dbd%benden@LANL.GOV (Dan Davison) (05/14/89)
CALL FOR PARTICIPATION CONFERENCE ON THE MATRIX OF BIOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE Aug. 18-19, 1989 White Mountain Conference Center, Waterville Valley, NH Biological systems are characterized by complex relationships among their components. It is becoming increasingly clear that further rapid advances in our understanding of these systems depends on our ability to structure, access and analyze the rapidly expanding volume of experimental data and accumulated knowledge needed to elucidate these relationships. To that end, a ``Matrix of Biological Knowledge'' (Bio-Matrix) has been proposed in which all biological databases would be integrated into a cohesive whole and interfaced to a knowledge base containing a structured representation of biological knowledge. The resulting system would be used as the foundation for the analysis of a range of biological problems. The Bio-Matrix project requires an interdisciplinary approach combining expertise from both the biological and computer science communities. This meeting is designed to explore the issues and approaches towards implementing the Bio-Matrix and to foster the necessary interchange among the various computer science and biological disciplines. Topics to be addressed include: o Examples and status of current biological databases. DBs include information resources for biosequences, genetics, macromolecular structure, systematics, toxicology, etc. and the associated literature. o Approaches to database integration. These include the range from straightforward database merges to integration of multiple heterogeneous, distributed databases. o Next generation database systems. Much information of biological interest, e.g., graphics, pictures, text, and biosequences, is not well suited to current commercial database technology. Alternatives such as object-oriented databases, hypertext and multi-media databases are needed. o Automation of Knowledge Acquisition. A major stumbling block in building the Bio-Matrix is the task of entering the enormous volume of knowledge and data into the system. Methodologies to overcome this block must be developed. o Integrating Knowledge-Based/Expert Systems, Database Systems and Analysis Tools. Analysis of biological problems is knowledge and data intensive. How should systems be designed to automate this process? o Theory of Biological Knowledge Representation and Techniques for Reasoning in the Biological Domain. How do we best represent biological knowledge both for task specific applications and as part of a general theory of biological knowledge? Many key biological insights have been driven by reasoning about analogies and homologies in systems both within and between species. Methods for representing these relationships and to assist in reasoning about them are central to the Bio-Matrix concept. Similarly, models of biological systems can be viewed both as a description of the system and as a tool for reasoning about the system. As problems of increasing complexity are addressed by biologists, the need for representing and reasoning with models becomes more critical. The conference will be organized as a 2 day meeting following and coordinated with the 1989 MacroMolecules, Genes and Computing II Meeting to be held Aug. 13-17, 1989 at the same site. The Bio-Matrix Conference will include invited speakers, poster sessions and workshops. Invited speakers will be chosen on the basis of a short (less than 500 word) abstract describing their work. All others attending the meeting are encouraged to submit a poster. One of the primary aims of the meeting is to foster the dialog between computer scientists and biologists that is necessary for the success of the Bio-Matrix project. To that end, workshops will include both tutorials to educate biologists in the potential benefits of recent computer science research, and to educate computer scientists in the front-line problems of interest to the biologists. Proposals for workshops and tutorials are invited at this time. Again, proposals should be less than 500 words. Proposals and abstracts should be submitted by June 15th with notification of acceptance by July 5th. Space is limited, so early submission is encouraged. Submit electronically or by mail to: Dr. G. Christian Overton Unisys Paoli Research Center PO Box 517 Paoli, PA 19301 (215) 648-7533 overt@prc.unisys.com