The National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS) is now accepting applications for its Investigative Workshop, "Animal Social Networks," to be held March 6-8, 2014, at NIMBioS.
*Objectives: *The structure and functioning of social networks is of rapidly growing interest in evolutionary biology. While modern network analysis offers many sophisticated techniques, most were developed for extremely large networks, not for the smaller networks most commonly found in non-human social systems. Furthermore, biological systems change through time, and many questions of fundamental importance involve network dynamics. Thus, there is currently a need for modern network analysis techniques that are specific to these systems and issues. This workshop will explore problems and opportunities raised by small (tens to hundreds of individuals) social networks as they develop over time, with special focus on three issues: 1) how temporal dynamics affect network function and emergent properties, 2) the response of the network to perturbations such as births, deaths, immigration and emigration from the social group, 3) the tension between a focus on network structure (e.g., importance of roles and network centrality) and process (e.g., flow of information, disease transmission). The workshop will bring together empiricists interested in a diversity of animal social groups (ants, fish, birds, mammals) and quantitative scientists (network scientists, mathematicians, computer scientists, physicists) interested in the special problems posed by the dynamics of small social networks. *Location: *NIMBioS at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville *Co-Organizers:* David B. McDonald, Zoology & Physiology, Univ. of Wyoming; Tanya Berger-Wolf, Computer Science, Univ. of Illinois; Jennifer Fewell, Life Sciences, Center for Social Dynamics and Complexity, Arizona State Univ.; Amiyaal Ilany, NIMBioS; Bryan Shader, Mathematics, Univ. of Wyoming; and Tina Wey, Biology, New Mexico State Univ. For more information about the workshop and a link to the online application form, go to http://nimbios.org/workshops/WS_socialnet Participation in the workshop is by application only. Individuals with a strong interest in the topic are encouraged to apply, and successful applicants will be notified within two weeks of the application deadline. If needed, financial support for travel, meals, and lodging is available for workshop attendees. *Application deadline:* December 2, 2013 The National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS) (http://www.nimbios.org) brings together researchers from around the world to collaborate across disciplinary boundaries to investigate solutions to basic and applied problems in the life sciences. NIMBioS is sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture with additional support from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. ***************************** Catherine Crawley, Ph.D. Communications Manager National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS) University of Tennessee 1122 Volunteer Blvd, Ste. 106 Knoxville, TN 37996 e [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> t +1 865 974 9350 <tel:%2B1%20865%20974%209350> f +1 865 974 9461 <tel:%2B1%20865%20974%209461> http://www.nimbios.org http://www.facebook.com/nimbios http://twitter.com/nimbios To receive email notifications of blog updates, click here To subscribe to our bi-monthly newsletter, click here
