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Center for Nonlinear Studies |
Abstract: More than 70 years ago Erwin Schrödinger wrote "What Is Life" which attempted to outline what a "physics of life" might look like. Today it is recognized that, to some degree, it is the use of information which sets life apart from other physical systems. In this talk I will review recent progress in the development of a theory of "Semantic Information" which explores how key features of life such as agency and autonomy may be explored in the context of complex systems which store, copy and process information thermodynamically. Bio: Adam Frank currently serves as the Helen F. & Fred H. Gowen Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Rochester. Adam received his PhD in physics from the University of Washington and held postdoctoral and visiting scientist positions at Leiden University and the University of Minnesota before joining the faculty at the University of Rochester in 1996. Over his career, Adam has focused primarily on star formation and stellar death and the computational tools needed to model these phenomena. In recent years, his research focus has shifted to information theory and the physical signatures that would indicate the presence of life on other planets. Adam is an author of numerous academic papers and books. He is also a regular on-air commentator for CNN and NPR’s All Things Considered, as well as a contributing author to The New York Times, The Atlantic and other media outlets. He currently runs the 13.8 blog on BigThink.com. Adam has appeared on many popular media shows such as the Joe Rogan show, Pharrel Williams' iamOTHER podcast, Coast to Coast Radio, and has appeared on a variety of national and international science documentaries such as Alien Worlds (Netflix 2020), Mars (Season 2, National Geographic) and The Universe on the History Channel. Adam has received several awards for his scientific and outreach work. His book Light of the Stars won the 2019 National Honors Society Best Book in Science. In 2020 he was given the American Physical Society’s Joseph A. Burton Forum Award. In 2021 he was granted the Carl Sagan Medal for excellence in public communication by the American Astronomical Society.
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