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SUMMARY:SynBio Forum: Engineering Complex Systems in Biology - Sabine Haue
 rt (Assistant Professor in Robotics\, University of Bristol)\, Ricard Sole
  (Research professor at Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studie
 s\, head of Complex Systems Lab)
DTSTART:20181029T140000Z
DTEND:20181029T180000Z
UID:TALK109702@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Alexandra Ting
DESCRIPTION:Join us for our termly SynBio Forum as we explore engineering 
 complex systems in biology. We'll start with short talks on AI tools and m
 ethods by Mathworks\, Nvidia\, Microsoft Research (and more) followed by k
 eynote presentations by Sabine Hauert and Ricard Sole. Afternoon tea\, a d
 inner buffet and a drinks reception will be provided for discussion and ne
 tworking opportunities. Register now! Limited seats available.\n\nRegister
  for free via https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/synbio-forum-michaelmas-2018-
 engineering-complex-systems-in-biology-tickets-49734886384\n\nSCHEDULE\n\n
 2:00-3:15pm\nShort talks on artificial intelligence tools and methods by M
 icrosoft Research\, Nvidia\, Mathworks\, and more.\n\n3:15-4:00pm\nAfterno
 on tea\n\n4:00-4:45pm\n"Swarm engineering across scales"\n\nSabine Hauert 
 (Assistant professor of robotics at University of Bristol)\n\nSwarm engine
 ering allows us to design self organised systems that work in large number
 s and at small scales. Swarm strategies are either inspired from nature (a
 nt colonies\, fish shoals\, bird flocks\, cellular systems) or are automat
 ically discovered using machine learning and crowdsourcing. Demonstrated a
 pplications range from the deployment of swarms of flying robots to create
  outdoor communication networks\, or the use of 1000 coin-sized robots to 
 form structures and explore the environment\, to the design of nanoparticl
 es and synthetic bacteria for biomedical applications. Ultimately\, we aim
  to develop a unified framework for the engineering of swarms across scale
 s. \n\n4:45-5:30pm\n"Major synthetic transitions: from protocells to Earth
 's Terraformation"\n\nRicard Sole (ICREA research professor (Catalan Insti
 tute for Research and Advanced Studied)\, Universitat Pompeu Fabra\, head 
 of the Complex Systems Lab)\n\nEvolution is marked by well-defined events 
 involving profound innovations that are known as ‘major evolutionary tra
 nsitions’. They involve the integration of autonomous elements into a ne
 w\, higher-level organization whereby the former isolated units interact i
 n novel ways\, losing their original autonomy. All major transitions\, whi
 ch span multiple scales and include the origin of life\, cells\, multicell
 ular systems\, societies or language (among other examples)\, took place m
 illions of years ago. Are these transitions unique\, rare events? Have the
 y instead universal traits that make them almost inevitable when the right
  pieces are in place? Are there general laws of evolutionary innovation? I
 n order to approach this problem under a novel perspective\, we argue that
  a parallel class of evolutionary transitions can be explored involving th
 e use of artificial evolutionary experiments where alternative paths to in
 novation can be explored. These ‘synthetic’ transitions include\, for 
 example\, the creation of nanocells\, the artificial evolution of multicel
 lular systems or the emergence of language in evolved communicating robots
 . Moreover\, we can also consider the creation of synthetic ecosystems and
  how to use them to engineer our biosphere. These alternative scenarios co
 uld help us to understand the underlying laws that predate the rise of maj
 or innovations and the possibility for general laws of evolved complexity.
 \n\n5:30pm and onwards\nDinner buffet and drinks reception
LOCATION:Old Divinity School\, St Johns Street\, Cambridge
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