I was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa where I completed my Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Computational and Applied Mathematics and Bachelor of Science with Honours in Computer Science at the University of the Witwatersrand (wikipedia), where Professor Ian Sanders supervised my Honours-year research report. At Wits I spent way too much time on the Library Lawns, looking at the sky, met the most interesting group of people imaginable, and got to teach some amazing students. One day, after I finish my PhD, and a postdoc or two, I'm going back there to lecture.

When I was in South Africa, I was a partner in Silver Dragon Digital Creations (along with Dylan Shell and Mohamed Nanabhay) a small company that developed web applications and custom software solutions for small clients. Unfortunately since Dylan and I are overseas and Mo has joined the corporate world, it no longer exists.

I joined the University of Edinburgh in 2002 to do an MSc in Artificial Intelligence at the School of Informatics, and completed my dissertation in the old Mobile Robot Lab at Forrest Hill (it has since moved to the King's Buildings) under the supervision of Dr Gillian Hayes. Once again, I met a huge group of really interesting people, this time from all over the world. I also lived in Churchill House, which is arguably the best student accommodation in Edinburgh (I say arguably because I argue about this with people from Mylne's Court all the time).

After that, I was fortunate enough to stay in Edinburgh for another year as a Research Associate at the Institute for Perception, Action and Behaviour, working on the Hydra project under the supervision of Professor John Hallam and Dr Tim Taylor. That year I lived in a flat in Marchmont called Planet Telex, with George Christelis and Paul Fitch. Marchmont is full of undergraduates who made me feel slightly old and (unbelievably) very responsible. Fortunately, living with George and Paul, who are my age but actually are very responsible, helped keep things in perspective.

I moved to Amherst, Massachusetts in August 2004, to start my PhD with Professor Andy Barto, at the Autonomous Learning Laboratory. I am still getting used to American culture (sometimes interesting, sometimes odd) and American politics (which ranges from ridiculous to mildly amusing to incredibly embarrassing to frankly pretty damn scary, although things have lately improved dramatically), still insist on using SI units and ISO paper sizes, and have yet to find a decent cup of tea in this country, but I've recently become acquainted with the charms of lemonade and root beer. I live in a small white house in Amherst with Marc Cartright, Scott Kuindersma and Bruno Ribeiro.

Over the last few years I have worked with some fascinating robots.

I used to collect old (50s and 60s) science fiction, but had to stop when there wasn't any Asimov left. I still read new-ish SF, cyberpunk and some fantasy (Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, mostly). I'm also interested in military history, harbour dreams of one day building and flying a Sopwith Pup, and would love to have more time to play Go and watch Anime. I own a wine red Fender Stratocaster, which I am slowly learning to play.

My favourite place in the Universe is on Castle Rock, near Brenton-On-Sea in Knysna, South Africa, followed closely by the Library Lawns at Wits, and (slightly further along) The Meadows in Edinburgh, at twilight, in late July.

Most of my friends call me Pri$m. It's a long story.