Crete Course in Computational Neuroscience

[Erik De Schutter]

                                 FIRST CALL

                 CRETE COURSE IN COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE

                        SEPTEMBER 7 - OCTOBER 3, 1997

                         UNIVERSITY OF CRETE, GREECE

DIRECTORS:    Erik  De Schutter (University of Antwerp, Belgium)
              Idan Segev (Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel)
              Jim Bower (California Institute of Technology, USA)
              Adonis Moschovakis (University of Crete, Greece)


The Crete Course in Computational Neuroscience introduces students to 
the practical application of computational methods in neuroscience, in 
particular how to create biologically realistic models of neurons and 
networks.  

The course consists of two complimentary parts.  A distinguished 
international faculty gives morning lectures on topics in experimental 
and computational neuroscience.  The rest of the day is spent learning 
how to use simulation software and how to implement a model of the 
system the student wishes to study.  The first week of the course 
introduces students to the most important techniques in modeling single 
cells, networks and neural systems.  Students learn how to use the 
GENESIS, NEURON, XPP and other software packages on their individual 
unix workstations. During the following three weeks the lectures will 
be more general, but each week topics ranging from modeling single cells 
and subcellular processes through the simulation of simple circuits, 
large neuronal networks and system level models of the the brain will
be covered. The course ends with a presentation of the students' 
modeling projects.

The Crete Course in Computational Neuroscience is designed for advanced 
graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in a variety of disciplines, 
including neuroscience, physics, electrical engineering, computer science 
and psychology.  Students are expected to have a basic background in 
neurobiology as well as some computer experience.  A total of 28 students 
will be accepted with an age limit of 35 years.  We will accept students
of any nationality, but the majority will be from the European Union
and affiliated countries (Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein and Norway).  
We specifically encourage applications from researchers who work in 
less-favoured regions of the EU, from women and from researchers from 
industry.  

Every student will be charged a tuition fee of 500 ECU (approx. US$630).
In the case of students with a nationality from the EU, affiliated 
countries or Japan, the tuition fee covers lodging, local travel and all 
course-related expenses.  All applicants with other nationalities will 
be charged an ADDITIONAL fee of 1000 ECU (approx. US$1260) which covers 
lodging, local travel and course-related expenses.  For nationals from 
EU and affiliated countries economy travel from an EU country to Crete 
will be refunded after the course.  A limited number of students from 
less-favoured regions world-wide will get their fees and travel refunded.

More information and application forms can be obtained:
   - WWW access: http://bbf-www.uia.ac.be/Crete_index.html
     Please apply electronically using a web browser if possible.
   - email: crete_course at bbf.uia.ac.be
   - by mail:  Prof. E. De Schutter
               Born-Bunge Foundation
               University of Antwerp - UIA, 	 
               Universiteitsplein 1
               B2610 Antwerp
               Belgium
	       FAX: +32-3-8202669

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  April 5, 1996.  Applicants will be notified of the
                       results of the selection procedures by May 5.

FACULTY: L. Abbott (Brandeis University, USA), D. Beeman (University of 
	 Colorado, Boulder, USA), A. Borst (Max Planck Institute Tuebingen, 
	 Germany), R. Calabrese (Emory University, USA), A. Destexhe 
	 (Universite Laval, Canada), M. Hines (Yale University, USA),
         J.J.B. Jack (Oxford University, England), C. Koch (California 
	 Institute of Technology, USA), R. Kotter (Heinrich Heine 
	 University Dusseldorf, Germany), G. LeMasson (University of
	 Bordeaux, France), K. Martin (Institute of Neuroinformatics,
	 Zurich), M. Nicolelis (Duke University, USA), S. Redman 
	 (Australia National University Canberra), J.M. Rinzel (NIH, USA), 
	 S.A. Shamma (University of Maryland, USA), H. Sompolinsky 
	 (Hebrew University Jerusalem, Israel), S. Tanaka (RIKEN, Japan), 
	 A.M. Thomson (Royal Free Hospital, England), T.L. Williams 
	 (St George Hospital, London, England), Y. Yarom (Hebrew 
	 University Jerusalem, Israel), and others to be named.

The Crete Course in Computational Neuroscience is supported by the 
European Commission (4th Framework Training and Mobility of Researchers 
program), by The Brain Science Foundation (Tokyo) and by UNESCO. 

Local administrative organization: the Institute of Applied and 
Computational Mathematics of FORTH (Crete, GR).