# Summary of #hplusroadmap IRC Log (January 19, 2017)

• A discussion of "connectomics" highlighted a conference in Siena, Italy (April 22-26, 2017) focusing on multi-scale aspects of the connectome, including cellular connectivity, large-scale data gathering, computational modeling, and the relationship between connectomes and behavior/neurological disorders.

• A recent paper "Using high-throughput barcode sequencing to efficiently map connectomes" was shared, discussing the technique of using DNA sequencing instead of optical imaging for connectome mapping, which could provide massive speedups in neural mapping.

• Participants discussed techniques for decoding synaptic strength, noting that FISSEQ (Fluorescent in situ sequencing) could help with this, though it's a tissue microscopy method rather than an in vivo approach.

• A new resource sharing initiative called SEARCH ("Sharing Experimental Animal Resources, Coordinating Holdings") was mentioned, which aims to make leftover animal tissue from completed studies available to other research groups.

• Geoengineering was discussed as a potential approach to climate change, with particular interest in marine cloud whitening - a process where seawater droplets are sprayed into marine clouds to make them reflect more sunlight, with one study suggesting 1,900 seawater-spraying boats could prevent global warming this century for $9 billion.

• The conversation touched on viral evolution through homologous recombination, with speculation about combining this with phage-assisted continuous evolution techniques, though concerns about culture collapse from viruses were noted.