[agents] 2nd CFP (deadlines extended): 14th International Symposium on Combinatorial Search (SoCS-21)

[Hang Ma]

[apologies for multiple copies]
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                                              ** CALL FOR PAPERS **

        SoCS-21: the 14th International Symposium on Combinatorial Search

                           June 12-14, 2021 (co-located with ICAPS-2021)

                                   http://socs21.search-conference.org/
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Heuristic search and other forms of combinatorial search are very active
areas of inquiry in artificial intelligence (AI). Such problem-solving
techniques are studied in AI planning, robotics, constraint programming,
operations research, bioinformatics and in many other areas of computer
science. The SoCS series of symposia aims to bring together researchers
from these different communities to exchange ideas and to cross-fertilize
the field.

In 2021, SoCS is co-located with the 31st International Conference on
Automated Planning and Scheduling (ICAPS 2021). To celebrate this joint
meeting, we especially encourage the submission of papers that explore the
boundaries between heuristic/combinatorial search and automated planning &
scheduling.


# IMPORTANT DATES
*************************

*Abstract submission (extended): *February 18, 2021 (11:59PM UTC-12)

*Paper submission (extended):* February 24, 2021 (11:59PM UTC-12)

Author response period: March19-21, 2021

Notification: March 30, 2021

Camera ready: April 15, 2021


# TOPICS OF INTEREST

***************************

Topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:

- Adversarial search
- Analysis of search algorithms
- Automated synthesis of lower bounds
- Bounding and pruning techniques
- Combinatorial optimization
- Combinatorial puzzles
- Continuous problem solving
- Constraint search
- External-memory and parallel search
- Incremental and active learning in search
- Machine and deep learning in search
- Meta reasoning and search
- Methodology and critiques of current practice
- Model-based search
- Portfolios of search algorithms
- Problem compilation
- Problem solving using search
- Random vs. systematic search strategy selection
- Real-life applications
- Real-time search
- Reinforcement learning and search
- Search in goal-directed problem solving
- Search space discretization for continuous state-space problems
- Search-based diagnosis
- Search in boolean satisfiability
- Search in big data
- Search in robotics
- Self-configuring and self-tuning algorithms
- Symmetry handling
- Time, memory, and solution quality trade-offs
Papers exploring the boundaries between combinatorial search and planning &
scheduling research are particularly welcome, given the co-location with
ICAPS 2021


# PAPER SUBMISSION
*************************

We encourage researchers to submit three categories of papers to the
symposium:

* Technical papers. Original long (up to 8 pages plus up to one page of
references) and short (up to 4 pages plus up to one page of references)
papers are the standard category. We welcome technical papers that report
substantial original research in search or in related areas that are not
under review in other archival conferences or journals.

* Position papers. In addition to the main technical track, we encourage
authors to submit original long and short position papers discussing ideas
and concepts related to heuristic and combinatorial search. Examples of
position papers could include thoughtful critiques or bold new perspectives
of the field, historical perspectives and analysis, technical discussions
of various implementation techniques, methodological contributions, and
insightful reports on new and demanding applications.
* Extended abstracts. To foster the exchange of ideas at SoCS, we encourage
authors to submit extended abstracts of original work, work-in-progress, or
work which has appeared in or is under review at other venues such as
AAAI/ICAPS/IJCAI.

Please read the section Requirements for formatting and submission
requirements.


# Submission website (EasyChair)
*************************************

Papers must be submitted through EasyChair at the following link:

https://www.easychair.org/conferences/?conf=socs21

# Requirements
******************

All submissions must be formatted in the AAAI style. Style guidelines are
available at the following link:
https://www.aaai.org/Publications/Templates/AuthorKit21.zip
Original Long and Short Papers (both Technical and Position Papers)

Original papers will be rigorously peer-reviewed. SoCS 2021 will follow a
*double-blind* review process for original papers, and hence authors of
original papers are required to omit author information from their
submissions and anonymize obvious self-references. Non-anonymous
submissions may be rejected without review.

Long papers may be up to 8 pages in length, plus an additional page for
references only. Short papers may be up to 4 pages, plus an additional page
for references only. Long and short original papers should be new work
which has not been published (nor is currently simultaneously under review)
in any other archival publication venue. Papers that do not follow these
requirements will be rejected without review.


# Extended Abstracts
**********************

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Authors of extended abstracts under review at IJCAI 2021
or another conference must clearly indicate this information in their
submission.

The publication of a research abstract in the SoCS 2021 proceedings does
not preclude publication of a full paper on the same topic at future SoCS
conferences.

The extended abstract submissions will be lightly reviewed in order to
ensure that they are of interest to the SoCS community. The submitted
version of the extended abstract can be up to 8 pages, plus an additional
page for references only. However, if the extended abstract submission is
accepted, only 2 pages (including references) will be allocated in the SoCS
2021 proceedings.

Extended abstracts of papers which are under double-blind review in another
conference must be anonymous (names and affiliations must not appear in the
submitted PDF).


# COVID-19 STATEMENT
****************************

We are monitoring the situation regarding the global pandemic and
associated travel restrictions. We will offer a virtual presentation option
if the conference cannot take place due to the global pandemic or if
registered authors from specific parts of the world cannot attend the
conference.

For any questions, please contact the conference chairs.


# CONFERENCE CHAIRS
****************************


*SoCS 2021 Program Chairs*
Hang Ma, Simon Fraser University, Canada, hangma at sfu.ca

Ivan Serina, University of Brescia, Italy, ivan.serina at unibs.it



*SoCS 2021 Doctoral Consortium Chairs*
Enrico Scala, University of Brescia, Italy, enrico.scala at unibs.it

Mauro Vallati, University of Huddersfield, United Kingdom,
m.vallati at hud.ac.uk



*SoCS 2021 Local Chairs*
Jinyi Long, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China, jinyil at jnu.edu

Liangda Fang, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China, fangld at jnu.edu.cn

-- 
Hang Ma
School of Computing Science
Simon Fraser University
https://www.cs.sfu.ca/~hangma/
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