Second Announcement, Including Call for Papers International Conference on COMPLEX SYSTEMS Boston Area September 21-26, 1997 Host: New England Complex Systems Institute http://necsi.org necsi@necsi.org With: Oxford University Press Conference Chairman: Yaneer Bar-Yam Executive Committee: Temple Smith - Boston University Sean Pidgeon - Oxford University Press ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: Philip W. Anderson - Princeton University Kenneth J. Arrow - Stanford University Michel Baranger - MIT Per Bak - Niels Bohr Institute Charles H. Bennett - IBM William A. Brock - University of Wisconsin Charles R. Cantor - Boston University Noam A. Chomsky - MIT Leon Cooper - Brown University Daniel Dennett - Tufts University Irving Epstein - Brandeis University Michael S. Gazzaniga - Dartmouth College William Gelbart - Harvard University Murray Gell-Mann - CalTech / Santa Fe Institute Pierre-Gilles de Gennes - ESPCI Stephen Grossberg - Boston University Michael Hammer - Hammer & Co John Holland - University of Michigan John Hopfield - Princeton University Jerome Kagan - Harvard University Stuart A. Kauffman - Santa Fe Institute Chris Langton - Santa Fe Institute Roger Lewin - Harvard University Richard C. Lewontin - Harvard University Albert J. Libchaber - Rockefeller University Andrew W. Lo - MIT Marvin Minsky - MIT Harold J. Morowitz - George Mason University Alan Perelson - Los Alamos National Lab Claudio Rebbi - Boston Unversity Herbert A. Simon - Carnegie Mellon University Temple F. Smith - Boston University H. Eugene Stanley - Boston University John Sterman - MIT James H. Stock - Harvard University Gerald J. Sussman - MIT Edward O. Wilson - Harvard University Shuguang Zhang - MIT There has been a strong expression of interest in response to our first conference announcement. Given the many disciplines whose current research involves the study of complex systems, we are planning a conference with two major aims: first, to investigate those properties or characteristics that appear to be common to the very different complex systems now under study; and second, to encourage cross fertilization among the many disciplines involved. SUBJECT AREAS: UNIFYING THEMES IN COMPLEX SYSTEMS Sessions will be structured around both themes and systems. The themes are: EMERGENCE, STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION: substructure, the relationship of component to collective behavior, the relationship of internal structure to external influence. INFORMATICS: structuring, storing, accessing, and distributing information describing complex systems. COMPLEXITY: characterizing the amount of information necessary to describe complex systems, and the dynamics of this information. DYNAMICS: time series analysis and prediction, chaos, temporal correlations, the time scale of dynamic processes. SELF-ORGANIZATION: Pattern formation, evolution, development and adaptation. The system categories are: FUNDAMENTALS, PHYSICAL & CHEMICAL SYSTEMS: Spatio- temporal patterns and chaos, fractals, dynamic scaling, non-equilibrium processes, hydrodynamics, glasses, non-linear chemical dynamics, complex fluids, molecular self-organization, information and computation in physical systems. BIO-MOLECULAR & CELLULAR SYSTEMS: protein and DNA folding, bio-molecular informatics, membranes, cellular response and communication, genetic regulation, gene- cytoplasm interactions, development, cellular differentiation, primitive multicellular organisms, the immune system. PHYSIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS: Nervous system, neuro-muscular control, neural network models of brain, cognition, psychofunction, pattern recognition, man-machine interactions. HUMAN SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS: Corporate and social structures, markets, the global economy, the Internet. PEDAGOGICAL SESSIONS: The conference will include pedagogical sessions on Sunday, Sept. 21. ----------------------------------------------------- REGISTRATION: Conference attendance is limited to about 200 participants. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis from those active or interested in becoming active in the study of complex systems. If you are interested in presenting a paper or simply attending the conference, please apply to Merilee Johnson (mgj@oup-usa.org) Oxford University Press 198 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10016 fax: (212) 726-6445 and provide the following information: Name Affiliation Address Telephone number Fax number E-mail address AND (if you wish to present a paper) --an abstract (no more than 500 words) of a presentation to be given at the conference OR (if you do not wish to present a paper) --a description of your research interests. You will be informed by June 15 of the success or otherwise of your application. The registration fee (approximately $300) will be assessed at that time. APPLICATION DEADLINE IS JUNE 1 ----------------------------------------------------- LOCATION AND ACCOMMODATIONS: The conference will be held at the Sheraton Tara in Nashua, New Hampshire, on the Massachusetts New Hampshire border 40 minutes from Boston by car. Rooms must be reserved directly with the hotel at: tel: (800) 843-8272 (THE-TARA) tel: (603) 888-9970 fax: (603) 891-4179 A block of rooms has been reserved at a conference discount rate of $105 per night (single or double) for the week of the conference (including a two day margin). These rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To receive the discount rate identify yourself as a member of the New England Complex Systems Institute Convention. Cancellations may be made up to 48 hours in advance without penalty. Alternate accommodations at a nearby hotel may be found through Red Roof Inn: (800) 874-9000 / (603) 888-1893 Rates: Single 54.99 / 61.99 Double 61.99 / 68.99 Triple 67.99 / 75.99 Reservations of double, triple and quadruple regular rooms will be given at the single room rate for early reservations with the conference mentioned. -----------------------------------------------------