Hi, The deadline for submissions to this workshop is not far away. I look forward to seeing you there! Dr Andrew Tuson MA(Oxon) MSc(Edin) PhD(Edin) MRSC ([log in to unmask]) Lecturer, Department of Computing, City University, London, UK. *************** Operational Research Society (UK): Local Search Study Group Two Day Workshop on Local Search 16-17 April 2002, City University, London, UK The aim of this workshop is to bring researchers and practitioners together in an informal and mutually supportive environment to discuss the current, and future, state-of-the art as well as how these developments relate to commercial practice. Location More details about the venue can be found at http://www.city.ac.uk/ Programme and Scope The event will include plenary sessions, and provide a number of technical sessions, as well as a conference dinner. We seek contributions to the technical programme, relevant to local search, especially in the following areas: Local Search Techniques, including but not limited to: * Tabu search; * Evolutionary algorithms; * Simulated annealing; * Scatter search * Neural Networks; * Constraint Satisfaction; * Ant Systems, etc. Local Search Applications, including but not limited to: * Rostering; * Frequency assignment; * Vehicle routing and logistics; * Time-tabling; * Location problems; * Cutting and Packing problems, etc. Papers in any area relevant to local search will be considered on their merits. Submissions describing real-world applications, or links between local search and other related areas are especially welcome. Plenaries We are please to announce that we have two plenary speakers who will be of interest to the local search community. * Wim Nuijten, ILOG SA (Combining Local Search and Constraint Satisfaction) * Thomas Stuetzle, Technical University of Darmstadt (Ant Colony Optimisation) Submission and Routes to Publication Submission is by abstract of length between 150 and 500 words. Submission details are given below. A booklet of the abstracts of the accepted talks will be made available on the day of the workshop. A special journal issue on local search is being arranged. Authors presenting at the workshop will be invited to submit papers after the workshop for a special issue of the Journal of the Operational Research Society. These papers will be considered in an additional round of peer review. Research students presenting papers will be eligible for a discounted registration fee. Additional support for research students is being sought. Timetable and Deadlines * Deadline for Submission of Abstracts: Friday November 16th 2001. * Notification of Acceptance: end November 2001. * Invitation Programme Issued: February 2002 newsletter. Further details may be obtained from http://www.orsoc.org.uk/ Submission Details and Enquiries Abstracts should be submitted using the Operational Research Society's website at http://www.orsoc.org.uk/. Alternatively, abstracts can be submitted by email to the submissions co-ordinator ([log in to unmask]). In this case, authors should provide: * Name and Affilation * Address (postal and email) * Abstract General queries should be made to the Conference Chair ([log in to unmask]) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------