BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-// - ECPv6.17.4//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://sacac.org.za
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for 
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:Africa/Johannesburg
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0200
TZOFFSETTO:+0200
TZNAME:SAST
DTSTART:20250101T000000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260204T180000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260204T190000
DTSTAMP:20260203T141449Z
CREATED:20251114T110623Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260203T141449Z
UID:1738-1770228000-1770231600@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:The Mathematics of Life’s Robustness: Internal Models and Perfect Adaptation in Biological Control
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: Biological systems achieve remarkable robustness: cells maintain homeostasis and adapt precisely to environmental changes despite stochasticity\, delays\, and parametric uncertainty. How do they accomplish this\, and how can we replicate such capabilities in synthetic systems? In this lecture\, I will present a theoretical framework for robust perfect adaptation (RPA) in biomolecular networks\, revealing deep structural parallels between biological regulation and classical control theory. I will introduce a universal internal model principle (IMP) for living systems\, showing how integral feedback and its generalizations emerge naturally as the only architectures capable of achieving kinetics-independent robust perfect adaptation. Using a linear-algebraic characterization of network stoichiometry\, I will identify the necessary and sufficient structural conditions for maximal adaptation in both deterministic and stochastic settings. Beyond theory\, I will discuss synthetic implementations of these principles in living cells\, where engineered integral feedback controllers achieve robust regulation of protein expression and growth. Together\, these results demonstrate that the logic of control—long the foundation of engineered systems—is also the mathematics of life’s stability\, offering a blueprint for designing adaptive\, intelligent biological systems. \nDate: 4 February 2026 \nVenue: The NITheCS seminar room\, Merensky Building\, Entrance 0016\, Merriman Street\, Stellenbosch University \nREGISTER NOW\nCo-hosted by SACAC and NITheCS
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/the-mathematics-of-lifes-robustness-internal-models-and-perfect-adaptation-in-biological-control/
LOCATION:Stellenbosch University
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR