CALL FOR PAPERS: COLT 2000

Thirteenth Annual Conference on
Computational Learning Theory

Stanford University

June 28 - July 1, 2000

The Thirteenth Annual Conference on Computational Learning Theory (COLT 2000) will be held at Stanford University from Wednesday, June 28 through Saturday, July 1, 2000.

The conference will be co-located with:

the Seventeenth International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML 2000),
the Sixteenth Conference on Uncertainty in Artificial Intelligence (UAI 2000).

We invite submission of papers about the theory of machine learning. Some possible topics include:

analysis of learning algorithms for specific classes of hypotheses, including established classes (e.g. neural networks, graphical models, decision trees, logical formulae, automata, pattern languages, grammars) and new classes;
bounds on the generalization ability of learning algorithms;
learning algorithms based on large margin hypotheses (SVM, boosting);
worst-case relative loss bounds for sequential prediction algorithms;
analysis of adaptive algorithms for decision, planning and control;
bounds on the computational complexity of learning;
learning with queries and learning in the limit;
new learning models, either that capture important details of specific applications or that address broad issues in a new way.

We also welcome theoretical papers about learning that do not fit into any of the categories above; we are particularly interested in papers that include ideas and viewpoints that are new to the COLT community.

While the primary focus of the conference is on theory, papers can be strengthened by the inclusion of relevant experimental results.

Extended abstract submission: We are setting up a server to allow for electronic submissions. Instructions for electronic submissions will be made available on the conference web page www.learningtheory.org/colt2000. Please check this page regularly for updates on submission and conference details.

Alternatively, authors may submit fourteen copies (preferably two-sided) of an extended abstract to:

Sally Goldman - COLT 2000
Department of Computer Science
Campus Box 1045 - Bryan Hall 509
Washington University
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130-4899

Extended abstracts (whether hard-copy or electronic) must be received by 5:00pm EST on Wednesday, February 23, 2000. Late submissions will not be considered. (We also will accept extended abstracts sent via air mail and postmarked by February 9.) Authors will be notified of acceptance or rejection on or before April 26, 2000. Final camera-ready versions will be due by May 17. Papers that have appeared in journals or other conferences, or that are being submitted to other conferences, are not appropriate for submission to COLT.

Extended abstract format: The extended abstract should be accompanied by a cover page with title, authors' names, postal and email addresses, and a 200-word summary. The body of the extended abstract should be no longer than 10 pages, excluding title page and references, in 12-point font with reasonable spacing and margins. Additional appendices may be included, but these might not be read by the program committee. The extended abstract should include a clear definition of the theoretical model used and a clear description of the results, as well as a discussion of their significance, including comparison to other work. Proofs or proof sketches should be included.

Conference chair: Claude-Nicolas Fiechter (DaimlerChrysler Research & Technology).

Program chairs: Nicolò Cesa-Bianchi (Univ. of Milan) and Sally Goldman (Washington Univ.).

Program committee: Paul Goldberg (Univ. of Warwick), Lisa Hellerstein (New York Polytechnic), Jeff Jackson (Duquesne Univ.), Sanjay Jain (National Univ. of Singapore), Roni Khardon (Edinburgh Univ.), Jyrki Kivinen (Helsinki Univ.), Stephen Kwek (Washington State Univ.), Klaus Mueller (GMD FIRST), Stephen Scott (Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln), Bernhard Schoelkopf (Microsoft), Bob Sloan (Univ. of Illinois), Christino Tamon (Clarkson Univ.)

Student travel: We anticipate that some funds will be available to partially support travel by student authors. Eligible authors who wish to apply for travel support should indicate this in a cover letter.

Mark Fulk Award: This award is for the best paper authored or coauthored by a student. Eligible authors who wish to be considered for this prize should indicate this on the cover page.

Conference home page: www.learningtheory.org/colt2000

Mail questions and comments to: colt2000@dsi.unimi.it