The boundaries
where scientific disciplines meet continue to be the most
exciting areas of discovery, collaboration, and innovation.
With this in mind, Brandeis University created the Benjamin
and Mae Volen National Center for Complex Systems to bring
together scientists from several disciplines for a shared
purpose–to gain a better understanding of the brain,
intelligence, and advanced computation. Not only a basic
research facility, the Volen Center serves an educational
role. Undergraduate and graduate students work in laboratories
alongside faculty members and attend classes in the Center's
lecture facilities. Another important component of the
Center's educational function is the M. R. Bauer Colloquium
Series.
For the
second consecutive year, the M. R. Bauer Foundation has
provided generous support to underwrite a series of on-campus
colloquia, as well as an annual retreat, in conjunction
with scientific activities at the Volen Center. These
colloquia bring prominent researchers from the biological
and computer sciences to campus to discuss their work,
to meet with faculty members and students, and to share
emerging ideas and methodologies. The retreat provides
Brandeis scientists and students, as well as invited guests,
with an opportunity to gather for a day or two of lively
discussions, research presentations, and professional
camaraderie.
During
1994-95, the inaugural year of Bauer support, five guest
lecturers were invited to speak on campus as part of the
colloquium series. In 1995-96, the Bauer Series welcomed
six lecturers who spoke on topics such as the impact of
molecular genetics on the field of psychiatry, the areas
of the brain associated with memory, and the influence
of genetic variation on the sense of taste. In April,
1996, The Volen Center held its annual retreat at Woods
Hole, Massachusetts. As in 1995, several presentations
were made focusing on work being done by some of the Volen
Center's newest faculty members. All those in attendance–faculty,
undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers–enjoyed
discussing their research and learning more about current
trends in other disciplines.
The M. R. Bauer
Colloquium Series and the Volen Center retreat are important
conduits for the exchange of scientific information across
traditional academic boundaries. These events bring members
of the Brandeis community into contact with members of
the broader scientific community to share ideas and to
gain new and different perspectives on their own research.
These proceedings have been published to further that
effort.
Irwin B.
Levitan
Nancy Lurie Marks Professor of Developmental Neuroscience
Director, Volen National Center for Complex Systems
