[Fis] Life goes on

[Pedro C. Marijuan]

Dear FIS Colleagues,

Around the beginnings of the new course, the University of Zaragoza 
released the FIS list, after the authentication process mandated by an 
European Directive on Data Protection. The outcome has been rather 
tough, from around 350 we have been decimated to just 62. Provided that 
the most active participants have renewed, we wouldn't see much changes, 
although not very probably. The pity now is the diminished broadcast of 
the  discussions, for many of the passive recipients were more or less 
listening (and the warning message in Spanish didn't help at all for 
their awareness of the renewal process).

In any case, life goes on. There is a ISIS and FIS Conference next year 
(in the US, chaired by Terry Deacon). In the future list discussions we 
should keep this in mind and progressively put the focus on it. The 
present "slimming cure" of the list might also be a good occasion to 
reflect on its trajectory and aims. Are we fulfilling the foundational 
goals? Not so much yet... Well, from my part, I have a novel theme that 
I consider of interest to this basic discussion. Several readings of 
mine during this year have neatly converged on the power of "narratives" 
in our human communication. From economics, to political science, to 
communication studies, to Media both traditional and new, and 
essentially in literature and oral traditions... In particular the 
approach by Christopher Booker (2004, 2017) makes clear the centrality 
of storytelling in our whole lives. He is a controversial figure, but 
this book ("The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories") is a master 
work. My only personal caveat is the Jungian framework the author 
utilizes--is it necessary? I do not think so. Translating his ideas to 
common multidisciplinary language, pertaining both to natural science 
and humanities, would make for a great discussion. Right in the center. 
My feeling is that he has achieved for human communication what I have 
tried during recent years for cellular communication.

And that's all! Little by little am getting used to my new life "far 
from the madding crowd" of local Faculty.

Friendly regards to all,

--Pedro

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Pedro C. Marijuán
Grupo de Bioinformación / Bioinformation Group

pcmarijuan.iacs at aragon.es
http://sites.google.com/site/pedrocmarijuan/
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