Modern biology is grappling with a new class of problems defined by overwhelming complexity. From understanding evolution to deciphering the neural code, we are no longer studying linear chains of cause and effect but vast, high-dimensional systems of interacting components. The central challenge is to navigate the immense “landscape” that are mountainous terrains with countless peaks and valleys. On the other hand, arising from statistical physics, the theoretical framework of spin glasses was created precisely to describe systems driven by disorders and frustration - the exact same principles that shape biological complexity. The primary goal of this workshop is to cultivate a shared language and foster concrete collaborations based on this theoretical foundation to produce paradigm-shifting advances. By uniting mathematicians, physicists, and biologists, we aim to seed a new, interdisciplinary field capable of tackling previously intractable problems in evolution, neuroscience, and immunology.
Tiffany Leighton
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