CALL FOR WORKSHOP PROPOSALS Neural Information Processing Systems (NIPS)
-- Natural and Synthetic NIPS*2009 Post-Conference Workshops -- December
11 and 12, 2009 Whistler Resort & Spa and Westin Hilton, BC, CANADA
http://nips.cc/

Following the regular program of the Neural Information Processing Systems
2009 conference in Vancouver, BC, Canada, workshops on a variety of
current topics in neural information processing will be held on December
11 and 12, 2009, in Whistler, BC, Canada. We invite researchers interested
in chairing one of these workshops to submit proposals for workshops. The
goal of the workshops is to provide an informal forum for researchers to
discuss important research questions and challenges. Controversial issues,
open problems, and comparisons of competing approaches are not only
encouraged but preferred as workshop topics. Representation of alternative
viewpoints and panel-style discussions are also particularly encouraged.
Workshop topics include, but are not limited to:

Active Learning, Attention, Audition, Bayesian Networks, Bayesian
Statistics, Benchmarking, Biophysics, Brain-Machine Interfaces, Brain
Imaging, Cognitive Neuroscience, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics,
Computational Complexity, Control, Genetic/Evolutionary Algorithms,
Graphical Models, Hippocampus and Memory, Human-Computer Interfaces,
Implementations, Kernel Methods, Mean-Field Methods, Music, Network
Dynamics, Neural Coding, Neural Plasticity, Neuromorphic Systems, On-Line
Learning, Optimization, Perceptual Learning, Robotics, Rule Extraction,
Self-Organization, Signal Processing, Spike Timing, Speech,
Supervised/Unsupervised Learning, Time Series, Topological Maps, and
Vision.

Detailed descriptions of previous workshops may be found at:
http://nips.cc/Conferences/2008/Program/schedule.php?Session=Workshops

There will be six hours of workshop meetings per day, split into morning
and afternoon sessions, with free time between the sessions for ongoing
individual exchange or outdoor activities. Selected workshops may be
invited to submit proceedings for publication in the post-NIPS workshops
monographs series published by the MIT Press. Workshop organizers have
several responsibilities, including: 
* Coordinating workshop participation and content, including arranging
 short informal presentations by experts, arranging for expert
 commentators to sit on discussion panels, formulating discussion topics,
 etc. 
* Moderating the discussion, and reporting its findings and conclusions to
 the group during the evening plenary sessions.
* Writing a brief summary and/or coordinating submitted material for
 post-conference electronic dissemination.

Submission Instructions

Interested parties must submit a proposal for a workshop via email to the
address below by July 17, 2009 (note that this deadline is earlier than
previous years, in order to allow more time to prepare the workshop
programs).

Proposals should include a title, description of what the workshop is to
address and accomplish, proposed workshop length (1 or 2 days), planned
format (e.g., lectures, group discussions, panel discussion, combinations
of the above, etc.), and proposed speakers. Names of potential invitees
should be given where possible. Preference will be given to workshops that
reserve a significant portion of time for open discussion or panel
discussion, as opposed to a pure “mini-conference” format. An example
format is:
* Tutorial lecture providing background and introducing terminology
 relevant to the topic.
* Discussion or panel presentation.
* Short talks or panels alternating with discussion and question/answer
 sessions.
* General discussion and wrap-up.

We suggest that organizers allocate at least 50% of the workshop schedule
to questions, discussion, and breaks. Past experience suggests that
workshops otherwise degrade into mini-conferences as talks begin to run
over. For the same reason, we strongly recommend that each workshop
include no more than 12 talks per day.

The proposal should motivate why the topic is of interest, why it should
be discussed, and the targeted group of participants. It should include a
brief résumé of the prospective workshop chair with a list of publications
to establish scholarship in the field. We encourage workshops that build,
continue, or arise from one or more workshops from previous years. Please
mention any such connections.

NIPS does not provide travel funding for workshop speakers. In the past,
some workshops have sought and received funding from external sources to
bring in outside speakers. In any case, the organizers of each accepted
workshop can name two individuals to receive free registration for the
workshop program.

Submissions should include the name, address, email address, phone and fax
numbers for all organizers. If there is more than one organizer, please
designate one organizer as the primary contact.

Proposals or questions should be emailed as plain text to
[log in to unmask] (please do not use attachments, Word, postscript,
html, or pdf files)

Richard Zemel (University of Toronto) NIPS*2009 Workshops Chair
PROPOSALS MUST BE RECEIVED BY JULY 17, 2009

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