The British Computer Society: SGES
The Specialist Group on Knowledge-Based Systems and Applied Artificial
Intelligence

ES2001: Cambridge, England, December 10th-12th 2001
Call for Papers

http://www.bcs-sges.org/es2001/

ES2001 is the twenty-first Annual International Conference of the
British Computer Society's Specialist Group on Knowledge Based Systems
and Applied Artificial Intelligence (SGES).

The scope of the conference has expanded over recent years to cover
not just traditional knowledge based systems, but to include the whole
range of AI technologies and application areas. Its principal aims are
to review recent technical advances in AI technologies and to show how
these advances have been applied to solve business problems. To meet
these objectives, ES2001 has two parallel streams of refereed and
invited papers, one on technology and one on applications.  The
programme also includes tutorials to provide greater depth in selected
topics. Our aim is for ES2001 to have the widest possible appeal to
the industrial, commercial and academic communities throughout Europe.

As in previous years the conference aims to bring together researchers
and developers from a wide range of academic, research and industrial
backgrounds.  Delegates will have the opportunity to discuss their
ideas and problems with research staff working at the leading edge of
AI developments and with developers with experience of the practical
issues of getting systems into operation. The conference will qualify
for the IEE and BCS CPD schemes.

In addition to the formal sessions, the conference programme includes
a welcome reception and a Gala Dinner. Plenty of time has been
inserted into the programme to allow discussions with other delegates
and time to make new contacts and renew old acquaintances. ES2001
offers a valuable opportunity to keep up to date with developments in
AI and to share experiences in the practical issues of developing AI
based systems.

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
The Conference continues to build on the success of previous years,
with a two-track event containing fully refereed technical and
applications papers.

The Technical Stream aims to present the best of recent developments
in AI, covering a wide range of technical areas. Contributions are
invited in the form of papers of up to fourteen A4 pages presenting
original work in AI. Areas of interest include (but are not restricted
to): knowledge based systems; knowledge engineering; constraint
satisfaction; intelligent agents; machine learning; model based
reasoning; verification and validation of AI systems; natural language
understanding; case based reasoning; neural networks; genetic
algorithms; data mining and knowledge discovery in databases.

The Application Stream is the largest annual showcase in Europe of
real applications using AI technology. Contributions are invited in
the form of papers of up to fourteen A4 pages presenting case studies
describing the application of AI to address real-world problems.
Papers in recent years have covered topics as diverse as: KBS to
support military spares management; Natural Language to support
multi-lingual technical documentation; CBR to prevent repeating
metallurgical defects; data mining in the paper industry; applications
of intelligent agents; knowledge management and the application of
neural networks. Papers are selected to highlight critical areas of
success (and failure) and to present the benefits and lessons of value
to other developers.  Submitted papers should make these points clear.
Guidance notes for Application Stream authors are available from the
website.

Formatting Instructions
The conference proceedings will again be published in book form by
Springer-Verlag in their BCS Conference series. The books will be
prepared from camera-ready copy supplied by the authors of accepted
papers.  Formatting specifications for the proceedings have been
provided by the publisher and are available from the website. NOTE: It
is preferred (but not a requirement) that submitted papers should
comply with these formatting instructions. Authors of accepted papers
will be asked to resubmit in the specified format.  The length limit
of 14 pages will be strictly enforced.

Those wishing to submit papers should give advance notice by sending
in an abstract as soon as possible. Four printed copies of papers
(maximum 14 sides of A4) should be sent to the ES2001 Administrator to
arrive by 25th May 2001. Authors should indicate the stream to which
their papers are being submitted.

Tutorials & Workshops
The Conference Committee invites proposals for tutorials or workshops
to be presented on the first day of the conference. Proposals for full
and half day tutorials, from an individual or group of presenters
should be directed in the first instance to the ES2001 Tutorial
Organiser.

Exhibition
A tabletop exhibition will run alongside the Conference. There will be
a limited number of spaces available and potential exhibitors are
encouraged to book early, as these will be on a first-come,
first-served basis. Exhibitors should contact the Deputy Conference
Chairman (Exhibition).

Sponsorship
The Conference Committee is keen to make contact with any
organisations who may wish to sponsor the Conference, in whole or in
part. Sponsorship will ensure the highest visibility for the
benefactor, both through the appearance of the company logo on all
promotional literature and in references to the Conference in all
media exposure prior to and after the event. Potential sponsors should
contact the Deputy Conference Chairman (Finance and Publicity).

Prizes
There are sponsored prizes (a trophy plus £500) for the best paper
submitted in each stream and a sponsored prize for the best presented
paper (awarded on the basis of delegate voting).

Knowledge Based Systems Journal
It is expected that as in previous years, the best 6 refereed papers
in each stream will be reprinted as a special issue of the
international journal Knowledge Based Systems.

IMPORTANT DATES
Title/Abstract Notification: As soon as possible
Full Paper Submission: 25th May 2001
Notification of Acceptance: 13th August 2001
Camera Ready Paper: 17th September 2001

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
Conference Chairman: Dr. Alun Preece, University of Aberdeen
([log in to unmask])
Deputy Conference Chairman (Finance and Publicity): Dr Robert Milne,
Intelligent Applications Ltd  ([log in to unmask])
Deputy Conference Chairman (Exhibition): Mr Richard Ellis
([log in to unmask])
Tutorial Organiser: Dr. Adrian Hopgood, Nottingham Trent University
([log in to unmask])
Application Programme Chair: Mrs Ann Macintosh, Napier University
([log in to unmask])
Deputy Application Programme Chair: Mr Mike Moulton, University of
Portsmouth ([log in to unmask])
Technical Programme Chair: Professor Max Bramer, University of
Portsmouth ([log in to unmask])
Deputy Technical Programme Chair: Dr Frans Coenen, University of
Liverpool ([log in to unmask])

PAPERS AND ABSTRACTS FOR BOTH STREAMS SHOULD BE SENT TO:
Dr. Alun Preece (ES2001)
Department of Computing Science
University of Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Scotland
AB24 3UE
Tel: +44 (0)1224 272295   Fax: +44 (0)1224 273422
Email: [log in to unmask]