Professional Biography

I am drawn to computer science and to board games for the same reason: the combination of a few simple elements opens the way to a rich universe of possibilities. An elegant algorithm or set of rules is a thing of rare beauty. While I enjoy a wide variety of games, the Asian game of Go holds a special fascination for me. Go’s rules are among the simplest of any game, yet its strategy is among the most profound. My research involves writing artificially intelligent programs to play Go. Many people have put considerable effort into the problem, but the strongest programs still can’t hold a candle to professional human players. Beyond the ivory tower, I believe the greatest problems facing humanity are the ongoing ecological catastrophe (caused largely by overpopulation) and the radically skewed distribution of wealth. The futility of third-party politics in the United States notwithstanding, I subscribe to the four pillars of the Green Party: ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy, and nonviolence.

Personal site: http://legacy.lclark.edu/~drake/Home.html

Academic Credentials

Ph.D. 2002 Indiana University

M.S. 1995 Oregon State University

B.A. 1993 Willamette University