University of Copenhagen

This course explores key philosophical questions about consciousness as it relates to the world. It discusses the connection between intentionality and phenomenal consciousness, the relationship between object consciousness and self-consciousness, and the link between consciousness and the self. On the basis of central texts in contemporary theoretical and practical philosophy, as well as more historical texts in classical phenomenology, the course addresses questions of personal identity: how the self pertains to personal identity, the nature of personal identity over time, how persons persist despite undergoing physical and psychological changes, and the prudential and moral significance of personal identity. The course involves lectures, oral exercises, and group discussions.

This course provides an introduction to the field of quantum computing and information, covering a variety of topics ranging from computation and cryptography to foundations of quantum physics. It explores current research topics and discusses how quantum phenomena give rise to new algorithms for machine learning, quantum computational supremacy, cryptographic schemes with unprecedented security guarantees, and device-independent protocols. Topics include fundamentals of quantum computing; the circuit model; basic quantum algorithms and the concept of quantum computational supremacy; Bell inequalities, non-local games, and the concept of device-independence; and basic quantum protocols for cryptography. As part of the exercises, students run simple quantum programs on an actual quantum computer available through the cloud.

This course covers online and reinforcement learning, concepts that break out of the static realm and move into the perpetual cycle of receiving new information, analyzing it, and executing actions based on the updated estimation of reality. This course considers the agents (computer programs, robots, living beings) that learn based on interactions with real or simulated environments: repeated investment in the stock market, spam filtering, online advertising, online routing, medical treatments, games, and robotics. The course also situates online and reinforcement learning to model a much richer range of problems, such as limited and delayed feedback; and even adversarial problems, where the environment deliberately acts against the algorithm (chess, spam filtering). Mathematical tools for developing and analyzing algorithms for these problems are also studied.

This course provides an advanced approach to theoretical and practical genomics with a focus on mammals. The course introduces methods and technologies currently used to dissect, describe, and characterize complex genomes. Aspects of both research and application within the field of genomics is addressed. Topics include animal models and comparative genomics; organization and content of the mammalian genome; human genetic variation; genetic mapping of mendelian characters; mapping genes conferring susceptibility to complex diseases; gene expression and epigenetics; sequencing genomes: techniques, challenges, and bioinformatic analysis; molecular pathology, cancer, and pharmacogenetics; genetic testing of individuals; genetic manipulation of cells and animals, gene therapy, and stem cells; and biomarkers.

This course introduces an area of research exploring how nature influences the psyche. It provides a broad and representative overview by examining empirical research and theories from natural science, humanities, and social science. Topics include evolutionary psychology and biophilia, the Connectedness to Nature Scale, nature and cognition, Arne Næss’ deep ecology, Getnot Böhme’s Weather phenomenology, Preben Bertelsen’s life skills, Margarete Archer’s agency theory, Hartmut Rosa’s concept of resonance in nature and how nature fits in critical theory, and biophobia. The course involves excursions to facilitate discussion about clinical effects of nature interventions. Assessment is based on an individual or group written assignment of 12-18 pages.

This course introduces population issues, concepts, theories and typical methods by encompassing the fields of demography, sociology, and economics. It provides an overview of various aspects of demographic dynamics in fertility, migration, aging, education, family and household structure, health and mortality. This course also examines the relationship between population and development, and their potential consequences from sociological, economic and geographical perspectives.

The course is interdisciplinary and introduces commonly used models of work-related stress, as well as broadly applicable methods for measuring the physiological effects of stress on the body.