NATO ASI on Statistics and Neural Networks

[John Moody]

                  NATO Advanced Studies Institute (ASI) on 

                       Statistics and Neural Networks

                  June 21 - July 2, 1993, Les Arcs, France

Directors: 
  Professor Vladimir Cherkassky
  Department of Electrical Eng.
  University of Minnesota, 
  Minneapolis, MN 55455
  tel.(612) 625-9597
  fax (612) 625- 4583
  email: cherkass at ee.umn.edu

  Professor Jerome H. Friedman
  Statistics Department
  Stanford University
  Stanford, CA 94309 
  tel (415 )723-9329
  fax(415) 926-3329
  email: jhf at playfair.stanford.edu

  Professor Harry Wechsler
  Computer Science Department
  George Mason University
  Fairfax VA 22030
  tel (703) 993-1533
  fax (703) 993-1521
  email: wechsler at gmuvax2.gmu.edu

List of invited lecturers: I. Alexander, L. Almeida, A. Barron, A.  Buja,
E. Bienenstock, G. Carpenter, V. Cherkassky, T. Hastie, F. Fogelman, J.
Friedman, H. Freeman, F. Girosi, S. Grossberg, J. Kittler, R.  Lippmann, J.
Moody, G. Palm, R. Tibshirani, H. Wechsler, C. Wellekens.

Objective, Agenda and Participants: Nonparametric estimation is a problem
of fundamental importance for many applications involving pattern
classification and discrimination. This problem has been addressed in
Statistics, Pattern Recognition, Chaotic Systems Theory, and more recently
in Artificial Neural Network (ANN) research. This ASI will bring together
leading researchers from these fields to present an up-to-date review of
the current state-of-the art, to identify fundamental concepts and trends
for future development, to assess the relative advantages and limitations
of statistical vs neural network techniques for various pattern recognition
applications, and to develop a coherent framework for the joint study of
Statistics and ANNs. Topics range from theoretical modeling and adaptive
computational methods to empirical comparisons between statistical and
neural network techniques. Lectures will be presented in a tutorial manner
to benefit the participants of ASI. A two-week programme is planned,
complete with lectures, industrial/government sessions, poster sessions and
social events. It is expected that over seventy students (which can be
researchers or practitioners at the post-graduate or graduate level) will
attend, drawn from each NATO country and from Central and Eastern Europe.
The proceedings of ASI will be published by Springer-Verlag.

Applications: Applications for participation at the ASI are sought. 

Prospective students, industrial or government participants should send a
brief statement of what they intend to accomplish and what form their
participation would take. Each application should include a curriculum
vitae, with a brief summary of relevant scientific or professional
accomplishments, and a documented statement of financial need (if funds are
applied for).

Optionally, applications may include a one page summary for making a 
short presentation at the poster session. Poster presentations focusing on 
comparative evaluation of statistical and neural network methods and 
application studies are especially sought. For junior applicants, support 
letters from senior members of the professional community familiar with the 
applicant's work would strengthen the application. Prospective participants 
from Greece, Portugal and Turkey are especially encouraged to apply.

Costs and Funding: The estimated cost of hotel accommodations and  meals 
for the two-week duration of the ASI is US$1,600. In addition, participants 
from industry will be charged an industrial registration fee, not to exceed 
US$1,000. Participants representing industrial sponsors will be exempt 
from the fee.  We intend to subsidize costs of participants to the maximum 
extent possible by  available funding.  Prospective participants should also 
seek support from their national scientific funding agencies. The agencies, 
such as the American NSF or the German DFG, may provide some ASI 
travel funds upon the recommendation of an ASI director. Additional funds 
exist for students from Greece, Portugal and Turkey. We are also seeking 
additional sponsorship of ASI. Every sponsor will be fully acknowledged at 
the ASI site as well as in the printed proceedings. 

Correspondence and Registration:  Applications  should be forwarded to 
Dr. Cherkassky at the above address. Applications arriving after March 1, 
1993 may not be considered. All approved applicants will be informed of the 
exact registration arrangements. Informal email inquiries can be addressed to 
Dr. Cherkassky at nato_asi at ee.umn.edu.