<div dir="ltr"><span id="gmail-m_7779335705299048209docs-internal-guid-25178e66-428a-209c-7880-5026f7d2e6f4" style="font-size:12.8px"><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Call for Topic Area Proposals</span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">2017 Neuromorphic Cognition Engineering Workshop</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Telluride,

 Colorado, <span class="gmail-aBn" tabindex="0"><span class="gmail-aQJ">June 25 –July 14, 2017</span></span></span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(255,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">DEADLINE:

 <span class="gmail-aBn" tabindex="0"><span class="gmail-aQJ">January 15th, 2017</span></span></span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We are accepting proposals for

Topic Areas in the 2017 Telluride Neuromorphic Cognition Engineering Workshop. The Telluride Neuromorphic Cognition Engineering Workshop has been running successfully for over 20 years, and has been highly influential in shaping the field of neuromorphic engineering and serving as a forum connecting across disciplines such as neuroscience, cognitive science, machine learning, robotics, computer vision, signal processing, and electrical engineering. <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">For the 2017 workshop, we support topics and projects in neuromorphic cognition, with a focus on the theme of <span style="background-color:transparent;font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Neuromorphic Autonomous Agents<span style="background-color:transparent;font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">With the recent progress in AI and machine learning algorithms, machines that can generalize their knowledge to new situations are becoming a reality. We seek projects on autonomy, specifically involving neuromorphic and bio-inspired solutions on problems of perception, neural signal analysis and cognition. Projects may focus on developments in robotics, learning, control, sensors, language and reasoning, and computational/experimental aspects of systems that can accomplish goals with limited human intervention.<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We particularly encourage projects aiming towards solving ‘everyday’ tasks that biological brains solve with ease, but which pose significant challenges to artificial computing systems of any form, neuromorphic or not. In particular we support projects that have the potential to showcase advantagesof brain-inspired sensors, computing platforms, cognitive architectures, or algorithmic principles, or establish new links between neuromorphic technology and other disciplines. Proposals aiming to bring to reality the capabilities of hardware technologies and state-of-the-art approaches from related disciplines are also strongly encouraged. Topic proposals <span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">should include educational components<span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> such as hands-on tutorials and overview presentations that should preferably run during the first week of the workshop. <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Successful proposals in the past have focused on topics such as navigating through an unknown environment, visual and auditory understanding of scenes and human actions, adaptively manipulating unknown or complex objects in the service of a task, neural network architectures for cognitive computing and their efficient hardware implementation, EEG-based systems to decode acoustic events, neuroprosthetic control, etc.

</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Topic areas for this summer's

</span><a href="http://ine-web.org/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,238);background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Telluride Neuromorphic Cognition Engineering Workshop</span></a><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">

 will be chosen from proposals submitted to the organizers.</span></p><br><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Topic areas can span many aspects related to the overall theme of the workshop; project organizers are expected to be actively involved in coordination activities with other areas, and inviting top researchers covering different aspects of their project.</span><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> 

<br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ideally, topic areas should be focused around potential applications of neuromorphic cognitive systems that can result in impressive demonstrators as the result of three weeks of focused work. In addition, topic areas are meant to educate participating students, establish new links between disciplines, critically evaluate competing approaches, and encourage after-workshop collaboration between groups.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Topic area leaders will receive housing for themselves and four invitees, and limited travel funds. </span><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Topic area leaders will help to define the field of neuromorphic cognition engineering through the projects they pursue and the people they invite.  They shape their topic by inviting speakers and project staff (the </span><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">invitees</span><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">) and by initiating  topic discussions  during and prior to the workshop.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Teams of (no more than) two organizers are required, and attendance of at least one of the organizers for the full duration of the workshop is required.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Pre-workshop topic area choices and study assignments.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">At least one week before the workshop begins, each topic area will be required to prepare and distribute study materials that constitute: 1) an introductory presentation (e.g., pptx, video, review paper) of the fundamental knowledge associated with the topic area that

</span><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">everyone at the workshop </span><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">should be exposed to, and 2) a collection of a few critical papers that the participants in the topic area should read before the workshop. The topic area should 3) begin a serious group discussion of the projects (e.g., via the workshop wiki, Skype, email,

 etc).   </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The maximum 3-page proposals should include:</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">1. Title of topic area.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">2. Names of the two topic leaders, their affiliations, and contact information (email addresses). Please note that there can only be TWO topic leaders, other co-organizers or supporting staff can be named as invitees.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">3. A paragraph explaining the focus and goals of the topic area and its relation to the theme.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">4. A list of possible specific topic area projects.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">5. A proposal how to prepare students for the project, including a list of planned tutorial talks at the workshop and preparatory material (websites, software, video lectures, …) for students.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">6. A list of example invitees (up to six names and institutions). No commitments necessary.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">7. Any other material that fits within the three-page limit that will help us make a smart choice.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Send your topic area proposal</span><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> in pdf or text format to </span><span style="text-decoration:underline;font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,238);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a href="mailto:org17@neuromorphs.net" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none">org17@neuromorphs.net</a> </span><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">with subject line containing "topic area proposal". If you do not get a response confirming receipt of your proposal, please contact one of the workshop directors directly.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Proposals must be received by <span class="gmail-aBn" tabindex="0"><span class="gmail-aQJ">January 15, 2017</span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">; proposalreceived after the deadline may still be considered if space is available. After a first evaluation the workshop directors will interview the group organizers via phone or Skype before the final selection of topics.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We expect to accept 3-4 topic areas.</span><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> We hope to have significant turn-over each year in the topic areas and leaders to ensure fresh new ideas and participants.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">See the Institute of Neuromorphic Engineering (</span><a href="http://www.ine-web.org/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,238);background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">www.ine-web.org</span></a><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">) for background information on the workshop and </span><span style="text-decoration:underline;font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,238);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a href="http://neuromorphs.net/nm/wiki/2015" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none">neuromorphs.net</a> </span><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">for past workshop wikis.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We look forward to your topic proposals!</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Deadline: <span class="gmail-aBn" tabindex="0"><span class="gmail-aQJ">January 15, 2017</span></span></span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Workshop Directors:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><a href="http://www.cfar.umd.edu/~fer/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,255);background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Cornelia Fermüller</span></a><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (University of Maryland), </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="text-decoration:underline;font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,238);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a href="http://etienne.ece.jhu.edu/people/ralph/index.html" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none">Ralph Etienne-Cummings</a> </span><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(Johns Hopkins Univ.) </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><a href="https://www.ini.uzh.ch/~shih/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,255);background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Shih-Chii Liu</span></a><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (University of Zurich and ETH Zurich), </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><a href="https://www.isr.umd.edu/faculty/horiuchi" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Tim Horiuchi</span></a><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (University of Maryland), </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><a href="http://physiological-sciences.arizona.edu/katalin-gothard" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,255);background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Katalin Gothard</span></a><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (University of Arizona), </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><a href="https://www.ini.uzh.ch/~pfeiffer/index.html" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,255);background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Michael Pfeiffer</span></a><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (Robert Bosch Corporate Research), </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><a href="http://www.ugr.es/~fbarranco" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,255);background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Francisco Barranco</span></a><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (University of Granada)</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Former 2007-2012 Workshop Director:

</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><a href="https://www.ini.uzh.ch/~tobi/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,255);background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Tobi Delbruck</span></a><span style="font-size:13.3333px;font-family:verdana;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (University of Zurich and ETH Zurich)</span></p></span><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr">Ralph Etienne-Cummings, PhD, FIEEE<div>Professor and Chairman</div><div>Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering</div><div>Computational Sensor Motor Systems Lab</div><div>Laboratory for Computational Sensing and Robotics</div><div>The Johns Hopkins University</div><div>Baltimore, MD</div><div><img src="cid:image001.png@01CFC064.B58B46A0" alt="cid:image001.png@01CFC064.B58B46A0"><br></div><div><br></div></div></div>

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