2016 Stanislaw Ulam Memorial Lecture Series Part 1 - Seth Lloyd

September 26, 2017 The Information Edge: Creation and Destruction in Life, the Economy, and the Universe SFI’s popular Ulam Lecture Series -- now in its 24th year – features two talks that explore the Information Edge, the principle underlying both the creation and destruction of our universe’s complex structures. Using simple, accessible examples from cosmology, quantum physics, and biological and financial systems, Seth Lloyd will shine a light on this powerful perspective. Lecture 1: Birth The Information Edge, which occurs when one system gains an advantage in collecting and processing information, is responsible for everything from the formation of stars, planets and galaxies in the early universe to the creation of wealth from interactions between economic agents. This talk looks at how the Information Edge is responsible for all creation in the universe. Seth Lloyd is a professor of mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a member of the SFI External Faculty. Lloyd, the author of Programming the Universe: A Quantum Computer Scientist Takes on the Cosmos, makes complex concepts accessible through human, everyday examples. His research focuses on the interplay of information with complex systems.