Workshop: Biocomplexity VI - Complex Behavior in Unicellular Organisms to be held at Notre Dame University, May 2004

该项目将支持由印第安纳大学生物复杂性研究所和圣母大学生物复杂性跨学科研究中心联合举办的国际研讨会《生物复杂性VI：单细胞生物体的复杂行为》。细菌的集体行为是基础科学中的一个问题，在生物工程、农业、医学、船舶建筑和地球科学中具有重要意义。在从外科植入物到潜艇的各种情况下，生物污垢是一个主要问题，而生物被膜是耐药感染的主要原因。细菌集体行为的调节机制不同于更高级的生物体中的集体行为，并为比较与胚胎发育相关的类似生物学问题的不同设计解决方案提供了机会。这次研讨会将对我们目前对这些问题的理解有一个更全面的看法，并包括一个小组讨论和报告新的方向和合作。它将汇集许多学科的研究人员，他们通常不会参加同一会议(包括实验和理论生物学、生物物理学、工程学、数学和计算机科学)。研究方法将从单分子相互作用和遗传学到系统生物学和生态学。来自美国、加拿大、欧洲、以色列和日本的约50名演讲者将参加会议，总共约有100人参加，其中包括许多非专家。研讨会将包括为研究生和初级科学家提供的教程，特别是那些目前不在该领域，但对学习开放问题、方法和机会感兴趣的人。作为研讨会推广工作的一部分，Eshel Ben-Jacob博士将为非科学家和广大社区感兴趣的成员做一次公开演讲。

This project will support the International Workshop Biocomplexity VI: ComplexBehavior in Unicellular Organisms, jointly organized by the BiocomplexityInstitute at Indiana University and the Interdisciplinary Center for the Study ofBiocomplexity at the University of Notre Dame. The collective behavior ofbacteria is as a problem in basic science and is significant in bioengineering, agriculture, medicine, naval architecture and geosciences.... Biofouling is a major problem in cases ranging from surgical implants to submarines, and biofilms are a major cause of antibiotic-resistant infections. The regulatory mechanisms for collective behaviors in bacteria differ from those in more advanced organisms and present an opportunity to compare different design solutions to similar biological problems related to embryonic development. This workshop will develop a more comprehensive view of our current understanding of these issues and include a panel to discuss and report on new directions and collaborations. It will bring together researchers in many disciplines who would not normally attend the same conference (including experimental and theoretical biology, biophysics, engineering, mathematics, and computer science). Approaches will range from single molecule interactions and genetics to systems biology and ecology. About fifty speakers will attend from the USA, Canada, Europe, Israel and Japan, with a total participation of about 100, including many non-specialists. The workshop will include tutorials for graduate students and junior scientists, especially those not currently in the field, but interested in learning about open problems, methodologies and opportunities. As part of the workshop's outreach effort, Dr. Eshel Ben-Jacob will present a public lecture for nonscientists and interested members of the community-at-large.