diff --git a/content/20240621-week-25-update.rst b/content/20240621-week-25-update.rst new file mode 100644 index 000000000..c5b4a0a66 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/20240621-week-25-update.rst @@ -0,0 +1,99 @@ +Week 25 update +############## +:date: 2024-06-21 13:16:43 +:modified: 2024-06-21 13:16:43 +:author: ankur +:category: Life +:tags: NeuroML, Computational Neuroscience, Fedora, GSoC, UCL, NPP, Biosciences +:slug: week-25-update +:summary: Weekly update to week #25 + + +NeuroML related +================= + +.. figure:: {static}/images/neuroml-logo.png + :width: 40 % + :align: center + :alt: NeuroML is a standard and software ecosystem for biophysically detailed neuronal modelling. + :class: text-center img-responsive pagination-centered + + NeuroML_ is a standard and software ecosystem for biophysically detailed neuronal modelling. + +We made new releases of jNeuroML_ and pyNeuroML_. +The new releases allow users to keep their `morphology `__ in separate files and "include" these in cell files. +The use case here is that when investigating neuronal biophysics, it would be useful to not have to repeat the morphology each time the cell is used. + +We also updated our `documentation `__ to note this new feature. + +Google Summer of Code +--------------------- + +Aditya and Ioannis have both completed their first tasks and their pull requests are ready for review. +I'll try and review them next week. +In the meantime, they've got new tasks for next week. + +Model conversion +----------------- + +I'm still working on the converting the two remaining Calcium channels in `Zang et al `__. +They're slightly trickier to convert because of the formalism they follow, but I should get there with another few days of work. + + +UCL +=== + +The `UCL Neuroscience symposium `__ was on Thursday. +The talks and posters were great and very informative, e.g.: + +- on visual processing (using `really cool virtual reality experiments `__) +- on the role of sleep on synapses numbers +- Dementia with particular focus on Alzheimer's disease and the role of the `tau protein `__ + + +We'd also had a really interesting talk on the `GLP-1 receptor `__, which is involved in the secretion of insulin for maintenance of blood sugar levels, at our `Neuroscience, Pharmacology, and Physiology (NPP) `__ departmental seminar. + +I'm also involved with the mentoring programme that the `Division of Biosciences `__ runs for PhD students. +We had discussed this at the divisional meeting last week, and now we have a few tasks to carry out to improve the programme's reach to more students. + +OCNS +===== + + +.. figure:: {static}/images/2024-cns-2024-banner.png + :width: 60 % + :align: center + :alt: The annual conference of the Organization for Computational Neurosciences will happen in July in Natal, Brazil, this year. + :class: text-center img-responsive pagination-centered + + The annual conference of the Organization for Computational Neurosciences will happen in July in Natal, Brazil, this year. + + +I'm organising the career development workshop at the `annual conference `__ of the Organization for Computational Neuroscience as part of my Board member responsibilities. +This year, we're hosting a "beyond academia" session where we'll have folks who have worked or are currently working in industry after their doctorates and initial academic positions will speak about their experiences. +The goal is to discuss careers that academics can take up outside of the traditional academic research domain. +With help from a number of Board members and others at the lab at UCL, I had a list of people to reach out to. +We now have a panel of four, so we're on track. + +The programme for the conference is also now online on `Sched `__, and registration is still open. + +I also had a quick meeting with the `OCNS EDI chair `__, Eirini Mavristaki, about the mentoring programme that the OCNS is trying to set up for its members. +Eirini has already got most of it ready, and I'll help with the remaining bits to try and launch it at the conference or soon after. + + +Fedora related +=============== + +A few of us contributors met for a catch up last evening. +We met in Soho, had a few drinks and then had a great meal in Chinatown. +We organise these on the `Fedora UK matrix channel `__, so if you're interested in joining us for the next meetup, please drop in there and let us know. + +We had the `NeuroSIG `__ meeting on Monday. +We went through our packages and so on. +They look fine. +A few are broken after the Python 3.13 mass re-build but as more and more packages are fixed, a lot of our packages should also start to build. + + +.. _NeuroML: https://neuroml.org +.. _pyNeuroML: https://github.com/NeuroML/pyNeuroML +.. _jNeuroML: https://github.com/NeuroML/jNeuroML diff --git a/content/images/2024-cns-2024-banner.png b/content/images/2024-cns-2024-banner.png new file mode 100644 index 000000000..d56470c9e Binary files /dev/null and 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