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From: Michael.Luck@dcs.warwick.ac.uk (Michael Luck)
Subject: Final CFP: First UK Workshop on Foundations of Multi-Agent Systems
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Organization: Department of Computer Science, Warwick University, England
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                             Final Call for Papers

                           The First UK Workshop on

                       Foundations of Multi-Agent Systems

                             University of Warwick

                                October 23 1996

			Organised by: The UK FOMAS SIG
		URL: http://www.dcs.warwick.ac.uk/~mikeluck/fomas

Introduction

The last ten years have seen a marked increase of interest in agent-oriented
technology, in several areas of computer science, including both software
engineering and artificial intelligence. Agents are being used, and touted, for
applications as diverse as personalised information management, electronic
commerce, interface design, computer games, and management of complex
commercial and industrial processes. Several deployed systems already use agent
technology, and many more commercial and industrial applications are in
development.

Multi-agent systems are computational systems in which several agents cooperate
to achieve some task which might not, (or not as easily), otherwise be
achieved. It is a relatively new field of investigation, and one aim of the
workshop is to contribute to the development of a solid foundation on which to
base practical systems.

Multi-agent systems are widely expected to become a significant technology in
the 21st century, and it is crucial that both academics and industrialists
within the UK have access to a forum at which current research and application
issues are presented and discussed. The aim of this workshop is to encourage
and support activity in the research and development of multi-agent systems, in
both academia and industry.

Format

The workshop will comprise three panel sessions over the course of one day,
each focussing on a different topic. There will be about four discussants and a
chairperson on each panel. Those wishing to participate in the panels are
invited to submit extended abstracts of position papers. We are currently in
negotiation with a journal for publication of joint papers resulting from the
panel discussions to which panel members will contribute after the workshop.

Topics of Interest

The panels will address Cooperation, Formalisms for Multi-Agent Systems (MAS),
and Methodological Foundations. Each panel will focus on one of these,
including but not limited to the following topics.

Cooperation

   * evolution of cooperation
   * coordination
   * models of cooperation
   * cooperation protocols
   * social relationships

Formalisms for MAS

   * logics
   * specification
   * relevance to practice

Methodological Foundations

   * software tools
   * development methodologies
   * agent programming

Submissions and Attendance

Those interested in participating in the panels should submit an extended
abstract of about 1000 words to the Workshop Chair, to arrive no later than 9
August 1996. Electronic submissions in PostScript are encouraged.
Alternatively, send three single-sided hard copies of the paper to arrive by
this date. Each submission should include all contact details (email address,
telephone and fax numbers) and must specify the panel for which it is intended.

Submissions comprising either original or previously presented work are
welcomed.

Those wishing to attend without participating in a panel are invited to send a
short statement of interest instead. We plan to distribute a register of
attendees and interests at the workshop.

Further Activities

We intend to follow up the workshop with the establishment of a World Wide Web
(WWW) repository of information relating to the foundations of multi-agent
systems, including details of relevant people and projects. This is expected to
be a significant resource for the UK research and development community.
Further meetings are also planned.

Organisers

The workshop is being organised by the UK Special Interest Group on Foundations
of Multi-Agent Systems (fomas). The advisory board of fomas comprises:

Michael Luck (CHAIR)

Department of Computer Science
University of Warwick
Coventry
CV4 7AL
United Kingdom
Email mikeluck@dcs.warwick.ac.uk
Tel +44 1203 523364
Fax +44 1203 525714

Mark d'Inverno

School of Computer Science
University of Westminster
115 New Cavendish Street
London W1M 8JS
United Kingdom
Email dinverm@westminster.ac.uk

Michael Fisher

Department of Computing
Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester M1 5GD
United Kingdom
Email M.Fisher@doc.mmu.ac.uk

Nick Jennings

Department of Electronic Engineering
Queen Mary & Westfield College
Mile End Road, London E1 4NS
United Kingdom
Email N.R.Jennings@qmw.ac.uk

Michael Wooldridge

Department of Computing
Manchester Metropolitan University
Chester Street
Manchester M1 5GD
United Kingdom
Email M.Wooldridge@doc.mmu.ac.uk

Important Dates

Deadline for submission: 9 August 1996
Notification of acceptance: 30 August 1996
Workshop: 23 October 1996

Note There will be a nominal charge for registration.
-- 
Michael Luck                    Department of Computer Science, 
mikeluck@dcs.warwick.ac.uk      University of Warwick, 
Phone: +44 1203 523364          Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
Fax:   +44 1203 525714          http://www.dcs.warwick.ac.uk/~mikeluck
