Spatial Evolutionary Dynamics Workshop

Complex Systems Institute, Paris, October 17, 2008

Call for Abstracts

This workshop aims to bring together scientists studying the effects of spatial extent ("isolation by distance") and configuration on evolutionary dynamics. Authors are invited to submit a 1-page abstract on their research, or on a review and discussion about any aspect of spatial evolutionary dynamics. Contributions may be original or already published (please specify when submitting).

• Important Dates:
  • Deadline for abstract submission: Tuesday, September 30
  • Notification of acceptance: Friday, October 3
• Abstracts should be submitted electronically by email addressed to both organizers: Guy Hoelzer ( hoelzer@unr.edu ) and Rene Doursat ( rene.doursat@polytechnique.edu ).
• The number of speakers is limited to 12 and the total number of attendees to 35.
• Submissions will be reviewed based on their relevance to the workshop, clarity, and overall quality.
• If you only want to attend without giving a presentation, please notify the organizers by email.
• There is no registration fee for this workshop.

Topics of Interest

While we anticipate that most presentations will describe particular models and their behavior, contributions and viewpoints about the following topics are especially encouraged:

• Similarities and differences in modeling approaches and assumptions.
• Similar and dissimilar outcomes (behaviors) of alternative spatially-explicit evolutionary models or empirical examples.
• To what extent do our efforts represent a major paradigm shift for evolutionary biology. If this is a significant paradigm shift, then how do we most effectively communicate the new perspective to colleagues during the transition?
• What role should traditional mean-field theory of population genetics play in the future?
  • For example, is it sufficient for most circumstances in the same sense that Newtonian models generally suffice even after the theory has been superseded by general relativity?
  • Alternatively, the mean-field models may be too error prone under most circumstances, recommending wholesale replacement by spatially-explicit models.
• Can we begin to prescribe a framework to guide the development of future spatially-explicit computational models of evolution?
  • While we, as colleagues, may recognize commonalities and categories among our models, they often appear to be disconnected and idiosyncratic to evolutionary biologists trained to recognize more traditional types of models. It could be very useful if we could begin to agree upon a consistent terminology for categorizing the new forms of models in computational evolution. This might help others to more easily see the theoretical threads connecting various computational models, thus facilitating a more rapid appreciation for the depth of this new perspective.
• Finally, what possible transfers and applications could be created toward artificial evolution of spatially distributed devices?