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<P><FONT SIZE=2>I'd like to see ICCM and the ACT-R workshop adopt alternating biennial schedules. Both co-located with CogSci, of course. <BR>
<BR>
<BR>
----- Original Message -----<BR>
From: act-r-users-bounces@act-r.psy.cmu.edu <act-r-users-bounces@act-r.psy.cmu.edu><BR>
To: act-r-users@act-r.psy.cmu.edu <act-r-users@act-r.psy.cmu.edu><BR>
Sent: Fri Jul 17 12:30:01 2009<BR>
Subject: [ACT-R-users] Future of ACT-R Workshops<BR>
<BR>
Colleagues:<BR>
<BR>
I was hoping that there would be some discussion of the future of<BR>
ACT-R Workshops at the Future of ACT-R session at the ACT-R workshop<BR>
before Cognitive Science. However, Richard Young urges me to have<BR>
some position with respect to this matter in advance of ICCM. There<BR>
is some possibility (I don't know how likely) that ICCM might turn to<BR>
annual summer meeting which would conflict with the nearly annual<BR>
ACT-R Workshops that have been the mainstay of the ACT-R community.<BR>
Richard argues that the "ACT-R" position on this might inform the<BR>
ICCM decision.<BR>
<BR>
So subject to further input from the ACT-R community here is our<BR>
position and some facts:<BR>
<BR>
1. It would be nice from the perspective of the ACT-R community to<BR>
continue the 2 ICCM meetings every 3 years with the European meeting<BR>
around around Easter (or however that logic works). This would mean<BR>
two annual meetings every three years and something different on the<BR>
third year to shake us up.<BR>
<BR>
2. However, it seems like the tail wagging the dog to insist on<BR>
this if the rest of the ICCM community wants to go to annual<BR>
meetings. So if ICCM goes annual, we will have to adapt. There<BR>
are at least 4 ways to adapt:<BR>
(a) Be inventive every year and figure out something different<BR>
every year. Having experienced trying to be inventive for two years<BR>
in a row, I can say this is an unlikely option.<BR>
(b) Have a one-day workshop/tutorial like we did before the 2007<BR>
ICCM or like we are doing before this years Cognitive Science.<BR>
While these are great as one-time options I don't think they provide<BR>
for enough community interaction.<BR>
(c) Have an annual meeting in the winter. The logistics may be<BR>
problematical. More about this below.<BR>
(d) Have an annual meeting in late Spring (late May probably) a<BR>
couple of months before the probable ICCM meetings. My current guess<BR>
is that this is the most likely option but it is also the one that<BR>
offers the most conflict with a summer ICCM. That time is the best<BR>
time in Pittsburgh weather-wise although I note that Wayne Gray held<BR>
a very successful meeting in the DC area and Danilo Fum held a very<BR>
successful meeting in Trieste. These may models for future meetings.<BR>
<BR>
3. The choice among these options and others (if ICCM goes annual<BR>
summer) awaits further discussion of the community.<BR>
<BR>
With respect to next year there remain a number of options on the table:<BR>
1. Hold a meeting nearly right after the New Year in Miami (most<BR>
likely location). However, nothing has been done to plan this and<BR>
so it is becoming less likely.<BR>
2. There has been discussion of a joint meeting of ACT-R and Soar<BR>
focused on architecture. This would be during the May/June border<BR>
when weather is nicest in Pittsburgh and Ann Arbor. I think this<BR>
could be quite exciting but a comparative-architectures meeting is<BR>
not a model for re-occurring future meetings because it would compete<BR>
too much with ICCM.<BR>
3. Relive the 2001 Postgraduate school at Coolfont before the 2009<BR>
ICCM meetings in Philadelphia.<BR>
<BR>
Please think about these options and let your opinions be known<BR>
electronically or at the Cognitive Science workshop.<BR>
<BR>
I hope to see most of you over the next couple of weeks,<BR>
John<BR>
<BR>
--<BR>
<BR>
==========================================================<BR>
<BR>
John R. Anderson<BR>
Carnegie Mellon University<BR>
Pittsburgh, PA 15213<BR>
Office: Baker Hall 345D<BR>
Phone: 412-417-7008<BR>
Fax: 412-268-2844<BR>
email: ja@cmu.edu<BR>
URL: <A HREF="http://act.psy.cmu.edu/">http://act.psy.cmu.edu/</A><BR>
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