Travel support is provided to outstanding undergraduate and graduate students to attend the meeting of the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms. Biological rhythms regulate the function of living systems at virtually every level of organization, from molecular to organismal in animals throughout the Animal Kingdom. In non-human animals, biological timing serves as a wake-up clock and organizer of daily routine. While the pacemaker is believed to be located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus, one event of this meeting is to debate the existence of other pacemakers. In humans, sleep and wakefulness, cognitive and motor performance, body temperature, blood pressure, serum hormone levels, and urinary metabolism all vary rhythmically. Alternations in human ultradian, circadian and seasonal rhythms are important in a number of clinical conditions as well as in coping with jet-lag and shift-work activities. This meeting reflects the broad coverage of rhythmic phenomena in living systems by bringing together scientists with expertise in a number of areas. The span of research will range from molecular genetics, biochemistry and cell biology to neurobiology, neuroendocrinology, ecology and clinical human applications. Symposia, workshops, slide presentations and posters will provide a means for extensive communication among the scientists and students. The goals are to facilitate an exchange of scientific information which will lead to important insights and stimulate new ideas that could have a major impact on the area of biological rhythms. Moreover, the scientific program is directed towards encouraging graduate and undergraduate student participation to help promote their training as prospective scientists in biological sciences.
