To hear David Fleet talk about his latest research — including the use of computational processing in molecular biology — it’s hard to believe he wasn’t always drawn to computer science.
But Fleet, who is now Chair of Computer and Mathematical Sciences at U of T Scarborough, once imagined a much different career trajectory. In 1979, as a saxophonist, he enrolled at Queen’s University to study music.
There was just one problem.
“I found out that I was terrible,” says Fleet. That realization marked the start of many trips to the registrar’s office. He tried economics, but it wasn’t the right fit either. A foray into business lasted only two weeks. Directionless, he landed back in arts and science.
It was outside the classroom that Fleet and his bandmate, Rick Gurnsey, with whom Fleet played in a band called Dick Tracy, devoted long hours to discussing cognitive science and artificial intelligence.
“It got me thinking about how amazing the brain is and what an interesting subject of study it is,” says Fleet. Partly due to these conversations, he began to explore computer science and mathematics. In the end, it was Allan Jepson, his PhD supervisor at U of T, who really inspired him.
“Seeing students develop, learn and become mature researchers and scientists in their own right is both inspiring and a source of satisfaction.”
Jepson, says Fleet, “was fundamentally interested in the science. He used to tell me that he did what amused him, for its own sake.” Today, Fleet’s own natural curiosity propels his research and teaching. He still spends long hours discussing ideas, but now it’s with his students.
“It’s a tremendous amount of fun,” he says. “Seeing them develop, learn and become mature researchers and scientists in their own right is both inspiring and a source of satisfaction.”
As for Fleet’s bandmate? Rick Gurnsey is now a professor of psychology at Concordia University.