Living Matter as Computing Media Proposal Development Workshop
This workshop identified grand challenges and future research opportunities in the area of computing and information processing in synthetic bio- and nano devices, including all levels from the device to the application. The collision between traditional silicon-based electronics and novel non-silicon devices is happening now in the areas of power consumption of current computers, disposal problems for electronic components, implantable monitoring and control devices (e.g., pacemakers), synthetic biology, genetic engineering, and nanotechnology. Computation underlies most of these interactions, however, the standard computer science and computer engineering toolbox generally does not provide the right paradigms and tools to address the new challenges such devices offer. The workshop was held in preparation for a joint University of New Mexico (UNM)/New Mexico Consortium (NMC) National Science Foundation (NSF) proposal submission.
The new paradigms computer science needs were a central topic of the entire workshop, which was attended by about 25 faculty, researchers, and students. Forty-two percent of the attendees were women, 38% were graduate students, and 33% were out-of-town faculty or researchers. The workshop was held in July of 2008 at UNM.
The first morning was filled by a series of fascinating and visionary talks by the workshop participants, who vividly mused about grand challenges and things they would like to do in the next few years in the workshop's topical area. In the afternoon, the participants discussed the topics and ideas presented during the morning talks. The day ended with a tasty workshop dinner. The second day started with further discussions. The participants were then asked to write a little essay of their vision and how they would see their role and their contributions in addressing the discussed grand challenges. At the end of the workshop, all participants had the opportunity to briefly present their essays to everybody, which lead to further discussions. The second day ended with a visit of the National Atomic Museum, followed by a dinner.
The workshop was supported by a generous grant from the IAS, which allowed us to support the out-of-town participants and thus to significantly broaden the scope and the impact of the workshop.
Contact: Darko Stefanovic darko@cs.unm.edu
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