12 th Experimental Chaos and Complexity Conference

ECC conferences have been bringing together members of the worldwide scientific, medical and engineering communities who apply nonlinear dynamics to make discoveries and find new solutions to fundamental problems in many fields of experimental science and technology. For this year's meeting, we have gathered researchers working in the fields which founded experimental nonlinear dynamics, including electronics, nonlinear optics and hydrodynamics, and in fields that have recently recognized the deep insights nonlinear dynamics techniques can provide to experimental systems, such as neuroscience, biology, energy systems, earth science and social dynamics. With 26 invited talks, 38 contributed talks and more than 50 poster presentations, we look forward to your participation in this unique gathering where nonlinear dynamics and complexity are integrating factors spurring cross-pollination of ideas among experimental science, biology, technology and social sciences. Catania and Lille, we welcome you to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We are very excited about hosting ECC12 here at the University of Michigan as we believe it will provide an especially advantageous and supportive environment. U-M has a long history at the forefront of nonlinear dynamics and complex systems research. The Center for Studies of Complex Systems was one of the first units in the country focusing on developing nonlinear dynamics methodology and applying it to various types of experimental systems. As these approaches have become more established and wide spread, nonlinear dynamics methodology is being used in research conducted in many units across the university, reflected in the diverse list of university sponsors for the conference. To introduce you to Michigan's role in science and technology development, the conference banquet will be held at The Henry Ford Museum, in Dearborn, Michigan. Founded by the noted automobile industrialist, Henry Ford, the museum began as his personal collection of historic objects, which he began collecting as far back as 1906, and was fueled by his desire to preserve items of historical significance to the Industrial Revolution. Today, the 12 acre (49,000 m²) site, a National Historic Landmark, houses an unparalleled collection of antique machinery, pop culture items, automobiles, locomotives and aircraft and has become the ultimate place to explore what past and present Americans have imagined and invented. The banquet is the evening of Wednesday, May 16 with buses boarding for transportation to the museum outside of Rackham at 5:45pm. A special event at this year's conference is a public lecture to introduce the …