Admission requirements
Not applicable.
Description
Natural computing is a quickly developing field dealing with models and computational paradigms inspired by nature and attempts to understand the world around us in terms of information processing. Natural computing today includes paradigms such as modelling emergent behaviour resulting from the interaction of a large collection of agents in particle swarms (representing e.g., birds, insects) or spatial arrangements of cells (cellular automata), or modelling efficient search and optimization procedures such as ant colonies (finding shortest paths in a network of possibilities), simulated annealing processes (finding the optimal energy state of a crystal), and evolutionary processes (adapting a population to find the best mix of genetic material under changing environmental conditions). The course introduces the foundations of a variety of such computational paradigms, and discusses algorithmic implementations on computers as well as the analogies between these implementations and the natural model. In addition, we present some practical application examples of such computational paradigms, such as pattern recognition and engineering optimization, to name a few.
Course objectives
The course gives a comprehensive overview of the field through a series of lectures and exercises. In addition, a practical application exercise of natural computing algorithms is given to the students, who are expected to run experiments and write a short report about the experiment and the results obtained.
By attending the course, students learn to
compare working principles within the main groups of nature-inspired algorithms from the fields of Simulated Annealing, Evolutionary Ccomputation, Swarm Intelligence;
compare working principles within the main groups of nature-inspired simulations such as Cellular Automata, fractals and L-systems;
understand working principles of using dynamical systems as a means to describe natural phenomena;
understand working principles of alternative models of computation such as Quantum Ccomputing, Reaction-Diffusion computing and DNA computing;
develop a working modification of a nature-inspired algorithm;
apply instances of nature-inspired algorithms and nature-inspired simulation to a task based on a real-word problem;
analyse the result returns by the algorithm;
create an essay in the format of a scientific paper that combines the description of the nature-inspired algorithms and analysis of they results.
Timetable
In MyTimetable, you can find all course and programme schedules, allowing you to create your personal timetable. Activities for which you have enrolled via MyStudyMap will automatically appear in your timetable.
Additionally, you can easily link MyTimetable to a calendar app on your phone, and schedule changes will be automatically updated in your calendar. You can also choose to receive email notifications about schedule changes. You can enable notifications in Settings after logging in.
Questions? Watch the video, read the instructions, or contact the ISSC helpdesk.
Note: Joint Degree students from Leiden/Delft need to combine information from both the Leiden and Delft MyTimetables to see a complete schedule. This video explains how to do it.
Mode of instruction
Weekly lectures
Assignment
4 practicum sessions
Assessment method
The assessment of the course consists of a written exam (70% of course grade) and a practical part (30% of course grade). In order to pass the course, grades for the written exam and assignment should both be at least 5.5.
Total hours of study 6 EC course: 168h
Lectures/Workgroups: 30:00 hrs.
Assignment: 70:00 hrs.
Self-study: 68:00 hrs.
Reading list
Slides contain all necessary material covered by this course. The following book is recommended but not mandatory for the course: Leandro Nunes de Castro, Fundamentals of Natural Computing, Chapman & Hall/CRC.
Registration
As a student, you are responsible for enrolling on time through MyStudyMap.
In this short video, you can see step-by-step how to enrol for courses in MyStudyMap.
Extensive information about the operation of MyStudyMap can be found here.
There are two enrolment periods per year:
Enrolment for the fall opens in July
Enrolment for the spring opens in December
See this page for more information about deadlines and enrolling for courses and exams.
Note:
It is mandatory to enrol for all activities of a course that you are going to follow.
Your enrolment is only complete when you submit your course planning in the ‘Ready for enrolment’ tab by clicking ‘Send’.
Not being enrolled for an exam/resit means that you are not allowed to participate in the exam/resit.
Contact
Education coordinator LIACS bachelors
Dr Anna V. Kononova a.kononova@liacs.leidenuniv.nl
Remarks
Software
Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, the Faculty of Science will use the software distribution platform Academic Software. Through this platform, you can access the software needed for specific courses in your studies. For some software, your laptop must meet certain system requirements, which will be specified with the software. It is important to install the software before the start of the course. More information about the laptop requirements can be found on the student website.