[DMANET] BDA 2013 --- announcement and call for submissions

*** Apologies for multiple messages ***

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The 1st Workshop on Biological Distributed Algorithms (BDA 2013)
14 October 2013, Jerusalem, Israel – in conjunction with DISC 2013
http://www.disc-conference.org/wp/bda2013/
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Distributed systems are prevalent in computer science and biology.
Both domains rely on networks of interacting entities to reach joint
decisions, coordinate and respond to inputs. Both also share several
other attributes including the use of randomization, the ability to
successfully handle failures and attacks, and reusing certain
components and ideas in multiple processes or algorithms.

These observations, some dating back to the 60s, have inspired the
development of several computational methods including neural networks
and genetic algorithms. However, until recently little thought has
been given to the specific connections between information processing
in biology and the field of distributed computing.

In this workshop we intend to focus on these connections.
Specifically, our goal is to highlight that thinking computationally
about the settings, requirements and goals of information processing
in biological networks can both, improve our understanding of the
underlying biology and lead to the development of novel computational
methods providing solutions to specific distributed computing
problems. Topics include but are not limited to:

- Communication models inspired by biological systems
- Coordination in cell fate determination
- Interactions in ant colonies
- The design and usage of networks in the brain
- Adaptability of networks to changing environments
- Robustness of networks to attacks and failures
- Synchronization

While we anticipate a wide range of topics, both from the biological
and from the computational point of view, we expect the submitted
papers to identify a specific biological system or process and a
corresponding computational problem on which they base their work.

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SUBMISSIONS
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We solicit submissions describing recent results relevant to
biological distributed computing. We especially welcome papers
describing new insights and / or case studies regarding the
relationship between distributed computing and biological systems even
if these are not fully formed. Since a major goal of the workshop is
to explore new directions and approaches, we especially encourage the
submission of ongoing work. Selected contributors would be asked to
present, discuss and defend their work at the workshop. Submissions
should be in PDF and include title, author information, and a 4-page
extended abstract.
Please use the following EasyChair submission link:
https://www.easychair.org/conferences/?conf=bda20131

Note: The workshop will not include published proceedings. In
particular, we welcome submissions of papers describing work that has
appeared or is expected to appear in other venues.

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IMPORTANT DATES
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11 July 2013 – Paper submission deadline
05 August 2013 – Decision notifications
14 October 2013 – Workshop

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INVITED SPEAKERS
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Uri Alon – Weizmann Institute
Ziv Bar-Joseph – CMU
Yuval Emek – ETH Zurich
Jasmine Fischer – Microsoft Research UK
Ofer Feinerman – Weizmann Institute
Amos Korman – CNRS and University of Paris Diderot

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PROGRAM COMMITTEE
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Ziv Bar-Joseph – CMU (Co-chair)
Yuval Emek – ETH Zurich (Co-chair)
Amos Korman – CNRS and University of Paris Diderot (Co-chair)
Naomi Leonard – Princeton
Nancy Lynch – MIT
Saket Navlakha – CMU
Roger Wattenhofer – ETH Zurich

--
Dr. Yuval Emek
Distributed Computing Group
TIK Laboratory, ETH Zurich
Gloriastrasse 35
8092 Zurich
Switzerland
+41 44 632 7974
yuval.emek@tik.ee.ethz.ch
http://www.disco.ethz.ch/members/yuval.html
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