NN and neuroscience workshop call

[Stefan.Wermter]

***We also plan to have six places for advanced PhD students
or recent post-doctorates and encourage applicants.****


EmerNet: International EPSRC Workshop on Current
Computational Architectures Integrating Neural Networks and
Neuroscience.

Date: 8-9 August 2000
Location: Durham Castle, Durham, United Kingdom

Workshop web page is http://www.his.sunderland.ac.uk/worksh3

Organising Committee
-----------------------

Prof. Stefan Wermter
Chair
Hybrid Intelligent Systems Group
University of Sunderland

Prof. Jim Austin
Advanced Computer Architecture Group
Department of Computer Science
University of York

Prof. David Willshaw
Institute for Adaptive and Neural Computation
Division of Informatics
University of Edinburgh


Call for Papers and Participation
--------------------------------

Description and Motivation
---------------------------

Although there is a massive body of research and knowledge
regarding how processing occurs in the brain this has had little
impact on the design and development of computational systems.
Many challenges remain in the development of computational
systems, such as robustness, learning capability, modularity,
massive parallelism for speed, simple programming, more
reliability etc. This workshop aims to consider if
the design of computational systems can learn from the
integration of cognitive neuroscience, neurobiology and
artificial neural networks.

The main objective is the transfer of knowledge by bringing
Together researchers in the twin domains of artificial and real
neural networks. The goal is to enable computer scientists to
comprehend how the brain processes information to generate new
techniques for computation and encourage neuroscientists to
consider computational factors when performing their research.

Areas of Interest for Workshop
--------------------------------

The main areas of interest for the workshop bring together
Neural Network Architectures and Neuroscience

Robustness: What are the characteristics that enable the human
brain to carry on operating despite failure of its elements? How
can the brain's slow but robust memory be utilised to replace the
brittle but fast memory presently found in conventional
computers?

Modular construction: How can the brain provide ideas for
Bringing together the current small artificial neural networks to
create larger modular systems that can solve more complex tasks
like associative retrieval, vision and language understanding?

Learning in context: There is evidence from neuron, network and
Brain levels that the internal state of such a neurobiological
system has an influence on processing and learning. Is it
possible to build computational models of these processes and
states, and design incremental learning algorithms and dynamic
architectures?

Synchronisation: How does the brain synchronise its processing
when using millions of processors? How can large asynchronous
computerised systems be produced that do not rely on a central
clock?

Timing: Undertaking actions before a given deadline is vital.
What structural and processing characteristics enable the brain
to deal with real time situations? How can these be incorporated
into a computerised approach?

Processing speed: despite having relatively slow computing
element, how is real-time performance achieved?

Preliminary  Invited Speakers
We plan to have around 30 participants, including speakers and
participants.
--------------------------------------

Dr Jim Fleming - EPSRC
Prof. Michael Fourman - University of Edinburgh
Prof. Angela Frederici - Max Planck Institute of Cognitive
                                               NeuroScience
Prof. Stephen Hanson - Rutgers University
Prof. Stevan Harnad - University of Southampton
Prof. Vasant Honavar - Iowa State University
Dr Hermann Moisl - University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Prof. Heiko Neumann - Universit Ulm
Prof. Gnther Palm - Universit Ulm
Prof. Kim Plunkett (tbc) - Oxford University
Prof. James A. Reggia - University of Maryland
Prof. John Taylor - King's College London

Workshop Details
-------------------

In order to have a workshop of the highest quality it
incorporates a combination of paper presentations on one of the
six areas of interest by the participants and more open
discussion oriented activities. The discussion element of the
EmerNet Workshop will be related to the questions above and it is
highly desirable that those wishing to participate focus on one or
more of these issues in an extended abstract or position paper
of up to 4 pages. Papers should be in either ps, pdf or doc
format via email for consideration to Professor Stefan Wermter
and Mark Elshaw by the 1st of June 2000. KEY QUESTIONS IS: What
can we learn from cognitive neuroscience and the brain for
building new computational neural architectures.

It is intended that for all participants registration, meals and
accommodation at Durham Castle for the Workshop will be provided
free of charge. Further, specially invited participants are to
receive  reasonable travel expenses reimbursed and additional
participants rail travel costs in the UK. ***We also plan to have
six places for PhD students or recent post-doctorates and encourage
applicants.****

Extended versions of papers can be published as book chapters in
a book with Springer.

Location - Durham Castle
-------------------------

The EmerNet Workshop is to be held at Durham Castle,
Durham(chosen as in between Sunderland, York and Edinburgh) in
the North East of England. There are few places in the world that
can match the historic City of Durham, with its dramatic setting
on a rocky horseshoe bend in the River Wear and beautiful local
countryside. Furthermore, it offers easy accessibility by rail
from anywhere in the Great Britain and is close to the
international airport at Newcastle. The workshop provides the
chance to stay at a real English castle that was constructed
under the orders of King William the Conqueror in 1072, shortly
after the Norman Conquest. It has many rooms of interest
including a Norman Chapel that has some of the most fascinating
Norman sculptures in existence and the Great Hall that acts as
the dinning area.

By having the EmerNet Workshop at this excellent location this
provides the chance for interesting and productive discussion in
a peaceful and historic atmosphere. It is possible to gain a
flavour of Durham Castle and Cathedral on the on-line tour at
http://www.dur.ac.uk/~dla0www/c_tour/tour.html

Contact Details
---------------

Mark Elshaw
(Workshop Organiser)
Hybrid Intelligent Systems Group
Informatics Centre
SCET
University of Sunderland
St Peter's Way
Sunderland
SR6 0DD
United Kingdom
Phone: +44 191 515 3249
Fax: +44 191 515 2781
E-mail: Mark.Elshaw at sunderland.ac.uk

Prof. Stefan Wermter (Chair)
Informatics Centre, SCET
University of Sunderland
St Peter's Way
Sunderland
SR6 0DD
United Kingdom
Phone: +44 191 515 3279
Fax:   +44 191 515 2781
E-mail: Stefan.Wermter at sunderland.ac.uk
http://www.his.sunderland.ac.uk/~cs0stw/
http://www.his.sunderland.ac.uk/