REGISTRATION REQUEST and ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE: March 21, 2024

To attend the conferences Jacques Monod, an abstract submission is mandatory,

Registrations request without abstract submission will not be processed, except in specific

cases (i. g. for Publishers : please contact chairperson).

Chairperson: Luis-Miguel CHEVIN

Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), Campus du CNRS, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5, France

Phone: +33 (0)4 67 61 32 11

Email: luis-miguel.chevin@cefe.cnrs.fr

Vice-chairperson: Cameron GHALAMBOR

Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), N-7491 Trondheim, Norway

Phone: + 47 73591969 

Email: cameron.ghalambor@ntnu.no

The role of the environment in the development and expression of phenotypes has long been recognized, but such phenotypic plasticity is currently gaining a pivotal role in biology owing to the particular space it occupies, at the intersection between molecular & cellular biology, genetics, development, physiology, behaviour, and evolution. This compels biologists to reconsider classic perspectives in their fields, by engaging in crosstalk between the environment and biological processes at different levels. This is an opportunity to build new bridges between different subfields of biology, towards tackling major unsolved questions, such as structure and evolution of the genotype-phenotype map, as well issues with important applied spin-offs, such as biological responses to climate change. The conference “Life is plastic: How phenotypic plasticity makes us rethink central problems in biology” will be a unique forum to identify areas where most progress can be made by embracing the roles of the environment in producing phenotypes, and the consequences for individuals, populations and communities. The conference will gather scientists working with a diversity of approaches and model organisms, and will cover 4 main scientific axes:

(1) Molecular and cellular mechanisms of plasticity, and the genotype-environment-phenotype map

(2) Timing of within- and trans-generational plasticity

(3) Ecology of plasticity

(4) Interplay between plasticity and evolution.

Registration fee (including board and lodging)

510 € for PhD students
740 € for other participants

Application for registration   details here :
The total number of participants is limited to 115 and all participants are expected to attend for the whole duration of the conference. Selection is made on the basis of the affinity of potential participants with the topics of the conference. Scientists and PhD Students interested in the meeting should deposit on line :

- their curriculum vitae
- the proof of their student status
- the list of their main publications for the 3 last years
- the abstract of their presentation:

The abstract must respect the following template: TemplateResumeFile
- First line: title
- Second line: list of authors. Presenting author underlined
- Third line: author's addresses
- Fourth line: e-mail of the presenting author
Abstracts should be no longer than an A4 page and preferably be submitted in Times New Roman, font size 10 pts. No figures. ".docx" file format.

After deadline, the organizers will select the participants. Except in some particular cases approved by the Chairperson, it is recommended that all selected participants present their work during the conference, either in poster form or by a brief in- session talk. The organizers choose the form in which the presentations are made. No payment will be sent with application. Information on how and when to pay will be mailed in due time to those selected.