EMSIM Workshop

For detailed schedule click here.

Meeting Venue:

Telluride Intermediate School
725 West Colorado Ave., Telluride, CO 81435
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Meeting Description:

In stark contrast to conventional physical systems, living systems are active (they consume and dissipate energy), far-from-equilibrium (traditional thermodynamics and statistical physics results are inadmissible) and highly stochastic (such that deterministic equations of motion cannot capture their dynamics). Fundamental open questions include how the defining attributes of living systems emerge at the organismal or individual-cell level, upon appropriately coarse-graining the underlying molecular dynamics, and what physical laws govern these dynamics irrespective of organismal and environmental details.

In contrast to traditional approaches focusing on the cartography of genetic networks and molecular details, this workshop will focus on the top-down physics approach: identifying predictive quantitative laws using high-precision experimental data and using them to provide predictive minimalist models for emergent dynamics of living systems under different time-dependent conditions. To this end, this workshop will bring together a diverse group of creative, interdisciplinary scientists who have developed unique approaches, high-precision experiments and theory, for addressing these questions. The goal is to accelerate confluence of ideas and approaches, from high-throughput quantitative experimental methods to theoretical physics approaches. We expect that scientific dialogues resulting from this workshop will significantly advance fundamental understanding of the quantitative rules governing dynamics of living systems.

Notes: Included in the registration fee are five breakfasts and five catered lunches, the TSRC Wednesday night BBQ dinner (open to families), and two private workshop dinners at restaurants in Telluride.

We wish to ensure an intimate workshop setting, with no more than 20 to 25 participants. If you are interested in attending, but have not received an invitation, please contact the workshop organizer before registering. If you have registered for a meeting you were not invited to, you may be subject to a $100 fee.

TSRC is about expanding the frontiers of science, exploring new ideas, and building collaborations. The workshop schedule will allow for substantial unstructured time for participants to talk and think. All participants are expected to stay for the entire duration of the workshop. Scientists are encouraged to consider bringing family or friends. Telluride offers a number of options for children's camps (including Telluride Academy, Aha School for the Arts, and Pinhead Institute). There is more information on childcare, camps, and family activities on TSRC's website. Feel free to contact TSRC's staff to help with any planning and/or coordinating care.