[Biopython-dev] OpenBio solution challenge: Project updates at BOSC 2010

[Brad Chapman]

Hello all;
The BOSC 2010 organizing committee is hard at work getting prepared for this
July's meeting in Boston:

http://www.open-bio.org/wiki/BOSC_2010

One of the items we've traditionally had at the conference is a project 
update from each of the OpenBio affiliated groups. This year, we're thinking
about organizing these talks around a central theme: the OpenBio solution
challenge. We start with a biological question of general interest, and each
of the project talks would focus around how you would solve that problem 
using your toolkit and programming language.

This is meant to provide a challenge for OpenBio contributors, a nice tutorial
style overview of various projects and approaches for other programmers, and a
fun opportunity to compete and learn from other projects. Conference attendees
will vote on their favorite solution, with the winner receiving fame and
fortune (warning: fortune not guaranteed).

For this to be successful, it of course requires interest and enthusiasm from
y'all fine folks involved with the projects. Specifically:

- Is there interest from your group in participating in the challenge? You'll
  want at least a few people to work on it, and someone to give a presentation 
  at BOSC.

- Do you have suggestions on a good theme or specific biological problem to
  tackle? We'll hope to pick something in a sweet spot that is challenging 
  enough to be of interest, yet reasonable for presentation and preparation.

Let's discuss ideas and get this together. Since the schedule for BOSC is
developing rapidly, please give us an idea if you're interested by
February 12th, and copy responses to the BOSC mailing list as a central 
place for discussion.

bosc at open-bio.org

Thanks,
Brad, Michael, and the BOSC organizing committee