Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear colleagues,

Computational Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field of research that aims at a better understanding of the principles governing brain functions. From 4 to 6 October 2011 over 300 scientists from around the world will convene in Freiburg for the “Bernstein Conference on Computational Neuroscience and Neurotechnology.” The conference will be opened on

Tuesday 4 October 2011 at 1:30 p.m. in the Assembly Hall (Aula) of Collegiate Building I of the University of Freiburg, Platz der Universität 3, 79098 Freiburg.

It will commence with the presentation of the 2011 Bernstein Award for Computational Neuroscience. Worth up to 1.25 million euros, this award is one of the most lucrative scientific awards in the world. It provides outstanding junior scientists the chance to found their own research group at a German research institution.

After the award ceremony, we invite you to attend the press conference at ca. 4:00 p.m. in the reading room of the Theology Library on the 3^rd floor of Collegiate Building I. You will have the opportunity to speak with the award winner as well as with selected brain researchers. Several experts on each of the following topics will be available to answer questions:

§  Learning and Remembering

§  Seeing – How We Explore the World

§  Computer-Brain Interfaces

§  How Does the Brain Encode Information?

§  When the Brain Doesn’t Want What We Want

As an additional highlight for the general public and journalists, the conference is holding an international short film competition on neuroscience research and organizing the first public presentation of an interactive installation controlled by neuronal networks created by the artist Rainer Dunkel.

The conference is the yearly meeting of the Bernstein Network for Computational Neuroscience, which receives financial support from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), as well as the tri-national neuroscience network Neurex. The BMBF has provided funding for projects within the context of the Bernstein Network for Computational Neuroscience since 2004, with current funding totaling ca. 156 million euros. This year’s Bernstein Conference is being organized by “Bernstein Focus: Neurotechnology, Freiburg-Tübingen.”

All interested journalists who wish to attend are requested to register with: Johannes Faber, Press Work and Public Relations, Bernstein Coordination Office, johannes.faber@bcos.uni-freiburg.de, Phone: 0761 – 203 9593. After registering you will receive more detailed information on the conference, on the Bernstein Bazaar, and on the winner of the Bernstein Award.

For more information, please visit: www.bc11.de Bernstein Conference 2011

www.nncn.de National Bernstein Network on Computational Neuroscience

Sincerely,

Rudolf-Werner Dreier
Press Work and Public Relations