[Apologies for cross posting] Workshop: When modelers meet biologists: a series of case studies illustrating why modeling should become instrumental in plant biology. Not a "How to?" but a "What for?" The Belgian Plant Science Doctoral School organizes a workshop on plant modeling, September 8 and 9, 2008, in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, http://www.eddsaib.org/plant_science. This workshop is a partner event to the summer school "Computational and Mathematical Modeling for Plant Systems Biology", September 1-5, VIB Department of Plant Systems Biology and Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. See http://www.psb.ugent.be/plantmodels. The Ghent summer school will give both a scientific and practical introduction to modelling in plant sciences, going from the molecular level up to the level of the whole plant. The follow-up workshop in Louvain-la-Neuve shows participants what modelling has to offer to the plant sciences, without giving a practical introduction. It focuses on whole plant models and physiological and tissue-level models. The programs of both events are included below. ------ When modelers meet biologists: a series of case studies illustrating why modeling should become instrumental in plant biology. Not a "How to?" but a "What for?". Organizers: Xavier Draye, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium Claire Périlleux, Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium Roeland Merks, VIB Plant Systems Biology and Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium September 8-9, 2008, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. Organized by the "Plant Science" Doctoral School of the belgian scientific community (FRS-FNRS). This workshop is organized for PhD students or researchers looking for an introduction to what computational modeling is offering to plant science. It is not a practical initiation to modeling. Session 1 : Models of plant structure and growth dynamics Loïc Pagès, INRA Avignon, 3D-models of plant structure Jean-François Ledent, University of Louvain, Modelling growth and the genesis of plant 3D geometry of maize. Session 2 : Models that bring structure and function : from cells to crops Roeland Merks, University of Ghent, Cell-based, biomechanical tissue modeling in plant research Gerhard Buck-Sorlin, Wageningen UR, Virtual Rose - A Functional-Structural Plant Model to predict crop quality and quantity of cut roses Session 3 : Eco-physiological models Kathy Steppe, University of Ghent, The added value of plant modelling for ecophysiological research Gaby Deckmyn, University of Antwerp, Complex physiological models as tools for forestry: why choose the hard way?" Session 4 : Modeling plant-environment interactions Mathieu Javaux, University of Louvain, Forward and inverse 3-D root water uptake modelling based on a deterministic water flux model in soil and roots Achim Walter, Juelich Research Centrum, Leaf and root growth dynamics: How can plant organs reach their full growth potential in a dynamically fluctuating environment? For more information and registration, please visit : http://www.eddsaib.org/plant_science ------ Summer school: Computational and Mathematical Modeling for Plant Systems Biology September 1-5, 2008, VIB Department of Plant Systems Biology and Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium http://www.psb.ugent.be/plantmodels Plant science is evolving from a reductionistic view on gene function to an integrated systems biology approach, in which gene functions are studied in the context of the dynamic behavior of physiological, cellular, or developmental processes. Mathematical and computational modeling play a central role in this multiscale systems biology approach. This summer school will bring together a wide range of computational systems biologists, working on problems at different organizational levels, relevant to plant biologists. The course will start with phenomena occurring at the subcellular and cellular scale, including photosynthesis, cell cycle regulation and the organization of the cytoskeleton. Then it will gradually "scale up" to the tissue, organ, and whole plant levels. It will conclude with pattern formation in tissues, the mechanics of growth, and whole plant development and evolution. Organizers: Roeland Merks Gerrit Beemster Dirk Inzé VIB Plant Systems Biology and Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium Xavier Draye Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium Roeland Merks (roeland.merks@psb.ugent.be) Gerrit Beemster Dirk Inzé VIB Plant Systems Biology and Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium Xavier Draye Université Catholique de Louvain-la-Neuve, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium Monday, 1st September 2008 Genetic and metabolic networks 10:00-11:00 Xin-Guang Zhu (Urbana, IL, USA). Dynamic models of photosynthetic metabolism 11:15-12:15 Joe Pomerening (Bloomington, IN, USA). Coupled positive and negative feedback loops drive transitions in embryonic and somatic cell cycles Tuesday, 2nd September 2008 Single cell shape and mechanics 10:00-11:00 François Nédélec (Heidelberg, Germany). Models of microtubule organization in fission yeast 11:15-12:15 Bela Mulder (Amsterdam/Wageningen, Netherlands). Modelling cellulose biosynthesis and plant cell wall architecture Wednesday, 3rd September 2008 Multicellular pattern formation 9:00-10:00 Hans Meinhardt (Tübingen, Germany). Models of biological pattern formation applied to plant development 10:15-11:15 Verônica Grieneisen (Utrecht, Netherlands). Auxin fluxes in the developing root. 11:30-12:30 Richard Smith (Bern, Switzerland). Simulation models of auxin transport-based patterning in plants. Thursday, 4th September 2008 Plant growth mechanics 10:00-11:00 Alain Goriely (University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA). Continuum models of plant growth and remodeling 11:15-12:15 Roeland Merks (VIB Department of Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium). Cell-centered modeling of plant tissues Friday, 5th September 2008 Whole plant development and evolution. 10:00-11:00 Xavier Draye (Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium). Model integration: building multidisciplinary, soil, plant and atmosphere models 11:15:12:00 Przemyslaw Prusinkiewicz (Calgary, Canada). Whole plant modeling and evo-devo of plants -- ================================================================== Roeland Merks Group Leader "Plant Systems Modeling" Tel:32 (0)9 3313823 Fax:32 (0)9 3313809 VIB DEPARTMENT OF PLANT SYSTEMS BIOLOGY, UGent Technologiepark 927, 9052 Gent, BELGIUM roeland.merks@psb.ugent.be http://www.psb.ugent.be ==================================================================