Workshop on Models of Thought Processes: Insights Toward Chemical Systems; June 20-23, 2005; Arlington, VA

该奖项由数学和物理科学理事会化学部门、生物科学理事会综合生物学和神经科学部门、社会、行为和经济科学理事会行为和认知科学部门、计算机和网络系统部门以及计算机和信息科学与工程理事会的信息和智能系统部门颁发，与工程理事会化学和运输系统司合作，支持将于2004年6月20日至22日在国家科学基金会举行的“思维过程模型：对化学系统的洞察”研讨会。本次研讨会将汇集来自多个学科的科学家，探讨化学如何为学习、记忆、运动控制、传感器集成、信号传导、计算等关键过程提供见解和模型，以及从其他科学领域获得的关于这些过程的知识如何为化学家开辟新的和令人兴奋的领域。来自化学、生物学、神经科学、认知科学、计算机科学、数学、物理学和工程学等不同领域的受邀参与者将参加为期半天的会议，专门讨论学习和其他过程的不同方面，并在最后的会议中总结和综合已经出现的问题和见解。与会者将被要求在研讨会前准备材料，这些材料将突出跨学科攻击的关键问题。将编写一份讲习班摘要和最后报告，调查特别有希望的方向和方法。要解决的具体领域是：1)基于化学和生物学的计算方法；2)化学系统的学习模型；3)局部（突触）和全局（网络）层面的信息传递；4)在学习、记忆、计算、传感和信号传导中重要的关键分子和结构元素的合成和分析。将雇用一名专业科学作家协助准备研讨会前材料和最后报告，并为新闻稿和其他形式的公共传播制作材料。本次研讨会的更广泛的影响包括它在这个固有的跨学科领域探索科学思想的多样性，具有产生跨领域新合作的强大前景。少数博士后和/或高级研究生将被邀请参加，包括来自代表性不足群体的个人。讲习班的成果将在一个公众可访问的网站上公布。其他目标包括确定多学科、多层次方法可能产生重要新见解的领域，并启动跨学科合作，这可能与几个跨学科NSF计划相关。

This award by the Division of Chemistry in the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences, the Division of Integrative Biology and Neuroscience in the Directorate for Biological Sciences, the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences in the Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences, the Division of Computer and Network Systems and the Division of Information and Intelligent Systems in the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering, and the Division of Chemical and Transport Systems in the Directorate for Engineering, supports a Workshop on "Models of Thought Processes: Insights toward Chemical Systems" to be held at the National Science Foundation in June 20-22, 2004.This workshop will bring together scientists from several disciplines to explore how chemistry may offer insights into and models for such key processes as learning, memory, motor control, integration of sensors, signaling, computation and how knowledge gained about these processes from other areas of science may open up new and exciting areas for chemists. Invited participants from a range of fields, including chemistry, biology, neuroscience, cognitive science, computer science, mathematics, physics, and engineering will engage in half-day sessions devoted to different aspects of learning and other processes and in a final session to summarize and synthesize the questions and insights that have arisen. Participants will be asked to prepare materials before the workshop that will highlight key issues for cross-disciplinary attack. A workshop summary and final report will be prepared that will survey particularly promising directions and approaches. Specific areas to be addressed are: 1) chemically and biologically based approaches to computation; 2) models of learning in chemical systems; 3) transmission of information at the local (synaptic) and global (network) levels; 4) synthesis and analysis of key molecules and structural elements important in learning, memory, computation, sensing and signaling. A professional science writer will be employed to assist with preparing pre-workshop materials and the final report, and to craft materials for press releases and other forms of public dissemination. The broader impact of this workshop includes its exploration of the diversity of scientific thought in this inherently interdisciplinary area, with strong prospects for generating new collaborations across fields. A small number of postdoctoral and/or advanced graduate students will be invited to attend including individuals from underrepresented groups. The results of the workshop will be made available on a publicly accessible website. Other goals include the identification of areas in which a multidisciplinary, multilevel approach is likely to yield significant new insights, and initiation of interdisciplinary collaborations, which may be relevant to several interdisciplinary NSF programs.