We are happy to announce that MCEB is returning to the Hameau de l'Etoile near Montpellier (in the south of France) for its 2024 edition. The meeting will put the emphasis on machine learning, in particular simulation-based inference techniques. These approaches are getting traction in population genetics, phylogenetics, phylodynamics and areas in evolutionary biology whereby the complexity of the probabilistic models at play forbid the application of classical, likelihood-driven, estimation tools. The conference will provide a good opportunity to provide an overview of the techniques themselves with a focus on their applications to shed light on interesting biological processes.

Beyond this year's themes, general concepts, models, methods and algorithms will be presented and discussed, just as in the previous editions of MCEB. As usual, the meeting will bring together researchers originating from various disciplines: mathematics, statistics, computer science, phylogenetics, population genetics, epidemiology, ecological modeling... Keynote speakers will introduce a field of research and discuss their own work in this field. Afternoon will be for short presentations and posters, with plenty of time for discussions. We will stop early every day, thus leaving time for other activities, such as hiking, rock climbing or river kayaking...

Dates and deadlines 

• February 1: Opening of abstract submission* on the conference web site 
• March 8: End of abstract submission
• March 15: Notification of decisions to applicants, opening of registrations
• April 26: End of registrations and payment

 * If you wish to attend the conference without presenting your work, please submit a short text explaining your motivation to attend MCEB (and a link to your website, if any).

Practical informations

• Place : "Hameau de l'Etoile" (Saint Martin de Londres), near Montpellier in the South of France.
• Dates : June 17-21th, 2024. The conference will begin Monday evening and will end at about 2pm on Friday.
• A bus shuttle service is organised to depart from Montpellier at 17:00 on Monday 17th June to take delegates to the Hameau de l'étoile and will bring people back to Montpellier centre and airport leaving the Hameau at about 15:00 on Friday 21th June.
• Fees : Around 650€ (Includes accommodation for four nights with breakfast, bus shuttle service, lunches, dinners, coffee breaks and drinks around posters from Monday night until Friday lunch time included.)