Mathematics and physics of polymer entanglement: Emerging concepts and biomedical applications (10w5100)

The Banff International Research Station will host the "Mathematics and physics of polymer entanglement: Emerging concepts and biomedical applications" workshop from January 10th to January 15th, 2010.

Over the last decade, tremendous advances have been made in understanding the structure of DNA. On the small scale, twisting, electrostatic charge, and the DNA sequence all contribute to the structure of DNA. But there are also larger scale effects: polymers are often long strands confined in small spaces, essentially forcing complicated entanglement. How do we model DNA taking into account all of these, and many more, factors? Theoretical, numerical, and experimental advancements are needed, combining the efforts of top researchers working at the interface of mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics. This workshop will bridge these fields, inspiring cutting-edge interdisciplinary collaborations, and defining the key problems for the next decade.

The Banff International Research Station for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery (BIRS) is a collaborative Canada-US-Mexico venture that provides an environment for creative interaction as well as the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and methods within the Mathematical Sciences, with related disciplines and with industry. The research station is located at The Banff Centre in Alberta and is supported by Canada's Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the US National Science Foundation (NSF), Alberta's Advanced Education and Technology, and Mexico's Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologí­a (CONACYT).