CALL FOR WORKSHOP PROPOSALS -- NIPS*2000

[Benjamin Van Roy]

CALL FOR WORKSHOP PROPOSALS -- NIPS*2000

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Neural Information Processing Systems
Natural and Synthetic
NIPS*2000 Post-Conference Workshops
December 1 and 2, 2000
Breckenridge, Colorado
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Following the regular program of the Neural Information Processing
Systems 2000 conference, workshops on various current topics in
neural information processing will be held on December 1 and 2,
2000, in Breckenridge, Colorado.  Proposals by qualified individuals
interested in chairing one of these workshops are solicited.

Example topics include:

Active Learning, Architectural Issues, Attention, Audition,
Bayesian Analysis, Bayesian Networks, Benchmarking, Brain Imaging,
Computational Complexity, Computational Molecular Biology, Control,
Genetic Algorithms, Graphical Models, Hippocampus and Memory,
Hybrid Supervised/Unsupervised Learning Methods, Hybrid HMM/ANN
Systems, Implementations, Independent Component Analysis,
Mean-Field Methods, Markov Chain Monte-Carlo Methods, Music,
Network Dynamics, Neural Coding, Neural Plasticity, On-Line
Learning, Optimization, Recurrent Nets, Robot Learning, Rule
Extraction, Self-Organization, Sensory Biophysics, Signal
Processing, Spike Timing, Support Vectors, Speech, Time Series,
Topological Maps, and Vision.

The goal of the workshops is to provide an informal forum for
researchers to discuss important issues of current interest. There
will be six hours of workshop meetings per day, split into morning
and afternoon sessions, with free time in between for ongoing
individual exchange or outdoor activities.

Controversial issues, open problems, and comparison of competing
approaches are encouraged and preferred as workshop topics.
Representation of alternative viewpoints and panel-style
discussions are particularly encouraged.  Descriptions of previous
workshops may be found at

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/Groups/NIPS/NIPS99/Workshops/

Select workshops may be invited to submit their workshop proceedings
for publication as part of a new series of monographs for the
post-NIPS workshops.

Workshop organizers will have responsibilities including:

++ coordinating workshop participation and content, which includes
arranging short informal presentations by experts, arranging for
expert commentators to sit on a discussion panel, formulating a
set of discussion topics, etc.

++ moderating the discussion, and reporting its findings and conclusions
to the group during evening plenary sessions

++ writing a brief summary and/or coordinating submitted material for
post-conference electronic dissemination.


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Submission Instructions
=======================

Interested parties should submit a short proposal for a workshop of
interest via email by May 26, 2000.

Proposals should include title, description of what the workshop is to
address and accomplish, proposed workshop length (1 or 2 days), planned
format (mini-conference, panel discussion, combinations of the above,
etc), and proposed speakers. Names of potential invitees should be given
where possible. Preference will be given to workshops that reserve a
significant portion of time for open discussion or panel discussion, as
opposed to pure "mini-conference" format. An example format is:

++ Tutorial lecture providing background and introducing
terminology relevant to the topic.

++ Two short lectures introducing different
approaches, alternating with discussions after each lecture.

++ Discussion or panel presentation.

++ Short talks or panels alternating with discussion and
question/answer sessions.

++ General discussion and wrap-up.


We suggest that organizers allocate at least 50% of the workshop
schedule to questions, discussion, and breaks.  Past experience
suggests that workshops otherwise degrade into mini-conferences as
talks begin to run over.

The proposal should motivate why the topic is of interest or
controversial, why it should be discussed, and who the targeted group
of participants is.  It also should include a brief resume of the
prospective workshop chair with a list of publications to establish
scholarship in the field.  Submissions should include contact name,
address, email address, phone and fax numbers.

Proposals should be emailed to caruana at cs.cmu.edu.  Proposals must be
RECEIVED by May 26, 2000.  If email is unavailable, mail to: NIPS
Workshops, Rich Caruana, SCS CMU, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh,
PA 15213, USA.

Questions may be addressed to either of the Workshop Co-Chairs:

Rich Caruana (caruana at cs.cmu.edu)
Virginia de Sa (desa at phy.ucsf.edu)

PROPOSALS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MAY 26, 2000