<div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 12pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Dear Colleagues,<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 12pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As many of you have been aware of, yesterday the BigNeuron project (<a href="https://alleninstitute.org/bigneuron" target="_blank"> https://alleninstitute.org/bigneuron</a> and <a href="http://bigneuron.org/" target="_blank">http://bigneuron.org</a> ) was formally announced by Allen Institute for Brain Science and 12 other partner organizations worldwide.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 12pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">We will welcome and encourage your participation, especially contribution of your neuron reconstruction and analysis algorithms.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 12pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Please consider attending one of the upcoming hackathons at Cambridge Univ, UK, and Janelia of HHMI, USA. The detail can be seen at the end. Please note that the application deadlines are very close, so respond quickly please.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 12pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If you have a question, please reply to <a href="mailto:bigneuronproject@gmail.com" target="_blank">bigneuronproject@gmail.com</a> or <a href="mailto:bigneuron@alleninstitute.org" target="_blank">bigneuron@alleninstitute.org</a> (for better tracking).<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 12pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Look forward to working with you in BigNeuron!<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Best,<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">-<br>Hanchuan Peng, Ph.D.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Giorgio Ascoli, Ph.D.<br>Erik Meijering , Ph.D.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">On behalf of the<br clear="all"><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">BigNeuron Consortium<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 12pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><a href="https://alleninstitute.org/bigneuron" target="_blank">https://alleninstitute.org/bigneuron</a><br><br>----<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><a name="14c93b9c80c0caec_14c92ee6d6b305d9_14c8f9ce11a573fc_14c7bb445a474623_h.3r0iybdlgq6d" style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"></a><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:blue">BigNeuron Hackathons: Call For Participation</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The mission of the BigNeuron project (<a href="http://bigneuron.org/" target="_blank">http://bigneuron.org</a>) is to define and advance the state-of-the-art of single neuron reconstruction, an essential unsolved challenge in brain science. BigNeuron is a community effort to both standardize the methods to generate high quality and consistent neuron reconstructions, and mobilize the reconstruction community to generate interest in solving these complex and interesting algorithmic problems.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With the big success of our first<a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2015/03/31/396586398/hackers-needed-to-teach-computers-to-spot-sick-brain-cells" target="_blank"> BigNeuron hackathon kicked off in Beijing</a> during March 16-20, 2015, we are now looking forward to meeting more researchers in the neuron reconstruction community at the upcoming <a href="https://alleninstitute.org/bigneuron/hackathons-workshops/" target="_blank">two hackathons at Cambridge University, UK, and Janelia Research Campus of HHMI, USA</a>. <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Each BigNeuron hackathon will be a one-week (5 days) long event made up of very intensive and productive programming work together with some of the world experts in the neuron reconstruction and analysis fields. There will also be intensive discussion of some of the cutting edge neuronal image data and related techniques. The events will result in some major science publications and new tools in the neuroinformatics field, and will also contribute to making new and fruitful connections among various groups.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> <u></u><u></u></p><h1 style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:24pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><a name="14c93b9c80c0caec_14c92ee6d6b305d9_14c8f9ce11a573fc_14c7bb445a474623_h.9o8wo9muynw2" style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"></a>Cambridge Hackathon<u></u><u></u></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The cambridge hackathon will be held at the Cambridge University in UK, during <span><span>May 4-8, 2015</span></span>. It is sponsored by University of Cambridge (both the department of neuroscience and advanced imaging center there), Europe's Human Brain Project, Wellcome Trust (UK), and Allen Institute for Brain Science, USA. The application deadline is <b><span style="color:red"><span><span>April 10th, 2015</span></span></span></b>.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> <u></u><u></u></p><h1 style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:24pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><a name="14c93b9c80c0caec_14c92ee6d6b305d9_14c8f9ce11a573fc_14c7bb445a474623_h.6c3xdbs7hq8" style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"></a>Janelia Hackathon<u></u><u></u></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Janelia hackathon will be sponsored and held at Janelia Research Campus of HHMI in USA, during <span><span>June 1-5, 2015</span></span>. The application deadline is <b><span style="color:red"><span><span>April 25th, 2015</span></span></span></b>.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Here are some more details about the registration and logistics, if you haven’t registered. Please feel free to spread the word and we are looking forward to your participation!<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> <u></u><u></u></p><h1 style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:24pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><a name="14c93b9c80c0caec_14c92ee6d6b305d9_14c8f9ce11a573fc_14c7bb445a474623_h.nby120yv565b" style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"></a>Application, Registration and Logistics<u></u><u></u></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There is no registration fee for BigNeuron hackathons. BigNeuron will cover hotel rooms for one week and meals. The attendee needs to arrange his/her own flights/travel to the hackathon sites. Due to the limited resources to enable the intensive and productive programming and discussion during these hackathons, BigNeuron will be able to accept only a selected number of applications to participate in the events. The selection criterion for applications to attend a hackathon will be based on whether or not the applicants would directly contribute to the project by porting their neuron tracing/reconstruction methods for bench-testing, and other related neuron analysis algorithms during the hackathon events. If your application for participation is accepted, we can also provide a formal invitation letter if needed for visa application.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Please email <a href="mailto:bigneuronproject@gmail.com" target="_blank">bigneuronproject@gmail.com</a> to apply before the aforementioned deadlines, with a brief introduction about your research background and why you want to participate.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> <u></u><u></u></p><h1 style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:24pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif"><a name="14c93b9c80c0caec_14c92ee6d6b305d9_14c8f9ce11a573fc_14c7bb445a474623_h.hhe1pba072y3" style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"></a>Questions?<u></u><u></u></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For more information of the BigNeuron project, visit <a href="http://bigneuron.org/" target="_blank">http://bigneuron.org</a>. The FAQ page may answer most of the common questions. More questions should be directly sent to either <a href="mailto:bigneuronproject@gmail.com" target="_blank">bigneuronproject@gmail.com</a> or <a href="mailto:bigneuron@alleninstitute.org" target="_blank">bigneuron@alleninstitute.org</a> . </p>
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