diff --git a/scopes/core/core.py b/scopes/core/core.py
index d7be117..a428cb1 100644
--- a/scopes/core/core.py
+++ b/scopes/core/core.py
@@ -95,9 +95,17 @@ class Scope:
 def create_scope(env: Mailbox, cat: Categ = (k.csys, k.c00), **kw) -> Scope:
     return Scope(environ=env, categ=cat, **kw)
 
-def create_zero(env: Mailbox) -> Mailbox:
-    scope = create_scope(env)
+def clone_scope(scope: Scope, **kw) -> Scope:
+    value = kw.get('value', 0)
+    categ = kw.get('categ', scope.categ)
+    stage = kw.get('stage', k.initial)
+    return Scope(environ=scope.environ, value=value, categ=categ, stage=stage, 
+                 program=scope.program, syns=[], **kw)
+
+async def create_zero(env: Mailbox) -> Mailbox:
+    scope = create_scope(env, program=gen_program({}, default=std_proc()))
     zero = neuron(scope)
+    await notify_created(Message(k.csys), zero, scope)
     return zero
 
 # predefined action handlers and Action sets
@@ -115,6 +123,8 @@ def value_add() -> Handler:
 
 def create() -> Handler:
     async def handle(msg, scope) -> None:
+        new = neuron(clone_scope(scope, **msg.data))
+        await notify_created(msg, new, scope)
         return None
     return handle
 
@@ -127,8 +137,15 @@ def basic_actions() -> Actions:
 
 # predefined specialized procs
 
-def std_proc(actions: Actions | None = None, finalize=forward(), **more) -> Proc:
+def std_proc(actions: Actions | None = None, finalize: Handler = forward(), 
+             more: Actions = {}) -> Proc:
     if actions is None:
-        actions = basic_actions() | util.keyword_dict(more)
+        actions = basic_actions() | more
     return gen_proc(actions, finalize=finalize)
 
+# helpers
+
+async def notify_created(msg: Message, new: Mailbox, scope: Scope) -> None:
+    msg = Message(msg.head['domain'], k.created, data=msg.data | {k.new: new})
+    await scope.environ.put(msg)
+
diff --git a/scopes/util.py b/scopes/util.py
index f08e008..f0bc861 100644
--- a/scopes/util.py
+++ b/scopes/util.py
@@ -25,9 +25,6 @@ class Symbols:
 
 keywords = Symbols()
 
-def keyword_dict(d):
-    return dict((keywords(key), val) for key, val in d.items())
-
 # list / iterable utilities
 
 def flatten(*it, ignore_none=False):
diff --git a/tests/test_core.py b/tests/test_core.py
index 2e01ed5..efdd993 100644
--- a/tests/test_core.py
+++ b/tests/test_core.py
@@ -67,12 +67,15 @@ async def meta_env(collector):
 @pytest.mark.anyio
 async def test_core(meta_env, collector):
     env = environ.create(meta_env)
-    zero = core.create_zero(env)
+    zero = await core.create_zero(env)
     await env.put(Message(k.env, k.hello))
     await zero.put(Message(k.csys, k.hello))
+    await zero.put(Message(k.csys, k.create))
     await asyncio.sleep(0.01)
-    assert len(collector) == 2
-    assert collector[0].domain is k.env
-    assert collector[1].domain is k.csys
+    assert len(collector) == 4
+    assert collector[0].action is k.created
+    assert collector[1].domain is k.env
+    assert collector[2].domain is k.csys
+    assert collector[3].action is k.created
     #print(collector)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_util.py b/tests/test_util.py
index c085f8c..f2b6ee1 100644
--- a/tests/test_util.py
+++ b/tests/test_util.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 import pytest
 
-from scopes.util import keywords as k, keyword_dict, flatten
+from scopes.util import keywords as k, flatten
 
 def test_keywords():
     assert k.dummy is k.dummy
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ def test_keywords():
     assert getattr(k, "abcd"[-2:]) is k.cd
     assert k('dummy') is k.dummy
     assert k('new') is k('new')
-    assert keyword_dict(dict(one=1, two=2)) == {k.one: 1, k.two: 2}
 
 def test_flatten():
     lst = (1, (None, 2), (3, (4, 5)))