Connectionists: Living Machines: Call for Participation in Conference, Exhibition and Workshops

[Nathan F Lepora]

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Call for Participation in Conference, Exhibition and Workshops
Living Machines: The 2nd International Conference on Biomimetic
Robotics and Biohybrid Systems.
A Convergent Science Network Event
29th July to 2nd August 2013
Natural History Museum, London
http://csnetwork.eu/livingmachines/conf2013
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News & Highlights

* Extended deadline for early registration, now June 30th, 2013.
* Very last chance to book good value, local conference accommodation
at Imperial College; any un-reserved rooms will be released on June
21st.
* Main conference programme now online, 5 plenary talks, 18
single-track oral presentations, 47 posters.
* 25 exhibits for the exhibition from biomimetic robots to biohybrid
clothing to computer art, including live robot performance.  The
evening reception for the exhibition can now be booked as a separate
event.
* 5 satellite workshops also available for registration as separate
events, topics include the self, emergence, plant-like robots,
neuromorphic engineering, societal impacts.
* LM2012 proceedings in the top 25% of Springer LNAI volumes for
downloads in the last 12 months.
* Significant media interest in our events, press passes available.
* New journal “Soft Robotics” to be launched at LM2013

Contact living-machines at sheffield.ac.uk for all enquiries.

ABOUT LIVING MACHINES 2013

The 2nd International Conference on Biomimetic and Biohybrid systems
comprises a week of events including 2.5 days of single-track oral
presentations with five plenary speakers; a 1-day exhibition that will
include a range of novel biomimetic and biohybrid technologies many of
which have not been exhibited in public before; and five satellite
workshops on themes ranging from artificial “selves” to the societal
impacts of living machines.

We wish to draw particular attention to the exhibition, which can be
registered for independently of the main conference. Current
highlights of the exhibition include:

• A live musical performance featuring a humanoid robot
• Mammal-like robots with whiskered touch systems
• A Robot swarm whose behaviour is more than the sum of its parts
• A robot model of ‘trace’ fossils from the dawn of life
• Music composed by a bio-inspired computer programme that mimics
natural selection
• Plant-like robots that grow and change shape
• Biomimetic medical devices
• A robot that powers itself by digesting insects
• Micro-flying robots
• Robothespian—an interactive multi-lingual humanoid
• Wearable computing for finding your way in darkness
• Biohybrid clothing made with amoebas

In addition to the active, and interactive, exhibits there will be a
buffet dinner and complementary wine and drinks.  We hope you will
join us for the exciting and futuristic science & technology event!

The conference registration site is open.  Please register soon to
take advantage of early registration, which has been extended due to
delays with finalising the conference program—deadline June 30th

Conference accommodation is also available through the conference
registration site, at Imperial College London from 70 GBP per night.
If attendees wish to take advantage of these favourable rates they
should book by Friday 21st June, after which the rooms held back in
reserve will be released.

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
**Program now available online**

The main conference will take the form of a single-track oral
presentation programme, 30th July to midday 1st August 2013 that will
include five plenary lectures from leading international researchers
in biomimetic and biohybrid systems.  Agreed speakers are:

Mark Cutkosky, Stanford University (Biomimetics and Dextrous Manipulation);
Terrence Deacon, University of California, Berkeley (Natural and
Artificial Selves);
Ferdinando Rodriguez y Baena, Imperial College London (Biomimetics for
medical devices);
Robert Full, University of California, Berkeley (Locomotion);
Andrew Pickering, University of Exeter (History of living machines).

There will also be 18 regular talks, and a 3 hour poster session
(afternoon of August 1st) featuring 47 posters. Particular themes
include:

Biomimetic robotics
Biohybrid systems including biological-machine interfaces
Neuromimetic systems
Active sensing in vision and touch
Social robotics
Embodied robotics
Biomimetics of plants

WORKSHOPS
**Programs now available online**

In addition to the main conference there are two further days of
workshops, each with their own full program that can be found on the
Living Machines website.

Monday 29th July
Self and cognitive systems (organizers Peter Ford Dominey and Paul Verschure)
Learning from the Plant Kingdom to Invent Smart Artificial Solutions
(organizers Barbara Mazzolai and Lucia Beccai)

Friday 2nd August

Neuromorphic models, circuits, and emerging nano-technologies for
real-time neural processing systems (organizers Giacomo Indiveri and
Themistoklis Prodromakis)
Emergent social behaviours in bio-hybrid systems (organizers Jose
Halloy, Thomas Schmickl and Stuart Wilson)
Societal impacts of Living Machines (organizers Tony Prescott and
Michael Szollosy)

Attendance at satellite events will attract a small fee intended to
cover the costs of the meeting.  We have reserved meeting rooms at
Imperial College London to host the satellites each with capacity for
up to 40 people.  Please book early.  Separation registration for
satellite events is possible.

ABOUT THE VENUE

The organisers are delighted to have secured the Flett Theatre at the
Natural History Museum in London as the main venue for our conference.
 The NHM is an international centre for the study of the natural world
featuring many important biological collections. The exhibition and
poster session on Thursday 1st will be hosted at the nearby Science
Museum, and the satellite events at Imperial College London.  All
three venues are conveniently located within a short walking distance
of each other in South Kensington, the Museum district of the UK
capital, and close to many of London’s tourist sights.

KEY DATES

June 21, 2013 Un-reserved accommodation released.
June 30, 2013 Extended deadline for early registration.
July 29-August 2nd 2013 Conference

We are looking forwards to seeing you in London.

Organising Committee:

Tony Prescott (co-chair)
Paul Verschure (co-chair)
Nathan Lepora (programme chair)
Holger Krapp (workshops & symposia)
Anna Mura (web-site)

Conference Secretariat:

living-machines at sheffield.ac.uk
c/o Gill Ryder,

Sheffield Centre for Robotics
Department of Psychology
University of Sheffield
Western Bank
Sheffield, S10 2TN
United Kingdom