Christopher Bishop
Encyclopedia
Professor Christopher M. Bishop, FREng, FRSE, is Chief Research Scientist at Microsoft Research Cambridge and holds a Chair of Computer Science
at the University of Edinburgh
.
with First Class Honours from Oxford
, and a PhD in Theoretical Physics
from the University of Edinburgh
with a thesis on quantum field theory under the supervision of David Wallace and Peter Higgs
. After graduating he joined Culham Laboratory where he worked on the theory of magnetically confined plasma
s as part of the European controlled fusion
programme.
He subsequently developed an interest in pattern recognition
, and became Head of the Applied Neurocomputing Centre at AEA Technology
. In 1993, he was elected to a Chair in the Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics
at Aston University
, where he was a member of the Neural Computing Research Group. He then took a sabbatical during which time he was principal organiser of the six month international research programme on Neural networks
and Machine learning
at the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences in Cambridge, which ran from July to December 1997.
After completion of the Newton Institute programme he joined the Microsoft Research Laboratory in Cambridge where he is Chief Research Scientist and head of the Machine Learning and Perception group.
At the same time as he joined Microsoft Research, he was elected to a Chair of Computer Science at the University of Edinburgh where he is a member of the Institute for Adaptive and Neural Computation in the School of Informatics. He is also a Fellow of Darwin College, Cambridge, a Fellow of the British Computer Society, and has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science by Oxford Brookes University.
In 2004 he was elected Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering
, and in 2007 he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
.
Chris is the author of the leading textbook Neural Networks for Pattern Recognition (Oxford University Press
, 1995) for which Google Scholar
lists almost 10,000 citations. His latest textbook Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning (Springer, 2006) has also been widely adopted.
His research interests include probabilistic approaches to machine learning, as well as their application to fields such as biomedical sciences and healthcare.
Bishop holds a Commercial Pilot Licence
, and for relaxation he enjoys flying light aircraft, including aerobatics in an Extra 200
unlimited-category aerobatic aircraft. He is married and has two children.
Chris Bishop presented the 2008 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures
Hi-tech Trek — The Quest for the Ultimate Computer.
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
.
Career
Chris Bishop has a BA degree in PhysicsPhysics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
with First Class Honours from Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, and a PhD in Theoretical Physics
Theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
from the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
with a thesis on quantum field theory under the supervision of David Wallace and Peter Higgs
Peter Higgs
Peter Ware Higgs, FRS, FRSE, FKC , is an English theoretical physicist and an emeritus professor at the University of Edinburgh....
. After graduating he joined Culham Laboratory where he worked on the theory of magnetically confined plasma
Plasma (physics)
In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms , thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions...
s as part of the European controlled fusion
Nuclear fusion
Nuclear fusion is the process by which two or more atomic nuclei join together, or "fuse", to form a single heavier nucleus. This is usually accompanied by the release or absorption of large quantities of energy...
programme.
He subsequently developed an interest in pattern recognition
Pattern recognition
In machine learning, pattern recognition is the assignment of some sort of output value to a given input value , according to some specific algorithm. An example of pattern recognition is classification, which attempts to assign each input value to one of a given set of classes...
, and became Head of the Applied Neurocomputing Centre at AEA Technology
AEA Technology
AEA Technology plc was formed in 1996 as the privatised offshoot of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. It is a constituent of the FTSE Fledgling Index. Originally it consisted of divisions with expertise in a wide variety of areas, mostly the products of nuclear-related research...
. In 1993, he was elected to a Chair in the Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics
Applied mathematics
Applied mathematics is a branch of mathematics that concerns itself with mathematical methods that are typically used in science, engineering, business, and industry. Thus, "applied mathematics" is a mathematical science with specialized knowledge...
at Aston University
Aston University
Aston University is a "plate glass" campus university situated at Gosta Green, in the city centre of Birmingham, England.Established in 1895 as the Birmingham Municipal Technical School, Aston was granted its Royal Charter as Aston University on 22 April 1966...
, where he was a member of the Neural Computing Research Group. He then took a sabbatical during which time he was principal organiser of the six month international research programme on Neural networks
Neural Networks
Neural Networks is the official journal of the three oldest societies dedicated to research in neural networks: International Neural Network Society, European Neural Network Society and Japanese Neural Network Society, published by Elsevier...
and Machine learning
Machine learning
Machine learning, a branch of artificial intelligence, is a scientific discipline concerned with the design and development of algorithms that allow computers to evolve behaviors based on empirical data, such as from sensor data or databases...
at the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences in Cambridge, which ran from July to December 1997.
After completion of the Newton Institute programme he joined the Microsoft Research Laboratory in Cambridge where he is Chief Research Scientist and head of the Machine Learning and Perception group.
At the same time as he joined Microsoft Research, he was elected to a Chair of Computer Science at the University of Edinburgh where he is a member of the Institute for Adaptive and Neural Computation in the School of Informatics. He is also a Fellow of Darwin College, Cambridge, a Fellow of the British Computer Society, and has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science by Oxford Brookes University.
In 2004 he was elected Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering
Royal Academy of Engineering
-Overview: is the UK’s national academy of engineering. The Academy brings together the most successful and talented engineers from across the engineering sectors for a shared purpose: to advance and promote excellence in engineering....
, and in 2007 he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
.
Chris is the author of the leading textbook Neural Networks for Pattern Recognition (Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, 1995) for which Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Google Scholar is a freely accessible web search engine that indexes the full text of scholarly literature across an array of publishing formats and disciplines. Released in beta in November 2004, the Google Scholar index includes most peer-reviewed online journals of Europe and America's largest...
lists almost 10,000 citations. His latest textbook Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning (Springer, 2006) has also been widely adopted.
His research interests include probabilistic approaches to machine learning, as well as their application to fields such as biomedical sciences and healthcare.
Bishop holds a Commercial Pilot Licence
Commercial Pilot Licence
A Commercial Pilot License or, in the United States, a Commercial Pilot Certificate, is a qualification that permits the holder to act as the Pilot In Command of a single pilot aircraft, or as co-pilot of a multi-pilot aircraft and be paid for his/her work.The basic requirements to obtain the...
, and for relaxation he enjoys flying light aircraft, including aerobatics in an Extra 200
Extra 200
The Extra Flugzeugbau Extra 200 is a two-seat, tandem arrangement, low-wing aerobatic monoplane with conventional landing gear fully capable of Unlimited category competition. It was designed by Walter Extra who introduced it to the United States market in 1996...
unlimited-category aerobatic aircraft. He is married and has two children.
Chris Bishop presented the 2008 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures
Royal Institution Christmas Lectures
The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures are a series of lectures on a single topic, which have been held at the Royal Institution in London each year since 1825. The lectures present scientific subjects to a general audience, including young people, in an informative and entertaining manner....
Hi-tech Trek — The Quest for the Ultimate Computer.