Logic & Language Fundamentals

Dave Barker-Plummer has dedicated his career to advancing logic education through technology as a Senior Research Engineer at Stanford University's Center for the Study of Language and Information. After earning his Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Edinburgh under Alan Bundy's supervision, he has managed the Openproof project since 1995, developing innovative educational software for teaching logic at the undergraduate level. His work includes co-authoring influential publications like "Language, Proof and Logic" and "Tarski's World," which have become standard tools in logic education. His expertise spans technology-enhanced education, diagrammatic logic, and automated reasoning, demonstrated through his teaching positions at Stanford University, Duke University, and Swarthmore College. Beyond academia, he maintains a creative outlet as a musician with PAN!C, a San Francisco-based reggae/pop/jazz band, while sharing his insights through his blog as Dr. Gradgrind.

John W. Etchemendy has profoundly shaped Stanford University through his remarkable career spanning academic innovation and institutional leadership. After earning his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Nevada, Reno, and his Ph.D. from Stanford in 1982, he briefly taught at Princeton before joining Stanford's faculty in 1983. His academic contributions include groundbreaking work in logic and semantics, authoring influential books like "The Concept of Logical Consequence" and developing pioneering educational software. As Stanford's twelfth provost from 2000 to 2017, he led the university through significant growth, overseeing the hiring of 80% of Stanford's faculty, completing over 70 major building projects, and strengthening financial aid despite economic challenges. Currently serving as Co-Director of Stanford's Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence and Patrick Suppes Family Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences, Etchemendy continues to influence education and research. His collaborative leadership style and commitment to excellence have earned him widespread respect in academia, while his work in logic, philosophy of language, and artificial intelligence continues to shape multiple fields.