Information and entropy are key concepts in descibing complex physical and biological systems. The course will give an introduction to the statistical mechanics of information, including the non-equilibrium physics of information processing. We will apply these concepts to modern research questions in physics, cell biology, and evolution.

1. Review of non-equilibrium statmech: path integral, fluctuation calculus and all that
2. Information processing in biochemical reactions
3. Information in cellular growth: Chemotaxis and infotaxis, adaptation to fluctuating environments
4. Information in molecular evolution: molecular recognition, error threshold
5. Dynamics of pathogens and immune systems
6. Information processing in learning and modelling

Credits: 6 CP or 7.5 CP (with optional student's seminar talk)

Course level: Master

Course classification: Area of emphasis "Statistical and Biological Physics"