Connectionists: Forecasting with Neural Networks

[Special Conference Session]

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FINAL CALL FOR PAPERS    -    DEADLINE 29 FEBRUARY 2008
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FORECASTING WITH NEURAL NETWORKS & COMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Special Conference Track, Tutorial & Forecasting Competition 
http://www.neural-forecasting-competition.com/isf_workshop.htm 
 
@ the 28th International Symposium on Forecasting 
June 22-25, 2008, Nice, France
http://www.isf2008.org 
 
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Researchers and Practitioners!
 
This is a final reminder to participate in the conference track on the theory and practice of forecasting with neural networks and computational intelligence at the 2008 International Symposium of Forecasting (ISF'08).  ISF'08 will offer you a 
 
- Full-day tutorial on forecasting with neural networks (by Hans-Georg Zimmermann, Siemens Research)
- Special session track on forecasting with neural networks
- Competition on forecasting with neural networks
 
But hurry! The deadline to submit your 300 word abstract is Friday February 29, 2008.
 
 
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Special Session Topics 
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We invite abstracts related to the theory and practice of forecasting with neural networks and related methods from computational intelligence, machine learning and data mining, describing new techniques, methods and applications. We strongly encourage submissions from practitioners documenting applications of NN in practice. Particular emphasis is given to submissions related to the use of NN in Information Communication Technology (ICT), the ISF'08 theme. The topics include (but are not limited to):
 
Forecasting Methods
- artificial neural networks (all paradigms)
- support vector machines & regression
- single methods & ensembles
- hybrid soft computing methods
- etc.
 
Applications 
- business forecasting & demand planning in supply chains
- specific applications, such as electrical load forecasting, call centre forecasting etc.
- time series prediction & analysis
- predictive classification & data mining
- etc.
 
Theory
- use of NN in changing environments
- stability & retraining of networks
- principles of modelling NN for forecasting
- data-preprocessing for NN forecasting
- model selection of NN candidates
- etc.
 
 
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Forecasting Competition CfP
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In addition to the general track, we invite submissions to the NN5 time series forecasting competition (www.neural-forecasting-competition.com) open to neural networks and all methods of computational intelligence. The 2008 NN5 competition focuses on predicting 11 or 111 daily time series of cash money withdrawals at cash machines in England. Submissions to the NN5 competition will also be presented in special sessions at the ISF'08 conference. To present results each participant must submit an abstract to ISF'08, register for the conference and submit their predictions at the competition website. More information and datasets may be found at the NN5 competition ISF'08 forecasting workshop webpage (http://www.neural-forecasting-competition.com/isf_workshop.htm).
 
 
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Submission of Abstracts / Papers 
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Prospective authors submitting to the NN5 forecasting competition as well as the neural network forecasting special sessions are invited to submit their abstract (limit of 300 words) electronically on the conference website http://forecasters.org/isf/abstracts.html following the guidelines posted there. For the forecasting competition, the abstract should describe the NN model and modelling process applied and contain the reference  "NN5 forecasting competition" in the abstract title. Please submit all abstracts using the "Subject Area" = "Neural Nets". All abstract submissions must be received by February 29th, 2008. Full submissions of papers will be encouraged after the conference. 
 
 
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Conference Information 
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The 28th International Symposium on Forecasting (ISF'08) (at www.forecasters.org/isf) - organised annually by the International Institute of Forecasting (www.forecasters.org) and now running in its 28th successful year - is the premier multidisciplinary forecasting conference, attracting the world's leading forecasting researchers, practitioners, and students. Through a combination of keynote speaker presentations, academic sessions, workshops, and social programs, the ISF provides many excellent opportunities for networking, learning, and fun. Past conferences have attracted well over 200 presentations in all areas of forecasting, often with more then 30 presentations dedicated to neural networks for forecasting in various sessions on NN theory, NN applications and a NN forecasting competition. It comprises one of the largest gatherings focussed on neural forecasting and provides a premier opportunity for networking within the field. All recent ISF conferences have hosted a dedicated track on NN in addition to various submissions to alternative tracks of nonlinear methods, and application focused tracks such as financial forecasting, forecasting in sports etc. 
 
The 28th Annual International Symposium on Forecasting will be held June 22-25, 2007 at the Nice SAS Radisson Plaza. Papers on all aspects of forecasting are welcome. The objectives of the symposium are to help disseminate knowledge about new developments in statistical and judgmental forecasting methods and to promote discussion about forecasting among academicians and practitioners. The organizers welcome the attendance of delegates from diverse fields, including Economics, Finance, Business, Public Policy, Statistics, Climate and Environment, Information Systems, Psychology, Demography, Political Science, Energy and Computational Intelligence. 
 
 
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Important Dates 
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February 29, 2008     Abstracts due
March 28, 2008        Notification of acceptance
April 18, 2008        Early registration deadline (for discounts)
June 22-25, 2008      The International Symposium on Forecasting 2008
August 2008           Call for Post-conference publications
 
 
We look forward to welcoming you in Nice!
Sven F. Crone
 
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Sven F. Crone
 
Deputy Director, Lancaster Centre for Forecasting 
Assistant Professor in Management Science (Lecturer)
 
Lancaster University Management School 
Department of Management Science
Lancaster LA1 4YX, United Kingdom
 
Tel +44 (0)1524 592991direct 
Tel +44 (0)1524 593867 department - Fax +44 (0)1524 844885
Internet http://www.lums.lancs.ac.uk - eMail s.crone at neural-forecasting.com
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