************************************************************************** NEWSLETTER ON DECISION AND REASONING UNDER UNCERTAINTY Issue 99001 Editors: Salem Benferhat, Henri Prade 8.1.1999 Back issues available at http://www.ida.liu.se/ext/etai/dru/binf.html ************************************************************************** This newsletter contains: 1. SECOND CALL FOR PAPERS FOR UAI-99 2. DEADLINE EXTENSION for ISIPTA '99 ************************************************************************** 1. ====================================================== S E C O N D C A L L F O R P A P E R S ====================================================== ** U A I 99 ** THE FIFTEENTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON UNCERTAINTY IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE July 30-August 1, 1999 Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm, Sweden (near the site of IJCAI-99) ================================ Note extension of deadline for paper submissions (see important dates below). ================================ Please visit the UAI-99 WWW page at http://uai99.iet.com. For the first time, the Conference on Uncertainty in Artificial Intelligence will be held outside North America. The conference will occur immediately prior to IJCAI 99 and in close proximity to the IJCAI-99 conference site. ================================ Invited speakers: David Schum: "Sacco and Vanzetti: A Case Study in Evidential Reasoning" Philippe Smets: "Practical Uses of Belief Functions" Further details on the program will be posted on the conference web site when available. * * * CALL FOR PAPERS Uncertainty management is a key enabling technology for the development of intelligent systems. Since 1985, the Conference on Uncertainty in Artificial Intelligence (UAI) has been the primary international forum for exchanging results on the use of principled uncertain-reasoning methods in intelligent systems. The conference has catalyzed advances in fundamental theory, efficient algorithms, and practical applications. Theory and technology first presented at UAI have been proven by wide application in the broad community, and by the success of the systems in which the technology has been embedded. The UAI Proceedings have become a basic reference for researches and practitioners who want to know about both theoretical advances and the latest applied developments in the field. The scope of UAI covers a broad spectrum of approaches to automated reasoning and decision making under uncertainty. Contributions to the proceedings address topics that advance theoretical principles or provide insights through empirical study of applications. Interests include quantitative and qualitative approaches, and traditional as well as non-classical paradigms of uncertain reasoning. Applications of automated uncertain reasoning span a broad spectrum of tasks and domains, including systems that make autonomous decisions and those designed to support human decision making through interactive use. We encourage submissions of papers for UAI '99 that report on advances in the core areas of representation, inference, learning, and knowledge acquisition, as well as on insights derived from building or using applications of uncertain reasoning. We encourage the submission of papers proposing new methodologies and tools for model construction, representation, learning, inference and experimental validation. Innovative ways to increase the expressive power and the applicability spectrum of existing methods are encouraged. Papers are welcome that present new applications of uncertain reasoning and stress the methodological aspects of their construction and use. Highlighting difficulties in existing procedures and pointing at the necessary advances in foundations and algorithms is considered an important role of presentations of applied research. Topics of interest include (but are not limited to): >> Foundations * Conceptual relationships among different uncertainty calculi * Higher order uncertainty and confidence in models * Representation of uncertainty and preference * Revision of belief and combination of information from multiple sources * Semantics of belief * Theoretical foundations of uncertain belief and decision * Uncertainty and models of causality >> Principles and Methods * Advances in diagnosis, troubleshooting, and test selection * Algorithms for reasoning and decision under uncertainty * Automated construction of inference and decision models * Combination of models from different sources * Computation and action under limited resources * Control of computational processes under uncertainty * Data structures for representation and inference * Decision making under uncertainty * Enhancing the human-computer interface with uncertain reasoning * Explanation of results of uncertain reasoning * Formal languages to represent uncertain information * Hybridization of methodologies and techniques * Integration of logic with uncertainty calculi * Markov decision processes * Methods based on probability, possibility and fuzzy logic, belief functions, rough sets, and other formalisms * Multiple agent reasoning * Planning under uncertainty * Qualitative methods and models * Reasoning at different levels of abstraction * Statistical methods for automated uncertain reasoning * Temporal reasoning * The representation and discovery of causal relationships * Time-critical decisions * Time-dependent utility * Uncertain reasoning and information retrieval * Uncertainty and methods for learning and data mining >> Empirical Study and Applications * Comparison of representation and inferential adequacy of different calculi * Empirical validation of methods for planning, learning, and diagnosis * Experience with knowledge-acquisition methods * Experimental studies of inference strategies * Methodologies for problem modeling * Nature and performance of architectures for real-time reasoning * Uncertain reasoning in embedded, situated systems (e.g., softbots) For papers focused on applications in specific domains, we suggest that the following issues be addressed in the submission: - - Why was it necessary to represent uncertainty in your domain? - - What are the distinguishing properties of the domain and problem? - - What kind of uncertainties does your application address? - - Why did you decide to use your particular uncertainty formalism? - - Which practical procedure did you follow to build the application? - - What theoretical problems, if any, did you encounter? - - What practical problems did you encounter? - - Did users/clients of your system find the results useful? - - Did your system lead to improvements in decision making? - - What approaches were effective (ineffective) in your domain? - - What methods were used to validate the effectiveness of the system? ================================= SUBMISSION AND REVIEW OF PAPERS ================================= Papers submitted for review should represent original, previously unpublished work. Papers should not be under review for presentation in any other conference. However, an extended version of the paper may be under review for publication in a scientific journal. Submitted papers will be carefully evaluated on the basis of originality, significance, technical soundness, and clarity of exposition. Papers may be accepted for presentation in plenary or poster sessions. All accepted papers will be included in the Proceedings of the Fifteenth Conference on Uncertainty in Artificial Intelligence, published by Morgan Kaufmann Publishers. All papers will be reviewed by at least three members of the conference program committee. Names of program committee members are listed on the conference web site. An outstanding student paper will be selected for special distinction. To be considered for the outstanding student paper award, the student must be first author, and the student's advisor must certify enrollment in an academic degree program during the 1998/99 academic year. Instructions for certifying student status are available at http://uai99.iet.com/instructions.html. Authors are strongly encouraged to submit papers in the proceedings format. Format information is available at http://uai99.iet.com/instructions.html. Submitted papers must be no more than ten pages in proceedings format, (about 7000 words). Accepted papers will be limited to 8 pages with 2 additional pages for a fee. We strongly encourage the electronic submission of papers. To submit a paper electronically, send an electronic version of the paper (Postscript format) to the following address: uai99@iet.com The subject line of this message should be: $.ps, where $ is an identifier created from the last name of the first author, followed by the first initial of the author's first name. Multiple submissions by the same first author should be indicated by adding a number (e.g., pearlj2.ps) to the end of the identifier. Additionally, the paper abstract and data should be sent by using the electronic form at the following address: http://uai99.iet.com/data.html Authors unable to submit papers electronically should send 5 copies of the complete paper to one of the Program Chairs at the addresses listed below. Authors unable to use the electronic form to submit the abstract should provide the following information (by sending a message to the e-mail address above): * Paper title (plain text) * Author names, including student status (plain text) * Surface mail address, e-mail address, and voice phone number for a contact author (plain text) * A short abstract including keywords (plain text) * Primary and secondary classification indices selected from conference topics listed above. * Indicate the preferred type of presentation: poster or plenary ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Important Dates ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ** Abstracts must be submitted electronically via http://uai99.iet.com/data.html by: Sunday, February 21, 1999. If author is unable to submit electronically, abstract must be received by program chair by Sunday, February 21, 1999. ** All papers must be received by: Wednesday, February 24, 1999 (note extension of previous deadline) ** Notification of acceptance on or before: Monday, April 12, 1999 ** Camera-ready copy due: Friday, May 7, 1999 ** Conference dates: Friday-Sunday, July 30 - August 1, 1999 ** Full day course on Uncertain Reasoning: Thursday, July 29, 1999 ========================== Conference E-mail Address ========================= Please send all inquiries (submissions and conference organization) to the following e-mail address: uai99@iet.com =================== Program Co-chairs: Kathryn Blackmond Laskey Department of Systems Engineering and Operations Research George Mason University Fairfax, VA 22030-4444 USA Phone: (703) 993-1644 Fax: (703) 993-1706 E-mail: klaskey@gmu.edu Henri Prade I.R.I.T. UniversitÈ Paul Sabatier 118 route de Narbonne 31062 Toulouse Cedex 4 FRANCE Phone: (33) 561 55 6579 Fax : (33) 561 55 6239 E-mail: uai99@irit.fr ===================== General Conference Chair: Gregory F. Cooper Center for Biomedical Informatics University of Pittsburgh Suite 8084 Forbes Tower 200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2582 USA Phone: (412) 647-7113 Fax: (412) 647-7190 E-mail: gfc@cbmi.upmc.edu ======================================================== Refer to the UAI-98 WWW home page for late-breaking information: http://uai99.iet.com/ ************************************************************************** 2. DEADLINE EXTENSION for ISIPTA '99 (below the original call for papers) The new deadline for 4-10 page abstract submission is February 15 1999. This deadline is hard and final. We cannot extend it any further without compromising the review process, and we will therefore not accept abstracts that reach us too late! More information about ISIPTA '99 can be found on the symposium web site: http://ensmain.rug.ac.be/~isipta99. Gert de Cooman For the ISIPTA '99 Organising Committee --------- ISIPTA '99 THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON IMPRECISE PROBABILITIES AND THEIR APPLICATIONS Ghent, Belgium 30 June - 2 July 1999 CALL FOR PAPERS ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Imprecise probability is a generic term for the many mathematical models which measure chance or uncertainty without sharp numerical probabilities. These include models such as belief functions, Choquet capacities, comparative probability orderings, convex sets of probability measures, fuzzy measures, interval-valued probabilities, possibility measures, and upper and lower expectations or previsions. Such models are needed in inference problems where the relevant information is scarce, vague or conflicting, and in decision problems where preferences are incomplete. Imprecise probability models are now being studied and applied by a large number of researchers, working in a great variety of fields: statistics, artificial intelligence, economics, psychology, engineering, medicine, management science, etc. There is too little communication between people working in different, but related, fields or in different countries, and this sometimes results in duplication of research or in inconsistent terminology. We believe, therefore, that there is a need for a regular symposium on imprecise probabilities. Symposium location and dates ---------------------------- The first International Symposium on Imprecise Probabilities and Their Applications (ISIPTA ë99) will be held at the Universiteit Gent, in Ghent, Belgium, 30 June - 2 July 1999. Ghent is one of the oldest cities in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking northern part of Belgium. It is a place rich in history, architecture, culture and gastronomy. It is also very close to other interesting historical Flemish cities (Bruges, Antwerp). Links to more tourist information about Ghent, Flanders and Belgium can be found at the symposium web site: http://ensmain.rug.ac.be/~isipta99. Organising Committee -------------------- Chairman: Gert de Cooman Members: Dirk Aeyels, Fabio G. Cozman, Heidi Jansegers, Etienne E. Kerre, SerafÌn Moral, Da Ruan, Bartel Van de Walle, Peter Walley. Program Committee ----------------- Gert de Cooman (Belgium) Luis R. Pericchi (Venezuela) Fabio G. Cozman (Brazil) Henri Prade (France) Didier Dubois (France) David Schmeidler (Israel, USA) Angelo Gilio (Italy) Teddy Seidenfeld (USA) Michel Grabisch (France) Philippe Smets (Belgium) Jean-Yves Jaffray (France) Michael Smithson (Australia) Brigitte Jaumard (Canada) Wynn Stirling (USA) George J. Klir (USA) Lev V. Utkin (Russia) SerafÌn Moral (Spain) Peter Walley (Chairman, Australia) Robert Nau (USA) Nic Wilson (UK) Themes of the symposium ----------------------- The first symposium will emphasise two main themes: (i) unifying concepts and relationships between the theories: This concerns the connections between the various mathematical theories and the possibility of achieving some kind of unification or synthesis. (ii) applications to other fields: Important work has already been done in statistics, economics, finance, experimental psychology, artificial intelligence and expert systems, engineering, systems theory, reliability, robotics and other fields, and it is hoped that some of this work will be surveyed at the symposium. Symposium language ------------------ The working language of the symposium will be English. No simultaneous translation in other languages will be available. Contributions ------------- Those wishing to present a paper at the symposium should submit a short paper of 4 to 10 pages by 31 January 1999. We expect electronic submissions, in Postscript or PDF format. Papers should be sent to the symposium e-mail address: isipta99@ensmain.rug.ac.be. Please see the symposium web site http://ensmain.rug.ac.be/~isipta99 for instructions about how to submit papers. We encourage papers on the two main themes of the symposium: unifying concepts and the possibility of a unified theory; and applications. In particular, we encourage but will not limit the contributions to: (i) papers that are of widespread and general interest to people working with imprecise probabilities (ii) surveys of specific fields of application or potential application of imprecise probabilities (iii) surveys of work on specific topics such as conditioning, independence and coherence (iv) surveys of recent developments in the theory of imprecise probabilities. The Program Committee will decide which papers are accepted. The successful authors will be invited to submit a final, possibly extended, version of their paper after the symposium, for publication in a volume of symposium proceedings. All the papers that are accepted for the symposium will be made available on the symposium web site http://ensmain.rug.ac.be/~isipta99 well before the symposium. Important dates --------------- Submission deadline: 31 January 1999 Notification of acceptance: 31 March 1999 Deadline for revised papers: 30 April 1999 Deadline for early registration: 30 April 1999 Symposium: 30 June - 2 July 1999 Questions --------- If you have any questions about the symposium, please contact the ISIPTA í99 Secretariat at the address given below. Electronic preregistration -------------------------- If you want to be kept informed about the current symposium or later symposia, you can fill out the electronic preregistration form at the symposium web site. The Imprecise Probabilities Project (IPP) ----------------------------------------- The web site http://ensmain.rug.ac.be/~ipp contains some introductory articles about imprecise probabilities, plus an extensive (and still growing) bibliography, and it will soon contain a collection of survey articles on special types of imprecise probability models. The Imprecise Probabilities Project also maintains a repository of abstracts of papers on imprecise probabilities, and an electronic mailing list. More information about these services can be found on the IPP web site. ISIPTA '99 Secretariat ---------------------- Address: ISIPTA í99 Secretariat p/a Gert de Cooman Universiteit Gent Onderzoeksgroep SYSTeMS Technologiepark 9 9052 Zwijnaarde Belgium Telephone: +32-(0)9-264.56.53 Fax: +32-(0)9-264.58.40 E-mail: isipta99@ensmain.rug.ac.be Symposium Web Site ------------------ http://ensmain.rug.ac.be/~isipta99 IPP Web Site ------------ http://ensmain.rug.ac.be/~ipp