CFP: First int. workshop on COmbining COnstraint solving with MIning and LEarning

ECAI 2012 workshop on
COmbining COnstraint solving with MIning and LEarning (CoCoMile)
http://cocomile.disi.unitn.it/2012/

Organizers: Remi Coletta (Lirmm, University of Montpellier, FR), Tias Guns
(K.U. Leuven, BE), Barry O’Sullivan (University College Cork, IR), Andrea
Passerini (University of Trento, IT), Guido Tack (Monash University, AU).

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Overview:
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The field of constraint solving has traditionally evolved quite
independently from those of machine learning and data mining. In recent
years, interest has been growing on the connections between these fields,
and the potential advantages of their integration. Integration can work in
two ways, on the one hand, various types of constraint solvers can be
included in machine learning and data mining algorithms, for example to
provide a uniform and effective way to characterize the desired solutions;
on the other hand, machine learning can help in addressing constraint
satisfaction problems, both at the level of search, by improving search or
integrating intelligent meta-heuristics, as well as at the level of
modelling, for example by learning constraints or interactively supporting
a decision maker.

While promising initial results have been achieved in such directions,
many options are unexplored and further research is needed in order to
establish a systematic approach to this integration. The best way to reach
the full potential of such integrations is in a multi-disciplinary way.

The main purpose of this workshop is to provide an open environment where
researchers in machine learning, data mining and constraint solving can
exchange ideas and discuss on promising approaches, crucial issues, open
problems and interesting formalizations of new
tasks.
To encourage this, we will allow three different types of submissions: 1)
original contributions (unpublished work), 2) relevant contributions
recently submitted or published elsewhere (only oral) and 3) vision
statements, works in progress and short overviews.

The following is a non-exclusive list of possible topics:
* data mining/machine learning using constraint solving techniques
* learning with constraints
* constraint-based languages for data mining/machine learning
* preference learning for constraint solving
* automated constraint modeling and solving
* constraint acquisition
* interactive constraint solving
* solver portfolio optimisation
* machine learning in search
* integrating learning and search
* automated parameter optimization / algorithm configuration

In addition to the received contributions, the workshop will include
invited talks from prominent researchers working in the intersection
between constraint technology, machine learning and data mining. The
workshop is planned to end with a broad discussion on the most relevant
open problems and research directions.

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Invited speakers:
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* Siegfried Nijssen (K.U. Leuven, Belgium): Constraint programming and
data mining
* Holger Hoos/Lin Xu (University of British Columbia, Canada): SATzilla:
Portfolio-based Algorithm Selection for SAT
* Francesca Rossi (University of Padova, Italy): Constrainted processing
for preference elicitation

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Submission:
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We accept the following three types of submissions (using ECAI-12
formatting style
http://people.cs.kuleuven.be/~luc.deraedt/ecai2012-style.zip):

* Original novel and unpublished work (max. 6 pages);

* An extended abstract of work-in-progress or position statements about
future directions, possibilities and limitations: (max. 2 pages)

* Manuscripts that have recently been accepted for publication or appeared
within the last 6 months in a peer-reviewed journal or which are currently
under review: (only oral, no page limit or format constraints)

Authors should take care that the submitted works are written at the level
of the general AI audience, and not geared towards data mining or
constraint solving expert specifically.

Submissions will be peer-reviewed by the program committee. All accepted
submissions will be published on our website (informal proceedings) unless
requested otherwise.

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Important Dates:
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* 28 May, 2012: submission deadline
* 28 June, 2012: notification
* 15 July, 2012: camera-ready
* 27-31 August, 2012: ECAI

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Contacts:
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* Remi Coletta * Tias Guns
* Barry O’Sullivan
* Andrea Passerini * Guido Tack