Connectionists: Cosyne 2008: Call for workshop proposals

[Alex Wade]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Cosyne08 - CALL FOR WORKSHOP PROPOSALS
                                     March 3-4, 2008
                                     Snow Bird, Utah
    http://cosyne.org/wiki/Cosyne_08_workshop_submissions
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


PROPOSAL DEADLINE: Sept. 15th, 2007

A series of workshops will be held after the main Cosyne meeting
(http://cosyne.org/). The goal is to provide an informal forum for the
discussion of important research questions and challenges.
Controversial issues, open problems, comparisons of
competing approaches, and alternative viewpoints are encouraged.

Workshop topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

neurobiology and computational models of visual and auditory
processing of complex stimuli, time perception, olfactory computation,
multisensory integration, memory, Bayesian inference, decision making,
active sensation, motor control; principles of unsupervised learning,
reinforcement learning; neural coding; computation with spikes, with
network dynamics/adaptation mechanisms on multiple time scales;
dendritic processing; reward and neuromodulation; microcircuitry of
the cortical column; computational anatomy; multi-scale brain
modeling; foraging; neurogenesis;

________________________________________________________________

WORKSHOP DETAILS:

-- There will be 4-8 workshops/day, running in parallel.
-- Each workshop is expected to draw between 15 and 80 people.
-- The workshops will be split into morning (7:30-10:30 AM) and
   afternoon (4:30-7:30 PM) sessions.
-- Snow Bird is a ski resort, located 30 miles (typically less than an
   hour) from the Salt Lake City airport.
-- Buses from the main conference will be provided.
-- Up-to-date information and descriptions of previous workshops may
   be found at

    http://cosyne.org/wiki/Cosyne_08_workshop_submissions

________________________________________________________________

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

Deadline:  September 15th, 2007
Format:    plain text only -- please no attachments
email to:  fsommer at berkeley.edu

Proposals should include:

-- Name(s) and email address(es) of the the organizers. A primary
 contact should be designated.

-- A title.

-- A description of:
    what the workshop is to address and accomplish,
    why the topic is of interest,
    who the targeted group of participants is.

-- Names of potential invitees. Preference will be given to workshops
 with the most confirmed speakers.

-- Proposed workshop length (1 or 2 days). Most workshops will be
 limited to a single day. If you think your workshop needs 2 days,
 please explain why.

-- A *brief* resume of the workshop organizer along with a *brief*
 list of publications (about half a page total).

________________________________________________________________

WORKSHOP ORGANIZERS RESPONSIBILITIES:

--  Coordinate workshop participation and content.
--  Moderate the discussion.

________________________________________________________________

SUGGESTIONS:

Experience has shown that the best discussions during a workshop are
those that arise spontaneously. A good way to foster these is to have
short talks and long question periods (e.g. 30 + 15 minutes), and have
plenty of breaks. Also, when it comes to the number of talks, in the
words of Jerry Brown, less is more. We recommend fewer than 10 talks.

________________________________________________________________

WORKSHOP COSTS:

Detailed registration costs, etc, will be available at
http://cosyne.org/

Please note: Cosyne does NOT provide travel funding for workshop
speakers. All workshop participants are expected to pay for workshop
registration fees. Participants are encouraged to register early, in
order to qualify for discounted registration rates. Cosyne does
provide free workshop registration for workshop organizers.

________________________________________________________________

COSYNE 2008 WORKSHOP CHAIR:
 Fritz Sommer, Jascha Sohl-Dickstein (UC Berkeley)

COSYNE 2008 EXECUTIVE COMMITEE:
 Tony Zador (CSHL)
 Alex Pouget (U Rochester)
 Zach Mainen (CSHL)
 Eero Simconelli (NYU)
 Matteo Carandini (Smith Kettlewell)
________________________________________________________________

QUESTIONS:
 email fsommer at berkeley.edu