Ongoing technological advances are enabling new and increasingly precise measurements of biological systems, from single molecules to entire ecosystems. For example, sequencing a human genome, once a decade-long, multi-billion dollar enterprise, will soon be as routine as an x-ray for medical diagnosis. Likewise, information on human behavioral patterns, previously only accessible through laborious surveys, can now be collected massively in real time using the internet or mobile devices. However, the onslaught of high-throughput, quantitative experiments has raised important new questions. Can “big data” provide new insights into old problems? What questions are uniquely suited to large, data-driven approaches? What ideas can different fields offer each other in terms of both measurement and analysis? To address such topics, The Okinawa Integrative Biology Course will bring together a diverse range of scientists, from ecologists and evolutionary biologists to physicists and mathematicians for a two-week program in a stunning natural environment.
We are looking for motivated and energetic students, whose participation in the course will be fully supported (flight, housing, food, etc.). There is no reason not to apply. For more information, see our web site: oibc.oist.jp, or email [email protected]. I hope to see you in Okinawa. Alexander (Sasha) Mikheyev Assistant Professor (准教授) Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology 1919-1 Tancha Onna-son, Kunigami-gun 904-0495 Japan
