[agents] CALL FOR PROPOSALS AGENT and MULTIAGENT SYSTEM SCHOOLS

[Takayuki Ito]

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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 Autonomous 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 (http://ifaamas.org/). 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 or regionally 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 honorarium) to internationally or regionally 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 *May 31, 2012* (extended).  Proposals will undergo an evaluation and selection process. Please send your proposals in plain text form to Takayuki Ito (ito.takayuki at nitech.ac.jp). 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; including some local/regional speakers can sometimes be beneficial.

* 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,

Takayuki Ito, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Japan (chair)
Michael Luck, King's College London, UK
Kate Larson, University of Waterloo, Canada