Challenges in the Physics of Active and Biological Matter 2023

Challenges in the Physics of Active and Biological Matter – Interplay Between Computer Simulations, Theory, and Experiments workshop is organized at Aalto University on 16^th–18^th August 2023.

1.1. Announcements

2023-04-24. Registration open. [Link to registration form was here.]

2023-06-03. Registration is closed.

2023-08-16/18. Workshop in Aalto University. Thank you, everyone!

Group photo: Johannes Haataja, Aalto University.

1.5. Workshop scope

Living and active matter, which include artificial, externally driven systems and natural biological ones, are currently under intense study. The study of such systems has been a rapidly evolving field in recent years, with significant advances in experimental and computational techniques. Despite intense interdisciplinary collaborations, developing computational and theoretical tools and identifying synergistic approaches still remain to be improved. Furthermore, there remain many open questions and challenges that require interdisciplinary approaches and collaborations to address. These include, for example:

(i) How biomolecular processes taking place at cell membranes give rise to the complexity of biological function, which is physically controlled mainly by electrostatic interactions, and where the effects of specific interactions between biomolecules compete with the effects of non-specific membrane-mediated interactions.

(ii) The emergence of order by means of self-organization in large assemblies of growing or motile cells, from confluent tissues to biofilms, poses significant challenges for scientists because of their ability to use energy sources to generate fluxes of matter or motility.

(iii) How synthetic active systems mimicking some of the behaviors of the biological ones can be rationally designed and harnessed for technological uses and to improve understanding of the more complex biological systems.

This workshop aims to bring together both experimental and theoretical researchers from physics, chemistry, biology, and related fields to discuss and explore current challenges in the physics of active and biological matter. Crucial to the success of our workshop will be the interaction between theoreticians and experimentalists to discuss the state-of-the-art computational, experimental and theoretical techniques used to study these systems, and to foster new connections between physicists, chemists and biologists working in the field of biological and active matter.

The workshop will cover a broad range of topics related to the physics of biological and active matter, including but not limited to

● Active and driven colloids, field-driven assembly.

● Non-equilibrium flows and electrohydrodynamics in soft matter.

● Dynamics and function of biomolecules and their complexes in the presence of membranes.

● Collective behavior of bacteria and biofilm organization: self-organization in bacterial colonies emerges from a complex interplay of growth, chemical signaling, nutrient gradients, and physical forces.

● Theoretical models of microswimmers and active particles with non-reciprocal interactions; controlling microswimmers and synthetic active particles with external fields.

● Methodology development, with the aim of rendering currently impossible research ideas possible, and simulation models as realistic as possible.

Program. All talks in lecture hall KE-2 in the Chemistry building.

1.6. Organizing committee

Tapio Ala-Nissilä, Aalto University, Finland

Marco Mazza, Loughborough University, UK

Maria Sammalkorpi, Aalto University, Finland

Jaakko Timonen, Aalto University, Finland

Ilpo Vattulainen, Helsinki University, Finland

Contact email: actbiomat2023@aalto.fi