Frontiers of Molecular Systems Engineering
Applied to Societal Problems
International Workshop
22-26 June 2025
University of Chicago John W. Boyer Center, International Institute for Research in Paris
Abstracts now being accepted until Wednesday, 23 April 2025!
Molecular systems engineering refers to the growing field of science and technology in which useful, functional systems are conceived, designed, and built from components at molecular length scales into a broad range of beneficial devices, therapies, remediations, protections, and services. Molecular systems engineering includes, but differs from nanotechnology, in that it also comprises ‘reverse engineering’ in seeking to understand and build on topics as diverse as origin of life, tissue morphogenesis, innate and adaptive immunity, molecular separations, energy transformations, and active matter, all of which demand deep expertise in engineering based on fundamental physics, chemistry, biology, and, increasingly, simulation, data science and machine learning. Formal degree programs and research institutes in molecular engineering have been launched in North America, Europe and Asia and considerable work in molecular engineering is being pursued in many traditional engineering and science departments and programs.
Molecular systems engineering moves research and discoveries along a path from science to society. The vision of this workshop is that as molecular systems engineering develops, it can and should be directed increasingly to addressing problems of deep significance and global societal importance. The goal of this workshop is to identify such areas of significance and societal need and explore how molecular engineering brings powerful, new approaches.
This meeting will consist of eight half-day, three-hour sessions, over four days, with actively engaged moderators, each built around one of the following topics on applications of molecular systems engineering:
• Global Health Equity
• Immunology and Immunoengineering
• Understanding Phase Separation in Biology
• Understanding Matter to Life
• Food Security and Sustainability
• Water Security
• The Energy Transition
• Molecular Engineering Design and Manufacturing
There will be four presentations in each of the sessions, two by featured speakers (45 min each) and two by contributing speakers (25 min each). We invite abstract submissions for contributed talks and posters. If you would like to be considered, please submit your abstract by Wednesday, 23 April 2025 to present or apply to attend.
Thank you to our sponsors for their generous support:
