Workshop on Optical, Neural and Computational Associative processing

[Simon E M O'Keefe]

WONCA '00
Workshop on Optical, Neural and Computational Associative processing
University of York, York, United Kingdom
30-31 March 2000

Call for participation

WONCA' 00 is an international workshop aimed at identifying key
research issues and strategy for Associative Processing, and will
focus on aspects of associative computation in the biological, optical
and electronics domains. There are approximately 6 (six) funded
workshop places available for scientists wishing to participate in
this workshop (total number of participants approx 30). Places include
one night's accomodation and meals for the duration of the
workshop. In addition, standard travel within the UK will be
refundable. Research Students and Research Associates are particularly
encouraged to apply.

Some background information and the provisional timetable are given
below. More details of the arrangements may be found on the workshop
website, at http://www.cs.york.ac.uk/WONCA.

Interested parties are invited to complete and return the registration
details below and submit a personal statement outlining their reasons
for wishing to participate in the workshop. Submissions may be sent by
email to WONCA at cs.york.ac.uk, or by post to:
	WONCA
	Department of Computer Science
	University of York
	Heslington
	YORK YO10 5DD
	United Kingdom

Submissions should be sent to arrive no later than 17th March
2000. The workshop organisers decision regarding acceptance is
final. No correspondence will be entered into.

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Background

EPSRC Networks

The EPSRC has established a number of Emerging Computing Networks, to
establish communities and stimulate research in long term,
speculative, emerging areas of computing that have the potential for
high rewards. The programme aims to encourage the transfer of ideas
and insights, and to stimulate research to advance computing and IT
beyond the foreseeable capabilities of existing
technologies. Deliverables required of each Network are:

i.   A definition and description of the topic area.
ii.  A report on the state-of-the-art, both in the UK and overseas.
iii. Identification of key research issues within the area.
iv.  Identification of enabling technologies and tools.
v.   Recommendations to move the area forward.

Emergent Behaviour Computing Network

The Emergent Behaviour Computing Network recognises the need for new
computational paradigms, aimed at circumventing the limitations of
conventional silicon and computing technologies, and at the
comprehension and control of complex systems. Complex systems exhibit
behaviours that are a product of the system as a whole. Such
behaviours have long been recognised in natural systems, but man-made
can also exhibit such emergent behaviours. These behaviours are always
unintended and often detrimental. This Network will focus on extending
current distributed computing by exploring the potential for
harnessing Emergent Behaviour Computing.

WONCA '00

WONCA' 00 will focus on all aspects of associative computation as
related to biological, optical and electronics domains and will
address the following questions:

1. What can we learn from nature about associative computation?
2. What can we build now and what we would like to construct in the
   future?
3. What would we like associative systems to do?

The key speakers will present the state-of-the-art in neurobiology,
neurophysiology, optics, and neural networks research. There will be
an emphasis on active discussion, and the result of the workshop will
be contributions to the deliverables required by the EPSRC.

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Provisional Timetable

Day 1 - 30th March 2000

  12:00        Registration
  13:00        Buffet Lunch
  13:45        Welcome from Chairman
  14:00        Speaker 1 - D Willshaw    Neurobiological aspects
  14:35        Speaker 2 - G Palm        Theoretical aspects
  15:10        Speaker 3 - I Aleksander  Emergent aspects
  15:45        Tea
  16:00        Regroup
  16:15        Break-out Session - Discussion of research questions and strategy
  17:15        Regroup
  17:30        Round-up discussion
  18:00        Day Close
  19:30        Leave for Social
  20:00        Dinner

Day 2 - 31st March 2000

  08:00        Breakfast
  09:00        Day 1 Results & Reminder of Purpose
  09:10        Speaker 4 - U Rueckert    Implementation aspects
  09:45        Speaker 5 - A Krikelis    Implementation aspects
  10:20        Coffee
  10:30        Break-out Session - Discussion of research questions and strategy
  11:30        Reports from Group Speakers
  12:15        General Discussion
  13:00        Lunch
  14:30        Summary of Recommendations
  14:45        Close



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REGISTRATION DETAILS

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Personal statement:	
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in participation, given the aims of the workshop)