Announcing
the 2010 NEURON Simulator Meeting
and
Course on Parallelizing Network Models with NEURON

Organizers: M. Hines¹, T. Carnevale², J-M. Fellous³, and J. Hildebrand⁴

Departments of ¹Computer Science and ¹²Neurobiology, Yale University,
and Departments of ³Psychology and ⁴Neuroscience, University of Arizona

Registration is now open for these two events, which will be held at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ, in late March, 2010.

*--Participants may sign up for both the Meeting and the Course for a reduced fee of $340.

Information about:

• the Meeting and Course
• How to register
• Accommodations
• Questions?

The 2010 NEURON Simulator Meeting
March 22-23, 2010

The aim of the NEURON Simulator Meeting is to bring together people who are interested in using computational modeling in neuroscience research and education -- not just current users of NEURON, but also those who are interested in using it -- for the following purposes:

• keeping informed about the latest advances and "best practices" in computational neuroscience in general, and the use of NEURON in particular
• sharing knowledge about technical aspects of computational modeling
• encouraging participation in the development of NEURON
• stimulating communication and collaboration

This conference will alternate between single track sessions for presentations and discussions on topics of general interest, and multiple track breakout sessions for smaller group interactions.

Registrants are invited to propose and be responsible for talks, symposia, tutorials, or workshops. Symposia and tutorials are more or less formal presentations but with time allocated for open discussion, and workshops are relatively informal discussions of a more exploratory nature. Appropriate topics include anything that is relevant to the technical aspects of computational modeling in neuroscience. Science per se is OK in moderate doses, as long as it sets the stage for technical discussions. To facilitate scheduling, individual talks should be limited to 20 minutes plus 10 minutes for questions and answers, and symposia, tutorials, and workshops will be allowed 2 hours maximum (exceptions may be made upon request).

Events that are already being planned include presentations on the following topics:

• Using Python with NEURON (and vice versa)
• Modeling cells and networks on parallel hardware from multicore PCs and Macs to workstation clusters and massively parallel supercomputers
• Neural-glial interactions, an area of emerging importance that has been relatively neglected by modelers
• Workshop for beginning to intermediate NEURON users (level and topics to depend on participant experience and interests)

To propose a talk, symposium, tutorial, or workshop, please send a plain text file (NO PDFs or giant Word documents!) with the following information to Ted Carnevale (ted.carnevale@yale.edu) as soon as possible:

1. The name of the speaker or organizer.
2. The title and nature of the talk or event (symposium, tutorial, workshop).
3. A short abstract (no more than 200 words) that states the topic(s) that will be addressed.
4. A list of special needs, e.g. room layout (classroom, round table, etc.).
5. If you are proposing a symposium or tutorial, a provisional list of speakers. Note that each of these individuals will also be required to submit an abstract.

Registration for the NEURON Simulator Meeting is limited to 30 participants on a first-come, first-serve basis. The registration fee for the Meeting is $90, or you may register for both the Meeting and the Course for $340 (subject to availability of seats in the Course, which is limited to 10 participants).

The deadline for registration is Friday, February 26, 2010. NO on-site registration will be accepted.

Tell me how to register!

Course on Parallelizing Network Models with NEURON
March 24-26, 2010

This is intended for individuals who have already developed their own network models with NEURON that run on "serial" computers, which they now want to port to parallel hardware. Each day will include didactic presentations and discussions that address general strategies and specific tactics for solving common problems. However, this is very much a "hands-on" course, and participants will spend most of their time in coding sessions where they put what they have learned to practical use while expert consultants are close at hand.

Parallelizing serial code is a nontrivial task that requires significant programming skill and effort. For this reason, space in the course is limited. Each participant will be expected to bring:

• a wifi-capable laptop computer. Multicore would be nice but is not mandatory, since guest accounts on (physically remote) parallel hardware will be available.
• a working serial implementation of a network model. It is assumed that each participant has expertise in NEURON and is intimately familiar with his or her own code.

Registration for the Course on Parallelizing Network Models with NEURON is limited to 10 participants on a first-come, first-serve basis. The registration fee for the Course is $300, or you may register for both the Course and the Meeting for $340.

The deadline for registration is Friday, February 26, 2010. NO on-site registration will be accepted.

Tell me how to register!

Accommodations

A block of rooms is being held for Meeting and Course participants at a reduced rate ($149/night for single or double, plus 12.5% tax and $2/day occupancy charge) at the Marriott University Park Hotel. This hotel is only one block from the U of A campus and within easy walking distance of the facilities where the Meeting and Course will be held. Numerous shops, cafes, fast food joints, and restaurants are one block south on University Avenue, and more are on 4th Avenue just a few blocks to the south and west. Several other hotels are located within a few miles of the U of A campus, but none is as convenient as the Marriott.

To make a reservation, contact the hotel directly

Marriott University Park Hotel
880 E. 2nd Street
Tucson, AZ 85719
phone 520-792-4100

and tell them you are attending the NEURON Simulator Meeting. The number of rooms reserved for us is small, so be sure to act early.

Questions?

Contact Ted Carnevale (phone 203-494-7381, email ted dot carnevale at yale dot edu)

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2010 NEURON Simulator Meeting and Course on Parallelizing Network Models with NEURON
March 22-23 and 24-26, 2010
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ