The following distinguished speakers have agreed to give lectures:

• Dr. Frances H. Arnold, Dickenson Professor of Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry, California Institute of Technology,  "An Algorithm For Biological Design"

• Dr. Dennis Bray, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, "Emergent Properties In a Cluster of Molecular Receptors"

• Dr. Jerry Chandler, Research Professor, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Studies, George Mason University, "Co-emergence of the Structural Complexity of the Mathematical and Chemical Sciences"

• Dr. Joseph Early, Professor of Chemistry, Emeritus, Georgetown University, "How Dynamic Aggregates Achieve Effective Integration: 'The Many Become One and Are Increased by One'-- A Proposal for Modification of Mereology"

• Dr. Kunihiko Kaneko, Nonlinear Sciences,Complex Systems, Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, Tokyo University, "Intra-Inter Dynamical Systems Approach to Cell Differentiation, Heredity and Evolution"

• Dr. Doron Lancet, Head of the Crown Human Genome Center, Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, "GARD Composomes: Emergent Prebiotic Molecular Assemblies that Self-Replicate Without Biopolymers"

• Dr. Ehud Meron, Department of Energy and Environmental Physics, Ben Gurion University, "Front Dynamics and Pattern Formation in Chemical Systems"

• Dr. Stefan C. Mueller, UNI-Magdenburg, "Mechanisms of Liesegang Ring Formation"

• Dr. Steen  Rasmussen, Los Alamos and Sante Fe Institute, "Bridging Nonliving and Living Matter: From Geomaterials to Biomaterials"

• Dr. Daniel Segre, Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, "Evolution and Persistence of Biochemical Organization"

• Dr. Peter Stadler, Institute for Theoretical Chemistry and Molecular Structural Biology, University of Vienna, "Dynamics of Autocatalytic Replicator Networks"

• Dr. Harry Swinney, Physics Department and Center for Nonlinear Dynamics, University of Texas at Austin, "Resonant Patterns in Reaction Diffusion Systems" 

• Dr. Renate Wackerbauer, Dept. of Physics, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, "Biologically Motivated Reaction-Diffusion Studies"

• Dr. Tomohiko Yamaguchi, Nano Technology Research Institute, Tsukuba Japan, "Subthreshold Response of Excitable Systems"

The following is a partial list of people who have expressed  an interest in attendance:

• Dr. Takashi Amemiya, Nano Technology Research Institute, Tsukuba Japan

• Dr. Kedma Bar-Eli, School of Chemistry, Tel-Aviv University

• Dr. Stirling Colgate, Los Alamos and Sante Fe Institute

• Dr. Irving Epstein, Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University

• Dr. Vilmos Gaspar, Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Debrecen Hungary

• Dr. Albert Goldbeter, Faculty of Science Univerite Libre de Bruxelles

• Dr. Jack L. Hudson, Wills Johnson Professor, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia

• Dr. Raima Larter, Chemistry Department, Indiana University-Purdue

• Dr. George Oster, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California Berkeley

• Dr. Mark Schell, Department of Chemistry, Southern Methodist University

• Dr. Dave Schimel, Climate and Global Dynamics Division, National Center for Atmospheric Research

 

This conference has been supported by the University of Alaska President's Special Project Fund, the University of Alaska  Foundation, and the University of Alaska Anchorage Complex Systems Group.

Chancellor E. Lee Gorsuch, University of Alaska Anchorage

Dr. Theodore Kassier, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, University of Alaska Anchorage

 

Recreation Planning

        Alaska is a beautiful state with much to offer to everyone. It is also a very large state with more land area than California and Texas combined. Because of this it is recommended that careful planning for your trip be made in advance so that you may make best use of your time here. To help you in your recreational choices,  a variety of web sites have been collected that will highlight your options, and the means with which to enjoy them. Further, these sites have been broken down into three categories, within Anchorage, north of Anchorage, and south of Anchorage respectively.

        Anchorage is a great jumping off point for Alaskan adventures, as well as offering many indoor and outdoor activities within the city limits. The city is situated on a peninsula of land abutted by the Alaska Range to the east and the Turnagain Arm and Knik Arm of Cook Inlet to the south and north. The city has hundreds of miles of bike paths as well as several public parks. Following are a set of links for attractions in the Anchorage area as well as transportation services available from Anchorage.

• Alaska Airlines is the major air carrier in Alaska serving most locations within as well as outside the state.

• The Alaska Railroad  has many passenger services, and is possibly the most convenient means of transportation.

• Most of the major car rental services are to be found in Anchorage, however some charge per mile charges (which can come to a substantial amount when you consider a round tip to Fairbanks is more than 850 miles) or have travel restrictions so be sure of the terms before you rent a vehicle.

• Those planning trips to the road accessible parts of Alaska, such as the Kenai Peninsula, Denali, or McCarthy, might consider a RV rental to combine the costs of a motel and vehicle. However Denali National Park charges an entrance fee for RV's that should be added into your costs (this fee is usually included in package tours such as those provided by Princess Tours or The Alaska Railroad).

• The Milepost is a handy travel guide, and offers tips and directions to almost anywhere in Alaska.

• Several cruise lines  have offices in Anchorage, and offer both cruises through the inside passages of Prince William Sound, and bus tours of Alaska's interior.

• Several float plane charters,such as Northern Air Guides, offer float plane trips into the bush from Lake Hood, the largest float plane airport in the world.

• The Alaska Native Heritage Center is a new museum dedicated to the history of native Alaskans.

• As mentioned Chugach National Forest  encompasses most of the region to the south and east of Anchorage, and has hundreds of miles of hiking trails.

• The University of Alaska Campus Center rents a wide variety of outdoors equipment including tents, canoes and kayaks, backpacks, and mountain bikes.

• Any one considering sport fishing or hunting trips should contact The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and determine the regulations specific to your interests as they may vary widely from region to region.

• The Department of Transportation offers information services for Alaska's highway system.

   

  The Region South of Anchorage

  

          The area south of Anchorage is accessible by the Seward Highway (claimed by many to be the most scenic highway in America). The highway follows the Turnagain Arm for forty miles past alpine villages before turning south into the world famous Kenai Peninsula. The Kenai Peninsula is home to quaint colonial Russian villages as well as world class salmon fisheries. Following are links to recreation in the areas south of Anchorage.

       

  The city of   Girdwood is approximately forty miles south in an arctic valley of the Alaska Range. Its main feature is the ski resort Alyeska. Girdwood is also near the entrance to Portage Glacier, and the tunnel entrance to Whittier.

                                                                               

  

                                       

                                     

                                               

   Valdez is the end of the Alaska Pipeline and the nearest deep water port. Valdez is generally  best accessible by boat or rail.

   

                                   

  Exit Glacier is a large land locked glacier that is easily accessible from the road.

   

                                 

  At the end of the peninsula the communities of Homer and Seward host a variety of  fishing charters and wildlife tours in the pristine Resurrection and     Kachemak bays.

  Across the bay from Homer is the small Russian fishing village of   Seldovia which is accessible by ferry from Homer.

  Included are a few links for charter services, however several different services exist. Some of which offer halibut and salmon fishing charters so you may want to find a charter service which will most suite your needs.

            Major Marine Tours             Kenai Fjords Tours             Alaska  Adventure Fishing Charters

                                                                                                                                 

  

  The Region North of Anchorage

         

          The area North of Anchorage can be reached by the Glenn  Highway. This highway passes first through the Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su) Valley, which is the home of the bedroom communities of  Palmer and Wasilla. The highways then separate, and the Glenn Highway heads toward the Canadian border while the Parks Highway turns north towards Denali National Park and Fairbanks. Following are a series of links for this region.

  

• Just outside of Wasilla is the old gold rush mining area of Hatchers Pass.

   

   

  

• A few miles North of Wasilla is the dog mushing community of Talkeetna from which flight seeing tours of Denali can be found.

   

  

• Denali National Park covers most of the region between Talkeetna and Fairbanks. This is one of the most beautiful sites in Alaska as well as one of the most accessible. It is therefore highly recommended to all visitors. However hotel and transportation space can become scarce in the summer months. It is therefore advised that advance preparations be made.

• Just inside the northern boundary of Denali National Park on the slopes of McKinley is the community of Healy, where many of the bus tours stop and embark.

• Fairbanks is a mid sized community based around the main branch of the UA system, and Fort Wainwright Army Base. Fairbanks has many gold rush era sites and attractions.

  

• North of  Fairbanks are several hot springs resorts, of which Chena Hot Springs is most accessible by road. These resorts are especially popular in the wintertime when one can enjoy an outdoor hot tub under the northern lights in sub freezing temperatures.

  

• The mining town of McCarthy is an isolated village centered at the abandoned Kennicot copper mine. Located 60 miles east of the native village of Chitina, it is only accessible by road in the summer (and requires a tram ride so bring your hiking shoes). The village is situated  in the middle of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, which includes the Harding Ice Fields.  

  General Interest

   

   

  Thank you for visiting the summer lecture series recreation site. If you have any questions, or require more specific information please feel free to

  contact me.

  This conference is being organized by Dr. Jerzy Maselko, Department of Chemistry, University of Alaska Anchorage

  3311 Providence Dr.

  Science Building Suite 277

  Anchorage, Alaska 91508

  Phone (907)-789-4607