[alife] CFP EDU-2008. First International Conference on the Evolution and Development of the Universe

Mon Jun 30 07:19:09 PDT 2008

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*Call for Papers*

First International Conference on the

*Evolution and Development of the Universe*

Wed-Thu, 8-9 Oct. 2008,
 Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France
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*THEME*

The underlying paradigm for cosmology is theoretical physics. The EDU
research community explores how it might be extended by including insights
from evolutionary developmental biology. In the neo-Darwinian paradigm,
adaptive evolutionary development allows the production of ordered and
complex structures. More specifically, we can distinguish evolutionary
processes which are contingently adaptive and developmental processes which
produce statistically predictable structures and and trajectories internal
to the developmental cycle. By analogy with two genetically identical twins,
would two parametrically identical universes exhibit both unpredictable
evolutionary differentiation, and predictably similar developmental outcomes
between them? More generally, can we model our universe as an evolutionary
developmental system?

The conference provides an opportunity for those working across these topics
to get together and exchange ideas, results and resources. To this end, the
conference will present a selection of current work in the field, highlight
new directions for investigation, and present high-profile keynote speakers.
Please go to the Conference page for more details.

*SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE*

   - James N. Gardner <http://www.biocosm.org/about.htm>, a* complexity
   theorist* and science essayist, with a background in philosophy and
   theoretical biology. (Oregon, USA)
   - Carlos Gershenson <http://homepages.vub.ac.be/%7Ecgershen/>, a
   complexity theorist, researching* self-organization*,* evolution*,* ALife
   *, and* cognition*. (Boston, USA)
   - Francis Heylighen <http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/HEYL.html>, a systems
   theorist focusing on the* evolution of complexity*. (Brussels, Belgium)
   - David Holcman<http://www.wisdom.weizmann.ac.il/math/profile04/scientists/holcman-prof04.html>,
   a mathematician and* computational biologist* modeling microstructures in
   biological systems. (Paris, France)
   - Laurent Nottale <http://luth2.obspm.fr/%7Eluthier/nottale/ukrechel.htm>,
   a cosmologist and pioneering theorist in* scale relativity* and* fractal
   space-time*. (Paris, France)
   - John Smart<http://evodevouniverse.com/wiki/index.php/John_Smart#.27.27.27John_Smart.27.27.27>,
   a systems theorist and scholar of* accelerating change*. (Mountain View,
   CA, USA)
   - Clement Vidal<http://evodevouniverse.com/wiki/index.php/Cl%C3%A9ment_Vidal>,
   a philosopher and systems thinker studying* evolutionary cosmology*.
   (Brussels, Belgium)
   - Peter Winiwarter <http://www.bordalierinstitute.com/>, engaged in
   transdisciplinary research in* complex systems*,* neural networks*
and*evolution
   *. (Boursay, France)

*EXTENDED ABSTRACT/PAPER FORMAT*

*Abstracts* and* papers* are welcome in areas including: cosmology, biology,
complexity theory, nonlinear mathematics, systems theory, information
theory, computer science, philosophy, and related disciplines. There are two
submission options: Extended abstract or Paper format.

Length:

   - Extended Abstracts are 500-1000 words.
   - Paper may be 5000 to 15000 words, and should begin with a 100-500 word
   Abstract.

Please use the *online submission
system*<http://evodevouniverse.com/eval/myreview/myreview/>to upload
your proposed abstract or paper.

*PUBLICATION*

Accepted papers will be published as a special issue of the
interdisciplinary journal Foundations of Science <http://www.vub.ac.be/FOS/>.
An "open commentary" will be organized after the conference, adding value to
the presented papers.

*TOPICS*

   - Anthropic bias and observer selection effects.
   - Anthropic, fine-tuning, and multiverse/ensemble models in cosmology.
   - Acceleration studies at the universe and subsystem scales.
   - Astrobiology, Fermi paradox, and SETI.
   - Complexity, emergence, ergodicity, and nonlinear science models with
   organic and computational features.
   - Computational models and analogies applied at the universe and
   subsystem scales.
   - Computer science, cognitive science, and other models of intelligence
   at all systems scales.
   - Cosmological natural selection (CNS) and CNS with a role for internal
   intelligence (CNS-I)
   - Cosmology with organic and computational features.
   - Directionality and convergent evolution in macrobiological systems.
   - Evolutionary and developmental processes in evo-devo and theoretical
   biology.
   - Evolutionary and developmental processes in non-biological systems
   (physical, chemical, cultural, technological).
   - Hierarchy, modularity, and self-organization theory at the universe and
   subsystem scales.
   - Information theory of evolution and development.
   - Information theory at the universe and subsystem scales.
   - Neural networks as a paradigm to explain self-organization of complex
   networks.
   - Non-equilibrium dissipative structures at the universe and subsystem
   scales.
   - Philosophy with organic and computational features at the universe and
   subsystem scales.
   - Philosophical and epistemological status of cosmological and
   speculative theories.
   - Scale relativity, scale invariance and self-similarity models at the
   universe and subsystem scales.
   - Self-reference, iteration, and recursion models at the universe and
   subsystem scales.
   - Statistical/probabilistic distributions and predictability at the
   universe and subsystem scales.
   - Systems models relating physical, chemical, biological, cultural, and
   technological (PCBCT) subsystems
   - Systems theory with organic and computational features.

*IMPORTANT DATES*

   - *30th July* - Deadline for the submission of papers/abstracts
   - *15th August* - Notification of acceptance
   - *29th September* - Deadline for the receipt of full papers
   - *8-9 October* - EDU Conference, Paris, France.

*CONTACT*

Further information about the conference program, travel and accommodation
will be available on http://www.evodevouniverse.com. For questions about the
submission and reviewing process, please contact John
Smart<johnsmart at accelerating.org>and/or Clement
Vidal <clement.vidal at philosophons.com>.

*ORGANIZATION*

Alain Prochiantz (chair), Clément Vidal, John Smart (organizing committee).

*Host institution:* Ecole Normale Supérieure de Paris

The conference will be held in Paris, one of the most popular tourist
destination in the world. The city has a global influence on education,
entertainment, media, fashion, science and the arts. Attendees will be
warmly encouraged to spend Friday, Oct 10th sightseeing in self-convened,
self-hosted groups. Lists of local options will be provided.

Best Regards,
Clément Vidal & John Smart.
________________________________________
http://clement.vidal.philosophons.com
Co-Founder, Evo Devo Universe Community
http://www.evodevouniverse.com
Centrum Leo Apostel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Krijgskundestraat 33. B-1160 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 2 640 67 37   |    Fax: +32 2 644 07 44