What Forecasting Brain States Teaches Us About Forecasting Anything

​Discover what forecasting brain states teaches us about prediction itself. The future doesn't have to be a guess. What do you want forecast?

​I'll walk through how I forecast brain states as part of my PhD research at McGill, and how to build estimators that actually reveal something. The kind that teach you about the system and make everyone in the room see it too.

​Forecasting isn't only about the prediction itself. It's a tool for understanding, for learning how the things you care about actually behave and evolve over time. Your team's performance, your health, your research, your business. The model is a mirror. It shows you the dynamics, the levers, the dependencies. Once you see those, you become better at predicting and deciding with or without the model.

​This framework didn't stay in the lab. Over the years, I have also forecasted brain atrophy, farming hazards and yields from satellite data, and demand across over 500 retail stores. So get creative: What do you want forecast?

​Topics

• ​How to think in a high-dimensional space

• ​When forecasting benefits from interpretable (non-black-box) models

• ​Brain State Forecast: inputs and outputs

• ​Forecasting your key indicator in your team

• ​What makes a good forecasting benchmark

​Who it’s for

​A curated, interdisciplinary group of leaders and practitioners working with data, AI, and product. Designed for those looking to broaden their perspective and actively engage in the discussion.

​Speaker

​I am a Computational Neuroscientist and AI Researcher with 10+ years bridging brain science and machine learning. My background spans science communication, industry R&D, and open science. I'm currently a PhD candidate at McGill's Centre for Integrative Neuroscience with Alan Evans, where I focus on forecasting brain states and translating research into real-world impact.

​McGill

​As a world-renowned centre for neuroscience and artificial intelligence, McGill is globally recognized as a leader in both fields, actively advancing their frontiers.

​Event Series

​This session is part of the event series "Brains & Algorithms".