Exploring life with the supercomputer

25 May 2022

Photo: AG Pearson

The thematic conference in CFEL brought together researchers who do not typically attend the same events.

130 international scientists gathered at the Center for Free-Electron Laser Science last week to discuss the latest developments in biophysics.

The Biophysical Society focused meeting "Biophysics at the Dawn of Exascale Computers" was held at CFEL from May 16-20, 2022. Since 2010, the Biophysical Society has supported small, thematic meetings organized by Society members and held in various locations around the world. These meetings bring together researchers who do not typically attend the same events and consider common problems from different perspectives.

Modern biological experiments generate huge amounts of data. Understanding these data and using them to predicting how macromolecular complexes and systems work requires strong interdisciplinary expertise. In biophysics, researchers from many fields, including mathematics, chemistry, physics, engineering, pharmacology, and materials science, use their skills to explore and develop new tools for understanding biology.

"We had anticipated about 100 attendees and were delighted with the high level of interest," said local member of the organizing committee Prof. Arwen Pearson, who is based in the Cluster of Excellence “CUI: Advanced Imaging of Matter”. "I would like to explicitly thank Elena Kornilova (UHH), Gisbert Mantei (CFEL) and Sakir Sagir (CFEL) for providing such a wonderful welcome to our guests."