"How Science Spies on and Technology Imitates Nature"

25-28 September 2011 in Gdańsk (Poland)

The Humboldt-Kolleg of Societas Humboldtiana Polonorum

General concept

It is duty of scientists to spy nature on and to classify the knowledge acquired by this way. However, during the last half of the past century scientific knowledge expanded at a rate unprecedented In the history of human thought. As a consequence, it is now virtually impossible for anyone to have a bird’s-eye view of even a small part of science, let alone the whole of it. The constant change makes it a struggle even to keep up with one’s own specialty. Because of this, scientists necessarily specialize narrowly and isolate themselves but a handful of other scientists working closely related areas. If a scholar in the humanities is likened a person with an impressionistic view of an open landscape, a scientist is like a superbly skilled miner confined to exploring a small region.

Next, the important tasks in engineering is to derive technological advantage from nature. This means in particular to observe real objects in nature and to apply the knowledge obtained about the structure and dynamics in design of technological objects. Between science and engineering - design can be usefully discussed at a meta-level. The activity of design is a, if not the, primary generator of new engineering knowledge. Design in engineering usually requires that the physical phenomena be expressed as a set of mathematical relationships in order to provide an avenue for analysis; that is, it requires the construction of models. The capacity of mathematical/theoretical models to function as design instruments stems from the fact that they provide the kind of information that allows us to intervene in nature.

Yet, in the case of computer-aided design, another layer of analysis is required, since the computer, as well as the mathematical model, is functioning as a design instrument. There is trend in development of modern computer-aided engineer calculations to imitate structures, phenomena and systems existing in nature, in living organisms by neuron networks, genetic algorithms and others. Although, the computer shifted the relationship between model and design practice by black-boxing the calculations of the solution.

The organizers of the conference hope that majority of the mentioned issues will be discussed during the lectures and meetings.

Objectives and Topics

Conference "How Science Spies on and Technology Imitates Nature" will take place in Gdańsk, north part of Poland, on 25-28. September 2011.

The challenge for the organizers of this scientific event is to contemplate mutual relationships between science, technology and nature. Thus, during the conference will be presented 18 invited lectures by expertise lecturers from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Poland. Besides young scientists could demonstrate their results in poster session and 2 Professors will play moderators roles during the panel discussion. The presentations will be distributed by 6 sessions.

The Conference will bring together several scientists around Europe representing several fields of study regarding the relationship science-technology-nature. It should be emphasized that multidisciplinary scope of the conference will be enhanced.

The main objective of the Conference is to promote a comprehensive forum for discussion on the recent advances in the related fields trying to identified widespread areas of potential collaboration between researchers of different sciences.

Organising Committee

1. Prof. dr hab. Andrzej M. Kłonkowski (Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk)
2. dr Krzysztof Kledzik - secretary (Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk)

Honorary Committee

1. Prof. dr hab. Bogusław Buszewski (Chairman of Soc. Humboldt. Polon. And Pol. Soc. Chem., N. Copernicus University, Toruń)
2. Prof. Dr. Günther Heinz Frischat (Clausthal University of Technology)
3. Prof. dr hab. Marian Jaskuła (General Secretary of Soc. Humboldt. Polon, Jagiellonian University, Cracow)
4. Prof. Dr. H.-Jürgen Meyer (University of Tübingen)
5. Prof. dr hab. inż. Wojciech Sadowski (Gdańsk University of Technology)
6. Prof. dr hab. Małgorzata Sznitowska (Vice-Rector of the Gdańsk University of Medicine)
7. Prof. dr hab. Grzegorz Węgrzyn (Vice-Rector of the University of Gdańsk)