UNIX on personal computers