Connectionists: NSF call for participation

[Ping Li]

Dear Colleagues,

NSF has issued a ‘Dear Colleague Letter’ that invites applications for
participation in a joint NSF/EPSRC “sandpit” (interactive workshop). The
sandpit is meant to be an intensive, interactive and free-thinking
environment, where participants from a range of disciplines immerse
themselves in collaborative thinking processes in order to construct
innovative approaches to synthetic biology.  Substantial funding is
allocated for selected collaborative research projects arising from the
sandpit.

Synthetic Biology uses biological systems as the primary source of data,
dynamics, and phenomena to fabricate devices that are based on natural
living systems.  For example, new tools for designing and controlling
neural circuits can lead to engineering of a virtual brain with the goal
of better understanding brain/behavior interactions and to new computer
technology based on our understanding of brain processes.  Cognitive
science and neuroscience are essential to this goal.

Anyone eligible to apply for funding from either the NSF or EPSRC is
eligible to apply to attend the sandpit.  Please read the Dear Colleague
Letter at http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09012/nsf09012.jsp  and a fuller
description of the sandpit, its aim and desired outcomes at
http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/CallsForProposals/JointSyntheticBiology.htm .
If you have questions, please contact Rita Teutonico
Senior Advisor for Integrative Activities
rteutoni at nsf.gov
703-292-7118

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Ping Li, Ph.D.
Program Director, Cognitive Neuroscience
Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22230, USA
http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?org=BCS
Tel: (703) 292-8643
Email: p-li at nsf.gov

On leave from:

Professor of Psychology, Linguistics, and Asian Studies
Department of Psychology & Center for Language Science
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802, USA
http://psych.la.psu.edu/directory/faculty-bios/li.html
http://lsrg.psu.edu/people/faculty/li_ping.shtml
Tel: (814) 863-3921
Email: pul8 at psu.edu