Welcome

June 13-15th, 2011, Paris, FRANCE
Organized by students from the “Frontiers in Life Sciences” graduate school | Liliane Bettencourt PhD program

Shapes in Living Systems

One of the key steps of scientific studies and discoveries is accurately describing an “object” by defining it in space, by outlining its shape, and in time, by observing its dynamical changes.
The diversity of shapes in living systems and the functions that they possess is humbling. They range from circles to stars and more complex geometrical shapes like fractals. Studying biological objects and their shape raises interesting scientific questions: Can we explain how and why a system builds and invests energy to maintain a certain shape? How do living systems sense the shapes surrounding them? What is the function of these shapes on different levels of description? From receptor-ligand interactions, globular shape of Volvox colonies, biofilms of B. subtilis, branched shapes of neurons, to the structure of living space of social species. What are the mechanisms that direct the change of shape during metamorphosis of insects and embryogenesis? How do naturally occurring shapes differ from artificial shapes? Can we and should we use our knowledge and technology to re-shape living systems?

In June 2011, during the 2nd Paris Interdisciplinary PhD International Symposium, mathematicians, evolutionists, molecular biologists, cognitive scientists, sociologists, designers and artists will be invited to confront their perception of shapes and discuss the relevance of shapes in living systems. This symposium will be a unique opportunity to gather established senior researchers, young researchers and students from many different fields, start interdisciplinary debates and build up an open-minded and truly interdisciplinary scientific community.

Meeting people !

This symposium is organized as an opportunity to meet new people from diverse fields with a common interest in life sciences, sharing ideas and changing one's own point of view on different issues. Special emphasis will be put on questions, round tables and discussions. A blog will also be in place before, during and after the symposium, so that anyone interested in the issue will be able to contribute to the debate, at any time and from any place. Let's discuss and shake up ideas!

First PIPS edition ...

This is the second time this symposium is organized by students of the FDV doctoral school. To know more about the first PIPS which occured on December 2009 please follow this link.