Symposium Goals and Objectives
Two phrases encompass the scope of most of the field of bioengineering (excluding genetic engineering). Combined, these phrases form the title for this two-day long satellite symposium for the 2005 International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS) 35th International Congress of Physiological Sciences (ICPS): "Biophysical and biomechanical adaptation and bioinspired engineering."The evolutionarily developed adaptive properties of organisms, both plants and animals, are based upon physical principles and properties as well as upon chemical principles and properties. Studies of these biophysical and biomechanical adaptations are the evolutionarily based, ecologically relevant subfields of biophysics and bioengineering.
There is much that is useful that we can learn from nature. Organisms form a huge natural library of well-tested, sophisticated approaches and, sometimes, solutions to many of the design and process problems faced by human engineers. Reverse engineering of natural systems can be highly instructive and informative.
The full development of bioengineering requires active study in both subfields. Both subfields contribute importantly to understanding of how organisms work in their own environments and of how organisms may be used as model systems valuable in a range of other contexts.
The symposium will be the first gathering that we know of that brings together these aspects of biophysics and bioengineering. The program will present a sampling of recent results from a variety of cutting edge research programs in both subfields. There will be invited papers and contributed posters. Invited speakers have been asked to make presentations that highlight both the interdisciplinary aspects of their work and the opportunities for new and stronger research synergies that derive from their results.
Participants in the symposium will have many informal opportunities to meet and confer with colleagues, fellow students, and others from many teaching and research institutions both domestic and international. These networking opportunities are likely to be the most important contributions that the conference will make to enhancing and improving scientific, engineering, and educational activities.
All participants are strongly encouraged to also participate in the main 35th International Congress of Physiological Sciences, which will begin (in San Diego) the day after this symposium concludes.
Symposium Organization
Target audiences: active research and teaching personnel in the areas of biophysics, bioengineering, comparative and biomedical physiology, functional morphology and anatomy; undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in these areas; interested media people.
Organizing Committee: Malcolm S. Gordon (UCLA) and Morteza Gharib (Caltech), co-chairs; Michael Dickinson (Caltech), Jay R. Hove (University of Cincinnati), Geoffrey Spedding (University of Southern California), Richard Zimmer (UCLA). Staff support: Option of Bioengineering, Caltech (Martha Salcedo, Joshua Adams). Logistics support: Conference Services, Caltech.
Agenda: 24 invited papers in four sessions, morning and afternoon each full day. Single sessions only - no parallel sessions. Poster sessions for contributed papers later each afternoon. No limit on numbers of posters.
Themes for four invited paper sessions: Locomotion and Motility; Muscle; Internal Flows; Materials.
The Organizing Committee thanks the following sponsors for financial and/or logistical assistance with this symposium: International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS); U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR); U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF); and the Company of Biologists (CoB; United Kingdom).
Grants from both IUPS and NSF make it possible for the organizers to provide limited financial support for travel, subsistence, accommodations, and registration expenses to at least some more junior participants in this symposium (graduate students, postdoctoral associates, junior faculty). Please see Registration Page for more information and instructions as to how to apply for this support.
