Estelle Raffy

Email: om21104@bristol.ac.uk

PhD supervisors: Helmut Hauser, Martin Garrad, Michael Levin

PhD title: Machines’ “many little lives”: An experimental robotic platform to investigate the fundamental and necessary ingredients for life-like artificial systems

Biography

It all started with an octopus. As I was coming towards the end of my Bachelor's in neuroscience and cognitive science, the embodied intelligence – or “brained body” –  of the octopus kept me wondering: how can nature start with similar basic principles and end up with massive decentralised systems that still function as a solution to adaptive behaviour?

This led me to join a master's in philosophy and history of science where I discussed how embodiment principles could enrich the study of cognition and intelligence in cognitive science. To the surprise of many, including myself, I decided to become a roboticist. I believed that robotics systems - used as experimental platforms - would be ideal to further understand the ingredients needed to have minimal forms of life-like processes (e.g., emergence, adaptivity, resilience) in biological, artificial and other intelligent systems. With my PhD, I aim to contribute to a recipe for adaptive (i.e., intelligent) life-like- behaviours in various embodiments and provoke many discussions about cognition, intelligence, even consciousness and minds.

Beyond my studies, I enjoy music, martial arts, outdoor sports, and the chaotic creativity of fictional writing.