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Save the date: UK Neural Computation meeting July 8-10th, Sheffield
by Mark Humphries 24 Jan '25

24 Jan '25

Save the date! The UK Neural Computation meeting is in Sheffield for 2024, the gathering of the UK’s computational and systems neuroscience community 8 July: ECR day 9-10 July: main meeting 11 invited speakers, 4 talks from abstracts and loads of posters Abstract submission and registration opening soon Please spread the word! More details: https://neuralcomputation.uk/ Enquiries: uknc24(a)sheffield.ac.uk<mailto:uknc24@sheffield.ac.uk> Organisers Hannes Saal (Sheffield) Stuart Wilson (Sheffield) Mark Humphries (Nottingham) This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender and delete the email and attachment. Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham. Email communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored where permitted by law.

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Late-breaking poster abstract submission for the 32nd Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting ends on June 15
by Rubchinsky, Leonid L 23 Jan '25

23 Jan '25

Dear Colleagues, We would like to remind that the late-breaking poster abstracts submission at CNS*2023 ends on June 15. CNS*2023, 32nd Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting, will be in Leipzig, Germany, on July 15-19, 2023. The information about the meeting and abstract submission can be found here: Registration: https://ocns.memberclicks.net/cns-2023-registration Abstract submission: https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2023-abstract-submission CNS*2023 information: https://www.cnsorg.org/cns-2023 With kind regards, Leonid Rubchinsky OCNS Vice President *********************** Leonid Rubchinsky, PhD Professor Department of Mathematical Sciences, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine 402 N. Blackford St Indianapolis, IN 46202-3216 lrubchin(a)iupui.edu http://www.math.iupui.edu/~lrubchin ***********************

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[CFP] ICLR 2025 workshop I Can't Believe It's Not Better: Challenges in Applied Deep Learning
by Jennifer Williams 23 Jan '25

23 Jan '25

*ICLR 2025 <https://iclr.cc/> Workshop: I Can’t Believe It’s Not Better: Challenges in Applied Deep Learning* *Call for Papers: *This workshop focuses on negative results, failed experiments, and unexpected challenges encountered when applying deep learning to real-world problems across industry and science. By openly sharing these hurdles, we aim to advance the field through transparency, foster learning, and prevent repeated missteps. *We welcome submissions* that apply deep learning to various domains including, but not limited to, neuroscience, healthcare, psychology and feature: 1. A real-world use case where deep learning was applied. 2. An existing deep learning solution proposed in the literature. 3. An observed negative or unexpected outcome. 4. An analysis of why the approach did not work as anticipated. Possible reasons may include data issues, model assumptions, interpretability gaps, scalability challenges, or deployment constraints. Submissions will be evaluated based on rigor, novelty, clarity, reproducibility, and the depth of their insights. *Key Dates:* • Submission Deadline: February 3, 2025 (11:59 pm AOE) • Acceptance Notification: March 5, 2025 • Workshop: April 27 or 28, 2025 Accepted papers will appear on OpenReview and the workshop website, with the option for inclusion in PMLR proceedings <https://proceedings.mlr.press/>. We will also nominate outstanding submissions for spotlight talks and two awards: the “Entropic Award” for the most surprising negative result and the “Didactic Award” for the most pedagogically valuable paper. For more information on our past workshops, the ICBINB initiative, and submission details, please visit: https://sites.google.com/view/icbinb-2025/call-for-papers We look forward to your contributions! Sincerely, The I Can’t Believe It’s Not Better Organizing Team

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InterfaceNeuro meeting May 7-8 in Atlanta
by Rozell, Christopher J 22 Jan '25

22 Jan '25

I’m writing to invite you to attend a conference hosted May 7-8 at Georgia Tech called InterfaceNeuro (https://interfaceneuro.org) which targets the intersection of neuroscience, neuroengineering, clinical/translational research, neurotech industry, and individuals with lived experiences. While each of these areas obviously has their own meetings, this conference is unique in interfacing these areas all together to find points of collaboration. The theme this year is "Integrating Brain, Body, and Machine for Next-Gen Intelligent Interfaces". The program features curated invited talks, a keynote from Dr. Mike Okun, contributed poster sessions, and a featured event focused on patient's lived experiences with neurotechnology. You can see from the program that the curated talks have been chosen to span disciplines and generate discussion. We've minimized registration fees to try and make the meeting as accessible as possible (note that there is no virtual component). Poster submissions are due by March 14 (as part of registration), and there will be a slate of best poster prizes for trainees. This will be the first meeting hosted by Georgia Tech building off of previous offerings by Rice University’s Neuroengineering Initiative, and we are excited to welcome you all to Atlanta. Please reach out if you have questions. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you in May!

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EPSRC PhD scholarships at the University of Sussex
by James Bennett 21 Jan '25

21 Jan '25

The University of Sussex invites applications for 10 PhD scholarships funded by the EPSRC for an autumn 2025 start. We are offering a wide range of cross-disciplinary research projects and research themes, many of which have a computational neuroscience and/or neuroAI focus, and are led by faculty across the university, including members of Sussex AI <https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/centres/ai-research-group/>, the Sussex Centre for Consciousness Science <https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/centres/sussex-centre-for-consciousness-s…>, and Sussex Neuroscience <https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/centres/sussex-neuroscience/>. Studentships include: - 3.5 years of funding with a tax free living allowance at the standard Research Council rate – currently £19,237 in 2024-5 – and international or UK PhD fees. - An option of 3 months of additional funding to cover a placement outside academia. - Funding for training and research expenses, such as conference trips and experimental costs. - Supervision by world-leading researchers. - Our Entrepreneurship Summer School and Responsible Research and Innovation workshops, tailored to the needs of engineering and physical sciences researchers. - Our Researcher Development workshops and access to taught modules relevant to your project. A brochure of research projects/themes offered by our faculty is available here: Sussex EPSRC Brochure 2025-26 <https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/downloads/funding/awards/1818/Sussex%20EPSRC…> For more information on how to apply, follow this link: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/phd-funding/view/1818-EPSRC-Sci… Dr. James Bennett Assistant Professor in Computer Science and AI Dept. Informatics University of Sussex Sussex AI <https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/centres/ai-research-group/>, Sussex Neuroscience <https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/centres/sussex-neuroscience/>

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World wide VVTNS series (fifth season): Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at 11:00 am EST| Srdjan Ostojic, Ecole normale supérieure, Paris
by David Hansel 19 Jan '25

19 Jan '25

[image: VVTNS.png] https://www.wwtns.online <https://streaklinks.com/A9c7PbbpKY7PxB6PaAJWGD3-/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwtns.on…> - on twitter: wwtns@TheoreticalWide You are cordially invited to the lecture given by Srdjan Ostojic Ecole normale supérieure, Paris on the topic of Structured Excitatory-Inhibitory Networks: a low-rank approach The lecture will be held on zoom on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at *11:00 am EST * To receive the zoom link: https://www.wwtns.online/register-page *Abstract: * Networks of excitatory and inhibitory (EI) neurons form a canonical circuit in the brain. Classical theoretical analyses of dynamics in EI networks have revealed key principles such as EI balance or paradoxical responses to external inputs. These seminal results assume that synaptic strengths depend on the type of neurons they connect but are otherwise statistically independent. However, recent synaptic physiology datasets have uncovered connectivity patterns that deviate significantly from independent connection models. Simultaneously, studies of task-trained recurrent networks have emphasized the role of connectivity structure in implementing neural computations. Despite these findings, integrating detailed connectivity structures into mean-field theories of EI networks remains a substantial challenge. In this talk, I will outline a theoretical approach to understanding dynamics in structured EI networks by employing a low-rank approximation based on an analytical computation of the dominant eigenvalues of the full connectivity matrix. I will illustrate this approach by investigating the effects of pair-wise connectivity motifs on linear dynamics in EI networks. Specifically, I will present recent results demonstrating that an over-representation of chain motifs induces a strong positive eigenvalue in inhibition-dominated networks, generating a potential instability that challenges classical EI balance criteria. Furthermore, by examining the effects of external input, we found that chain motifs can, on their own, induce paradoxical responses, wherein an increased input to inhibitory neurons leads to a counterintuitive decrease in their activity through recurrent feedback mechanisms. Altogether, our theoretical approach opens new avenues for relating recorded connectivity structures with dynamics and computations in biological networks. *About VVTNS : Launched as the World Wide Theoretical Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam (April 20, 2022), Speakers have the occasion to talk about theoretical aspects of their work which cannot be discussed in a setting where the majority of the audience consists of experimentalists. The seminars, **held on Wednesdays at 11 am ET,** are 45-50 min long followed by a discussion. The talks are recorded with authorization of the speaker and are available to everybody on our YouTube channel.* ᐧ ᐧ

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Save the date: NEST Conference 2025 will take place 17–18 June (online)
by Hans Ekkehard Plesser 16 Jan '25

16 Jan '25

Dear Colleagues, The NEST Initiative is excited to invite everyone interested in neural simulation technology, simulation-based neuroscience and NEST Software to the NEST Conference 2025. Save the date for the virtual conference, taking place online on 17–18 June 2025! The annual NEST Conference provides an opportunity for the NEST Community to meet, exchange success stories, swap advice, learn about current developments in and around NEST spiking network simulation and its application. We particularly encourage young scientists to participate in the conference! Registration and abstract submission will open soon. For more information on the event please visit the conference website https://nest-simulator.org/conference We are looking forward to seeing you in June! Hans Ekkehard Plesser on behalf of the conference organizing committee -- Prof. Dr. Hans Ekkehard Plesser Research Committee Chair, Faculty of Science and Technology Head, Department of Data Science Department of Data Science Faculty of Science and Technology Norwegian University of Life Sciences PO Box 5003, 1432 Aas, Norway Phone +47 6723 1560 Email hans.ekkehard.plesser(a)nmbu.no<mailto:hans.ekkehard.plesser@nmbu.no> Home http://arken.nmbu.no/~plesser

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[Call for Abstract]: Workshop AI and Ethics of Care (5 February 2025, University of Porto)
by steven gouveia 16 Jan '25

16 Jan '25

Workshop AI and Ethics of Care 5 February 2025 | Sala de Reuniões 1 Keynote Speakers [Picture] Silvia Dadà is a post-doctoral researcher in Moral Philosophy and Bioethics at the University of Pisa. She is a research member in the PNRR project FAIR (Future Artificial Intelligence Research). Her current areas of interest include ethics of care, bioethics, and ethics of AI. Her most recent book is Etica della vulnerabilità (2022: Morcelliana). [Picture] Ângelo Milhano holds a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Évora, where he is now a Visiting Professor. He is a researcher in Philosophy of Technology at Praxis: Centre for Philosophy, Politics and Culture. Ângelo has focused his research on digital technologies, focusing on how their various materializations are able to influence human beings and their way of thinking about the world. ________________________________ [Call for Abstracts] The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies raises urgent ethical questions about their development, deployment, and societal impact. While traditional AI ethics often emphasizes fairness, transparency, and accountability, the Ethics of Care introduces a relational perspective, focusing on empathy, compassion, and the interdependence of individuals and communities. This workshop aims to explore how the Ethics of Care can reshape the trajectory of AI development, fostering technologies that prioritize human well-being and relational responsibility. We invite researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and activists to submit abstracts addressing the intersection of AI and the Ethics of Care. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: * Philosophical Foundations: Theoretical explorations of the Ethics of Care as a framework for AI ethics. * Relational AI Design: Designing AI systems that prioritize relationships, empathy, and contextual understanding. * AI in Care Contexts: The role of AI in healthcare, eldercare, and caregiving, with a focus on enhancing rather than replacing human care. * Algorithmic Responsibility: Ensuring AI systems recognize and adapt to the interdependence of social and cultural contexts. * Bias and Marginalization: How the Ethics of Care can address systemic inequities and biases in AI systems. * Governance and Policy: Frameworks for implementing care-centered principles in AI policy and regulation. * Critiques and Challenges: Potential limitations of applying the Ethics of Care to AI and strategies for overcoming them. Submission Guidelines: * Submit a title, an abstract of 300 words (with up to 5 relevant references) and a short bio (50 words) to stevensequeira92(a)hotmail.com<https://ifilosofia.up.pt/activities/stevensequeira92@hotmail.com> * Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and authors will be notified of acceptance or rejection shortly after submission. We encourage early submissions to secure a spot in the workshop program. * There is no registration fee for the workshop. However, accepted authors are responsible for covering their own travel and accommodation expenses. * Deadline: 26 January 2025 * For inquiries, please contact: stevensequeira92(a)hotmail.com<mailto:stevensequeira92@hotmail.com> Organizing Committee Steven S. Gouveia (MLAG/IF/Uni. Porto) CEEC Project by FCT 2022.02527.CEECIND, University of Porto Organization RG Mind, Language and Action Group (MLAG) Instituto de Filosofia da Universidade do Porto - UID/00502 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)

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[Meetings] Deadline reminder: 2025 Nengo Summer School Call For Applications
by Michael Furlong 15 Jan '25

15 Jan '25

Dear colleagues, Please note that the deadline for application submission to the Nengo Summer School, February 1st, 2025, is approaching. [All details about this school can be found online at https://www.nengo.ai/summer-school] The Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience at the University of Waterloo is excited to announce our 10th annual Nengo summer school on large-scale brain modelling and neuromorphic computing. This two-week school will teach participants to use the Nengo simulation package to build state-of-the-art cognitive and neural models to run both in simulation and on neuromorphic hardware. Summer school participants will be given on-site access to neuromorphic hardware and will learn to run high-level applications using Nengo! More generally, Nengo provides users with a versatile and powerful environment for designing cognitive and neural systems and has been used to build what is currently the world's largest functional brain model, Spaun, which includes spiking deep learning, reinforcement learning, adaptive motor control, and cognitive control networks. For a look at the last in-person summer school, check out this short video: https://youtu.be/nFYTqieEnSY We welcome applications from all interested graduate students, postdocs, professors, and industry professionals with a relevant background. ***Application Deadline: February 1, 2025*** Format: A combination of tutorials and project-based work. Participants are encouraged to bring their own ideas for projects, which may focus on testing hypotheses, modelling neural or cognitive data, implementing specific behavioural functions with neurons, expanding past models, or providing a proof-of-concept of various neural mechanisms. Hands-on tutorials, work on individual or group projects, and talks from invited faculty members will make up the bulk of day-to-day activities. A project demonstration event will be held on the last day of the school, with prizes for strong projects! Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to: * interface Nengo with various kinds of neuromorphic hardware (e.g. BrainDrop, SpiNNaker) * build perceptual, motor, and sophisticated cognitive models using spiking neurons * model anatomical, electrophysiological, cognitive, and behavioural data * use a variety of single cell models within a large-scale model  * integrate machine learning methods into biologically oriented models * interface Nengo with cameras and robotic systems * implement modern nonlinear control methods in neural models * and much more… Date and Location: June 1st to June 13th, 2025 at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Applications: Please visit http://www.nengo.ai/summer-school, where you can find more information regarding costs, travel, lodging, along with an application form listing required materials. If you have any questions about the school or the application process, please contact Michael Furlong (michael.furlong(a)uwaterloo.ca) The school is partly supported by ABR, Inc. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Registration Open: Advanced Course on “Computational Approaches to Neuronal and Behavioral Data Analysis
by Leandro Aguiar 15 Jan '25

15 Jan '25

Dear colleagues, Please share and disseminate through your network. On behalf of all the organizers, I am pleased to announce that registration is open for the Advanced Course on “Computational Approaches to Neuronal and Behavioral Data Analysis,” which will be held in a hybrid format: in-person at Braga, Portugal, and online via Zoom, from *April 22 to May 9, 2025*. Please refer to the course website for more information: https://meetings.embo.org/event/25-data-analysis The course will provide in-depth training across five specialized modules: 1. *Fundamentals of Programming and Python* – Covering Python basics, packages like NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib, and advanced exercises such as raster plot mapping. 2. *Behavioral Data Analysis* – Using tools like DeepLabCut for pose estimation and structuring datasets for behavioral insights. 3. *Calcium and Neurotransmitter Signal Analysis* – Focusing on fiber photometry, calcium imaging, and integrating behavioral data. 4. *Electrophysiological Data Analysis* – Exploring spike sorting, neuron clustering, and synchronizing electrophysiological data with behavioral events. 5. *fMRI Data Analysis* – Examining dynamic functional connectivity and group-level comparisons. This hybrid format allows participants worldwide to join either in person or online, making it accessible and flexible. We encourage researchers from Academia and Industry, at all career stages, to register and participate. Early registration is highly recommended due to limited in-person capacity and the hybrid nature of the event. For program details and registration, please visit: https://meetings.embo.org/event/25-data-analysis Thank you for sharing this exciting opportunity with your network. Best regards, Leandro Aguiar Postdoctoral Researcher Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) School of Medicine, University of Minho

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