Talk on Blue Brain Project

Dr.Henry Markram delivered a presentation on the Blue Brain Project on Jan 27th, 2010 at Technopark, Trivandrum, South India. The talk was hosted by PIT Solutions.

The Blue Brain Project is the first comprehensive attempt to reverse-engineer the mammalian brain, in order to understand brain function and dysfunction through detailed simulations. The aim of the project, founded in May 2005 by the Brain and Mind Institute of the École Polytechnique in Lausanne, Switzerland, is to study the brain’s architectural and functional principles. The project is headed by the Institute’s director, Henry Markram.

The Chief Guest at the talk was Dr. Jayakrishnan, the honourable Vice Chancellor of Kerala University. Dr. Jayakrishnan also happens to be associated with the Swiss Federal Institute (EPFL), which houses the Brain Mind Institute of which Dr. Henry Markram is the director. He wished the Blue Brain Project all success and wished early breakthroughs in unraveling the mysteries of the mind.

Mr.Thomaskutty Sebastin, Head of Business Development and Partner of PIT Solutions, had the responsibility of introducing Dr. Henry Markram to the audience. Thomaskutty gave a broad outline of the scientific career and achievements of Dr. Markram. He also described how his association with Dr. Markram started during their days at EPFL together.

Dr.Markram through his presentation threw light on the immense complexity of the mammalian brain just by explaining the working of a single neuron. The brain contains millions of such neurons. It revealed to the audience how enormous the task would be to simulate the brain using supercomputers, which is going to be the first step for the Blue Brain project.His simple style of presentation and the rich visuals brought to fore all the facts to everyone, even to the layman present. Dr. Markram also used the occasion to announce that PIT Solutions will build the Internet portal to access Blue Brain. The portal will allow the research community, hospitals, industry and the public to access Blue Brain.The Q&A session that followed the talk was an animated one with a few but a varied array of questions from different sections of the audience. Dr. Markram answered the queries in his typical patient and precise demeanor.

Mr.Mervin Alexander, CEO of Technopark, in his address expressed appreciation and gratitude for choosing Technopark as the venue for conducting a talk on such a path-breaking scientific research project. He brought to the audience’s notice that hosting this talk at Technopark is actually part of PIT Solutions’ tenth anniversary celebrations.

The CEO of PIT Solutions, Mr. Rafeek. K. Mohammed in his vote of thanks mentioned about the association of PIT Solutions with Dr. Markram that has led to PIT Solutions’ involvement in the Blue Brain Project. He also recalled that it is the successful ongoing execution of Frontiers, another project of which Dr. Markram is a part, which has helped to build the business relationship and trust over the years.

The media were in full  attendance to cover the talk now converged for a press meet. The talk itself and the impact of the Blue Brain project on humanity and medicine had created considerable interest among the media on the future of the project and the role of PIT Solutions in it. Dr. Markram, Rafeek Mohammed, and Thomaskutty Sebastian attentively answered the queries from the media persons and made lucid the Blue Brain – PIT Solutions connection.

Dr.Markram described about the Frontiers project ,its objectives and scope, and how PIT Solutions has been supporting in the smooth execution of it. He explained how it has led to PIT Solutions’ significant involvement in the Blue Brain Project and shared subtle hints of the scale of the project. Rafeek said that PIT Solutions is committed to provide all the IT support needs that the project may need. He shared the challenges involved in finding and engaging the best IT professionals to work for Blue Brain’s success.