Intelligent Decision Support Systems (theory, algorithms, and applications)

Advanced Course in Artificial Intelligence (ACAI'09) 23rd-29th of August, 2009


This prestigious Summer School will focus on methods and tools available for the development of Intelligent Decision Support Systems. These systems can take decisions by themselves or by interacting and cooperating with humans.
They have a wide range of applications, for example: healthcare, finance and emergency response. The Summer School includes courses on preference modelling, argumentation, multiagent systems, uncertainty reasoning and various applications, delivered by distinguished academics and professionals with extensive experience in the development and application of such systems. The courses are designed to be interactive and will consist of a mixture of lectures and hands-on practice. The Summer School targets an audience at the PhD level who are interested in this exciting area: current PhD students, advanced MSc students and other professionals with suitable technical backgrounds.



Confirmed Lecturers:
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Craig Boutilier (Univ. of Toronto, Canada): AI Approaches to Preference Elicitation and Assessment.

Peter Lucas (Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands): The Model-based Approach to Computer-aided Medical Decision Support.

Da Ruan (Belgian Nuclear Research Center): To compensate or not to
compensate: fuzzy aggregations in complex decision systems.

Francesca Rossi (Univ. of Padova, Italy): Multi-agent preference reasoning:
modelling, aggregation, elicitation, and manipulation.

Tony Hunter (Univ. College London, United Kingdom): Introduction to formal argument systems for problem analysis and decision making.

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VENUE: School of Computing and Mathematics, University of Ulster, Jordanstown Campus, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

ACCOMMODATION: provided within the Jordanstown Campus at an advantageous price (with options for self-catering or all inclusive). Other options are available in B&Bs and hotels within the Belfast area.

GRANTS: ECCAI will make available 25 grants to support students travelling to ACAI'09. Each award will consist of Euros 400 for reimbursement of travel and partial payment of registration fees. More details will be provided at http://www.eccai.eu/travelaw.shtml

REGISTRATION: early registration (deadline 1st of June): Euros 340.
Registration
after that date is Euros 420. This covers attendance at any number/combination of lectures, access to their pedagogical material, coffee breaks, reception and gala dinner (at the Parliament Building, Stormont). A place at ACAI'09, accommodation on campus and gala dinner are only guaranteed with registration before the 1st of July. Group discounts are available under request when there are three or more attendees from the same institution.

POSTER COMPETITION: there will be an opportunity for Ph.D. students to explain their work. A panel will select the three most interesting presentations and prizes will be given in the closing ceremony during the gala dinner.

TOURISM: there will be a trip organized to the north coast of the island, an area of outstanding natural beauty which includes the Giant's Causeway and many other touristic attractions.

CONTACT DETAILS: more details on air travel, accommodation, registration, etc., available at www.ulster.ac.uk/acai09 or by contacting us through
email: acai2009@ulster.ac.uk


SPONSORS:
European Coordinating Committee for Artificial Intelligence (ECCAI) Higher Education Academy (United Kingdom) University of Ulster Computer Science Research Institute (CSRI)

SUPPORTED by the British Computer Society Specialist Group on Artificial Intelligence (SGAI)

SUMMER SCHOOL CO-CHAIRS:
Juan Carlos Augusto and Hui Wang (U. of Ulster and CSRI)