Appendix A
Statement of Task
The committee will:
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Develop a conceptual framework for the scientific forefronts at the interface between the physical and life sciences and conduct an assessment of this work.
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Identify and prioritize the most promising research opportunities at this interface, articulate the potential benefits to society, and recommend strategies for realizing them.
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Explore ways to enable and enhance effective interdisciplinary collaboration, such as education, training, instrumentation, and cyberinfrastructure, which bring together the life and physical sciences to address the most compelling opportunities.
The committee will explore areas such as biomolecular machines; gene regulation and signal transduction; mechanics and spatial structure of the cell; and the origin of self-replicating systems. The committee will also identify other key research areas in which the interaction of physical and life scientists is needed for scientific advancement.