[agents] AISB2017: Society with AI (Bath, April) – Call for Symposia Proposals, Deadline 15 September

[Julian Padget]

CALL FOR SYMPOSIA (OR OTHER) PROPOSALS

AISB '17, ~19-21 April 2017, University of Bath, UK

DEADLINE: 15 September 2016

http://aisb2017.cs.bath.ac.uk

Contact: aisb2017 at easychair.org <mailto:aisb2017 at easychair.org>


Dear Colleagues,


The world’s oldest AI society, The Society for the Study of Artificial 
Intelligence and Simulation of Behaviour (AISB), sponsors the world’s 
longest-running annual AI convention, consisting of a collocation of 
themed symposia, workshops, and events in areas of artificial 
intelligence and cognitive science.  The AISB convention aims to provide 
a unique opportunity to promote emerging work on a timely theme spanning 
the full range of research taking place within Artificial Intelligence, 
but with a particular emphasis on the simulation of behaviour (that is, 
on understanding natural intelligence).

AISB 2017 will be held at the University of Bath, chaired by Joanna 
Bryson, Marina De Vos, and Julian Padget.  In addition to the academic 
meeting, we anticipate having a conference dinner on the first night of 
the meeting (on campus), and a general reception in town at the Roman 
Baths on the second, with block bookings made at a variety of local 
restaurants.  Sign-up for the various bookings will be held at the 
dinner and during the meeting’s second day.  We will also try to arrange 
special rates for tours (e.g. Stonehenge, Bletchley Park) and at the 
Thermal Bath Spa for the weekend following, to encourage participants to 
stay through the end of the third day.

We have reinstituted the idea of having a convention theme, and have 
chosen Society with AI. Symposia are not required to contribute to the 
theme, but creative linking is encouraged.  While follow-on symposia 
from previous years are welcome, new symposium topics and organisers are 
particularly encouraged.  We aim to promote this thesis: AI is neither 
science fiction nor dystopian future, but rather a part of our present 
and near-future lives,and to encourage the academic exploration of its 
full consequences.


CONVENTION FORMAT

Symposia are held in parallel across several days.  AISB encourages 
cross-fertilisation through participation in multiple symposia.  
Symposia are allocated time in half-day units based on the expected 
number of talks and participation level. Participants are encouraged to 
stay for the entire meeting. Discounted rates are available for students 
and the unwaged; smaller discounts may be available for attending less 
than the full meeting. Video talks are discouraged unless full virtual 
participation can be arranged and full attendance fees paid 
<http://joanna-bryson.blogspot.com/2016/04/draft-rules-for-virtual-presence-at.html>. 
Organisers are otherwise offered considerable leeway in the structure of 
their meetings, but they are required to both provide and conform to a 
published schedule to facilitate movement between symposia.  Symposia 
can include any type of event of academic benefit: talks, posters, 
panels, performances, discussions, demonstrations, outreach sessions, etc.

Typical topics include:

  *

    Computational Intelligence

  *

    Cognitive Phenomena such as Consciousness, Emotions, and Trust

  *

    Human and Machine Creativity

  *

    Human-Robot Collaboration

  *

    Simulation of Human and Animal Behaviour

  *

    Machine Ethics

  *

    Machine Learning and/or Knowledge Representation


Topics related to this year’s theme might include:

  *

    AI and Human Labour

  *

    AI and Migrant Integration

  *

    Robots and Human Mental Health

  *

    Robots and Human Sexuality

  *

    Technical Mediation of Robust Communities

  *

    Modelling Cultural Evolution

  *

    Simulating Socio Technical Systems

  *

    The Future of Pets


PROPOSING A SYMPOSIUM

Each symposium is organized by its own programme committee. The chairs 
of that committee propose the symposium, define the area(s) and 
structure, issue calls for abstracts, papers, demos or other forms of 
submission they deem appropriate, manage the process of submission 
review and selection, and compiles an electronic copy for inclusion in 
the convention proceedings.  Because this is a considerable 
responsibility, we encourage there to be at least three organisers for 
each symposium.


The exact topic, call, and duration of the symposiums must be negotiated 
with the convention organising committee and approved by the AISB 
committee.  Because space is expensive and we wish to keep registration 
costs low, cognate symposium proposals may be encouraged to merge.


Proposers are welcome to submit–or otherwise be involved with–more than 
one proposal.  Proposers (and attendees) need not already be members the 
AISB and will not be required to become members. They will of course be 
encouraged to join!


Important dates

  *

    Deadline for symposium proposals: 15th September 2016

  *

    Notification to proposers of accepted symposia: 30th September 2016

  *

    Notification to authors by symposia of accepted papers:  15th
    February 2017 (at the latest!)

  *

    Final papers delivered for the (online) proceedings:  20th March 2017

  *

    Convention 19th-21st April 2017, depending on the number of
    symposia.  There may be a day of workshops or tutorials immediately
    before the convention (18 April 2017).


CfP should be released as soon as possible after notification and 
promoted by the individual symposia chairs.  These CfP will be 
circulated by the AISB to members in early October.  Typically 
submission deadlines are late December; acceptance / revision requests 
are normally notified by February.  The format of submissions is defined 
by the organisers of the individual symposia, but any final papers or 
abstracts for the proceedings should conform to the AISB style available 
from the AISB web page.  Chairs or individual authors may decide whether 
to publish their papers archivally; proceedings will have an ISSN 
provided by AISB, but may contain a mix of abstracts and full papers as 
suits the publication needs of the individual symposia or their authors.


Symposia proposals should consist of the proposed call for papers or 
abstracts. This will allow for quick announcement following acceptance. 
The proposed call should include:

  *

    A symposium title.

  *

    A 300-1000 word description of the scope of the symposium and its
    relevance to the convention, along with the nature of the academic
    events (talks, posters, panels, demonstrations, etc.).

  *

    The organising committee (names, affiliations, contact details).

  *

    Mention of whether the symposium is intended as a sequel to a
    symposium at a previous AISB conference, and if so how it will
    relate to or extend from previous meetings (saying “more of the
    same” is fine if prior editions have been successful, but
    improvements are welcome).

  *

    Description of  submission format: e.g.,  by abstract, extended
    abstract or full paper.


In addition, please include:

  *

    Your preferences about the intended length of the symposium as a
    number of days (preferably one or two, but anything from half a day
    to three), together with a brief justification, including the number
    of anticipated presentations and other participants.

  *

    A description (up to 500 words) of any experience you have in
    organizing academic research meetings (it is not a requirement that
    you have such experience).

  *

    Names and affiliations of any invited speakers that you have in mind
    for the symposium.

  *

    If possible, names and affiliations of the preliminary programme
    committee (please indicate whether they have agreed, even
    provisionally.)


Completed proposals should be submitted to the committee via EasyChair 
using the URL: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=aisb2017

We look forward to receiving your proposals.  If you have queries 
regarding any aspect of the convention or submission process, please 
don't hesitate to get in touch.


Kind Regards,

The AISB 2017 Organising Committee (aisb2017 at easychair.org 
<mailto:aisb2017 at easychair.org>)