CALL FOR PAPERS: 2nd International Conference on CNS

[Boston University - Cognitive and Neural Systems]

*****CALL FOR PAPERS*****

SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 
ON 
COGNITIVE AND NEURAL SYSTEMS (CNS'98)

May 27-30, 1998 

Sponsored by the 
Center for Adaptive Systems 
and the 
Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems 
Boston University 
with financial support from 
the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency 
and 
the Office of Naval Research  
 
CNS'98 will include invited lectures and contributed lectures and
posters by experts on the biology and technology of how the brain and
other intelligent systems adapt to a changing world. The conference is
aimed at bringing together researchers in computational neuroscience,
connectionist cognitive science, and artificial neural networks, among
other disciplines, with a particular focus upon how intelligent
systems adapt autonomously to a changing world.

The First International Conference on Cognitive and Neural Systems was
held on May 28-31, 1997 at Boston University. Its title was: Vision,
Recognition, and Action: From Biology to Technology. Over 200 people
from 18 countries attended this conference. Many participants asked
that a sequel be held in 1998, and that the meeting scope be
broadened.  CNS'98 has been designed to achieve both goals.

The meeting aims to be a forum for lively presentation and discussion
of recent research that is relevant to modeling how the brain controls
behavior, how the technology of intelligent systems can benefit from
understanding human and animal intelligence, and how technology
transfers between these two endeavors can be accomplished.

The meeting's philosophy is to have a single oral or poster session at
a time, so that all presented work is highly visible. Abstract
submissions enable scientists and engineers to send in examples of
their freshest work. Costs are kept at a minimum to enable the maximum
number of people, including students, to attend, without compromising
on the quality of tutorial notes, meeting proceedings, reception, and
coffee breaks.

Although Memorial Day falls on Saturday, May 30, it is observed on
Monday, May 25, 1998.

Contributions are welcomed on the following topics, among others.
Contributors are requested to list a first and second choice from
among these topics in their cover letter, and to say whether it is
biological (B) or technological (T) work, when they submit their
abstract, as described below.

	*vision	
	*object recognition
	*image understanding
	*audition	
	*speech and language
	*unsupervised learning
	*supervised learning
	*reinforcement and emotion
	*cognition, planning, and attention
	*sensory-motor control
	*spatial mapping and navigation
	*neural circuit models
	*neural system models
	*mathematics of neural systems
	*robotics
	*neuromorphic VLSI
	*hybrid systems (fuzzy, evolutionary, digital)
	*industrial applications
	*other

Example: first choice: vision (B); second choice: neural system models (B).

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: Contributed abstracts by active modelers in
cognitive science, computational neuroscience, artificial neural
networks, artificial intelligence, and neuromorphic engineering are
welcome. They must be received, in English, by January 31,
1998. Notification of acceptance will be given by February 28, 1998. A
meeting registration fee of $45 for regular attendees and $30 for
students must accompany each Abstract. See Registration Information
below for details. The fee will be returned if the Abstract is not
accepted for presentation and publication in the meeting
proceedings. Registration fees of accepted abstracts will be returned
on request only until April 1, 1998.
 
Each Abstract should fit on one 8.5 x 11" white page with 1" margins
on all sides, single-column format, single-spaced, Times Roman or
similar font of 10 points or larger, printed on one side of the page
only. Fax submissions will not be accepted. Abstract title, author
name(s), affiliation(s), mailing, and email address(es) should begin
each Abstract. An accompanying cover letter should include: Full title
of Abstract, corresponding author and presenting author name, address,
telephone, fax, and email address. Preference for oral or poster
presentation should be noted. (Talks will be 15 minutes long. Posters
will be up for a full day. Overhead, slide, and VCR facilities will be
available for talks.)  Abstracts which do not meet these requirements
or which are submitted with insufficient funds will be returned. The
original and 3 copies of each Abstract should be sent to: CNS'98, c/o
Cynthia Bradford, Boston University, Department of Cognitive and
Neural Systems, 677 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02215.
  
The program committee will determine whether papers will be accepted
in an oral or poster presentation, or rejected.
  
REGISTRATION INFORMATION: Since seating at the meeting is limited,
early registration is recommended. To register, please fill out the
registration form below. Student registrations must be accompanied by
a letter of verification from a department chairperson or
faculty/research advisor. If accompanied by an Abstract or if paying
by check, mail to: CNS'98, c/o Cynthia Bradford, Boston University,
Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, 677 Beacon Street, Boston,
MA 02215. If paying by credit card, mail as above, or fax to (617)
353-7755, or email to cindy at cns.bu.edu. The registration fee will help
to pay for a reception, 6 coffee breaks, and the meeting proceedings.
 
STUDENT FELLOWSHIPS: A limited number of fellowships for PhD
candidates and postdoctoral fellows are available to at least
partially defray meeting travel and living costs. The deadline for
applying for fellowship support is January 31, 1998. Applicants will
be notified by February 28, 1998. Each application should include the
applicant's CV, including name; mailing address; email address;
current student status; faculty or PhD research advisor's name,
address, and email address; relevant courses and other educational
data; and a list of research articles. A letter from the listed
faculty or PhD advisor on official institutional stationery should
accompany the application and summarize how the candidate may benefit
from the meeting. Students who also submit an Abstract need to include
the registration fee with their Abstract. Reimbursement checks will be
distributed after the meeting. Their size will be determined by
student need and the availability of funds.


REGISTRATION FORM 
(Please Type or Print) 
 
Cognitive and Neural Systems 
Boston University 
Boston, Massachusetts 
Tutorials: May 27, 1998
Meeting:   May 28-30, 1998 


Mr/Ms/Dr/Prof:     

Name:    

Affiliation:     

Address:    

City, State, Postal Code:     

Phone and Fax:     

Email:     
 
The conference registration fee includes the meeting program,
reception, two coffee breaks each day, and meeting proceedings. For
registered participants in the conference, the regular tutorial
registration fee is $25 and the student fee is $15. For attendees of
only the conference, the regular registration fee is $45 and the
student fee is $30. Two coffee breaks and a tutorial handout will be
covered by the tutorial registration fee.

CHECK ONE:

[   ]  $70 Conference plus Tutorial (Regular) 
[   ]  $45 Conference plus Tutorial (Student)   
[   ]  $45 Conference Only (Regular)
[   ]  $30 Conference Only (Student)
[   ]  $25 Tutorial Only (Regular)  
[   ]  $15 Tutorial Only (Student)   
 
Method of Payment:
 
[   ] Enclosed is a check made payable to "Boston University". 
      Checks must be made payable in US dollars and issued by 
      a US correspondent bank. Each registrant is responsible 
      for any and all bank charges.
 
[   ] I wish to pay my fees by credit card (MasterCard, Visa, or 
      Discover Card only).
 
Type of card:    

Name as it appears on the card:     

Account number:     

Expiration date:     

Signature and date:     

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