Jonathan Bowen to give the Peter Landin Semantics Seminar: 4 December 2025, BCS London office and on Zoom

--000000000000358b7c0644766d03
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Dear Colleagues,

Please see below details about the event, which will be preceded by the
BCS-FACS Annual General Meeting. The event can be attended either online or
in person.

Best wishes,
Andrei


https://www.bcs.org/events-calendar/2025/december/hybrid-facs-agm-and-peter=
-landin-semantics-seminar/
(free registration online)
Hybrid event:
*BCS-FACS AGM & Peter Landin Semantics Seminar*
*Formal Methods: Whence and Whither*
BCS London office (near Moorgate underground station) and on Zoom, 4
December 2025

Speaker: *J <https://sites.google.com/site/jpbowen/>**onathan Bowen
<https://sites.google.com/site/jpbowen/>* (Chair of FACS)Agenda

3:30pm - Networking for attendees (refreshments and biscuits)
*4:00pm* - 5:00pm *FACS AGM* (optional!)
5:15pm - Networking for physical/online attendees. Includes refreshments
and biscuits for those in person.
*6:00pm* - *Peter **Landin Semantics Seminar Talk*
7:00pm - Questions and answers
7:15pm - Networking for physical attendees (light refreshments)
8:00pm - Event ends for online attendees
*8:30pm* - Event ends for in-person attendees
Synopsis

Alan Turing arguably wrote the first paper on formal methods over 75 years
ago. Since then, there have been claims and counterclaims about formal
methods. Tool development has been slow but aided by Moore=E2=80=99s Law, w=
ith the
increasing power of computers. Although formal methods are not widespread
in practical usage at a heavyweight level, their influence has crept into
software engineering practice to the extent that they are no longer
necessarily called formal methods in their use. In addition, in areas where
safety and security are important, with the increasing use of computers in
such applications, formal methods are a viable way to improve the
reliability of such software-based systems. Their use in hardware, where a
mistake can be very costly, is also important. This talk explores the
journey of formal methods to the present day and speculates on future
directions, including the use of Artificial Intelligence.
About the speaker

*Jonathan Bowen*, FBCS FRSA, is Chairman of Museophile Limited (founded in
2002), an Emeritus Professor at London South Bank University, where he was
Professor of Computing, establishing and heading the Centre for Applied
Formal Methods from 2000. From 2017, he has been an Adjunct Professor at
Southwest University, Chongqing, China. Between 2013=E2=80=9315, he was Pro=
fessor
of Computer Science at Birmingham City University. During 2006=E2=80=9307, =
he was a
visiting academic at University College London. Between 2007=E2=80=9309, he=
 was a
Visiting Professor at King's College, London, and during 2008=E2=80=9309, h=
e was an
Associate at Praxis High Integrity Systems (now Altran). From 2010, he was
a Visiting Professor at the University of Westminster. During 2010, he was
a Visiting Professor at Waikato University in New Zealand, and in 2012, he
was a Visiting Professor at the Pratt Institute in New York. He is the
current Chair of the BCS-FACS Specialist Group.

------------------------

Our events are for adults aged 16 years and over.

BCS is a membership organisation. If you enjoy this event, please consider
joining BCS. You=E2=80=99ll be very welcome. You=E2=80=99ll receive access =
to many
exclusive career development tools, an introduction to a thriving
professional community and also help us Make IT Good For Society. Join BCS
today <https://www.bcs.org/membership/events>

Please note: if you have any accessibility needs, please let us know via
[email protected] and we=E2=80=99ll work with you to make suitable arrangements=
.

If you are attending in person, please familiarise yourself with the Visito=
r
Instructions <https://www.bcs.org/media/ww4jlkud/visitor-instructions.docx>=
 for
the BCS London Office.

For overseas delegates who wish to attend the event, please note that BCS
does not issue invitation letters. Photo by Markus Spiske

This event is brought to you by: FACS (Formal Aspects of Computing Science)
group
<https://www.bcs.org/membership-and-registrations/member-communities/facs-f=
ormal-aspects-of-computing-science-group>

--000000000000358b7c0644766d03
Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<div dir=3D"ltr">Dear Colleagues,=C2=A0<div><br></div><div>Please see below=
 details about the event, which will be preceded by the BCS-FACS Annual Gen=
eral Meeting. The event can be attended either online or in person.</div><d=
iv><br></div><div>Best wishes,=C2=A0</div><div>Andrei=C2=A0<div class=3D"gm=
ail_quote"><br><br><div dir=3D"ltr"><div><div style=3D"font-family:tahoma,s=
ans-serif"><a href=3D"https://www.bcs.org/events-calendar/2025/december/hyb=
rid-facs-agm-and-peter-landin-semantics-seminar/" target=3D"_blank">https:/=
/www.bcs.org/events-calendar/2025/december/hybrid-facs-agm-and-peter-landin=
-semantics-seminar/</a></div></div><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"l=
tr"><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div style=3D"font-family:t=
ahoma,sans-serif"><div>(free registration online)</div><h1 style=3D"box-siz=
ing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px;font-family:inherit;line-height:1.2;colo=
r:rgb(0,102,51)"><font size=3D"4">Hybrid event:=C2=A0</font></h1><div><b><f=
ont size=3D"4"><span class=3D"gmail_default">BCS-</span>FACS AGM &amp;=C2=
=A0<span class=3D"gmail_default">Peter=C2=A0</span>Landin Semantics Seminar=
</font></b></div><div><b><i><font size=3D"4">Formal Methods: Whence and Whi=
ther</font></i></b></div><div><font size=3D"4">BCS London office=C2=A0<span=
 class=3D"gmail_default">(near Moorgate underground station)=C2=A0</span>an=
d on Zoom,=C2=A0<span class=3D"gmail_default"></span>4 December 202<span cl=
ass=3D"gmail_default"></span>5</font><font size=3D"4"><br></font></div><div=
><br></div><div style=3D"box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family=
:DINNext,sans-serif"><div style=3D"box-sizing:border-box"><h2 style=3D"box-=
sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:inherit;line-height:1.2;=
color:inherit"><font size=3D"4" style=3D"font-weight:500">Speaker:=C2=A0</f=
ont><span style=3D"font-size:large"><span class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"=
font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"></span><b><a href=3D"https://sites.google.co=
m/site/jpbowen/" target=3D"_blank">J</a></b><span class=3D"gmail_default" s=
tyle=3D"font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><b><a href=3D"https://sites.google.c=
om/site/jpbowen/" target=3D"_blank">onathan Bowen</a></b><span style=3D"fon=
t-weight:normal">=C2=A0(Chair of FACS)</span></span></span></h2><h2 style=
=3D"box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:inherit;line-hei=
ght:1.2;color:inherit"><font size=3D"4">Agenda</font></h2><p style=3D"box-s=
izing:border-box;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1rem;line-height:1.2">3:30pm =
- Networking for attendees (refreshments and biscuits)<br style=3D"box-sizi=
ng:border-box"><b>4:00pm</b>=C2=A0- 5:00pm=C2=A0<b>FACS AGM</b><span class=
=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">=C2=A0(optional!=
)</span><br style=3D"box-sizing:border-box">5:15pm - Networking for physica=
l/online attendees. Includes refreshments and biscuits for those in person.=
<br style=3D"box-sizing:border-box"><b>6:00pm</b>=C2=A0-=C2=A0<span class=
=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><b>Peter=C2=A0</=
b></span><b>Landin Semantics Seminar Talk</b><br style=3D"box-sizing:border=
-box">7:00pm - Questions and answers<br style=3D"box-sizing:border-box">7:1=
5pm -=C2=A0Networking for physical attendees (light refreshments)<br style=
=3D"box-sizing:border-box">8:00pm -=C2=A0Event ends for online attendees<br=
 style=3D"box-sizing:border-box;margin-bottom:0px"><b>8:30pm</b>=C2=A0- Eve=
nt ends for in-person attendees</p><h2 style=3D"box-sizing:border-box;margi=
n:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:inherit;line-height:1.2;color:inherit"><font si=
ze=3D"4">Synopsis</font></h2><p style=3D"box-sizing:border-box;margin-top:0=
px;margin-bottom:1rem;line-height:1.2">Alan Turing arguably wrote the first=
 paper on formal methods over 75 years ago.<span class=3D"gmail_default" st=
yle=3D"font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">=C2=A0</span>Since then, there have b=
een claims and counterclaims about formal methods. Tool development has bee=
n slow but aided by Moore=E2=80=99s Law, with the increasing power of compu=
ters. Although formal methods are not widespread in practical usage at a he=
avyweight level, their influence has crept into software engineering practi=
ce to the extent that they are no longer necessarily called formal methods =
in their use. In addition, in areas where safety and security are important=
, with the increasing use of computers in such applications, formal methods=
 are a viable way to improve the reliability of such software-based systems=
. Their use in hardware, where a mistake can be very costly, is also import=
ant. This talk explores the journey of formal methods to the present day an=
d speculates on future directions, including the use of Artificial Intellig=
ence.</p><h2 style=3D"box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-famil=
y:inherit;line-height:1.2;color:inherit"><font size=3D"4">About the speaker=
</font></h2><p style=3D"box-sizing:border-box;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:=
1rem;line-height:1.2"><b>Jonathan Bowen</b>, FBCS FRSA, is Chairman of Muse=
ophile Limited (founded in 2002), an Emeritus Professor at London South Ban=
k University, where he was Professor of Computing, establishing and heading=
 the Centre for Applied Formal Methods from 2000. From 2017, he has been an=
 Adjunct Professor at Southwest University, Chongqing, China.<span class=3D=
"gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">=C2=A0</span>Betwee=
n 2013=E2=80=9315, he was Professor of Computer Science at Birmingham City =
University. During 2006=E2=80=9307, he was a visiting academic at Universit=
y College London.<span class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:tahoma,=
sans-serif">=C2=A0</span>Between 2007=E2=80=9309, he was a Visiting Profess=
or at King&#39;s College, London, and during 2008=E2=80=9309, he was an Ass=
ociate at Praxis High Integrity Systems (now Altran). From 2010, he was a V=
isiting Professor at the University of Westminster.<span class=3D"gmail_def=
ault" style=3D"font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">=C2=A0</span>During 2010, he =
was a Visiting Professor at Waikato University in New Zealand, and in 2012,=
 he was a Visiting Professor at the Pratt Institute in New York.<span class=
=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">=C2=A0He is the =
current Chair of the BCS-FACS Specialist Group.</span></p><p style=3D"box-s=
izing:border-box;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1rem;line-height:1.2"><span c=
lass=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">------------=
------------</span></p><p style=3D"box-sizing:border-box;margin-top:0px;mar=
gin-bottom:1rem;line-height:1.2;font-size:0.9rem">Our events are for adults=
 aged 16 years and over.</p><p style=3D"box-sizing:border-box;margin-top:0p=
x;margin-bottom:1rem;line-height:1.2;font-size:0.9rem">BCS is a membership =
organisation. If you enjoy this event, please consider joining BCS. You=E2=
=80=99ll be very welcome. You=E2=80=99ll receive access to many exclusive c=
areer development tools, an introduction to a thriving professional communi=
ty and also help us Make IT Good For Society.=C2=A0<a href=3D"https://www.b=
cs.org/membership/events" target=3D"_blank" style=3D"color:rgb(0,0,0);box-s=
izing:border-box;background-color:transparent;display:inline;font-size:0.9r=
em;margin-bottom:0px">Join BCS today</a></p><p style=3D"box-sizing:border-b=
ox;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1rem;line-height:1.2;font-size:0.9rem"><spa=
n style=3D"box-sizing:border-box;font-weight:bolder">Please note:</span>=C2=
=A0if you have any accessibility needs, please let us know via=C2=A0<a href=
=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank" style=3D"color:rgb(0,0,0);box-s=
izing:border-box;background-color:transparent;display:inline;font-size:0.9r=
em;margin-bottom:0px">[email protected]</a>=C2=A0and we=E2=80=99ll work with yo=
u to make suitable arrangements.</p><p style=3D"box-sizing:border-box;margi=
n-top:0px;margin-bottom:1rem;line-height:1.2;font-size:0.9rem">If you are a=
ttending in person, please familiarise yourself with the<span style=3D"box-=
sizing:border-box">=C2=A0</span><a href=3D"https://www.bcs.org/media/ww4jlk=
ud/visitor-instructions.docx" target=3D"_blank" style=3D"color:rgb(0,0,0);b=
ox-sizing:border-box;background-color:transparent;display:inline;font-size:=
0.9rem;margin-bottom:0px">Visitor Instructions</a>=C2=A0for the BCS London =
Office.</p><p style=3D"box-sizing:border-box;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1=
rem;line-height:1.2;font-size:0.9rem">For overseas delegates who wish to at=
tend the event, please note that BCS does not issue invitation letters. Pho=
to by Markus Spiske</p><p style=3D"box-sizing:border-box;margin-top:0px;mar=
gin-bottom:0px;line-height:1.2;font-size:0.9rem"><span style=3D"box-sizing:=
border-box;font-weight:bolder;margin-bottom:0px">This event is brought to y=
ou by:=C2=A0<a href=3D"https://www.bcs.org/membership-and-registrations/mem=
ber-communities/facs-formal-aspects-of-computing-science-group" target=3D"_=
blank" style=3D"color:rgb(0,0,0);box-sizing:border-box;background-color:tra=
nsparent;display:inline;font-size:0.9rem;margin-bottom:0px">FACS (Formal As=
pects of Computing Science) group</a></span></p></div></div></div></div></d=
iv></div></div></div><p align=3D"center"><br></p></div></div></div>

--000000000000358b7c0644766d03--