Professor John Holland, chairman of the Science Steering Committee at Santa Fe Institute (SFI), gave a talk on "Complex Adaptive Systems and Genetic Algorithms" on campus recently. Dr. Holland holds professorships in the departments of psychology, electronic engineering, and computer science at Michigan University.

In his presentation to students from Tsinghua and other universities, professor Holland reviewed his theory of genetic algorithms and explained some of its basic principles and potential applications. He also held a discussion with students on the origin of his theory, as well as some current trends in the field of artificial intelligence.

Professor Holland is known as the "father of genetic algorithms." His books "Emergence: From Chaos to Order and Hidden Order" and "Hidden Order: How Adaptation Builds Complexity" have received international acclaim.

(Liu Wanli 21/11/2002)