Connectionists: Machine Learning workshop on Dark Matter

[Tom Heskes]

[with apologies for cross-posting; a few places are still available]

Accelerating the Search for Dark Matter with Machine Learning
 From Monday 15 January through Friday 19 January 2018
Lorentz Center@ Oort – Leiden, The Netherlands

Scientific Topic

In this workshop we aim to explore, and to encourage, the utilization of 
state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms for research in dark matter 
physics and astronomy. Our objective is to accelerate the identification 
of Dark Matter with a multidisciplinary approach: The researchers coming 
to this workshop bring together expertise in experimental and 
theoretical particle physics, astrophysics, astronomy, statistics and 
Machine Learning. The workshop is planned to be a Kickoff meeting to 
generate a new open research community. We plan a whitepaper, follow-up 
workshops, a web page and a mailing list for the DM-ML community.

Workshop Format

Lorentz Workshops@ Oort are scientific meetings for small groups of up 
to 55 participants, including both senior and junior scientists. Lorentz 
Center meetings dedicate a considerable amount of time to discussion 
sessions, thus stimulating an interactive atmosphere and encouraging 
collaborations between participants. This format typically generates 
extensive debates and enables significant progress to be made within the 
research topic of the meeting.

Lorentz Center Facilities

The venue Lorentz Center@ Oort, located at the Faculty of Science campus 
of Leiden University, the Netherlands. The Lorentz Center provides each 
participant with office space and wireless internet access (LINUX and 
Windows). Lorentz Center also provides various practical services for 
the participants, such as arranging accommodations at the nearby hotel 
“Van der Valk Hotel Leiden” at a special rate (€ 85 per night including 
breakfast and taxes), visa assistance and bike rental. For further 
information, please refer to our website: www.lorentzcenter.nl.

Costs and Refunds

Lorentz Center does not charge registration fees. In addition, Lorentz 
Center hosts a welcome reception and a workshop dinner, both free of charge.

On request some participants can be provided with free accommodation at 
the hotel “Van der Valk Hotel Leiden” courtesy of Lorentz Center and 
with reimbursement of travel expenses. Travel expenses will be 
transferred after the workshop, upon presentation of your ticket or 
travel receipts. If you need a contribution to your expenses, please 
contact the scientific organizers.

You are cordially invited to bring the workshop to the attention of 
bright junior scientist in your environment.

As the workshop is built on interaction and discussion, we encourage you 
to participate for the whole workshop week.

Registration by November 17 via the workshop webpage:

http://www.lorentzcenter.nl/lc/web/2018/920/info.php3?wsid=920&venue=Oort
Developing agenda: https://indico.cern.ch/event/664842/

Due to a limit of 60 participants the approval to the workshop is at the 
discretion of the organizers. You will be informed on their admission by 
the end of November 2017 at the latest.

Organisers:

Tom Heskes (Radboud University), Gianfranco Bertone (UvA), Francesca 
Calore (CNRS), Sascha Caron (Radboud University and Nikhef) and Roberto 
Ruiz de Austri (IFIC Valencia)