Kenneth D. Forbus

Ken Forbus is the Walter P. Murphy Professor of Computer Science and Professor of Education at Northwestern University. He earned his Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence from MIT in 1984, along with S.M. and S.B. degrees in Computer Science from the same institution.

• Current research focuses on qualitative reasoning, analogical reasoning, spatial reasoning, sketch understanding, and the Companion cognitive architecture.
• He has made foundational contributions to qualitative physics, compositional modeling, and cognitive simulation through systems like CyclePad and Companions.
• His work spans AI, cognitive science, and education technology with applications in intelligent tutoring systems, educational software, and interactive entertainment.

Awards and Fellowships:

• Humboldt Research Award
• AAAI Fellow
• Cognitive Science Society Fellow
• ACM Fellow
• AAAS Fellow
• Herbert A. Simon Prize recipient

Research trends in recent publications include analogical reasoning frameworks, normative modeling, pretense simulation, qualitative spatial representations, and applications in education and cognitive systems. Articles frequently address intersections between AI, cognitive science, and human-computer interaction.

Teaching activities include core courses like Cognitive Science 207, Design of Problem Solvers, and Conversational AI. He co-developed the open-source Freeciv game framework for AI research in strategy games.