Novel methods for the analysis of animal movement: spatial and temporal structure across scale SCIB conference; Charleston SC; Jan 3-7, 2012

动物运动的量化是生物学中不同研究学科的重要工具。例如，开发新突变体的遗传学家使用运动来描述数千个品系的表型变化，神经科学家使用运动来了解大脑如何工作，动物迁移模式的变化正在提供对全球气候变化影响的理解。从发育中的胚胎内细胞运动的规模到大陆和海洋迁移模式的努力都受益于计算，自动跟踪和成像的新进展。然而，许多最新的工具正在学术实验室内开发，即使免费提供，也可能需要工程方面的专业技能才能使用。所有这些项目的第二个挑战是，需要制定数学方法，分析通过自动跟踪和移动评估系统产生的大量数据集。因此，计算和传感器硬件的进步创造了前所未有的机会，但许多生物学家却无法获得。作为解决这一问题的第一步，我们组织了一次研讨会，使潜在用户能够了解现有的新工具。该计划旨在鼓励观众之间的互动，并与受邀演讲者创造合作和共享发展的机会，否则是不可能的。研讨会将包括11位演讲者的演讲，其中包括一名研究生，四名博士后和初级研究员或教师。演讲者的集合说明了一个重大的努力，招募最重要的贡献者，这一综合性的主题，同时扩大代表性不足的群体在工程和生物学的接口的参与。

The quantification of animal movement is an important tool in diverse research disciplines within biology. For example, geneticists developing new mutants use locomotion to describe changes in phenotype for thousands of lines, neuroscientists use movement to understand how the brain works, and changes in animal migration patterns are providing understanding of the effects of global climate change. Endeavors ranging from the scale of the movements of cells within developing embryos to continental and ocean migration patterns are benefitting from new advances in computing, automated tracking, and imaging. However, many of the newest tools are being developed within academic laboratories and, even if offered freely, may require specialized skills in engineering to utilize. A second challenge for all such projects is the need to develop mathematical approaches to the analysis of the large data sets produced via automated tracking and movement assessment systems. Thus, advances in computing and sensor hardware have created unprecedented opportunities that are nonetheless unavailable to many biologists. As a first step to address this problem, we have organized a symposium where potential users can become aware of the new tools available. The program is designed to encourage interactions among the audience members and with invited speakers to create opportunities for collaboration and shared development that would not otherwise be possible. The symposium will include presentations by eleven speakers including one graduate student, four postdocs and junior fellows or faculty. The collection of speakers illustrates a major effort to recruit among the most important contributors to this integrative topic while simultaneously broadening the participation of under-represented groups at the interface of engineering and biology.