[agents] Call for Proposals: Agent and Multiagent System Schools

[Michael Luck]

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CALL FOR PROPOSALS: AGENT and MULTIAGENT SYSTEM SCHOOLS
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The International Foundation for Autonomous Agents and Multiagent
Systems (IFAAMAS) invites proposals for Agent and Multiagent System
Schools from countries or regions that have been traditionally
under-represented in the AAMAS conference (International Joint
Conference on Agents and Multiagent Systems). For more information on
the conference series, please look at www.aamas-conference.org

The intent is to encourage further participation of researchers from
such countries in AAMAS, and to foster research in the field of agent
and multiagent systems. Attendees at such schools can be from academia
(typically graduate students but also faculty looking to enter the
field) or from industry and government.

WHAT IS IFAAMAS?

IFAAMAS is the International Foundation for Autonomous Agents and
Multiagent Systems. It is a legally registered not-for-profit
organisation responsible for organising the AAMAS conference
series. Broadly, the aims of IFAAMAS are to promote research into and
awareness of agent and multiagent systems, primarily by means of its
involvement in organising the AAMAS conferences, but also by providing
student travel scholarships, and the like.

WHAT IS IFAAMAS TRYING TO ACHIEVE WITH THIS INITIATIVE?

A number of advanced schools on agent systems have been held
throughout the world since 1999 (AgentLink schools in Europe, the
Americas schools, the Pacific Rim region school). While these events
have been enormously successful, they have primarily been focussed
around regions and countries that already have substantial agent
research communities, and that in addition have the resources to
travel to international conferences. For this reason, IFAAMAS has
initiated similar teaching events in regions that are not so well
represented in terms of established research groups, and that do not
have easy access to funds for international travel.

WHAT KIND OF EVENTS ARE WE AIMING AT?

IFAAMAS will consider any reasonable proposal for a training event,
but typically 3 to 5 days of intensive courses (or tutorials),
presented by internationally recognised speakers, on a variety of
topics in the agent systems area, with some 5-15 courses, each of 1/2
day to a day duration. The aim is usually to provide both
introductory and more advanced courses and in addition to provide a
"balanced curriculum" insofar as this is possible. Please do not feel
constrained by this model, however; IFAAMAS will consider any
reasonable structure, provided a justification is given.

WHAT SUPPORT WILL BE AVAILABLE?

IFAAMAS will provide a grant to subsidize the agent school so as to
make it affordable to the participants, in particular, by providing
travel support (but not honoraria) to internationally well-recognized
lecturers in the arena of agents and multiagent systems.  In the past,
levels of financial support have been in the form of a (roughly $5000
to $10,000) grant.

WHICH REGIONS/COUNTRIES ARE ELIGIBLE?

Broadly, regions/countries that (i) do not have major established
research groups in the agents area, and (ii) do not have easy access
to funds for international travel.

HOW DO I APPLY?

Proposal writers are encouraged to submit proposals as soon as
possible but no later than *1st of August 2009*. Proposals will
undergo an evaluation and selection process. Please send your
proposals in plain text form to Michael Luck
(michael.luck at kcl.ac.uk). Proposals should include the following
information:

* Is there significant interest in agents and multiagent systems in
   the region you plan to hold your school, and will there be
   significant attendance at the school?

* What structure do you envisage the event having? How many
   courses/lecturers? How many parallel sessions (if any)? Not all
   lecturers need be international lecturers; some local representation
   would be very useful/desirable.

* Is there potential for other support (sponsorship) for the school
   beyond IFAAMAS? For instance, would some universities, industry, or
   the government potentially support the school?

* Can you give a *preliminary* breakdown of costs? Note that a
   detailed breakdown is not necessary at this stage.

* When will the school be held, and what will be the duration of the
   school? (Please provide multiple possibilities).

* What is the location of the school and will this be easily
   accessible to lecturers and students?

* Will affordable student accommodation be available? If so, how many
   rooms and how much will they cost?

* How many students might be expected to attend?

* What is the "catchment area" for your school, i.e., which
   countries/regions might you expect students from, and what
   proportion will be from under-represented countries?


IFAAMAS Education and Training Subcommittee

Michael Luck, King's College London, UK (chair)
Les Gasser, University of Illinois
John-Jules Meyer, Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands

--
Professor Michael Luck
Department of Computer Science  |  King's College London
Strand | London WC2R 2LS  |  United Kingdom
tel: +44 20 7848 2562  |  fax: +44 20 7848 2851
email: michael.luck at kcl.ac.uk  |  web: http://www.dcs.kcl.ac.uk/staff/mml