We are doing something special this time:

[1] we will hold a scientific speed talk session. Every participant please prepare a 1-3 slide overview of what research problem they are working on (or would like to work on) at the moment. This should include research students, postdocs and profs. Just bring along slides from some of your previous talks. In order to speed things up, only transparencies or slides on a USB stick will be accepted - no fuffing around with cables/laptops please. Each "talk" to last 2 min max!

This will take place in MAS206 [to be confirmed], i.e. in the Material and Analytical Science building between Chemistry and Physics. Entry via the Science Concourse.

[2] We then have only one speaker, namely Sarah Ann Harris from Leeds. Sarah will give her talk together with the departmental colloquium in Physics, so we will move to the Physics Lecture Theatre around the corner.

TITLE: Molecular Mayhem! Dynamics, Defects and Disorder: Modelling Biomacromolecules with Supercomputers

Dr. Sarah Harris of the University of Leeds

ABSTRACT: 

Computational models have huge potential to provide insight into molecular biology by showing how the shapes of biomolecules change due to their thermal motion, how the structure of individual biomolecules is affected by subjecting them to mechanical stress and the possible biological consequences of conformational flexibility and diversity. However, the computational expense of the calculations, which require high performance supercomputer facilities, places serious limitations on the length and time-scales that can be accessed. I shall describe the successes and the challenges of simulations of biomacromolecules using examples from our own research; namely DNA packing and recognition and protein aggregation. I will then present a new algorithm we are developing that uses continuum mechanics to model biomolecules that are too large to be simulated at the atomisic level. I will conclude by commenting on future prospects for computer simulation in molecular biology.

[3] Our wine and nibbles session will then be held outside PLT and start just after Sarah's talk.

We also need to start planning for the all-hands meeting at the end of March. Let's discuss it next week.

Everyone, please accoune the meeting widely in your area/department/research group!

PBBP seminar

15:30 - 19:00, Wed, 29 Feb '12

Location: MAS 206 and the Physics Lecture Theatre (PLT)

There will be a ROOM CHANGE: meeting to take place in MAS 206 and the Physics Lecture Theatre (PLT).