Please join us for an in-person event entitled ‘Symbolic reasoning’ on Wednesday 29 October 2025 between 1:30pm and 3pm. To help monitor attendance, please register using the link below. This event is open to all members of the community at the University of St Andrews.  

Speaker: Dr Ruth Hoffman, School of Computer Science, University of St Andrews

Abstract: Symbolic Reasoning (or Symbolic AI) consists of the logical modelling and an exhaustive search for definite solutions to problems. Whether that is finding the solution of a sudoku, finding an optimal route for delivery vehicles or creating kidney matching chains, symbolic AI and logic are the building blocks of this type of reasoning. We will be exploring the foundations of (Symbolic) AI, logic and search, and what type of intelligence it might represent.

Speaker bio: Dr Ruth Hoffmann is a Lecturer at the School of Computer Science, where she is also the Head of the AI Research Theme. She obtained her PhD at St Andrews and has spent some time at the University of Glasgow before returning to St Andrews. She has a background in Discrete Mathematics and Computational Combinatorics. Her research broadly focuses on efficiently finding (smaller) patterns inside bigger (target) structures. Currently, she is teaching the Symbolic AI module she developed.
Ruth is leading an UKRI project on improving search algorithms in one field, while taking inspiration from another search. She is a reviewer for numerous top AI, and Constraints venues, and a co-chair for a coding workshop for GAP (a computational algebra tool).

Register here following the ‘Book tickets’ link (registration is free)

Venue: St Mary’s College: T205 – Lecture Room 2

Directions: St Mary’s Lecture Theatre 2 – entering St Mary’s Quad from South Street, go through the door roughly in the middle of the building on the right, head up the spiral staircase to the first floor and go South (there are also signs).

We hope to see many of you there!