European Conference on Complex Systems – ECCS 2008

The European Conference on Complex Systems – ECCS 2008 (http://jeruccs2008.org/conference-main) took place, for its 5th time, on September the 14th -18th 2008, at the Givat Ram Campus of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. In light of the moto More is different - a whole is different than the sum of its parts of Phil Anderson, Nobel Prize winner for Physics, the ECCS 2008 conference reunites influential figures in the international scientific world, with the aim of reflecting not only "the state of the art" of the Complex Systems field, but also its applicability in Physics, Biology, Bioinformatics, Information and Communication Technologies, as well as in Economics and Social Sciences.
As part of this far-reaching event, on September 18th-19th 2008, took place the satellite conference A Complexity Application: Reconnecting the Science of the New EU Members to the World/European Science - the Case of Romania (http://jeruccs2008.org/node/672).
The satellite conference, initiative of the conference chair of ECCS 2008, Professor Dr. Sorin Solomon, from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, attempted to offer opportunities for the integration of Romanian research in the European/worldwide scientific medium, in multidisciplinary and interface domains, through the implication of researchers and students from Romania's higher studies and research institutions into common projects with foreign partners, the bonding agent being mainly researchers and students of Romanian origins abroad.
On September 21st, the Romanian Cultural Institute in Tel Aviv hosted a round table discussion with the objective of discovering the optimal ways of cooperation between Romanian researchers and students and their peers abroad. There has been a genuine attempt to elaborate a long term strategy, along with trying to find immediate solutions. The event taking place in Tel Aviv was not open to the public.
Prominent figures from Romania and of Romanian origin abroad have confirmed their participation, among whom we note:
• Solomon Marcus, member of the Romanian Academy;
• Alexandru Balaban, member of the Romanian Academy, Professor at the Texas A&M University at Galveston, USA;
• Moshe Idel, member of the Israeli Academy of Sciences, Professor at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, one of the most eminent researchers of Jewish mysticism in general and of Kabala in particular;
• Albert-Laszlo Barabasi, external member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Professor and Director of the Center for Network Science, Northwestern University, USA;
• Ilie Pârvu, correspondent member of the Romanian Academy, Professor at the University of Bucharest.
The event was honoured by the support of the Romanian Academy and the Romanian Presidency, by the presence of Dr. Catalin Avramescu, State Counselor, Presidential Chancellery.