Conference Service Mandl

abstract: We are once again delighted to offer a hands-on course in modelling of microbial systems. In one stimulating week, this workshop will get you into individual-based modelling of microbial interactions with our newly developed software tool iDynoMiCS (individual-based Dynamics of Microbial Communities Simulator). In particular, you will get an in depth understanding of mathematical modelling of biofilms and other spatially structured microbial systems.

The course is intended for all students and researchers who have started to, or are considering to use, individual-based modelling for microbial systems. By the end of the course, participants will be able to independently use iDynoMiCS and apply it to their own work. The course will consist of a mix of core and guest lectures, tutorials, and a mini-project.

After running this course twice at the Danish Technical University in Lyngby, Copenhagen, with great success, the course will be held at the University of Birmingham in the UK in 2010.

Candidates from the fields of environmental science, microbiology, ecology, computer science, applied mathematics, engineering, and physics are encouraged to apply. Send (i) a brief statement of research interest and level of experience in modelling/programming, (ii) a brief CV, and (iii) a letter of support from your main advisor. The limited number of places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

abstract: Computational and mathematical modelling of biological systems is now commonplace and indeed essential to many projects. A particular problem faced by modellers is that of choosing the most appropriate scale, or level of abstraction, for their model, especially given that there may be different important features at each scale. For example, in an epidemiological model, we might wish to describe the way in which individuals interact. Alternatively, we might be more interested in the analysis of population level features, making ordinary differential equations more appropriate. The aim of the workshop is to bring together researchers working on techniques which allow exploration of models spanning a range of scales, especially those in which the different scales are rigorously related. At Stirling, we are interested in modelling techniques such as Process Algebra that allow large scale properties to emerge from small scale behaviour. We would welcome contributions using other techniques. We also particularly welcome biologists interested in how this sort of modelling across scales can help them understand their system.

abstract: The current generation of high-throughput genetic and genomic platforms, has had a great impact on biomedical research, and given new impetus to studies of molecular mechanisms of genetic disease, and to systems biology. The next big technological step forward is the advent of cheap, fast, sequencing platforms that will allow near-complete genome sequences to be quickly and affordably obtained from individual members of any species. Individual genomes from humans, their pathogens and model organisms will have an enormous impact on population genetics and evolutionary theory, as well as on epidemiology, particularly our understanding of infectious disease. We plan to discuss the most pressing open problems and the most promising avenues of future research necessary to deliver the full benefits of genome resequencing.