BEACON: An NSF Center for the Study of Evolution in Action

生物/计算进化行动中心（BEACON）是一个科学和技术中心（STC），能够研究自然和人工系统中的进化动力学，并培训生物/计算领域的多学科科学家，其独特的重点是进化生物学，计算机科学和工程的交叉。该中心将加强生物学中计算方法的应用，人工智能在计算机科学中的应用，以及遗传算法在工程设计中的增强。自然选择的进化定义了一种为复杂问题寻找解决方案的算法方法;计算机科学家和工程师已经利用类似的算法来应对各种挑战，这些挑战需要在多个竞争维度上进行优化。同样，生物学家已经开始使用进化过程的数字建模来研究古生物学和基因网络等领域复杂生物结构和模式的进化，这些领域无法在体内进行实验操作。该中心将通过三个重点小组协调活动来促进这些跨学科的努力：（1）基因组，网络和进化的进化，（2）行为和智力的进化，以及（3）社区和集体动力学的进化。该中心有潜力通过开发数字实验来测试和应用进化生物学的基本原理，从而改变生物学和计算科学。可能的影响将是深远的：从网络安全到日常计算应用，从疾病抵抗力的进化到社会行为的自组织。BEACON中心将培养下一代跨学科科学家，并通过为K12学生和科学博物馆提供重要的教育宣传，教育公众关于进化及其在解决现实世界问题中的作用。

The Bio/computational Evolution in Action CONsortium (BEACON) is a Science and Technology Center (STC) that enables research on evolutionary dynamics in natural and artificial systems and training of multi-disciplinary scientists in bio/computation, with a unique focus on the intersection of evolutionary biology, computer science, and engineering. The Center will enhance the development of applications of computational methods in biology, the use of artificial intelligence in computer science, and the enhancement of genetic algorithms in engineering design. Evolution by natural selection defines an algorithmic approach to finding solutions for complex problems; computer scientists and engineers have harnessed similar algorithms to a diversity of challenges that require optimization over multiple competing dimensions. Likewise, biologists have begun to employ digital modeling of the evolutionary process to examine evolution of complex biological structures and patterns in areas such as paleontology and the gene networks, which defy experimental manipulation in vivo. The Center will promote these interdisciplinary efforts by coordinating activities through three thrust groups: (1) Evolution of Genomes, Networks, and Evolvability, (2) Evolution of Behavior and Intelligence, and (3) Evolution of Communities and Collective Dynamics. This center has the potential to transform both biology and computational sciences by developing digital experiments to test and apply fundamental principles of evolutionary biology. The possible impacts will be far reaching: from cyber-security to everyday computing applications, from the evolution of disease resistance to the self-organization of social behavior. The BEACON center will train the next generation of interdisciplinary scientists and educate the public about evolution and its role in solving real-world problems through significant educational outreach for K12 students and science museums.