NEST User Workshop
Event Information
Description
Purpose and scope
The Neural Simulation Tool NEST has become a key tool for the investigation of the dynamics of large neuronal network models and has a quickly growing and active user community.
With this workshop we want to strengthen the growing NEST community and foster the dialog between NEST Users across a broad spectrum of modelling approaches, as well as between Users and Developers.
Software development driven by specific research questions has been the key to NEST’s long-lasting success. As NEST is applied to an ever-wider field of research questions, we expect that the wider NEST community will increasingly participate in NEST development, e.g., by implementing new neuron models or connection patterns. An important goal of the workshop will therefore be to provide you with both technical and practical information on how you can contribute to NEST. We will also bring you up to speed on best practices for NEST usage and development.
For a limited number of participants, we offer the possibility to present your scientific work done with NEST. If you are interested in presenting, please contact the workshop organizers.
This workshop is primarily intended for users and developers of NEST and you will benefit most if you already have practical experience with NEST. However, if you are interested in using NEST in the future, this workshop will also be useful for you.
Venue
The workshop will take place in Geneva, Switzerland at the new Campus Biotech. See map on this page for details.
Accommodation
There are many hotels in the vicinity of the venue and we suggest to find your accommodation via your favorite online booking portal.
Travel support
The HBP Education Programme is providing two travel grants for junior participants—PhD students and post-docs with less than four years experience—of up to € 450,00 per person. Please contact the organizers of the workshop for further details.
Preliminary Programme
20 Apr
18.00-22.00
Social and dinner
21 Apr
08.30-10.00
What is NEST? History, Design, & Directions
10.00-10.30
Coffee break
10.30-12.00
How is NEST used? Users presentations
12.00-14.00
Lunch
14.00-15.30
Best practice: Building large networks fast
15.30-16.00
Coffee break
16.00-17.30
Hands on: Network building
19.00-22.00
Dinner
22 Apr
08.30-09.00
Presentation of the NEST Initiative
09.00-10.00
Best practice: Writing neuron and synapse models
10.00-10.30
Coffee break
10.30-12.00
Hands on: Implement your own model
12.00-13.00
Lunch
13.00-14.30
Contribute to NEST: The NEST Git Repository, Coding Standards, and Code Review Platform
14.30-15.00
Coffee break
15.00-16.30
Next Steps: NEST Development and Community Building
Further information
Organizer NEST Initiative
Organizer of NEST User Workshop
