Dear colleagues,

Please consider submitting an abstract to ‘From simple models to complex geomorphological systems: laboratory experiments and associated concept models’ in the Geomorphology section at EGU 2023 (23-28 April, Vienna and online) by January 10th. Below is the session description and a poster. We strongly encourage submissions from early career and underrepresented scientists.

The Earth’s surface is shaped by many processes occurring over a wide range of time and length scales, all of which are interdependent with each other. Unravelling this complex system is challenging, especially because of the wide range of scales involved, which makes observation difficult. Therefore, the use of simplified and controlled experiments is widely used to probe isolated processes or their interactions. Careful selection of experimental parameters allows the relevant space-time scales to be tuned to facilitate observation. Similarly, it allows to control the specific mechanisms to be included. After understanding the predominant mechanisms, it is possible to gradually increase the complexity of the experimental system to reduce the gap between the model and the natural system.

This session aims to bring together researchers from different communities working experimentally on various systems to facilitate knowledge exchange on experimental methods, measurement and data processing, and the fundamental processes ubiquitous in geomorphological systems.

We especially welcome contributions about systems involving fluid mechanics and/or granular flows, such as but not limited to:
– fluvial and coastal systems

– aeolian processes and arid environments
– systems associated with melting, dissolution and precipitation
– gravity-driven flows

Pauline Delorme, University of Hull
Cyril Gadal, Institut de Mécanique des Fluides de Toulouse
Anne Baar, University of Hull
Andrew Gunn, Monash University

The growing plant is a fascinating system involving multiple fields. Biologically, it is a multi-cellular system controlled by complex bio-chemical networks. Physically, it is an example of an « active solid » – an extended solid system, whose element (cells) are active, performing mechanical work to drive the evolving geometry. Computationally, it acts as a distributed system, processing a multitude of local inputs into a coordinated developmental response. The goal of this meeting is to provide a rare opportunity to bring together researchers from these different but complementary disciplines, and study the plant as a living, information-processing organism, which uses physical laws and biological mechanisms to alter its own shape, and negotiate its environment.

Info and registration: https://www.plant-bio-physics.org

Le colloque Aussois 2023 de l’Association MECAMAT a pour thème :
Grandes transformations : aujourd’hui… demain

Le colloque se tiendra du 23 au 27 Janvier 2023 au Centre CNRS Paul Langevin à Aussois.
Les informations relatives au colloque sont disponibles sur notre site : https://aussois2023.sciencesconf.org/ avec un programme alléchant ! (https://aussois2023.sciencesconf.org/program).

La date limite d’inscription est fixée au 31 Octobre 2022

A workshop in honour of Jean-François Joanny.

Over the last two decades, knowledge acquired on inert soft matter systems has led to spectacular progress in the development of a quantitative understanding of biological systems. These fundamentally out-of-equilibrium systems range from the molecular constituents of the living cell via cells and tissues to schools of fish and herds of wildebeest.

This research at the crossroad of soft-matter and biological physics gave birth to a new field in statistical physics, known as “active matter”. Active matter is characterized by its non-equilibrium nature originating from the microscopic constituents of the material themselves. Examples involve the collective behavior of bacteria swarms to bird flocks, enzyme activity and growing tissues, or the whiplike motion of the swimming sperms tail.

The search for generic theories and universal physical features, ranging from inert soft matter to biological systems, has been the hallmark of the distinguished scientific work of Jean-François Joanny.

In honor of his achievements, this workshop is organized with a focus on the physical properties of soft matter, active and biological systems.

Registration will be opened from October 25th to November 4th 2022

https://www.softtobio2023.com