Call for proposal to host the Advanced Course in Computational Neuroscience

[Alain Destexhe]

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

The organizing committee of the "European Advanced Course in
Computational Neuroscience" is looking for applications for
potential sites to host the course for 3 years (2005-2008).  
The course is now in its eighth year.  It was held for three years
in Crete (Greece, 1996-1998), three years in Trieste (Italy,
1999-2001), it is currently being held in the small medieval
village of Obidos (Portugal; 2002-2004).

Traditionally, the course is held in August in a European (or
Associated) country.  The ideal site is relatively remote and
small (ie not a large institution in a big city), in order to
ensure intimacy and quietness, and be an attractive location to
spend the summer.  We also need a relatively fast internet
connection for the computer network.

One of the most important aspects of the course is to have an
efficient local organizer to sort out local facilities, such as
lodging, food, transport, rooms to hold the lectures and the
computer network.  We also will need a firm commitment to secure
everything for a period of three years (2005-2007).

Anyone interested should contact Alain Destexhe (see address
below) and will be requested to send details such as a description
of the site and approximate budget for lodging, food, rental of
computers, etc.  A site-visit to the selected locations is planned
for the spring of 2004 to decide for our next host.

Below are contact addresses and a short description of the course


CONTACT

Alain Destexhe
Integrative and Computational Neuroscience Unit
CNRS
1, Avenue de la Terrasse (BAT 33)
91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France

email: destexhe at iaf.cnrs-gif.fr
Tel: 33-1-69-82-34-35 



SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE

The European Advanced Course in Computational Neuroscience is a
high-level 4-week intensive course on the computational aspects of
the central nervous system function, from the cellular to the
systems level.  It is usually structured in 4 thematic weeks,
cellular, sensory, motor and multilevel systems.  The invited
faculty members (usually from 10 to 15 per week) are among the
best known scientists in their respective fields (both
experimental and theoretical; see web site for past programs).
 
The course is highly selective - we receive from 90 to 180
applications every year, from which 25 to 30 students are
selected.  Students are mid-term PhD or postdocs, and can be of
any background (usually a mixture of experimentalists and
theoreticians).  The course is intended to give them a solid basis
on the different aspects that are important to understand the
complexity of the nervous system, as well as the different
approaches that have been used in theoretical studies.  Students
are required to do a research project during the course, and are
helped by the faculty and tutors.  The selection of students is
based on letters of recommendation and the advice of three
independent referees.
 
More information is available at our website:
  http://www.neuroinf.org/courses/EUCOURSE